Welcome & orientation

Distribution of the full Course Syllabus

Overview of what the course includes

Setting clear expectations for the course

Understanding the creative and logistical responsibilities of a director

Acknowledging the complexity of directing — both artistic and practical

In-Class Scene Breakdown & Discussion:

Group analysis of a selected film scene

Identify objectives, subtext, obstacles, and directorial choices

Introduction to the 3-Act Structure

The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet explained

Overview of common beat sheet formats

How story structure shapes emotion and meaning

The director’s role in interpreting written beats into visual moments

Understanding structure as a storytelling tool, not a formula

In-Class Film Breakdown & Discussion using a beat sheet

Writing a logline that captures the essence of your story

Understanding the difference between tagline, logline, synopsis, and treatment

Introduction to scene writing and what makes a scene dramatic

Types of scenes: expositional, conflict-driven, transitional, climactic

How each level of writing serves the director’s understanding of story and tone

Recognizing what makes a scene function within the larger arc

Identifying the emotional core and conflict of a scene

In-Class Breakdown of a scene:

Analyze how logline → synopsis → treatment → scene are all connected

In-Class Discussion:

Review Ideas for Semester One Film

How to format a screenplay professionally

Understanding and applying:
▪ Sluglines (scene headings)
▪ Action lines (visual descriptions)
▪ Character cues
▪ Dialogue
▪ Extensions (O.S., V.O., CONT’D, etc.)
▪ Parentheticals (how a line is delivered)
▪ Other industry-standard formatting elements (transitions, shots, etc.)

Translating intention into clear, visual writing

How formatting supports directorial clarity

Avoiding common screenwriting mistakes that limit interpretation

In-Class Discussion:

Review Log Lines and Synopsis

Discussion on how formatting choices affect performance and directing

How to read and interpret a beat sheet as a director

Analyzing how beats influence scene construction and pacing

First Production Workshop session: shifting from theory to practice

Learning to identify beats visually and emotionally

Understanding how to direct from a written structure

Developing a critical eye as a filmmaker

In-Class Exercise:

Critique and discussion of the 5-second story assignments

Peer feedback and analysis: clarity, visual storytelling, emotional impact

Practical insights on what makes micro-narratives work

Overview of different types of films (Features, Shorts, narrative, documentary, experimental, commercial, etc.)

Exploration of film genres and how they influence directing choices

Understanding theme as the emotional and philosophical core of a film

Introduction to crew positions on set and their responsibilities

Breakdown of a call sheet and how a shoot is organized

Recognizing how genre and theme inform tone, style, and visual language

Learning how to collaborate effectively with crew

Understanding the hierarchy and communication flow on a professional set

Review Assignments

Types of producers (Produced by, creative producer, line producer, executive producer, etc.)

The five stages of production:

▪ Development

▪ Pre-production

▪ Production

▪ Post-production

▪ Distribution

Basics of budgeting and understanding where the money goes

Intro to scheduling tools and the importance of timing

Overview of contracts and production forms (location releases, actor agreements, etc.)

Understanding the producer’s impact on creative and logistical success

Balancing artistic vision with financial and legal responsibilities

Gaining insight into the paperwork behind every production

In-Class Exercise:

Walkthrough of a sample budget and shooting schedule

Group discussion on real-world producer challenges and solutions

The role of the director throughout all stages of filmmaking:
▪ Development
▪ Pre-production
▪ Production
▪ Post-production
▪ Distribution

What goes into a Director’s Binder:
▪ Beat sheet
▪ Storyboard
▪ Overhead diagrams
▪ Shot list
▪ Casting notes / Audition materials
▪ Rehearsal plans
▪ More

Understanding how the Director’s Binder becomes the creative and logistical blueprint for a shoot

Learning how to communicate vision clearly to crew and cast

Preparing to take control on set with confidence and clarity

In-Class Exercise:

Walkthrough of the “Going for a Take” protocol:
▪ Quiet on set
▪ Sound rolling
▪ Camera rolling
▪ Mark it
▪ Action!

