Michael Conti's Make-A-Short-Film Two-Day Intensive
Offered
by popular student demand, this exclusive weekend intensive workshop takes
you from script to screen. Students will learn
by doing. Write and shoot a short film using in-camera editing. On Saturday,
focus on being resourceful, and finding the “aha” moment
that quickly moves a short film along by working with time, place, and character
limitations. Discuss the basic structure of a script and ways to use experiences
for life’s writing assignments!
The end result will be a class inspired five-minute script, ready for production the following day. On Sunday, director Michael Conti will help students devise a storyboard, block out scenes, and direct the script using only in-camera editing. With a digital video camera (for the class to share), Michael will demonstrate camera functions, in-camera editing, and other techniques. A professional lighting kit will be available. Learn basics of using both natural and artificial light. Everyone will get to try several roles, including writing, directing, acting, lighting, and shooting. Invite friends and family to view the completed short film Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
Special note: While students would get the most out of the two-day intensive, it is not a requirement to sign-up for both days. Either way, students are welcome to Sunday’s screening. Michael Conti was an early adopter of the emerging technologies of digital video and computer-based non-linear editing software. Breaking new ground on the “fast film” movement, Conti directed over fifteen short films in the span of one year. He is known internationally and his films have been shown in many places locally. He is also the executive director of the Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival in Boulder.
Special Note: While students would get the most out of the two-day intensive, it is not a requirement that students sign-up for both days. It really depends upon the student’s interest level, and either way, if a student just comes to writing session, he is also welcomed to return for Sunday’s screening.
If you are a former student, and would like to recommend
this course, please do so! We will keep doing it as long as people are interested
and are having fun!
Recommendations:
The Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival - Make a Short Film in 24 Hours, in-camera editing! Considered Best New Festival by Denver's Westword Weekly in 2004.
Group101 Films Colorado - Make a Short Film a Month, for Six Months! Over 250 members, and growing stronger with monthly screenings at the Starz FilmCenter in Denver.
Most examples below except where noted, were shot in-camera by each class utilizing the script from a short script created by the class in the previous day. All these shorts are only slightly edited for presentation, including titles and credits. Click the date to view the short film from each class.
Screen captures from various classes listed below [click or mouse over for more details]. All videos are shoot on consumer grade cameras from the Sony Hi8 DCR-TRV730 to the JVC MiniDV D25OU. Final editing was done on Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5.
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CLICK ON THE DATE FOR YOUR CLASS! Most examples below except where noted, was shot in-camera by each class utilizing the script the previous day’s class. All these shorts are only slightly edited for presentation, including titles and credits. Click the date to view the 5 minute film from each class. You will need FREE QuickTime Movie Player for Playback, and a high speed internet connection to download as each example is around 10 MEGS (only 2 minutes to download with DSL/Cable). |
Previous classes
Michael Conti's Make-A-Short-Film One-Day Intensive
In the course of a day, the students in Michael Conti's class will take a script, break it down into a story board, and then devise a shot list based upon camera placement, and will then shoot it in continuity (that is, in the order as it appears in the script). It is shot using in-camera editing only which means the camera goes on and off without the recourse to rewind, and do it again. There is no opportunity for post production. The benefit of this exercise is that the students learn through the act of doing, how to compose a scene and how each scene leads from the preceding scene to make a whole.
Most examples below except where noted, were shot in-camera by each class utilizing the script from a short film, HELLO TIGER. All these shorts are only slightly edited for presentation, including titles and credits. Click the date to view the 5 minute film from each class.
| Most examples below except where noted, was shot in-camera by each class utilizing the script the previous day’s class. All these shorts are only slightly edited for presentation, including titles and credits. Click the date to view the 5 minute film from each class. You will need FREE QuickTime Movie Player for Playback, and a high speed internet connection to download as each example is around 10 MEGS (only 2 minutes to download with DSL/Cable). |  |
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CLICK ON THE DATE FOR YOUR CLASS! 3/27/04 |
Additional Resources:
Visit Michael Conti's Bookshelf to find books that help in the creative process of short film making.
A Michael Conti Video Production is a first-class, full-service, award-winning professional video production house that helps to guide a client from concept and scriptwriting to shooting, editing and duplication. A Michael Conti Video Production is located in Boulder, Colorado, with marketing clients across the nation. With over 20 years of experience, A Michael Conti Video Production has provided companies with a cost-effective approach to producing and digitizing video content for multimedia websites, DVDs, CD-ROMs or televised distribution.
Email A Michael Conti Video Production
If you are interested in attending any of these future classes or in one-on-one tutorial, please contact Michael for more information at 303-449-1515. Please recommend the class to someone else who might benefit!
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