Learn Cinematography from Anywhere
The 15-Week Part-Time Online Cinematography Workshop is focused on understanding the basic principles of cinematography with a combination of online lectures, analysis of the history of cinematography, camera and basic lighting technology and techniques, including an introduction to editing and color correction using Davinci Resolve.
The workshop follows the same curriculum as the 4-week workshops but is spread over fifteen weeks. The program is designed to meet the needs of students who have other commitments during the day.
Program DescriptionProgram Name: 15-Week Part-Time Online Cinematography Workshop
Students will test what they learn during the online lectures with 3 exercises that are designed using a digital camera of their own possession, including a cell phone if nothing else is available.
Projects/Exercises
- Composition: As directed during the Production Lab prep class, the students will create a series of shots to practice and test their knowledge of composition and the technical elements of cinematography (focus, exposure, color, basic camera movements).
- Continuity: The student will create a small scene within the space safely accessible to them, in which they will use different framing, angles of view, and available or artificial light to build the narrative. Could be fictional (ex: a mystery presence in the room) or documentary (ex: a family member/partner baking a cake
- Montage: For their final film, the students will pick an abstract concept (e.g.: fear, excitement, love, solitude, etc.) and, within their safe space, film images that will describe it visually either on their own or combined with others. The project focuses less on the narrative aspect of filmmaking and more on the capacity of cinematography to deliver a subtext of significance to otherwise unrelated images.
Prerequisites – This is an introductory workshop, no prerequisites are required, nor is any prior experience expected.
To learn more, request more information.
Class Details
Cinematographer’s Craft
This class will provide the basic elements of Cinematography, including but not limited to the basic principles of Cinematography, an introduction to visual storytelling, an analysis of how shots are used to build a narrative or documentary sequence, the basic elements of Montage and a deeper analysis into painting with lights.
History of Cinematography
This class analyzes the evolution of cinematography along the history of cinema, pointing out trends and historically relevant turning points in style (film noir, the introduction of color, etc.). A list of films, easy to find online and representing a wide range of cinematographers’ styles, genders, and ethnicities, will be distributed to the students for watching on their own time. Each student will choose 6 movies from this list to watch and analyze.
Camera
This class will introduce the basic characteristics of a digital camera and the main settings common to most digital cameras, using a Sony FS5 as an example. Advanced digital cinema cameras will be introduced using a Red Dragon as an example. The course will also provide an overview on the evolution of Digital Cinema.
Lighting and Grip
Lighting and Grip class will present lighting principles and examples via live demonstrations of how to create basic lighting setups. During Guerrilla Lighting, students will be introduced to examples of lights that are easy to build using common materials.
Editing
This class will introduce the digital editing capacities of Davinci Resolve, allowing the students to receive basic editing training, and also will guide the students to understand the basic principles of color correction and postproduction.
Production Lab
This class will guide the students in producing and developing their 3 personal projects with respect to social distancing and isolation rules. During the online course, they will create a Composition, a Continuity, and a Montage project, each one of them following a different set of rules and instructions.
Screen and Review
This class provides feedback to the students on their personal projects and analyzes their choices and approaches.
Times and Breakdown by Week
All classes for this workshop are scheduled for 7 pm-9:30 pm EST. For the first thirteen weeks, the course meets two evenings a week for 2.5-hour classes. In the last two weeks, the course will meet three nights a week.
Throughout the fifteen-week commitment, in addition to the class hours, students will have scheduled edit sessions to complete their projects and will participate in directing their own projects – three in total.
*Exact weekdays are subject to change due to holidays.
Class Breakdown
- Cinematographer’s Craft – 9 Classes
- History Of Cinematography – 3 Classes
- Camera – 2 Classes
- Lighting & Grip – 3 Classes
- Editing
- Editing On Davinci Resolve – 3 Classes
- Basic Elements Of Color Correction – 3 Classes
- Production Lab – 6 Classes
- Screen And Review – 3 Classes
Program and Software Requirements
- Computer: Mac, Windows or Linux based computer with the capacity of running Davinci Resolve on it and with webcam
- Internet access in order to follow the online classes live and interact with instructors and classmates
- Software: Davinci Resolve 16 Lite, free software downloadable at https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
- Camera: Any camera will do for the program, even a cellphone. We suggest, but not require, apps like Filmic Pro to be able to control manually the functions of the video camera of the phone.
Students will join this class remotely. To get the best experience from our online workshops, we recommend that students have a reliable computer, external hard drive, strong internet connection, and a quiet place to work.
In the 15-Week Online Cinematography Workshop, students complete dynamic projects, such as a Continuity, Composition, and Montage. Projects are subject to change.
Please note: Equipment, curriculum, and projects are subject to change and may vary depending on location. Students should consult the most recently published campus catalog for the most up-to-date curriculum.