Begin assembling mock director binders using short scene material

Definition and breakdown of mise en scène:
▪ Set design
▪ Lighting
▪ Costume
▪ Blocking
▪ Framing
▪ Camera movement

How mise en scène communicates tone, emotion, and subtext

Analysis of scenes where mise en scène plays a dominant role

Understanding how every visual element contributes to storytelling

Learning to compose meaning within the frame

Director’s role in shaping and controlling mise en scène on set

In-Class Exercise:

Breakdown of iconic film stills and scenes

Practical application of mise en scène concepts introduced in Class 9

Translating theory into visual design choices on set

Working with space, props, lighting, and actor positioning

Deepening your ability to craft meaning through visuals

Making intentional directorial decisions about what’s in the frame and why

Collaborating with crew to execute a cohesive visual plan

Understanding film aesthetics as a blend of style, mood, and tone

Exploring the relationship between content and film form

Overview of film styles (realism, expressionism, minimalism, surrealism, etc.)

Defining and identifying subtext in scenes and performances

Examining different points of view:
▪ Subjective POV (through a character’s emotional or visual lens)
▪ Objective POV (neutral, observational camera)

How directors use form and style to shape audience emotion

Recognizing and crafting layers of meaning beneath dialogue

Choosing the right POV to align the audience with character or theme

Scene analysis: identifying subtext and POV

Rewriting a short scene from objective → subjective POV and discussing the change in effect

Defining a beat and its role in scene rhythm and performance

Using action verbs to clarify objectives and intentions

Exploring adjustments directors give to actors

Tapping into personal associations for emotional truth

Understanding and identifying subtext through behavior and tone

Engaging the 5 senses to deepen performance and direction

Creating and using a Beat Chart / Beat Sheet

Marking and identifying beats in a script

Directing actors through emotional shifts and intentions

Recognizing how every line or moment carries a beat

Learning to break down scenes into active, playable moments

In-Class Exercise:

Students mark beats on a selected scene

Group discussion and presentation of different interpretations

Practice giving actionable adjustments using verbs and sensory cues

The editor’s role in shaping performance, rhythm, and story

Key editing principles:
▪ 180-Degree Rule
▪ Eyeline matching
▪ Eye trace
▪ 30-Degree Rule
▪ Shot–reverse–shot
▪ Match cuts
▪ Cutaway shots
▪ Cross-cutting / Parallel editing
▪ Dissolves & fades
▪ J & L cuts
▪ Jump cuts
▪ Montage techniques and meaning

Introduction to Walter Murch’s Rule of Six – the six priorities when making a cut:

▪ Emotion
▪ Story
▪ Rhythm
▪ Eye trace
▪ 2D plane of screen
▪ 3D space of action

Understanding how editing supports continuity and emotional clarity

Recognizing when to follow or break the rules for creative effect

Applying Murch’s Rule of Six as a directing mindset, not just an editing tool

In-Class Exercise:

Scene screening and editing breakdown

Students identify the use (or violation) of each rule

Discussion: how does editing change tone, performance, or story?

How to build a shot list as a planning and communication tool

Creating overhead diagrams to map blocking and camera movement

Introduction to storyboarding: visualizing the scene before shooting

Camera shot sizes:
▪ Extreme wide
▪ Wide
▪ Medium
▪ Close-up
▪ Extreme close-up

Types of camera shot framing:
▪ Over-the-shoulder
▪ POV
▪ Two-shot
▪ Insert
▪ Tracking / dolly / handheld framing

Basics of camera focus techniques:
▪ Deep focus
▪ Shallow focus
▪ Rack focus

How a director translates intention into camera choices

Using framing and focus to shape emotion, rhythm, and meaning

Preparing clear visual tools to communicate with your cinematographer and crew

In-Class Exercise:

Students create a shot list and storyboard for a short scripted scene

Practice drawing overheads and identifying shot sizes from reference scenes

Understanding continuity in performance, props, wardrobe, and movement

Planning coverage to ensure flexibility in the edit:
▪ Master shot
▪ Mediums
▪ Close-ups
▪ Inserts
▪ Cutaways

How to direct actors and camera to maintain spatial and emotional consistency

Importance of shot overlap and matching action

Shooting with the edit in mind

Balancing artistic intent with practical shooting needs

Recognizing common continuity pitfalls on set

In-Class Exercise:

