syllabus

WEEK 1 – INSPIRATION

Meet your fellow filmmakers and explore the historic city of Lucca. The first assignments will encourage adventures throughout the city.

Introduction to the Tools

Master the Canon C300 Mk II using cinema prime lenses.

Discover quality sound using Sound Devices mixers and Lectrosonics Wireless.

Exposure, optics, camera operation, and production audio recording will be taught in hands-on sessions.

Post Production will cover Editing with DaVinci Resolve and Color Grading.

This will be a combination of classroom and field instruction culminating in a group project.

Filmmakers will be challenged to write their own artist manifestos and deeply reflect on why and how they make films.

For further inspiration, classes will contain screenings and discussions of Italian Cinema, experimental films, and documentaries. The first week includes a field trip. Previous trips have been to Pisa, Florence, Bologna, and the beaches of Viareggio.

WEEK 2 – CREATION

Filmmakers will each conceive their own project. Class time will be used for workshopping ideas. Afternoons are open for location scouting, casting, and writing.

Screenings, discussions, and technical lessons continue in response to student needs, skill levels, and interests. The instructors draw from their wide ranging curricula from prior academic teaching and professional production experience based on what the students are curious about.

This week includes a group project to shoot and develop 16mm/S8mm film. Students will learn how to load a Bolex camera and develop film by hand.

WEEK 3 – PRODUCTION

This week is spent filming final projects. Classes will meet as needed to provide production support.

Faculty will assist the resident filmmakers with their projects.  Students will work together as need arises on each project.

WEEK 4 – EDITING

The final week is dedicated to editing final films, critiquing edits, and preparing the final exhibition.

The program concludes with an outdoor exhibition/screening in a garden setting.