Thinking about making a movie, for fun or for a film festival? 
This class will get you off to a good start!

Class 2719, Section 1: Summer Quarter 2008
Filmmaking 101

Instructors: Nils Osmar  and Gilbert Martinez
Sponsored by: ASUW Experimental College
Location: University of Washington campus (Seattle branch)
Dates and times: Fridays, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., July 18-August 15
Course fee (for General Public): $200 
(Scroll down for registration information)

Thinking about buying a camcorder and making your own movie? In this intensive, information-packed class, you'll learn all about the process of making an independent film.  Topics include cameras and camcorders; where to buy or rent equipment; how to record good audio; how, when and where to use lighting; how to find actors and crew; how to tell your story visually; and more.  Plus: information about film festivals, permits and a demonstration of editing using Final Cut Pro.  Whether you're making a film just for fun, or aiming for a career in filmmaking, this class is a good place to start.... it will answer your questions and may save you thousands of dollars. (See also course 2717, Let's Make a Movie!) 

Frequently Asked Questions:

In this class we'll cover:

- how to make a movie: the three stages of production, and what needs to be done in each stage.

- the ten basic camera angles, how to set up, light and film them, and how to choose the best ones to tell your story

- how to find and work with actors and crew

- location scouting

- script formatting

- types of camcorders (We'll bring in different types, including a consumer camcorder and prosumer model, talk about their features, and show you how they work)

- some info about tripods (how they work, what kind to rent or buy)

- where to rent or buy equipment, and how to get the best price

- lighting basics: how to set up a basic four point lighting setup, and how to use a combination of lights, gels and filters to illuminate your set, make a scene look like day or night, create a sense of depth, and create moods. (We'll bring in the lights and gels to show you how they work)

- sound basics: how to record good usable audio, even when the conditions you're filming under may not be perfect. (We'll bring in different types of microphones, talk about each kind, and show you how they work)

- editing basics: an overview of the different types of software that are out there, what they have in common, what the differences are, and some basic info about how digital editing works

- some tips for how to edit using Final Cut Pro

- what you need to know about contracts, release forms, permits and insurance

- how to apply to find film festivals, and submit your movie to them

- and more.

Because there's so much information to cover, most of this class is lecture/discussion. But in one of the meetings, we'll bring in some actors and a short script, and actually film a (very!) short, complete movie in front of the class, so you can see the whole process. (Students are free to either sit back and take notes during this part of the class, or help out on crew.) (We'll put the movie up on Youtube when it's done.)

Watch our film Travius in high resolution on HDfest

Questions and answers

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

* this class (Filmmaking 101)
* Lets Make a Movie
* 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 Movieare 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 asFilmmaking 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.

If your goal is to make a movie of your own, all of the classes are useful. Since they're all film classes, there is a small amount of information overlap, but the classes are very different from each other. You can take them together, or in different quarters, and in any order. When you've finished them, you'll be able to move into making a movie, armed with both knowledge and experience. Plus, you'll have learned what it's like being both in front of and on the other side of the camera, and will be more effective in working with actors as a result.

Other questions? Email Nilsosmar@gmail.com

Student comments about this course

I liked the full view into the topic. I loved the film shoot at the end. - J.L, Seattle

It was really comprehensive and covered a lot of material. I learned a lot and am really happy with the class. (comment submitted online)

The knowledge of the instructors, Nils and Gilbert, was very informative and the excitment and interest it generated in myself and the other students.  (comment submitted online)

The instructor's skills and styles complemented teh subject and each other well. It was a great overview; great basics without too much info or over simplified. The location was great for me. - R.H., Kent

Exposure to a lot of information about the practical and technical sides of film-making. That was very informative and useful. (comment submitted online) - T.W., Bellevue

The comprehensive nature of it... everything you need to know to get going on making a film on video in 6 sessions. A lot of info, great value. The instructors were generous with their time, allowing q & a that invariably made the class go overtime (a good thing). - J.G., Seattle

