Since I started my filmmaking career about 4 years ago I have wanted to move to a 'film hub' and possibly to attend film school. I try not to get too emotional about these decisions but it also makes me put them off or ignore their importance. I have also been a proponent of filmmaking self-education over the internet and through personal experience. For the most part this method has proven to be effective if you are a self-starter and you take personal initiative to constantly improve upon your own work. That being said, I have not progressed as much as I had hoped (based on my goals a few years ago) probably because I tend to start out with some very ambitious goals and then more realistic realities start to take form eventually.
If you have seen my slate of projects that I have had on this blog... well lets just say I am a bit behind on those goals. Admittedly, even the more recent goals were much more realistic than how I started- which was to make a feature sci-fi noir RIGHT AWAY. Of course, I had no idea how much work and how much money that would actually take to achieve. I am not someone who wants to make what may be called "crap movies"- although I could have made something (by now) that would 'technically' meet the stated goals in past blog posts- but they would be nowhere near the quality that I have imagined in my head. I am of the opinion that if you make bad movies- you get type-cast as someone who just makes bad movies... so I want to at least not fall into making movies without a solid handle on the "craft".
This brings me back to moving because the quality of your crew is seriously affected if you do not live in a good area for filmmaking. Also... Rebecca and I still want to move. Some of our challenges are also still the same challenges. Most of all, the real estate market is still bad and I need to finish fixing up our condo.
Still, I have managed to narrow down the film hubs and colleges I am interested in. I prefer organizations and very specific programs that are much cheaper and faster than normal colleges and universities- since I prefer a real film community over film theory and academics. Here are the possible schools and programs. Many are in NYC while some others are in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Portland, Seattle, Grand Rapids, Denver & Vancouver, BC.
The Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute
Werner Herzog's Rogue Film School
Chicago Filmmakers
Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Digital Film Academy
nwFilm Center School of Film
NW Film Forum
Seattle Film Institute
Vancouver Film School
Compass Film Academy
If anyone can recommend a school (hopefully cheaper than NYU or Columbia please), or knows anything about these areas, these organizations or these schools in question, give me a comment or two. I'd appreciate it!
Showing posts with label Film Schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Film Schools. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The end of the Tampa Film Review & the beginning of something new in Tampa Bay
Having attended the last Tampa Film Review & working with Dan Brienza & the Guzzo's to try & move the Tampa Film Review to another location has left me empty. I saw the press & their concerns & I saw the need for a film screening venue go unheeded by many people. I have met with quite a few people regarding getting a venue & filling the gap left by the TFR to have a screening in the Tampa area. I have to admit I was discouraged.
Then, when I attended the Pinellas Filmmaker's Society on January 13th, Pete Bradshaw had the same concern for our area but it was a very different meeting this time. In one meeting we made a new name for the film society, found a new venue, built a new film-related social networking site and created a new change of course for the entire group. Now they are called the Tampa Bay Film Society and they are meeting at Coconut's Comedy Club in Clearwater on Friday February the 13th at 8pm to start new screenings. A new determination to do more screenings & invite people to network on the internet has been a refreshing new course! The site is called FILM & I hope the group grows & remains an influential part of the film industry in the Tampa Bay area for years to come.
There is also some good growth being experienced by the former St. Pete Creative Network... now the Tampa Bay Creative Network. In fact there are rumors that Film Forum group on the page might even start their own screenings as well.
As it comes to the group in Tampa... things are not over however. There were plenty of fears that no one would be able to fill the shoes that Pete & Paul Guzzo were leaving open for someone to walk in but Dan Brienza has been working tirelessly & faithfully to effect the film industry in Tampa for some time now. Now he has decided to take up the challenge to do even more...
Amazingly, even with his Weekend Film Crew Productions, his Tampa Weekend Film School classes, his Tampa Bay Film Industry & Actors Network & his Film Crew Cafe website... he is not overburdened! The once defunct Tampa Film Network has now ok'ed a transition for Dan to take over this network & merge it with the Tampa Bay Film Industry & Actors Network & the Film Crew Cafe... calling it the Tampa Film Network. And finally the Guzzo's Tampa Film Review will also be taken over by Dan, who will attempt to keep it screening with the same name!
Dan will continue to have classes under the Tampa Weekend Film School & he will run this network in Tampa and do screenings. All he needs now is a venue in Tampa to help sponsor his efforts! If anyone has any leads-- please email me! libertynumber5@gmail.com
So to sum it up- I am amazed at the Tampa Bay area filmmakers... we are doing more & spreading like a wildfire to build the industry here! I just hope that in March the Film Office in Tallahassee sees our solid resolve & does what it can (without going in the red) to assist our film community responsibly! I guess we'll see if there is more good news to come very soon!
