RIFS’ Ten-Week Film-Making Program
The Fall course will run from September 10 – November 14, 2024
This intensive course – run in English – teaches: screenwriting, direction, cinematography, sound, editing and production —
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Screenwriting – the basics of the craft, and short film dramaturgy.
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Film direction: script analysis, directing actors, staging, and running a set.
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The art of composition, framing and how to use cinematography to tell your story
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Technical cinematography, camera functions and operation, grip and lighting.
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Practical operations: the roles of PM and AD, and a production day on set
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Sound recording techniques and operations
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Pre-production keys – call sheets, casting, crewing, locations, prep overall
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How to budget and schedule a project
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The power of sound editing.
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Pitching film ideas for financial and other support
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And students MAKE FILMS!!
The course offers hands-on, practical experience in making films in collaboration with others, and students end up with experience and credits on four short films.
The program runs for ten weeks, with classes for the first 6 weeks, twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9 pm – the next two weeks are full time – on location – dedicated to shooting – and the final two weeks at RIFS, full time, editing the four films selected.
The program is limited to 8 students maximum – each student will receive training in classes in all of these disciplines, and have a chance to propose and write a script for a film to make. The faculty will select the four best scripts and all students will work on these four in the final four weeks.
Everyone will rotate in responsible jobs on the films. The roles on the films include:
– Director
– Assistant Director
– Production Manager
– Director of Photography/Camera
– Gaffer
– Grip
– Sound Recordist
– Continuity/Script Supervisor
Winning scripts can (but need not) be directed by the writers of the selected scripts.
Pitches will be made by students in week 6, which will determine roles on the films.
Detailed schedule – Weeks 1 – 6
Class 1 – Intro to the program, Screenwriting
Class 2 – Directing and story development
Class 3 – Editing
Class 4 – Cinematography
Class 5 – Sound
Class 6 – Production
Class 7 – Screenwriting, script development
Class 8 – Directing script interpretation and directing actors
Class 9 – Editing
Class 10 – Cinematography
Class 11 – Design
Class 12 – Production and prep of the films, crewing
The fee for the program is €3,400 Euros.
As part of our April celebration of ten years at RIFS we are offering students who are accepted, sign up and make a (50%) deposit before April 30th will pay €3,000 – more than a 10% discount on the fee.
