AFI Film Workshops At Montgomery College
In partnership with AFI, Montgomery College Takoma Park Campus offers film workshops each year in February, May and July, providing students the opportunity to study with recognized professionals in the field.
To register for any of the workshops listed below, please call 240.567.1407.
For further information on AFI Film Workshops @ Montgomery College, click here
2009 WORKSHOPS
Digital Video Moviemaking for the Beginner
Learn the basics of Digital Video Moviemaking. You will shoot, direct and edit a short film, 30 seconds to one minute, and leave with a DVD copy of the film. You will learn to do the jobs of director, director of photography, sound recordist, camera assistant and editor. The course will last six days over two weekends. Lunch will be provided on Saturdays and Sundays. Students need to provide at least one actor. That person will need to be available for the director's four-hour shoot on the first Sunday (February 8) of the workshop. All equipment supplied by the workshop.
Learn:
- Shooting on a Canon XL1
- Basic composition
- Basic lighting
- Basic sound recording and use of microphones
- Working with actors
- iMovie digital editing--picture, sound and music
- iDVD and Garage Band
Instructor: Perry Schwartz (see bio below)
Two Weekends
Friday, February 6, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, February 7 & 8, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, February 20, 7 - 10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, February 21 & 22, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Fee: $700
ENROLLMENT LIMITED TO NINE STUDENTS
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FCP 101: An Overview of Final Cut Pro 6 and Final Cut Express
This two-day hands-on course introduces students to the primary feature set and basic interface of Final Cut Pro 6 and Final Cut Express. You will learn to perform basic editing functions such as: editing in the timeline, trim techniques, setting markers, capturing video and audio, applying transitions, and importing and exporting functionalities.
This course is designed for the beginner looking to learn the basics of Final Cut Pro.
Familiarity with MAC OS X preferred
Instructor: Abba Shapiro (see bio below)
Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fee: $400
ENROLLMENT LIMITED TO 15 STUDENTS
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FCP 201: Advanced Final Cut Pro 6 and Final Cut Express
This two-day, hands-on course takes students deeper into the editing environment using Final Cut Pro 6 and Final Cut Express. Topics include adjusting and customizing preferences and settings, advanced video capturing, audio techniques, editing and trimming techniques, ripple, roll, slip and slide tools, audio editing and audio creation, compositing, layering, motion paths, finishing and final output.
This course is designed for those who want to edit professional-quality video using Final Cut Pro.
FCP 101 or six months' experience with FCP required
Instructor: Abba Shapiro (see bio below)
Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fee: $400
ENROLLMENT LIMITED TO 15 STUDENTS
SPECIAL DISCOUNT: FCP 101 and 201, $700
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Screenwriting: Two-day Thriller Course
Through lectures and film clips students are taught about the various types of thrillers and how to implement the crafts of the genre into their screenplays. One crucial element of the genre is the infamous MacGuffin, and students will learn its importance and create one for their own stories. Writing techniques will also be introduced, such as building tension and suspense, structure and character development.
The goal of the course is to come away with a comprehensive understanding of this complex film genre, and to implement the fundamentals of the thriller into a viable screenplay.
Time permitting, we will discuss students' story ideas.
Instructor: Sandi Berg (see bio below)
Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fee: $300
ENROLLMENT LIMITED TO 20 STUDENTS
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FCP 301: Motion and Soundtrack Pro
Course Description
This two-day, hands-on course will familiarize students with Motion and Soundtrack Pro.
Motion is Apple's revolutionary software for motion graphics design. This comprehensive course covers working with Motion's Real-Time Design engine and interface, behavior-based animation, parameter behaviors, blend modes, advanced particle system design, title animation, working with templates, chroma key techniques, masking methods, keyframing and integration.
What You Will Learn
- Understanding behavior-based animation and templates
- Working with blend modes and chroma key techniques
- Working with particles
- Masking methods
- Keyframing techniques
- Integration with Final Cut Pro
Soundtrack Pro
Students will use Soundtrack Pro to edit audio files, repair field recordings, analyze and fix common audio problems, and perform other creative sound design techniques. Students will be introduced to the multitrack editor, but due to time limitations the course will focus on the audio repair and enhancement parts of the application.
