GUERRILLA FILMMAKING BOOTCAMP

LOCATION:
WAREHOUSE THEATER
1021 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

DATES:
Three Saturdays: April 9, 16, 23 from 10am - 5pm.

DESCRIPTION:

Guerrilla Filmmaking Bootcamp is a three-day intensive hands-on workshop covering camera and lighting.  Over the course of the three days, students will work together under the instructors guidance to shoot a scene using professional video equipment. Students are also welcome to bring their own cameras. This will be a great opportunity for students who are beginners to get an intensive overview or a chance for intermediate filmmakers to learn how to get better results. The class will be fun, interactive and hands-on every step of the way. Topics will include:

WEEK 1 “Lights, Camera!”

Camera Driver’s Ed: Be smarter than your camera
Understand your camera and turn off everything “auto”
FIZ Focus-Iris Zoom
figuring out exposure , zebras, waveforms, setting up a monitor

Basic 3 point lighting
Pick camera position and talent look space
Cheat sheet
3 point lighting tips
Get away from the wall
Use long part of room
Soft Key
White wall=bad
Contrast ratios
3 point lighting review
Soft and hard lighting
When in doubt, look to the key light
Contrast range review
Types of light open face, Fresnel, Par
How to use a c stand

Bring gloves and tools if you have them for next week:
wire stripper or small knife
electrical tape
pliers
screwdrivers both regular and Phillips
meters or testers if you have them
sharpie


WEEK 2 “Light kit on the cheap”

Camera and sound
Camera as sound recorder
Setting levels

make your own dimmer
electrical testing equipment
Home depot light kit
Box light
White balance tricks
Improvise and build your own
Color balance textbook solutions & real world solutions.
Gimmicks, patterns, plants, slashes, fire, water, candle shadow,
flashlights, fake doors, fake windows, Light on a stick, smoke
When actors move on a budget

Depth of field vs Field of view
Pro 35 adapters, why we use them
Matte boxes filters and flares

Lighting On The Move
Inverse square law
Small instruments Vs large instruments
with small lights- make it work for you
Gels and diffusion types
Color temp
Specular reflections
Preproduction, Preproduction & Preproduction
Screen Direction (or scream direction)
Power and distribution (house power, tie ins & gennies)
Scouting locations for next week


WEEK 3 “light a complex scene”
More preproduction elements
Same place, different time
Smart lighting go wide then tight
Lighting diagrams
Battling shadows
Bad lighting
Area lighting
Light a space
Cheating
Lighting with one light
Lighting outside
You need a grip truck and all you have are 2 lights.
Reflector and 12x etiquette

Hands on class project: light a complex scene

CLASS SIZE LIMITED TO 15

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: NATE CLAPP
Nate has been an adjunct professor at American University teaching Production and Lighting and he currently serves as an instructor at Arilington Independent Media. He holds a MA in film from American University and a BA from Colby College.

Nate has significant experience as a cinematographer and assistant cameraman on major productions. His credits include:  

THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA directed by Ken Burns
– The Scripture of Nature: 1851-1890 (2009)
(assistant camera)

THE NINE LIVES OF MARION BARRY (TV documentary 2009)
(camera operator)

FRONTLINE (TV series documentary)
– Showdown with Iran (2007)
(Cinematographer)

NOVA SCIENCENOW (TV series documentary)
(camera operator - 3 episodes) (2005)

THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE (TV series documentary)
– RFK (2004)
(assistant camera)

K STREET (TV series HBO directed by Steven Soderbergh, Produced by George Clooney) (2003)
(first assistant camera - 10 episodes)


CLASS REFUND POLICY
If you cancel your registration for a class within 24 hours after your order, then you will receive a total refund. You must CONTACT THE HOST at the link above.  We cannot give credit toward future classes (sorry). The WFI reserves the right to drop classes that are undersubscribed. In such case, of course, a full refund will be issued.