Online High School Filmmakers Workshop

This online workshop introduces students to the theory and techniques of developing and producing short films that are shot and edited digitally. As most students enter the program with little or no experience in film or video, early assignments familiarize them with equipment as well as documentary, experimental, and narrative approaches. Working in online crews, students will collaborate to develop their directing, shooting, and editing skills as they produce music videos and short films (three to five minutes in length). Special emphasis is placed on storytelling through visual language. Students learn the basics of screenwriting through writing exercises, reading assignments, viewing online media examples, as well as the script development and research of their short films. Through streaming lectures and video meetings this online workshop will highlight the fundamentals of story structure, character development, communication of thematic statements, and visual storytelling, among other topics.

Notes:

• The fall and spring workshops are six-week courses with daily deliverables. 
• The summer workshop is a four-week course with daily deliverables.
• Students should be prepared to dedicate 6-10 hours per week for this course.
• Students are required to supply their own technology – camera, sound, and editing – for this class. 
• Students can shoot with their own prosumer camera, DSLR or cell phone that can shoot high quality footage. 
• Students must use a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam, microphone, and audio capability. 
• This online course works best with a fast, reliable internet connection, and requires Chrome web browser.

Application and Program Dates:

Summer 2024

Monday, July 8 - Friday, August 2, 2024

Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET

This class will be delivered through an asynchronous model, which means you will not have to meet at a designated time each day. Instead, the program is offered through online lectures that are pre-recorded and released each week. You can view those modules at your own pace. However, there are daily deliverables and/or weekly assignments you will have to complete and upload onto the Smashcut platform by the deadline provided in your syllabus, and faculty/TA/classmates will be interacting/collaborating with your work on this timeline. The entirety of the class takes place on the Smashcut platform. Synchronous sessions will be scheduled during the term with your professor/TA/classmates. We understand you signed up for an online course to have the flexibility of online learning, so you will have the opportunity to choose the best meeting time for your schedule.