Course 2717, section 1: 
Let's Make a Movie! 
(also known as: Acting in a Movie)

Instructor: Nils Osmar 
Sponsored by: ASUW Experimental College
Location: University of Washington campus (Seattle branch)
Spring quarter dates and times: Tuesdays 7 pm-9:30 pm, April 22-May 27
Course fee (for General Public): $200
Sign up now! 

In this class we'll create and film a short, independent movie "from scratch." Students can either act in it, help out on the set or both. The finished movie will broadcast locally on cable television, uploaded to Youtube, and may also be submitted to a film festival. Let's Make a Movie is a good class for those thinking about producing short films of their own, a fun way to find out what it feels like to be in front of the camera (or behind it) and a good way for actors to get something for their reel. The instructor has produced and directed over thirty films and is the creator of an award-winning television series. (See also course 2719, Filmmaking 101 and course 2715, Beginning Acting)

Gift certificates are available for this class! For more information call or email: Nilsosmar@gmail.com 206-420-1309 

Questions & answers

Here are the answers to questions I receive frequently about the class:

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING IN THE CLASS?
Let's Make a Movie is a fun course in which we dive in from day one and actually make a film.  Students are welcome to act in it, or help out on crew, or both.  The idea is that people will learn about making a movie, and acting in one, by actually participating in making one.

CAN ALL OF THE STUDENTS ACT IN THE MOVIE?
Absolutely.  Every student who wants to be in the movie, will be in it.

WHO WRITES THE SCRIPT?
Anyone in the class is welcome to writing the script. We'll come up with some parameters for the script in the first class. Then anyone who does write a script, will be asked to bring some copies to the second class meeting, where we'll read them over and vote on which one to produce. 

WHAT IF NO ONE COMES UP WITH A SCRIPT?
So far that hasn't happened, but if it ever does, I'll bring in one of my own scripts to film.

WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT WILL WE USE?
We'll use the same high-quality equipment filmmakers use when making movies for film festivals.  Our camera will be a Panasonic DVX100 (an top of the line prosumer camcorder). We will use professional-quality tripods, lighting and audio equipment. The movie will be edited using professional editing software, Final Cut Pro.

IS THIS A FILM CLASS OR AN ACTING CLASS?
It's both, actually. In the first meeting, we'll learn some key things about filmmaking, scriptwriting and acting for the camera, and make some decisions about what kind of movie to make. In the second meeting, we'll read through the scripts students have come up with, decide as a group which one to produce, and cast the movie.  (We do all of these things as a group.)  We'll also figure out things about design, costumes, and storyboarding. In the remaining classes, we'll film the movie. 

(Important note: Although this is both a film class and an acting class, we do not have time in it to go into a lot of technical information about filmmaking (types of camcorders, types of microphones, theory of lighting, etc.) There simply isn't time to sit around talking about the tech side of things when we're racing the clock to finish making a movie. For that, you should take our "sister" class, Filmmaking 101, also offered by the Experimental College.)

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE ACTING?
Interesting enough, we've found that it doesn't really matter. The class is usually a mixture of some very experienced actors, even a few pros, and some students who have never acted before, and it always works out fine. Whatever your level of experience, you'll get some coaching to help you come up with a good performance, and make a film we can all be proud of. (If you're looking for a basic acting class, you may also want to sign up forBeginning Acting)

WHAT KINDS OF STORIES DO WE USUALLY FILM IN THE CLASS?
It depends on the class. We'll film whichever script people vote to film.  In the past, we've done everything from film noire detective movies, to mockumentaries, to science fiction and fantasy, to humor, to romance.  (Of course, we'll need to choose one that can be filmed with our existing resources.) (For example,if the story takes place on a horse ranch, it may not be filmable, unless we have a student who lives on one!)  (We'll figure out our possible locations for filming, in the first class.)

