Upcoming classes
Writing a Shootable Script: Big Stories, Small Budgets (adult class)
October 17 4-6:30pm
Eager to see your writing come alive through film? Whether you plan to produce your own work or are hoping to secure a team, short films can open doors that writing alone often cannot accomplish. In this class, we will discuss strategies for writing a short screenplay that maximizes impact while minimizing production costs. We will analyze the success of several shorts that launched the careers of writers, directors, and film franchises. When the class is complete, you will have the tools to draft your own short screenplay (or revise an existing one) that can attract the talent and attention you need to advance your writing career!
Please note: This class or event will be held online (using Zoom or a similar live platform). To participate, students or attendees should have a stable internet connection. Class participants: you should have a computer or device with a webcam and microphone; and your Zoom link will be automatically sent to you after you register. Check your spam box if you don't see it.
Shooting a Short Film When You Don’t Know What You’re Doing (adult class)
October 24 4-6:30pm
So you've written or secured a short script or proof-of-concept. What next?
Film is a collaborative medium, so the most crucial step towards making one is bringing in the right collaborators. In this class, we will walk through approaches to finding a production team and/or building one yourself. There a million paths from script to screen, but we'll cover the basics and then brainstorm what resources students may have that could make the difference between dream and reality.
Elements we will cover in class: budgeting, finding the money to support your budget, finding knowledgeable and talented cast and crew, pathways to post-production, and navigating the festival circuit without losing your mind and draining your bank account. We'll look at what producers can bring - or not - and the pros and cons of directing yourself. We will also cover how to pitch your project to potential cast and crew, especially if you don't have the budget to make money the incentive.
The film industry is bursting with talented people hungry for work, but it can be hard to know how to find them and also how to convince them your project is worth their time. In this class we will find ways to convey the passion you have for your project so that it draws in the right people who can turn an idea into something that will last forever.
The Super Secret Film Club
During the 2023-24 school year, my students collaborated on a large-scale short film project. Through the work of over 100 students from the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, with the support of administration and every department, funded by the Carver Center Foundation, these short films were brought to life. Students led every step of the process from concept to costumes, crafty, color-grading, composing the scores… It was my idea, but I was just the suit, there to make sure everybody stayed on time and on budget. And they did! (And to ensure that nobody caught on fire. And nobody did!) Click through to watch all four amazing shorts.