Film Production Program Project Timeline

Photo Essay

As an exercise in framing and composition, you will be tasked with creating a photo essay, a series of images linked by a common theme or story. You will be challenged to tell this story in 10 specific shots including: Close Up, Medium Close-Up, Dutch Angle and others.

Silent Film

As a visual medium, a film must primarily tell its story through imagery. As your first film project, you are asked to create a silent film. A film with no dialogue, but a clear story. This challenges you as a filmmaker to “show, not tell,” utilizing nothing but visual storytelling to engage your audience and start developing your artistic style.

Biography

Pointing a camera at others requires insight and understanding. That’s why you must learn to point a camera at yourself first. This project provides the opportunity to tell a pivotal moment or story in your life. This project presents authentic personal storytelling and should inform the way you write and direct moving forward.

Scene Study

Working with an existing script from a famous film, you will re-create the scene with an original vision and a focus on drawing a believable performance from the actors. It will also help you step into the shoes of some of cinema’s most influential Directors, emulating their vision from script to screen before you develop your own creative voice.

Studio Shoot

This will be your first chance to sit in the director’s chair. You will be assigned an existing script to add your own directorial style to. You can play with theme, tone, genre and story elements to completely recreate it. This film will be shot exclusively at InFocus Film School’s film studio.

Web Short

You will write and direct your own short film. Learn how to find locations as well as source and cast independent actors. Films will be shot over one full day. Each director will rotate into other key roles like cinematography, lighting, sound, producing and assistant directing to support their classmates, giving you an expansive experience on all the main on-set positions. Directors will also edit their own web shorts.

Documentary Portrait

After pitching your story idea, students will direct and edit a documentary portrait, a short film highlighting an inspiring or interesting person, organization, or cause in the community. Develop your skills in lighting and filming interviews and learn how to ask questions in a way that allows your subject to be vulnerable and engaging for your story.

One Shot Sequence

Students are challenged to shoot a oner–or one shot sequence–a scene that takes place all in one shot. Lasting 45-60 seconds, this sequence must incorporate movement and several different shot sizes, such as close-up, medium, and wide shots.

Painting with Light

Learn how to work with classmates to create atmosphere and mood using only lighting and camera techniques. Use light as a character in the scene and experiment with unique shot composition.

Music Video

Work with an independent music artist. You will collaborate on a vision you both feel will best serve one of their songs. The video will showcase the best of your cinematography, directing and visual storytelling skills to create a compelling narrative over music and lyrics.

Short Dramatic Film

Every student will write a screenplay for a festival-quality short film. Students are involved in all disciplines and may choose to specialize in their area of interest. This exhilarating process will emulate bigger-scale productions and what it’s like to work on an authentic independent film set. Grad films will be publicly screened at a state-of-the-art movie theatre with friends, family, mentors and industry professionals in attendance.

Demo Reel

In the final week, students create a demo reel in preparation for entering the industry.