Directing - Directors Craft

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  • This course is open for 12 weeks
  • 12 lesson series
  • 4 hours, 57 minutes of video
  • Illustrated Companion Guides
  • Downloadable Class Materials
  • Industry-Leading Instructors

$99.00

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Once the director yells, “Action,” a dance begins between the actor and the camera. The director’s role is much more than that of directing the actors. The director must also craft the visual story by planning the coverage of each scene, blocking the camera and actors, and establish the overall look of the story.
 
In the FilmSkills Director’s Craft Course, you will learn the cinematic language and techniques for interpreting the story and crafting a visual experience that compliments the actors’ performances.  Learn how to begin a project, break down the script for story and character, plan the look of the visual story, properly shoot a scene, effectively block actors for both story and function, successfully utilize basic and advanced coverage techniques as well as how to storyboard and shot list your movie.
 
Go on set with a remarkable list of instructors whose TV shows and movies you see every day. Learn the craft of directing and bring your productions to the next level with the FilmSkills Director’s Craft Course.
The lessons
  • Script Supervisor

    Learn the duties and responsibilities of the script supervisor, from maintaining continuity to preparing the script notes.
  • A Director's Prep - Beginning the Project

    Learn how to begin the directing process, read the script for the first time, best prepare long before you even set foot on set, and how to breakdown the script for character and story.
  • How to Shoot a Scene

    Learn the process of how to shoot a scene: blocking, light, rehearse, tweak, and shoot.
  • Blocking Actors

    Learn how to block the actors, what story cues to look for, how to drive the blocking emotionally, and how to work with the actors to get the best physical performance possible.
  • Basic Coverage

    Learn the basic template for shooting the action in a scene - the master, coverage, inserts and cat-in-the-window shots, learn how to vary shot size to increase coverage, break the standard, plan for the edit, and ensure you get the coverage you need.
  • Advanced Coverage

    Learn how to craft a oner, create a psychological impact for each shot, create compelling establishing shots, manipulate the pacing and rhythm of a scene, determine the opening visual, and enhance transitions from one scene to the next.  
  • Directing a Chase Scene

    Television director Gil Bettman shows you how to direct a dynamic, exciting chase scene on a low budget.
  • Storyboards and Pre-Visualization

    Learn how to work with a storyboard artist, use pre-visualization software, know how detailed storyboards should be, creative restrictions to be aware of, how to create storyboards even if you can't draw, and when to use animatics.
  • Creating a Shotlist

    Learn how to create a shot list, location requirements, how to decide your shots, the elements in a shotlist, how the shot lists are used to schedule and budget a film, and to prepare for days when you go over schedule or over budget.
  • How to Create Invisible Camera Moves

    Veteran Director Gil Bettman reveals inside-industry techniques for creating dynamic, yet invisible camera moves that engage the audience.
  • Continuity and Script Notes

    Learn how the script supervisor tracks continuity and how to create a continuity notebook.
  • The Visual Story

    Learn how to use visual elements of shape, space, line, color, rhythm, movement and tone to frame the story.