Production workshop: students direct and shoot a short scene using full coverage

Focus on matching action, maintaining continuity, and executing planned shot lists

What is a camera shot angle and how it affects perspective and power dynamics

Common camera angles:
▪ High angle
▪ Low angle
▪ Dutch angle
▪ Bird’s-eye view
▪ Worm’s-eye view
▪ Over-the-shoulder
▪ Point-of-view

Camera movement techniques:
▪ Pan
▪ Tilt
▪ Dolly
▪ Truck
▪ Handheld
▪ Steadicam
▪ Crane
▪ Zoom vs. dolly-in

Camera mechanisms and gear:
▪ Tripod
▪ Gimbal
▪ Slider
▪ Shoulder rig
▪ Drone

Introduction to camera lenses:
▪ Wide-angle
▪ Standard
▪ Telephoto
▪ Prime vs. zoom lenses
▪ Focal length and depth of field

Understanding how camera choices influence emotion, tension, and perspective

Selecting the right combination of angle, movement, and lens for storytelling impact

Review of key concepts:
▪ What is a beat?
▪ How to use a beat sheet/chart to map character objectives and emotional shifts
▪ How beats relate to blocking, camera choices, and actor direction

Deepening your understanding of beats through hands-on exercises

Moving from theory to practical application

Learning to read a scene moment by moment

Recognizing how beat structure supports rhythm, tension, and performance

In-Class Exercise:

Students work in pairs to analyze and mark beats in a selected scene of their upcoming semester film

Create a beat chart with action verbs, subtext, and adjustments

Group presentations: compare beat interpretations and discuss directorial choices

Introduction to the emotional and visual power of light in storytelling

Types of lighting setups:
▪ Natural lighting
▪ Available light
▪ Practical lights
▪ High-key vs. low-key lighting
▪ Hard vs. soft light

Understanding the three-point lighting system:
▪ Key light
▪ Fill light
▪ Backlight

Exploring motivated lighting (light that appears to come from a source within the scene)

Creative uses of color temperature, direction, and shadows

How lighting influences mood, realism, and tone

Learning to light for emotion, not just exposure

How directors communicate lighting intentions to the cinematographer

What is cinematography and how it shapes the audience’s emotional experience

The importance of camera placement in storytelling and blocking

Revisiting camera framing to enhance mood, power dynamics, and focus

Introduction to the Exposure Triangle:
▪ ISO
▪ Aperture (f-stop)
▪ Shutter speed

Using camera lens filters:
▪ ND filters
▪ Polarizers
▪ Diffusion filters
▪ Creative filters

Understanding white balance and how to control color temperature
▪ Warm vs. cool tones
▪ Mixed lighting environments
▪ Consistency across shots

Gaining technical awareness of how the camera “sees”

Making intentional visual decisions based on story needs

Collaborating with cinematographers using shared terminology and goals

Merging emotional subtext with visual storytelling

Deepening the director’s role as a visual and emotional interpreter of the script

Reading between the lines: uncovering the hidden layers beneath simple dialogue

Workshop Process:

Students receive a one-page screenplay with surface-level dialogue

Identify beats, intentions, and underlying subtext

Create a personalized beat sheet to guide performance and direction

Design visual language that supports subtext:
▪ Lighting
▪ Framing
▪ Blocking
▪ Camera movement
▪ Lens and color choices

Treating cinematography as a storytelling tool, not just visual style

Directing a scene that communicates why the moment matters, not just what happens

Balancing technical execution with emotional authenticity

Students direct a complete scene (beginning, middle, end) on location

Execute full visual plan using chosen gear (camera, lenses, lighting, support)

Group critique focused on subtext, performance, and visual intention

The role of the Casting Director in film production

How to attach talent strategically to attract other collaborators, funding, or interest

The full casting process:
▪ Creating character breakdowns
▪ Posting casting calls
▪ Pre-screening and auditions
▪ Callbacks and final selections

Working with professional actors:
▪ How to find and approach them
▪ Benefits of hiring experienced talent: professionalism, presence, reliability
▪ Understanding contracts, availability, and collaboration expectations

