Make a Short Film from Script to Screen
Details
Every great film director started his or her career making short films. And now, you can too! This course, conducted by the Sydney Short Film School, will help you gain a broad understanding of all the technical and performance aspects of making a short movie.
You will be learning all the secrets for success from a Tropfest-winning tutor at the National Headquarters of the Australian Cinematographers Society in North Sydney - the best venue for any movie-making course in Sydney!
In the course, we cut to the chase and teach you exactly the things you need to know in a fast, concise and hands-on practical manner.
You will use the school’s professional DSLR camera and sound equipment to make a short film with the other students in the class.
All students get the chance to try their hand at writing, directing, acting, filming, sound recording and editing.
Some of the biggest and best film festivals in the world, like Tropfest, celebrate the art form that is short film, and now YOU can get to make a film worthy of the festival circuit!
If you would like to stay informed of future events, courses, then register your interest here.
At the Sydney Short Film School, we believe we have the best value film-making class in Australia. You can easily spend three to five times more elsewhere and still not learn as much.
To find out more, visit http://www.sydneyshortfilmschool.com
Outline
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1. Writing the PERFECT Short Film Script
WEEK 1. Creating characters and the importance of story. A study of character archetypes and the mythological steps in every great story ever told. Understanding the essential elements needed in your story to make a WINNING film.
Correct script formatting.
How to use modern script-writing software.
Homework is given to write a short script -
2. Selecting the Script, Casting and Directing
WEEK 2. Script review. The class votes on the script that will be made into a short film.
Discussions on refining the script.
How to cast your actors.
How to direct your actors to get the performance you want.
Set etiquette. -
3. Cinematography, Lighting and Sound
WEEK 3. How to set-up a proper lighting arrangement for a movie. Cinematography - how to use a DSLR camera for filming (white balance, aperture, depth of field, exposure, framing).How to use a modern digital recorder and microphone to capture the best possible sound. Final review of the script to be shot.
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4. The Shoot
FULL DAY. Finally, ACTION! Everything you have learned so far is now put into play! The class (which will now become the actors and crew!) will shoot a film based on the chosen script using a modern DSLR camera and recording equipment. Each student will get an opportunity to appear in the movie, operate the camera, operate the sound equipment and DIRECT!
(1 full day on a Saturday). Check dates. -
5. Video Editing Your Film
WEEK 4. We look at basic video editing techniques:- types of cut, when to use transitions, colour grading, sound mixing, rules surrounding music etc.
Each student takes a copy of the camera footage and audio recorder sound files to edit the video on their own PC.
Video editing in itself is a handy skill to have whether you’re making a film or just editing videos on your phone for YouTube. -
6. The Wrap-Up and Screening
WEEK 5. We finally see your film! The final review of each of the edited versions and lessons learned, along with next steps and an invitation to join the Australian Cinematographers Society.
All students receive a certificate.
This film course does not require for you to have any previous experience at all. While we do accept enrolments from under 18s, you must have permission from a parent/guardian and be mature enough to work with adults.
Disclaimer* While every effort is made to ensure your course experience is the best it can be, we cannot be held responsible if your chosen PC/software combination fails to live up to expectations. Editing video requires a lot of CPU power, so please do not expect these products to work on a netbook or entry-level PC with poor graphics capability. Please check that your PC meets the recommended PC specifications set out by the software vendors. Usually, these include nVidia or ATI graphics.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 0418 230069
Speaker/s
Ian Nicholson has made or been involved with nearly 100 short films since 2006 as Writer, Director, Director of Photography, Producer, Actor or advisor.
In 2007, he shot and helped direct, 'Between the Flags' by Jayce White, that won Best Comedy and Best Male Actor at Tropfest 2007.
Today, he has his short films regularly broadcast on TV and cable in Australia and New Zealand, and one of his films, ‘Haunted Australia’, was chosen as an opener for the Night of Horror International Film Festival in 2008 and his 25 minute zombie horror ‘Dead Minds’ was selected for the Night of Horror International Film Festival in 2009.
He has studied Documentary Video Making at the University of Sydney under John Buckmaster, and completed a 5-Year Part-Time Advanced Acting Diploma at the Screen Actors Workshop under Alan Nurthen. He has also studied American Standard Accents under Bill Pepper of NIDA.
In 2007, he completed the intensive Hollywood Film Institute's course as a Certified Cinema Director and Line Producer Emeritus under Hollywood veteran Dov S.S. Simens, who has taught director/producers like Guy Ritchie, Quentin Tarantino, Chris Nolan and Will Smith.
Besides acting in several short films, Ian has appeared in a number of TV commercials for Abbey National, Sanitarium, Sharpie Pens and Virgin Mobile.
Ian has appeared on stage playing Inspector Cray in Agatha Christie's 'The Patient' (director Roz Riley), a Russian thug in the Fox TV mini-series 'False Witness' directed by Peter Andrikidis, and played one of Danny Huston's henchmen in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Gavin Hood.
In 2013, Ian played Det. Sgt. Bryne Ruse, the man that tracked down Malcolm Naden, Australia’s Most Wanted Man for Channel 7’s The Force Series Special, Malcolm Naden - The Untold Story.
He is the founding member of the Sydney Film Industry Meetup Group which has grown to over 800 members, and is the Executive Producer of their new 6-part TV series 'Strange Fiction', for which he has written several episodes.
Ian is currently working on several feature films as screenwriter and teaches short film making for the Screen Actors Workshop, the Manly-Warringah Community College, and the Sydney Short Film School. He is a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society.
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