Then, when I attended the Pinellas Filmmaker's Society on January 13th, Pete Bradshaw had the same concern for our area but it was a very different meeting this time. In one meeting we made a new name for the film society, found a new venue, built a new film-related social networking site and created a new change of course for the entire group. Now they are called the Tampa Bay Film Society and they are meeting at Coconut's Comedy Club in Clearwater on Friday February the 13th at 8pm to start new screenings. A new determination to do more screenings & invite people to network on the internet has been a refreshing new course! The site is called FILM & I hope the group grows & remains an influential part of the film industry in the Tampa Bay area for years to come.
There is also some good growth being experienced by the former St. Pete Creative Network... now the Tampa Bay Creative Network. In fact there are rumors that Film Forum group on the page might even start their own screenings as well.
As it comes to the group in Tampa... things are not over however. There were plenty of fears that no one would be able to fill the shoes that Pete & Paul Guzzo were leaving open for someone to walk in but Dan Brienza has been working tirelessly & faithfully to effect the film industry in Tampa for some time now. Now he has decided to take up the challenge to do even more...
Amazingly, even with his Weekend Film Crew Productions, his Tampa Weekend Film School classes, his Tampa Bay Film Industry & Actors Network & his Film Crew Cafe website... he is not overburdened! The once defunct Tampa Film Network has now ok'ed a transition for Dan to take over this network & merge it with the Tampa Bay Film Industry & Actors Network & the Film Crew Cafe... calling it the Tampa Film Network. And finally the Guzzo's Tampa Film Review will also be taken over by Dan, who will attempt to keep it screening with the same name!
Dan will continue to have classes under the Tampa Weekend Film School & he will run this network in Tampa and do screenings. All he needs now is a venue in Tampa to help sponsor his efforts! If anyone has any leads-- please email me! libertynumber5@gmail.com
So to sum it up- I am amazed at the Tampa Bay area filmmakers... we are doing more & spreading like a wildfire to build the industry here! I just hope that in March the Film Office in Tallahassee sees our solid resolve & does what it can (without going in the red) to assist our film community responsibly! I guess we'll see if there is more good news to come very soon!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Cinematography Class with Erik Curtis
Our wonderfully talented friend, DP Erik Curtis, who was extremely busy during this last movie he was shooting (known as The Chaos Experiment with Val Kilmer) finally arrived back in Tampa for the much anticipated Cinematography class for the Tampa Weekend Film School. The event was sponsered by Kodak & we were going to be 'having school' in ValComm/Chameleon Filmworks Studios in Clearwater and we were going to be using Panavision with (of course) Kodak high grade film. There were about 20-30 students and about 15 crew including Erik Curtis & Pete Guzzo (acting as Director) & while we were training loading film, dolly gripping & using the camera we were going to be shooting a PSA for a benefit to raise money by bicycling for a cause. There was another Director working with us as well (who I really liked) but I didn't really get his name. We shot HD alongside and got to compare between the two on the $30k monitors. Of course, the processing of the film will have to take place in the next week or two & Erik has informed us that we will be going on a trip to the Lab... Continental Labs in Orlando! It should be very informational & a lot of fun! I will learn a great deal I'm sure! I think that as film goes out of style... it will become cheaper, but also the skill set will be harder to come by... this experience will become a valuable one!
I have to say, that Erik was one of the nicest, coolest & most accessible DP's I've met & I was VERY honored to work with him, even a little bit. I LOVED pulling focus for the last second of film in the camera! Go out with a bang, baby!! This has been the favorite of my film school experiences so far!
I have to say, that Erik was one of the nicest, coolest & most accessible DP's I've met & I was VERY honored to work with him, even a little bit. I LOVED pulling focus for the last second of film in the camera! Go out with a bang, baby!! This has been the favorite of my film school experiences so far!
Our Non-Profit P.S.A.'s
Training at the Tampa Weekend Film School (in Association with the Weekend Film Crew created by Daniel Brienza) has been steadily increasing with our 'Non-Profit PSA Project' we have embarked upon. The project entails finding organizations that might be able to use the help that a Public Service Announcement might give them, in order for our group to practice making small projects (like commercials) and then to continue on to making shorts or films as time goes on & we gather more knowledge & experience.
The first we did about three months ago was for a non-profit organization called
"Connected by 25" which helps foster kids who graduate out of the foster care system. Many times, these young adults find themselves cut off from any meaningful help or any support system they may be used to having when they leave their foster home. This organization seeks to help re-establish the support system these kids need so desperately. Dan Brienza Directed, DP'ed & is editing it currently. I Produced. Chris Gayle AD'ed, Cheryl Williams was the Casting Director & we had a few really great actors!