Writing an effective Character Breakdown:
▪ Age, appearance, emotional profile
▪ Objectives, conflicts, essence
▪ Tone and physical requirements

Seeing casting as a creative extension of directing

Learning to recognize the right actor beyond “looks”

Preparing to communicate clearly and respectfully with talent

Full recap of core concepts from Classes 1–21
▪ Screenwriting structure and beat sheets
▪ Mise en scène and visual language
▪ Directing actors and subtext
▪ Cinematography fundamentals and storytelling
▪ Editing principles and production workflows

Reviewing essential pre-production tools:
▪ Director’s binder
▪ Shot list, overheads, and storyboards
▪ Beat charts and rehearsal plans
▪ Casting, scheduling, and location planning

Transitioning from theory and exercises to a fully executed short film

Setting expectations for directing, crew coordination, and creative decision-making

Clarifying roles, deliverables, and production timelines for the semester project

Introduction to the 7 Visual Elements of Cinema:
▪ Space
▪ Shape
▪ Line
▪ Tone
▪ Color
▪ Movement
▪ Rhythm

Space:
▪ Positive and negative space – balance, isolation, and tension
▪ Deep space and the use of depth cues
▪ Perspective – how the camera and composition create dimensionality
▪ Size difference – using scale to communicate power and emotional distance
▪ Textural and aerial diffusion – how contrast and focus simulate depth
▪ Illusory depth – tricks that make a 2D image feel 3D
▪ Object movement – how characters and objects move through space

Shape:
▪ Geometric and organic shapes
▪ Shape change – how forms evolve in a frame to reflect emotional shifts
▪ Symbolic associations of shape in film (e.g., triangles for instability, circles for harmony)

Learning how space and shape create visual depth, emotion, and meaning

Seeing the frame as a designed environment, not just a place to put actors

Recognizing how directors and DPs sculpt space through framing, blocking, and movement

Continued exploration of the 7 Visual Elements of Cinema

Focus on Tone, Line, and Shape

Definition of tone in visual storytelling (light vs. dark, value range)

Understanding Contrast & Affinity in tone:
▪ High contrast = tension, drama, clarity
▪ High affinity = calm, subtlety, uniformity

Principle of Contrast & Affinity:
▪ How contrast and similarity create emotional rhythm in editing, composition, and performance
▪ How tone guides focus and emotional weight in a frame

Exploring Lines and Shapes: how visual lines direct attention and energy

Types of line-based perception:
▪ Edge – where two tones meet
▪ Contour – perceived border of an object
▪ Closure – implied line by object grouping
▪ Intersection of planes – where surfaces meet
▪ Imitation through distance – how far-apart objects align as perceived lines

Structural tools:
▪ Axis – direction of movement or orientation
▪ Track – implied or literal movement path
▪ Linear motif – repeated or symbolic line forms

Contrast & Affinity in Line – straight vs. curved, vertical vs. diagonal, chaotic vs. consistent

How shadows create or obscure shapes

Understanding how lighting, contrast, and composition alter the perception of form

Using shape and shadow to reinforce theme, emotion, or mystery

Learning to see and use tone, line, and shape as expressive visual tools

Understanding how visual contrast and consistency influence the audience’s emotional response

Recognizing how each element interacts within the frame

Definition of Subtext:
▪ What is left unsaid but deeply felt
▪ The emotional, psychological, or thematic meaning beneath the surface of dialogue and action

Direct Synonyms & Understanding Subtext:
▪ Implication
▪ Underlying emotion
▪ Intention behind the words
▪ Double meaning / coded meaning
▪ Internal conflict

Subtext in Dialogue and Performance:
▪ Saying one thing while feeling another
▪ How tone, timing, and behavior reveal the truth
▪ Using body language, silence, and non-verbal cues
▪ How directors help actors discover and play subtext

Subtext in Writing and Analysis:
▪ Identifying beats and objectives
▪ Asking “what is the character really trying to say?”
▪ Using action verbs and adjustments to unlock meaning
▪ Layering subtext into screenplay scenes or directorial notes