What You Will Learn
- Using the waveform editor to enhance dialog and voice-over
- Editing audio files, repairing field recordings and fixing common audio problems
- Working with reverb, compression, EQ and track bussing
- Understanding integration with other Final Cut Studio applications
Prerequisites
Students should have the following knowledge before attending the course:
- Basic knowledge of Mac OS X
- Some knowledge of Final Cut Pro 6 is helpful
FCP 101 or six months' experience with FCP required
Instructor: Abba Shapiro (see bio below)
Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 31, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fee: $400
ENROLLMENT LIMITED TO 15 STUDENTS
SPECIAL DISCOUNT: FCP 201 and 301, $700
FCP 101, 201 and 301, $1,000
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Summer Digital Moviemaking Workshop 2009
Make Your Own Two- to Three-minute Short Movie
This comprehensive movie production experience offers aspiring filmmakers a chance to put their own visions on videotape. In this intensive three-weekend workshop, participants will learn the nuts and bolts of motion-picture production. You will write, direct and edit your own two- to three-minute short movie. As a crew member of a team of four, you will also operate a camera, set up lighting, use a boom mic and record sound. Come to the first meeting with a script idea. You'll learn to:
- Work with professional actors (provided by the workshop)
- Learn to shoot with a Canon XL-1
- Learn Final Draft Screenwriting and iMovie Editing Software
Instructor: Perry Schwartz (see Digital Video Moviemaking for the Beginner for instructor bio)
Three Weekends
Friday, June 12, 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, June 13 & 14, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, June 19, 7-10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, June 20 & 21, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, June 26, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, June 27 & 28, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Screening at AFI Silver, Monday, June 29, 7 p.m.
ENROLLMENT LIMITED TO EIGHT STUDENTS
For students age 16 and up
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INSTRUCTORS
Sandi Berg received her BA in film and MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. She has sold screenplays to most of the major studios and has written for television. She is also a contributing editor to Written By (Writers Guild of America) magazine, and has done several stories on screenwriters and their craft including the highly praised article "Where Have All the Thrills Gone?" which covers the craft of writing a thriller. She has been on the faculty of the USC School of Cinematic Arts since 1988 and created a course on Writing the Thriller, which has become part of the curriculum. Sandi joined the AFI faculty in 2006 and teaches her thriller course to first-year fellows.
Perry Schwartz is the head of the film program at Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. He has been a theater and film director for the past 40 years. His production company, Ol' Black Bear Productions, has produced several short films, including the 1992 Rosebud Award winner for best narrative film, SOAP OPERA. Schwartz has an MFA in filmmaking and theater directing from Ohio University. His most recent project is a video adaptation of the short play Rats, by Israel Horovitz, which won an ITVADC 2007 Peer Award.
Abba Shapiro is an award-winning writer/producer/director with more than 20 years' experience in video and film production. He is also a lead instructor for Apple's certified training program and the administrator of the Washington, DC, Final Cut Pro Users Group. He is co-author of an advanced tips and tricks book, Final Cut Pro on the Spot. His production company, Shapiro Video & Multimedia, has done work in every format, from DVCam to 35mm film, for a wide range of clients, including USA Today, the Associated Press Television Network, NASA and the Department of Defense.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Cancellation Policy If you wish to cancel a course registration, you must submit a request in writing no later than two working weeks prior to the beginning of the course. No refunds will be granted after that period. Refunds may take 8 - 10 weeks to process and will reflect a 10% handling charge.
Other Requirements and Policies AFI and Montgomery College reserve the right to refuse admission at any time to those who do not meet the published requirements or who are deemed disruptive or disrespectful to other participants or instructors. AFI and Montgomery College reserve the right to replace pre-announced instructors or speakers with professionals of equal caliber.
How to Register All registrations will be taken by Montgomery College Takoma Park Campus, not by AFI. Please register early. All registration is on a first-come, first served basis. Class size for some sessions is limited; space cannot be reserved without payment in full and is not guaranteed at the door.
Registration form download PDF
For more information, please call 240.567.1407
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