The second one we have been working on is going to be completely created with V.O.'s, Final Cut & After Effects, etc. and the third we are going to be doing is still yet to be determined. So far it has been successful & a lot of fun... we just have to do the editing... :)
The first we did about three months ago was for a non-profit organization called
"Connected by 25" which helps foster kids who graduate out of the foster care system. Many times, these young adults find themselves cut off from any meaningful help or any support system they may be used to having when they leave their foster home. This organization seeks to help re-establish the support system these kids need so desperately. Dan Brienza Directed, DP'ed & is editing it currently. I Produced. Chris Gayle AD'ed, Cheryl Williams was the Casting Director & we had a few really great actors!The second one we have been working on is going to be completely created with V.O.'s, Final Cut & After Effects, etc. and the third we are going to be doing is still yet to be determined. So far it has been successful & a lot of fun... we just have to do the editing... :)
Editing Class with Rebecca Croft
About two months ago (I neglected to post it then), we at the Tampa Weekend Film School had a great time putting on the last editing workshop with Rebecca Croft on Final Cut Pro. Rebecca has been editing in Final Cut for the last 8 years but before this event, she had never trained anyone to edit (except for me) and she found it difficult to imagine teaching others at first. But, she did an awesome job and everyone seemed pleased with all the very detailed bits of knowledge she imparted to the 10-12 or so students that attended.
I really hope we continue to do events like this in the future. It was very practical & informative for everyone involved! Thank you Rebecca! :)
I really hope we continue to do events like this in the future. It was very practical & informative for everyone involved! Thank you Rebecca! :)
Friday, May 16, 2008
"Tampa Weekend Film School" Update
Daniel Brienza really is awesome. This is because, I really like the new business model they are pursuing for the Weekend Film School. To elaborate, I guess its not so much a business model as a strategy to make this network learning experience most effective to Tampa Bay filmmakers.
First of all, their mission is for the group to start making films together. Second, the way they want to do this is to break the entire network up into four more manageable teams (based on the basic teams in the filmmaking process).
The teams are as follows:
1. Scriptwriting
2. Acting
3. Pre-Production/Production
4. Post-Production
Then, after these phases of training within each team is done, the filming process might start taking place & hopefully, good films will ensue from this process. Sounds good to me!
At the last Tampa Bay Industry & Actors Network we signed up for our team so, hopefully there will be some emails going out soon to keep us up to date on upcoming team meetings.
(I hope it wont get in the way of "Electric Picasso")
:O
First of all, their mission is for the group to start making films together. Second, the way they want to do this is to break the entire network up into four more manageable teams (based on the basic teams in the filmmaking process).
The teams are as follows:
1. Scriptwriting
2. Acting
3. Pre-Production/Production
4. Post-Production
Then, after these phases of training within each team is done, the filming process might start taking place & hopefully, good films will ensue from this process. Sounds good to me!
At the last Tampa Bay Industry & Actors Network we signed up for our team so, hopefully there will be some emails going out soon to keep us up to date on upcoming team meetings.
(I hope it wont get in the way of "Electric Picasso")
:O
Monday, April 7, 2008
The first Tampa Bay area film school experience ever??!
While there actually had been a studio in St. Petersburg as far back as 1933 (called Sun Haven Studios) who made three films (Chloe- Love is Calling You, Playthings of Desire, & The Hired Wife), there has to my knowledge never been a film school in the Tampa Bay area... even after USF students & faculty have attempted to start one for decades now. The first (what appears to be) film school experience seems to be coming out of Tampa called the "Tampa Weekend Film School", run by popular locals, Daniel Brienza & the Guzzo Bros. of the Tampa Film Review, Tampa Digital Studios & 1 Day Films. The program, which is not run like a college or a state run school is (so far, fashioned in a very economically sound way) to be run in a weekend session, like a hands-on film school with very affordable prices! Sessions are, however, only taking place every six months or so.
I have yet to attend because I would like to go with a group (you get a discount if you come with a team of 5-10 people). So, if anyone is interested in going with me as a team member in my group we will go together and you should be able to get in for as little as $30 to $50 per person/session!
They have yet to announce the new dates for their next session. Although they seem to be having specialty classes (such as a screen writers class they just had the first week in april) now as well, I hope this doesn't mean they are changing their format to continue doing only specialty classes (& no longer having the team experience). I have to say though, regardless, I am (so so) excited that there is now a film school experience of some sort in the Tampa Bay area and I would be honored to attend with any of my friends or co-workers!
Yay!
:)
I have yet to attend because I would like to go with a group (you get a discount if you come with a team of 5-10 people). So, if anyone is interested in going with me as a team member in my group we will go together and you should be able to get in for as little as $30 to $50 per person/session!
They have yet to announce the new dates for their next session. Although they seem to be having specialty classes (such as a screen writers class they just had the first week in april) now as well, I hope this doesn't mean they are changing their format to continue doing only specialty classes (& no longer having the team experience). I have to say though, regardless, I am (so so) excited that there is now a film school experience of some sort in the Tampa Bay area and I would be honored to attend with any of my friends or co-workers!
Yay!
:)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)