Training yourself as a director to see what’s not on the page

Guiding actors toward authentic emotional depth

Interpreting scripts and scenes through behavior, rhythm, and silence

Light as the foundation of color
▪ Relationship between light and photography
▪ Understanding color temperature and Degrees Kelvin
▪ Warm light vs. cool light and how it affects emotion

Color Systems & Identification
▪ RGB vs. CMYK vs. additive/subtractive color models
▪ How monitors display and mix color
▪ Identifying and selecting color intentionally in pre-production

The Basic Components of Color:
▪ Hue – the color itself
▪ Brightness (Value) – how light or dark it is
▪ Saturation – how intense or muted the color is

Contrast & Affinity in Color
▪ How contrast in hue, value, and saturation creates emotional tension
▪ How affinity creates subtlety and calmness

Color Harmony Techniques:
▪ Complementary colors – opposites that create contrast (e.g., red/green, blue/orange)
▪ Analogous colors – side-by-side on the wheel for smooth, cohesive looks
▪ Hue mixed with black (shade) or white (tint) for control and atmosphere

Understanding color as an emotional and thematic tool

Recognizing how directors and cinematographers use color to guide tone and story

Becoming fluent in the language of color design

Types of Movement in cinematic storytelling:
▪ Actual Movement – real motion captured on screen
▪ Apparent Movement – perceived motion created by editing or framing
▪ Induced Movement – when the viewer feels movement even when nothing moves
▪ Relative Movement – how one object moves in relation to another

Simple vs. Complex Movement
▪ One-directional vs. multidirectional or layered motion
▪ Tracking multiple elements in the frame

Movement in the Screen World
▪ Object movement – characters, props, vehicles
▪ Camera movement – pan, tilt, dolly, handheld, etc.
▪ Point-of-attention movement – guiding the viewer’s eye

Movement’s Contrast & Affinity
▪ Slow vs. fast, smooth vs. shaky
▪ How consistency or contrast in movement creates rhythm, emotion, or tension

Movement in Context:
▪ Movement of a single object vs. object + moving background
▪ Use of foreground/midground/background for layered motion
▪ Continuum of movement:

Within the shot – continuous motion in a single frame

From shot to shot – motion connected through editing and continuity

Controlling Movement in Production
▪ How blocking, framing, and choreography work together
▪ Communicating motion effectively to actors and crew

Understanding movement as a visual rhythm and emotional driver

Learning to guide the viewer’s attention with deliberate motion

Combining object, camera, and edit movement for maximum impact

Introduction to Rhythm as a visual and emotional pattern in film

Core concepts:
▪ Alternation 
▪ Repetition
▪ Tempo

Types of Rhythm in Film:
▪ Rhythm of Stationary Objects – visual arrangement, size, spacing
▪ Rhythm of Moving Objects – movement patterns across the frame
▪ Primary rhythm – dominant movement or pacing element in a scene
▪ Secondary rhythm – supporting movement or pacing that creates texture

Editorial Rhythm:
▪ Timing of cuts and transitions
▪ Creating rhythm through shot duration and juxtaposition
▪ Managing pace using the event structure:

The Event – a moment with emotional or narrative significance

The Continuous Event – uninterrupted action or experience

The Fragmented Event – broken or stylized for effect (montage, nonlinear storytelling)

Rhythmic Patterns:
▪ Using visual and narrative rhythm to mirror tone or theme
▪ Examples in action, drama, comedy, and experimental film

Contrast & Affinity in Rhythm:
▪ High tempo vs. slow tempo
▪ Chaotic vs. predictable rhythm
▪ How rhythm builds energy, suspense, or calm

Controlling Rhythm During Production:
▪ Timing of actor movement and blocking
▪ Dialogue pacing and pauses
▪ Camera motion and shot duration
▪ Planning rhythm visually and emotionally before entering post

Understanding rhythm as a cinematic pulse that drives engagement

Recognizing that rhythm isn’t just an editorial tool—it’s shaped from the moment you block a scene

Creating intentional, meaningful rhythms across all visual and narrative layers

Deep dive into script analysis from a director’s perspective

Breaking down a scene or full short script with focus on:
▪ Beats – emotional and narrative shifts
▪ Subtext – what’s really being said beneath the dialogue
▪ Intentions, obstacles, and turning points

