LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: DIRECTING THE SHORT FILM AS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
This class will give guidance not only to those interested in directing their own short films, but also to writers, producers, actors, directors of photography and camera crew on how to effectively work with a film’s director in a collaborative effort by gaining a better understanding for the role the director plays; and how to be selective about the projects they work on depending on the director’s attitude, openness to total team involvement and commitment to completing a high-quality film in a set period of time. Specifically, attendees of class #4 will learn the following steps it takes to successfully direct a short film:
- Important directing decisions and preparations to make ahead of starting a short film
- How to recruit and select key creative team members who will deliver on the vision you intend for your film
- When to be strategic and practical; and when to set boundaries to allow for artistic and visual creative time in every phase of the production
- When and how to take constructive feedback from team members and outside, credible sources for the ultimate benefit of the short film
- How to balance artistic vision with budgetary limitations
Hand-outs and examples of supporting materials will be provided. As needed, the instructor will also make recommendations for outside reading resources.
Whether you’re a novice dreaming of making his first movie or an experienced filmmaker looking to jumpstart her next project, your next short film could very well be the calling card that begins to get you noticed at film festivals. Make sure you know what you’re doing before rolling camera on your next project by gaining the experience and developing the skills that can only be learned by working on the set of a production for which you’re entirely responsible.
Led by former Screenwriting mentor Kathy Cabrera, this exclusive Atlanta Film Festival 365 lecture series will take place over the course of four classes between early October and mid-November 2013.
Tickets for one or all of the classes in this series may be purchased through Eventbrite.
Kathy Cabrera is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television’s MFA in Screenwriting program. In addition to penning eight feature-length screenplays and a drama television pilot, Cabrera has also written and produced several award-winning short films with budgets ranging from less than $2,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars with the support of well-known industry sponsors such as the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), Kodak, Technicolor and Panavision. Cabrera has one screenplay optioned and was a finalist for the 2007 NAACP & NBC Screenwriting Fellowship and awarded the 2008 Young and the Restless Fellowship in Television.