Returning this year to Scholars Hall, thanks to our generous sponsor Northwestern Michigan College, our Film School offers twice-daily sessions, at 12 noon and 3 pm, Wednesday through Saturday. Film School features visiting filmmakers and professionals sharing their insight and experience with an audience of students at all levels. Tickets are just $5 per class. Classes are subject to change.
The 87 Dos and Don’ts of Making a Documentary Film that 10 Million People Will Want to See!
Wednesday 12 noon
Everybody loves a good story, and most stories we tell each other in our daily lives are non-fiction stories. So why aren’t there more blockbuster documentaries out there? This class is a lesson in filmmaking for aspiring documentary filmmakers who want to make movies for the masses and tell the great stories that need to be told.
Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker Michael Moore and Special Guest
Mistaken for Filmmakers: The Making of “Mistaken for Strangers”
Wednesday 3 pm
In this film session, you’ll learn the nitty-gritty of low-budget filmmaking. Getting through low budget filmmaking often means being very flexible. You have to be open to letting a film change direction and always keep in mind that almost any creative endeavor is bad until it’s good. The class will discuss story structuring, editing for comedy, establishing tone and testing out rough versions of the film.
Director Tom Berninger and Producer Craig Charland
Advanced Audio Workshop
Thursday 12 noon
For aspiring filmmakers, having great sound for your film can separate it from the rest of the pack. This workshop is perfect for filmmakers who want to up their game with audio on all levels, covering techniques used in videos, documentaries and independent filmmaking, including choosing your equipment, capturing audio and post production techniques. Presented by Shure Corporation and Roland Digital Group.
Adam Forgione (Audio Engineer, Pennylane Productions)
Film School Confessions
Thursday 3 pm
The true story of how two teams of University of Michigan student filmmakers learned to write, finance and produce two 30 minute shorts in a single semester. They will share the challenges they faced, the problems they solved and what they wish they could do over again. From the streets of New York City to the Big House in Ann Arbor, their story is a road map for aspiring filmmakers and an inspiration for everybody who loves the art and craft of making movies.
Jim Burnstein, Robert Rayher and U of M Students, including the 2013 Student Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker Perry Janes
Show Me the Money
Friday 12 noon
Filmmaker (and sometime producer) Terry George discusses what he looks for in a great producer, why the producer gets the Oscar for Best Picture, and how come there are football teams of “producers” listed on poster and film credits. If you’ve ever wondered about what producers do exactly, and the many obstacles they face as they take a film from script to screen, this is the class for you.
Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker Terry George
Considering the Screenplay as Literature
Friday 3 pm
This session will explore the merits of the screenplay as literature, and look at how writers can craft screenplays that are not only enjoyable to read, but effectively use language to create the movie that a writer imagines. Students in this session will get to examine specific screenplay examples, including Dan and Stacy Chariton’s script for “The English Teacher,” and leave with screenwriting exercises to engage their cinematic writing muscles.
Lesley Alicia Tye, Instructor of Creative Writing and Motion Picture Arts, Interlochen Arts Academy
Acting for the Camera
Saturday 12 noon
From audition to final filmed scene, you too can be in the movies! One of the most popular film school classes is back with a new spin. Pamela Guest, a University of Michigan graduate and one of the few Hollywood casting directors who also performs, and Robert Rayher, noted experimental filmmaker and Senior Film Production Lecturer at the University of Michigan, return to the TCFF Film School for a hands-on acting class in which you’ll learn the ins and outs of acting for film.
U of M Professor Robert Rayher and Pamela Guest
The TCFF Filmmaker Roundtable Answers Your Questions
Saturday 3 pm
Join this year’s lively discussion with visiting filmmakers in an informal and interactive film school session. Bring your story ideas, questions on financing your film, distribution, technical issues, questions about equipment, working with actors, location scouting—you name it. Or just kick back and enjoy the repartee and lively dialogue.
Russ Collins, moderator; Penny Lane, “Our Nixon;” Jeff Rosenberg, “Orenthal: The Musical;” Dawn Porter, “Gideon’s Army;” Lynne Sachs, “Your Day Is My Night;” Thomas Morgan, “Waiting for Mamu”
Young Filmmakers Workshop: Lights, Camera, Action! Claymation Animation (ages 8-11 years)
Wednesday & Thursday 3 pm
Animate your own clay creations & make a short film that will be shown on Saturday before the kids film! Students will design and bring 3D claymation characters to life in this two day workshop. Presented by Blackbird Arts, which is also holding an off-site four-day Claymation Animation camp at Blackbird Arts for students ages 10-16.
Tom Mills, Mills Animation and Design; clay artist Phil Wilson; Melissa Johnson, Blackbird Arts
