Film Production Courses

In this course, students will be introduced to academic writing styles with a thematic focus on current issues. This course will help students to express themselves clearly and correctly in written form. Students will critically analyse assigned readings and express their thoughts. The course will also focus on the development of an academic paper utilizing the APA style of documentation.

In this course, students will get the basic knowledge they need to shoot their first film. Students will learn about light, optics, composition and the science behind the moving image using both classic and modern films as examples. In addition, time and space, the psychology of film and storytelling techniques and methods are covered. Film conventions and film style with reference to modern filmmakers are also explored. Film making culture, vocabulary and tradition are emphasized as a foundation of film theory.

In FP 162, students will work in groups and as individuals as they take a hands-on approach to develop shooting and lighting strategies for their first dramatic, silent film project. Students will learn the correct and safe handling of basic movie equipment which includes; cameras, lenses, camera supports, light fixtures, lighting bulbs, light stands, light controlling instruments, dollies, dolly tracks, electrical cords, camera and lighting filters, light meters, and various other miscellaneous items.

In this course, students will learn how to produce and direct movies by making their very own film right away. Together with the faculty/producer, students will prepare for their first productions by pitching an idea, planning for the shoot and building a small crew. Storyboards, script breakdown, hiring procedures, location scouting, permits and budgets are all covered. Students will also become engaged in all stages of production, including basic directing techniques and using professional protocols and methods.

Editing is directing a film for the second time. Students will learn how to manipulate time and space by editing their own films plus professionally shot footage. Not only are students in this course introduced to the broad concepts of classical editing techniques and methods, they will get the hands-on experience necessary to understand the tools and technical aspects of editing. The artistic and creative realm of editing is also explored and developed.

Basic compositional concepts, lenses and manipulation of the image with computers are introduced. Students will use digital cameras and the Photoshop platform to complete assignments and explore visual design.

Movies have been with us for over a century and each subsequent generation of filmmaker has left their mark on the style, form and structure of film. There is much we can learn from old films. In “The History of the Movies”, students will explore great films that still resonate with us today. How culture and history are reflected in the movies of their era, and how great films of the past have influenced popular culture, sets the stage for discussing the far-reaching importance of movies. From the invention of the moving image to the latest films of the modern era is explored.

Students will be introduced to various budgeting and scheduling models that are an integral part of the film production process and industry. Students will learn techniques for estimating and constructing budgets, as well as for developing realistic schedules. The business side of film production will be introduced, with an emphasis placed on set etiquette, contracts, movie marketing, legal terms and the complex world of financing.

In this course, students prepare to shoot their second film. Scenes and sequences are developed for a more sophisticated shooting and editing experience. Sound, as an additional and vital storytelling element, is introduced. Theories of sound, recording and microphones, along with more varied shooting strategies are explored.

In FP 262 – Cinematography and Sound, students will learn how to use a variety of more sophisticated movie equipment, such as higher end movie cameras, location sound recorders, various types of microphones and more advanced production equipment. In this primarily hands-on course, movie equipment is used and demonstrated in classes and workshops and then used by the students to make their Thesis film. Students must manage a larger crew and take on numerous other crew positions.

Students, together with their faculty/producer, will prepare film productions with a greater emphasis on production planning. Students will learn to utilize aspects such as storyboards, location scouting and using props and wardrobe for this longer narrative film. The end product involves the construction of a film through all stages of production using professional protocols and methods.

Students will employ more advanced editing techniques to the films they have shot. Sound editing and mixing is introduced. Balance and rhythm will be covered and used by students to tell their stories. Music and sound effects, as tools for dynamic and emotional emphasis, are also introduced.

In this course, students will learn the basics of script writing and classical storytelling by writing their own scripts, which they will actually shoot as short films. Story concepts, character development, plot and story progression are all explored. Students will write log lines, treatments, character sketches and screenplays utilizing industry standard formatting.

A bad performance and poor casting can ruin the most carefully composed and executed film, so a rudimentary understanding of the director's journey is required and fundamental to the success of any film project. This includes, understanding the needs of the actor and the techniques available when directing the actor. Also, many careers in film production that are not directing careers will nonetheless involve working with actors in some capacity.

