Creating the Short Film

Creating the Short Film class is all about preparing students for the responsibilities and functions a director must successfully navigate in order to direct a polished short film. The core of the course will be the individual project. Imagination is the first step to a successful summer! The lessons learned in this class will help students finish a 5 – 7 minute narrative short, as well as, learn directing fundamentals that will help students discover how a director guides a film to completion including: Breaking down a scene Blocking the action Effective Shot Selection Directing the performance Fine-tuning the story in post-production The format of the course will be a combination of lectures and screenings. Students will also learn a number of other filmmaking tools – including: How to tell great stories Establish strong characters Acquiring the ability to communicate with the cast and crew Create a mise-en-scene Use innovative sound design Class sessions will also include tutorials on such topics as: Script Re-Writing Editing Production Sound Production Lighting Cinematography Pre-Production (storyboarding, casting, permits, and more) Non-Linear Avid editing Training As is done in all SCA production classes, students will join a small group of 3 – 4 filmmakers to bring the students’ vision to completion. Collaborating with other filmmakers in the spirit of teamwork will also allow students to gain valuable experience in other roles of filmmaking. Final films will be completed outside of class, so relying on the students within the group is essential. All necessary equipment and production resources will be available for student use, including: Digital cameras Tripods Lighting kits Sound kits AVID editing suites Access to free on-campus locations USC SCA Sound Stages Access to our Cinema Film Library (with over 13,000 films)