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE MOVIE WHEN IT'S FINISHED?
We'll upload it to YouTube, so you can all send links to your friends to see it, and it'll also play locally on Comcast cable access televiaion.  Also, there's a possibility that it may be submitted to a film festival.

CAN WE GET COPIES OF THE FINISHED MOVIE?
Yes, you can get as many copies as you'd like.  There is a $5 charge for each copy, to cover the cost of making and mailing the DVDs.  You can also watch it and share it with friends for free on UTube.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?
I started out as an actor back in the 1980s, then moved on to writing and directing stage plays in the Seattle Fringe Festival and other venues. Then in 2001, I created a weekly television series, The Edge (winner of the Best of the Northwest Award of Excellence from the Alliance for Community Media). After that, I went on to produce two full length feature films. In all, I've written and produced over thirty films, and have taught dozens of film classes and acting classes. 

 

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS CLASS AND YOUR CLASSES?
We have several classes related to acting, movies and filmmaking. They include:

* Lets Make a Movie (the course described on this page)
* Filmmaking 101
* Beginning Acting
* Documentary Filmmaking
* How to make an action movie
* It's Time to Write Your Screenplay! 

Here's the easiest way to get a handle on the differences: 

Course 2715, Beginning Acting is an overall introduction to acting. It's a good course for everyone who would like to learn more about the basics of acting and performing, get some experience acting, and get more comfortable in front of an audience. It's also a useful class to filmmakers., as you'll learn some things about directing actors, and may meet some actors you'll decide to cast in your film.

Course 2719, Filmmaking 101, is a lecture/discussion course. In it, you'll learn about both the technical and business aspects of filmmaking. You'll learn about camcorders, camera angles, audio, lighting, how to plan, produce and direct your movie, how to find and work with actors and crew, how to deal with contracts and release forms, how to find locations for filming, and more.

Course 2717, Lets Make a Movie, is a HANDS-ON course in which we actually dive in, as a group, and make a short film. The students in Lets Make a Movie are free to either act in it or be on the crew. While you will learn a lot about filmmaking in Lets Make a Movie, it does NOT cover the same ground as Filmmaking 101. In fact, we started offering Filmmaking 101 because people were coming to Lets Make a Movie looking for detailed technical information about lights, cameras, microphones, etc., which there is simply not time to talk about in that class. (We're too busy racing the deadline to get a film completed by the end of the quarter.) 

Course 2724, How to make an action movie is for everyone who would like to learn how to make an action movie, i.e., how to tell a powerful action-based story, how to make squibs, how to do action stunts, how to choreograph and film car chases, fight scenes, etc.

Course 2723, Documentary Filmmaking is an excellent course for people who are thinking about making their own documentaries. You'll learn how to plan your documentary, write it, direct it, edit it, avoid legal issues and entanglements, and get it into film festivals. 

Course 2312, It's Time to Write Your Screenplay! is a class in screenwriting. It's an essential course to take at some point if you're planning on writing a screenplay of your own.


Other questions? Email Nilsosmar@gmail.com
Links to the instructors' films

Student comments about this course

The instructor was patient, flexible and informative. - M.G., Seattle

I took the Filmmaking 101 class last quarter, and took this one to get more hands on experience with filmmaking. It was great, I learned a lot, had a lot of fun and am more ready now to start in on my own project. - H.L, Bellevue

We did it! Woohoo! We made a movie! And got to see it on T.V.! Thanks for all your work on it, in and out of class. It turned out great. P.S. The special effects you put in were fantastic.- George J. (Kent)

Just a note to say that I loved the class. My parents and my sister came over to watch the show on T.V. It was a hoot! Thanks Nils! - V.M. (Seattle)

I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Nils was very pleasant to work with in every way; helpful, patient, and fun. - J.G., Seattle

I was really impressed with the professionalism of the movie we ended up with. Everything about it was great. The musician did a wonderful job. The class was far more than I expected. - Joe G. (Kent)

Thanks for sharing your expertise, and for your encouraging attitude. - J.V. (Bellevue)