Reading and interpreting new scripts

Understanding how to develop directorial vision based on the script’s structure and tone

Exploring different directing approaches for the same material

Building confidence in analyzing and interpreting scripts

Recognizing how writing informs visual and emotional decisions

Learning to collaborate with writers or rework scripts for directing clarity

In-Class Exercise:

Group script breakdown: students analyze beats and subtext in a provided scene

Begin working on new scripts (either originals or peer-written scenes)

Present interpretations and directorial approaches in small groups

In-class editing session focused on students’ short film drafts

Reviewing and analyzing first cuts with a critical eye toward:
▪ Pacing and rhythm
▪ Continuity and flow
▪ Emotional clarity
▪ Scene transitions and structure
▪ Sound design and performance timing

Identifying editing challenges and discussing creative or technical solutions

Group feedback sessions for collaborative input and director insight

Learning to step back and evaluate your own work as a director

Understanding the editing room as the final rewrite of the film

Using feedback constructively to guide the next cut

In-Class Exercise:

Each student presents their short film draft or selected scenes

Group and instructor feedback with time-stamped notes

Begin live revisions or note-taking for the next round of edits

Understanding Production Design as a storytelling tool

Role of the Art Department and collaboration with the director

Key Production Design Decisions:
▪ Setting the mood and emotional tone
▪ Reflecting character through space, objects, and color
▪ Supporting theme through design choices

Production Design Tips for directors:
▪ Working with limited budgets and real locations
▪ Using symbolism, texture, and color to create atmosphere
▪ Coordinating design with cinematography and costume

Script Breakdown for Design:
▪ Identifying props, set dressing, visual metaphors
▪ Translating the story into visual language

Creating a Mood Board:
▪ Gathering reference images, palettes, textures, and objects
▪ Communicating tone, world, and emotional intent

Building the Director’s Lookbook:
▪ A visual guide to the film’s world
▪ Includes mood boards, character references, locations, frame examples, lighting inspiration, etc.

Empowering directors to guide the visual identity of their projects

Learning to communicate design vision effectively to the art department

Bridging the gap between story and visual execution

Role of the Costume Designer in film production

Structure and responsibilities of the Costume Department
▪ Collaborating with the director and production designer
▪ Working with actors during fittings and rehearsals
▪ Managing wardrobe continuity across scenes and days

How costumes support:
▪ Tone – setting the emotional and stylistic atmosphere
▪ Theme – reinforcing the film’s message or motif
▪ Character arcs – showing internal transformation through visual change
▪ Setting – time period, culture, social context
▪ Plot – signaling transitions, revelations, or symbolism

Research:
▪ Historical references, mood boards, real-world inspiration
▪ Aligning wardrobe with the film’s world and tone

Costume Designer Tools:
▪ Character wardrobe charts
▪ Costume breakdowns per scene
▪ Color palettes and fabric swatches
▪ Fitting notes and on-set continuity forms

Tips for Your Costume Design:
▪ Don’t dress the actor — dress the character
▪ Collaborate with cinematography and production design for color balance
▪ Use costume changes to mark story progression

Seeing costume as a storytelling layer, not decoration

Learning how wardrobe shapes perception, emotion, and believability

Developing the ability to give clear costume direction as a filmmaker

Overview of the Hair & Makeup Department
▪ Roles of key artists: hairstylist, makeup artist, SPFX makeup specialist
▪ Collaboration with director, costume designer, and production design

Creating a Hair & Makeup Schedule
▪ Timing around shoot days, continuity, and actor prep
▪ Coordinating looks across multiple shooting days and emotional arcs

Hair Styling as Visual Language
▪ Symbolism in hair: power, decay, transformation, culture
▪ How hair evolves with character development

Makeup Techniques
▪ Natural, stylized, period, or narrative-driven looks
▪ Matching skin tones to lighting and camera setups
▪ Gender, aging, and psychological cues through makeup

Introduction to SPFX Makeup (Special Effects Makeup):
▪ Bruises, wounds, scars, blood, aging, fantasy/sci-fi elements
▪ Working with prosthetics, latex, and airbrush techniques
▪ Safety and comfort of the actor