Art Direction and Production Design will introduce students to the basics of these two distinct, yet complimentary professions. Locations, storyboards, props, set dressing and construction will all be studied from the perspective of the filmmaker. A historical appreciation of the craft will also be explored. Upon completion, students will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of all facets of production design.

Students will learn about the basic techniques and aesthetics behind the design and production of documentary, commercial and industrial films. The use of camera, lighting and sound in the interview will be stressed. Students will demonstrate proficiency with technical equipment and employ these skills on two short non-fiction productions. Different types of documentary films will be analyzed in class and critical writing skills developed.

This course centers on the shooting of the third film. Our advanced production theory course continues to develop the film maker's individual point of view. Schedules, budgets, locations and planning protocols are all combined to develop a broader technical understanding of the film production process. Ideas that unify a film - visual design, sound design and the use of the motif along with compound shots are also developed.

Advanced production supports further development of the film maker's skills. This includes learning more about radio microphones, digital sound recorders, the professional Arri Alexa and Amira, plus smaller specialized lighting instruments and complex gaffer equipment.

Students are introduced to larger crews with more attention to planning, continuity, performances and effective use of locations for the production of a more advanced thesis film. Industry standard documentation is utilized as part of the standard professional film production protocol.

Shot selection, timing and arrangement are all skills required for good editing. These skills will be explored utilizing action sequences and dialogue sequences in this project-based course. Shooting for editing as a concept will also be explored as well as the entire post production workflow from start to finish. Keying, compositing, tracking and matchmoving and other digital special effects techniques are all introduced and developed for the second year thesis film.

This course reinforces but also expands on the basics from FP 267. Thinking skills used to generate ideas for a film are explored. Pitching a story idea is introduced and finding ways to incorporate symbolism and visual metaphors to develop a motif are developed. Where stories originate will be explored through an examination of myths and legends from a variety of traditions. Feature films will be used to deconstruct and learn the three act structure and the structure of films in general.

Advanced Production Design will allow students to gain hands-on experience with many of the elements of this diverse trade. Students will develop a full understanding of a films on-screen elements such as props, set design, wardrobe, make-up, and physical special effects, as well as visual motifs and style. The student will also have an opportunity to apply this understanding in the creating of a film.

Students in the final semester of the Film Production Program will continue to produce their thesis film projects and act in several crew capacities with their classmates. In addition, students will explore and develop a wider experience with music, as it relates to scoring films. The students will also host ‘Film Night’ in April, including fundraising, promotion, box office and advertising components.

Through regular production meetings and set visits, students gain relevant experience completing their advanced thesis film from pre-production to mastering up to cinema standards. A class trip to a major production centre is planned and the information gathered helps guide students closer to their career goals.

Dialogue editing, additional dialogue recording (ADR), foley, sound recording, mixing and mastering are all explored in this course. The selection, creation and proper use of music and sound effects is also thoroughly examined and integrated with a hands-on approach. Software includes ProTools and Logic Pro X, but traditional mixing boards, microphones and the techniques are also explored. The physics of sound, plus audio compression, audio effects and all the technical aspects of audio are woven together with the art of sound design to complement the filmmaker's vision with dynamic sound for maximum impact.

Students will be individually supervised and instructed on how to use Davinci Resolve to colour grade their films from start to finish. Not only will students work on their very own films, they will gain industry-level experiences using many examples from many sources. Using multiple tools such as, curves, colour wheels, power windows, qualifiers, nodes, and scopes, students will learn to create Hollywood grade results. While colour grading is mainly practical in its application, the artistic side will also be explored by creatively using and developing various looks and exploring different LUT’s. In addition to the hands on approach to colour using software, the intellectual and emotional aspects of colour and colour psychology will be explored and implemented into various projects.

Students will prepare themselves to compete in a 'freelance' or 'contract' world after graduation. As such, issues of funding sources, taxes, networking, mentoring and proposal writing are key aspects of building a career. Students must also understand traditional job seeking skills such as interviewing and resumes.