I took it because I was interested in learning about production, so I could put together my own show. I learned a lot. It was really fun. - Julie G. (Seattle)

The instructor was very patient and supportive. We are completing the course project, making a film, as promised. Nils has, and will continue to devote many additional hours working on the editing. I'll probably take this class again. - M.F., Seattle

I couldn't believe it when I found this class. There is nothing like this in (Los Angeles). I guess because Seattle has a smaller film scene and people are still helping each other out instead of trying to rip everybody off. I am totally satisfied with the class. I learned some things and got something good for my reel. - Del M. (Seattle)

Okay, I'll tell you the truth. I was scared to death. But I really enjoyed the class, and liked the show. It's fun to have done it. I'll always be able to tell people I was on T.V. - Mary L. (Bellevue)

Thanks so much for the class. I had a great time, and learned what I was hoping to. 
- Mike G., Seattle

I found the course very helpful in my quest to create a (short film) from scratch. - W.C., Seattle

I took your Filmmaking 101 class a couple of quarters ago, then (Let's Make a Movie) this quarter. Both classes were great. The Filmmaking 101 class was a ton of good information, much more than I expected to be able to cover in a few meetings. The (moviemaking) class was total fun, with the bonus that I got some experience on the set. I would highly recommend both classes to anyone interested in filmmaking. - Debbie L., Seattle

Other classes of interest

Drawing for absolute beginners _______ Saturdays 9 am-10:45 am, April 26-May 17
Learn to Draw Faces ________________ Saturdays 11 am-12:45 pm, April 26-May 17
Figure Drawing for beginners __________ Saturdays 1 pm-2:45 pm, April 26-May 17
Cartooning ________________________ Sundays 10 am-11:45 pm, April 27-May 18
Perspective for Beginners: Drawing in Depth__Sundays 12 noon-1:45 pm, April 27-May 18
Drawing Clothing and Drapery________Sundays 2 pm-3:45 pm, April 27-May 18
Exploring Color _____________________Tuesday April 15 only, 7 pm-10 pm

Beginning Acting __________ Mondays 7 pm - 9:30 pm, April 21-May 19
Let's Make a Movie! __Tuesdays 7 pm-9:30 pm, April 22-May 27
Filmmaking 101______________________Fridays, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., April 18-May 16
Fights, Squibs and Car Chases: How to make an Action Movie! __Sat. 10 am-5 pm, May 24 only
Documentary filmmaking _______Sat. and Sun. 10 am-5 pm, April 19 and 20

Writing Fiction and Short Stories____Thursdays 7 pm - 9 pm, April 17-May 15
It's Time to Write Your Screenplay___Wednesdays 7 pm-9 pm, May 7-May 28

Adobe Photoshop _____Wednesdays 7 pm-9:15 pm, April 16-April 30

You can sign up by phone, mail or online.

1) To sign up by mail, click here to download the mail-in registration form
Then fill it out and mail it to: ASUW Experimental College Box 352238 SAO 21 University of Washington Seattle WA 98195-2238. Remember to ONLY enclose the $10 registration fee for each class. If paying by check, make payable to University of Washington.

2) To sign up online, go to http://exco.org Online registration for winter quarter should be active on or around December 10th. Again, you will only be charged the registration fee ($10 per class) at this time; the course fee is not due until the first class.

3) Phone registration will begin on January 7th, 2008. To sign up by phone AFTER that date, call the Experimental College registration office at their registration number: (206) 685-3276. If you can't get through on the registration line, try them at 206-543-4375 Again, you will only be charged the registration fee ($10 per class) when you call; the course fee is not due until the first class. 

The University of Washington is committed to providing equal access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accomodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accomodations, contact the Disability Office at least ten days in advance at: (206)543-6450/V, (206)543-6452/TTY, (206)685-7264 (fax) or email dso@u.washington.edu

Questions? Problems registering? Call or email
Nilsosmar@gmail.com or call 206-420-1309