What Are Practical Effects?
▪ Real, in-camera effects created on set without CGI
▪ Examples: fake blood, smoke machines, breakaway glass, squibs, body doubles
▪ When and why to use practical vs. digital effects

Seeing hair and makeup as essential narrative and symbolic tools

Learning to work with professionals to maintain visual continuity and believability

Exploring practical effects as tactile storytelling choices that enhance immersion

The Basics of Digital Video Color
▪ How cameras capture and interpret color
▪ Understanding color profiles, LUTs, and log footage

Role of the Colorist
▪ Collaborating with directors and cinematographers
▪ Technical and creative responsibility for the film’s final look

Color Theory & Color in Films
▪ Emotional and psychological use of color
▪ Examples of color theory in iconic scenes
▪ Color as a tool for tone, time, memory, and symbolism

Software & Equipment
▪ Introduction to color grading software: DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro
▪ Monitors, scopes, and calibration basics

Communication & Collaboration
▪ How to give effective direction to a colorist
▪ Using references, tone guides, and clear terminology

Key Processes:
▪ Color Correction – fixing white balance, exposure, contrast, matching shots
▪ Color Grading – stylizing and enhancing the image for mood and storytelling
▪ Common terms: LUTs, contrast ratio, lift/gamma/gain, saturation, shadows/highlights

The Color Process – Step-by-Step

Learning to see color not just as decoration, but as a storytelling layer

Understanding the technical and emotional power of color correction and grading

Becoming comfortable with the vocabulary and process of working with a colorist

Practical, in-class workshop focused on refining students’ short films

Continued work on editing structure and pacing
▪ Fine-tuning cuts, transitions, rhythm
▪ Emphasizing performance, tone, and visual clarity
▪ Tightening narrative flow

Hands-on work with color correction and grading
▪ Applying what was learned in Class 34
▪ Correcting exposure, white balance, and skin tones
▪ Experimenting with looks, moods, and contrast levels

One-on-one and group support:
▪ Instructor feedback on cuts and color choices
▪ Peer review and collaborative refinement

Bringing together the technical and creative layers of post-production

Learning to make decisive visual and editorial choices

Understanding how color and rhythm work together to finalize tone

Roles and Responsibilities:
▪ Supervising Sound Editor – overseeing post-production sound
▪ Introduction to Sound Design – crafting mood, realism, and emotion through sound

Sound Editing vs. Sound Mixing:
▪ Sound Editing – collecting, organizing, and shaping sound elements
▪ Sound Mixing – balancing levels, EQ, space, and depth in the final mix

Types of Sound in Film:
▪ Diegetic Sound – originates within the story world (dialogue, footsteps, gunshots)
▪ Non-Diegetic Sound – outside the world (music score, narrator, mood cues)
▪ Analysis: how filmmakers use both types to manipulate audience perception

ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) – re-recording lines in post for clarity or performance

Audio Recording Systems:
▪ Field recorders, dual system sync, onboard vs. external recording
▪ Boom mic vs. lav mic setups

Unwanted Noise Types:
▪ Handling wind, buzz, hiss, handling noise, and echoes
▪ Importance of clean location sound

Microphone Types:
▪ Shotgun mic
▪ Lavalier mic
▪ Condenser vs. dynamic
▪ Directional vs. omnidirectional

Tips for Directors on Set:
▪ Always monitor sound during takes
▪ Keep quiet on set, especially during emotional beats
▪ Record room tone and wild lines

MOS (Mit Out Sound):
▪ What is MOS and when is it used?
▪ Advantages: easier focus on visuals, faster setups
▪ Disadvantages: loss of natural sound, reliance on post-sync

Training your director’s ear for clean, expressive sound

Understanding sound as a narrative and emotional tool, not just technical necessity

Making informed decisions about recording, editing, and mixing

The role of music in film:
▪ Creating emotion, tension, rhythm, and theme
▪ Supporting story arcs and transitions
▪ Influencing the viewer’s subconscious experience

How music connects visuals:
▪ Connecting scenes & montages through tone or rhythm
▪ The Kuleshov Effect – how music alters the meaning of an image
▪ The power of silence – when not using music becomes the most powerful choice