I am still currently taking this class, but I can tell you that I like the accesibility of the information. Film making can be an expensive edeavor as far as going to a formal film school, or to a college with a film program. It has always been my belief that one can become a film maker in ways other than spending 10's of thousands of dollars- on an education that may give the graduate only a slight advandage over the largely "self-taught" student. This class fits well into my budget and my larger plan. I've also become more connected to the larger filmmaking community of Seattle. - Michael J., Seattle 

(I liked) the lighting and camera angles demo. - Katie L., Redmond 

Both Nils and Gilbert have real, insightful information to share. - Jack R, Seattle 
(I liked) the comprehensive nature of it... everything you need to know to get going on making a film on video in 6 sessions. A lot of info, great value. The instructors were generous with their time... - Mickey T., Kent 

I liked the unhurried but enthusiastic style of the instructors. They were practitioners giving us the inside scoop on what you really need to know, mistakes to avoid, etc., not giving stuffy lectures. - Laura R., Seattle 

The lecture about camera angles and storyboarding was really helpful. - John H., Renton 

I'm glad I took the class before buying a camcorder! I would have wasted a couple thousand dollars on the one I was planning to buy. - Ahmed C., Tacoma 

(The class was) was very informative and useful.  I enjoyed the times we were shown samples of finished work as examples of what was being discussed and the times when class members were asked to come forward and help demonstrate concepts such as actor placement for the over-the-shoulder shot. I would recommend this class to anyone interested in quickly getting a broad overview of what's involved in filmmaking. It gives you enough information to understand the basics and helps you discover the direction you should go to begin building more in-depth knowledge. - Michael K, Bellevue

The instructor's skills and styles complemented the subject and each other well. It was a great overview; great basics without too much info or over simplified. - Jerry R., Seattle

The teacher's dedication to teaching as well as film - the attitude that we students just be being there were/are film makers I enjoyed the class size  Very thorough class. I learned alot!! - Mary T., Seattle

Registration information: how to sign up

Filmmaking 101 is sponsored by the ASUW (Associated Students University of Washington) Experimental College, and is held on the U.W. campus in Seattle. It's a non-credit class open to everyone; you do not have to be a U.W. student to attend. 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

To sign up by mail: You can sign up by mail at any time. To do so, click here to download the mail-in registration formThen fill it out and mail it to: ASUW Experimental College Box 352238 SAO 21 University of Washington Seattle WA 98195-2238 (Note: mail-in registrations won't be processed until June 23rd.)

To sign up online: Online registration for summer quarter Experimental College classes will begin on June 9th. (Please do not try signing up online before that time! Or you may end up in the spring quarter class instead.) We'll post a registration link here when summer online registrations begin.

To sign up by phone: Phone registrations for summer quarter Experimental College classeswill begin onJune 23rd We'll post more information here at that time.
Want an email reminder about registrations? To be added to the instructor's email list, email Nilsosmar@gmail.com You'll receive an email reminder when online and phone registrations begin.

Whatever method you use to register, you will only be charged a $10 registration fee for each class you are enrolling in, when you sign up (or $5 if you are a UW student.) The course fee is not due until the first day of class.

Questions? Problems registering? Call 206-420-1309 or emailNilsosmar@gmail.com

Other classes of interest

Sponsored by the ASUW Experimental College:
Drawing for absolute beginners
Learn to Draw Faces
Figure Drawing for beginners 
Cartooning
Perspective for Beginners: Drawing in Depth
Drawing Clothing and Drapery
Exploring Color
Beginning Acting
Acting in a Movie
Filmmaking 101
Writing Fiction and Short Stories
It's Time to Write Your Screenplay
Adobe Photoshop

Sponsored by other schools *
Drawing & painting Flowers
Drawing in Ink
Drawing comic books and graphic novels
Acrylic painting for beginners
Drawing with colored pencils
Documentary filmmaking
Editing tips & tricks for filmmakers
FX Makeup for filmmakers
Improv for beginners: acting without scripts
How to make commercials & infomercials
Free up your writing! (Beyond writer's block)
Writing science fiction & fantasy

* click on the course title for registration information