Open Cinema

THE PROJECT

Participants work with professional filmmakers to create a short film based on their own ideas and interests. Project leaders facilitate the management and direction of the film with the participants engaging in the creative and technical process, gaining hands-on experience and the development of a range of soft skills, in the production of the film.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim is to enable a group of individuals with little or no previous film production experience to develop and create a short film. There are five, two-hour workshop sessions over the course of five weeks, with a one-day shoot in the sixth week. The supervising filmmaker facilitates the production management and the direction of the film, with the participants engaging fully in the creative process, and gaining hands-on technical experience in the production of the film.

SESSION 1: OVERVIEW and DEVELOPMENT Part 1

An overview of filmmaking: what does a screenwriter do? A producer, director, or editor? The difference between fiction and documentary filmmaking and examples of different types and methods of storytelling. Talents amongst participants are identified and offered the means to be contributed to the project in creative and practical ways.

Ideas and stories are shared, developed and refined. Is the preferred format a documentary or a drama? Which genre or references do the participants wish to employ? What story do they want to tell? 

SESSION 2: DEVELOPMENT Part 2 

Story ideas are developed further and finalized. A story structure is arrived at, and a creative approach selected among the participants. A script may be sketched, drafted, or supsequently developed by the supervising filmmaker.  

SESSION 3: EQUIPMENT, ROLES AND REHEARSALS 

 Production equipment to be used in the filming session is introduced. Participants have the opportunity to explore its uses. Roles and responsibilities for the production and shoot are outlined, according to interests and talents expressed by the participants. The supervising filmmaker guides the level of participation, so that participants are not overwhelmed by entire responsibility for a given role. 

Participants learn the basics of framing, focusing, lenses, the difference between hand-held and fixed-position shooting, and other techniques relevant to the selected approaches.

SESSION 4: TEST SHOOT 

The script is realized on location or on the premises of the support service, as appropriate. Extra crew professionals are recruited to support the production, as appropriate.

THE EDIT  

The edit is led for the most part by the supervising filmmaker using their equipment at their studio. One session will be held on the premises of the organisation (or more at the discretion of the filmmaker) to introduce the participants to editing software, and to the principles and creative possibilities of editing. A ‘Rough Cut’ edit will be presented to participants at this session, to incorporate their responses and ideas into the ‘Final Cut’. 

PRESENTATION  

The film is typically completed4 weeks after production. Participants may then present the film in a ‘premiere’ at the organisation’s premises, by arrangement. Open Cinema can assist the organisation in the design and preparation of this event 

DELIVERY

The commissioning organisation will receive a master copy on DVD, as well as a digital file of the film, to enable uploads to websites and the creation of additional copies.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Up to 12. (Optimum 4 – 8). 

PRICING

Subject to the brief.