Narrative functions of music:
▪ Leitmotif – recurring musical themes tied to characters or ideas
▪ Let music carry the scene – when dialogue steps back and music leads
▪ Embrace the symphony – understanding how musical layers reflect emotional complexity
▪ Illustrating movement – visual and auditory rhythm working together
▪ Portraying emotions – direct access to the audience’s heart
▪ Commenting – when music offers contrast or irony to the image
▪ Creating atmosphere – genre, mood, energy

Music as cultural tool:
▪ Embedding social, cultural, and geographic context
▪ Referencing time period, location, or tradition

Manipulation and Suspense:
▪ How music manipulates tension and expectation
▪ Techniques used in thrillers, horror, drama

Music Licensing:
▪ What is music licensing and why it’s essential
▪ Royalty-free vs. licensed tracks
▪ Understanding rights: sync license, master license, and public domain
▪ Tips for working with composers or sourcing tracks legally

🧠 Key Focus:

Seeing music as a storytelling language in its own right

Making intentional decisions about when, why, and how to use music

Understanding the legal and creative responsibilities around using music in your film

🎯 In-Class Exercise:

Watch the same scene with different music tracks (or no music) and compare interpretations

Students select a short scene and choose or assign music to support the tone

Group discussion on tone, genre, emotional shift, and ethical/legal usage

Point of View (POV) in Filmmaking

Types of Narrative POV:
▪ First Person POV
▪ Second Person POV 
▪ Third Person POV 

POV in Visual Storytelling:
▪ Subjective POV
▪ Objective POV

POV Meaning and Purpose

How to Choose the Right POV for Your Film:

The Director’s Statement

What is a Director’s Statement?

What goes inside a Director’s Statement?
▪ Thematic intention 
▪ Personal connection
▪ Style and approach
▪ Tone and mood
▪ Visual and narrative POV – what perspective the story takes
▪ Creative influences 
▪ Final takeaway – what you hope the audience feels, thinks, or questions

Understanding POV as a director’s narrative weapon

• Writing a clear, emotional, and articulate Director’s Statement that expresses vision and voice
  
  Delivering a compelling Pitch
  
  Types of Pitches
• ▪ Pitch Deck
  ▪ Rip-o-matic
• ▪ Business Plan
• ▪ The Budget & Finance Plan
• ▪ Investors
• ▪ Pitching to Studios
• ▪ Sources

Understanding POV as a Cinematic Tool
▪ Every shot expresses a point of view, consciously or subconsciously
▪ Narrative POV shifts across shots, characters, and emotional beats
▪ The cumulative effect of POV influences how audiences interpret a scene

Visual Techniques for POV Construction:
▪ POV shot design and the illusion of perspective
▪ Camera placement and how it shapes allegiance
▪ The 180-degree rule as a tool to control viewer orientation
▪ Shot size and framing to reflect emotional proximity
▪ Over-the-shoulder constructions for perspective and power dynamics
▪ In-depth staging vs. linear blocking
▪ Lens choice and how it distorts or reveals subjectivity
▪ Sound design – emphasizing what the character hears or perceives

The POV Project Assignment:

Objective: Direct and edit a short, two-minute scene that expresses character POV through visual and sonic design.

Learning how directorial decisions create perspective

Exploring the invisible grammar of narrative stance

Understanding POV as a tool to shape tension, empathy, and theme

POV Project Screening & Feedback

Students present their two edited versions of the POV scene

Group viewing and critique focused on:
▪ Clarity and execution of point of view
▪ Use of camera, blocking, and sound design
▪ Emotional impact and shift between perspectives

Instructor feedback on storytelling, technique, and edit choices

Final Film Greenlight Session

Each student presents the current status of their final short film, including:
▪ Script completion and scene breakdowns
▪ Casting & crew updates
▪ Locations, design, and production needs
▪ Lookbook, shot list, and beat sheet readiness
▪ Production calendar / proposed shooting dates
▪ Technical preparation (sound, camera, equipment)

Instructor “greenlights” projects that are ready to move forward
▪ Projects not yet ready will receive clear steps and a timeline to greenlight status

Turning ideas into actionable productions

Learning how to pitch and organize like a working director

Ensuring that creative vision aligns with production readiness