[Vcfilmmakers-l] Woodrow's workshops

[Kyle Porter]

Hi All,

Fill this out and send it back to me (kyporter at vassar.edu) after you've read the below email:
Roles of the Film Set Interest Level:
Assistant Director Spotlight Interest Level:
Paperwork Interest Level:
Behind the Scenes / Angels and Demons:
Jan 29th and 30th work for you (Y/N)?
If not, would February 5th and 6th work for you (Y/N)?
Please list any problems you have with the way I would schedule things here and attempt a solution:


INFO ABOUT EVENT:
So when I said I would be getting back with more information about Woodrow's workshops very soon in my last email, I meant it. Please let me know your interest level in each of these workshops on a scale from 1 to 10 (with 10 being extremely interested). Note that he can do all 4 and is happy to tailor each lecture to your individual interests (just shoot him an email at woodrow.travers at gmail.com), but wouldn't want to do one if there is not enough interest.

THE ROLES OF THE FILM SET:

We all have an idea of what the director does, but what about the other 100+ jobs on a film set.  This seminar will give you a general idea of the workings of such jobs as:  Producer, Unit Production Manager, Production Office Coordinator, Office Secretary, Office Production Assistants,  1st Assistant Director, 2nd Assistant Director, 2nd 2nd Assistant Director, Key Production Assistant (PA), 1st Team Production Assistant, Walkie Production Assistant, Background Production Assistant, Paperwork Production Assistant, Script Supervisor, Director of Photography, Camera Operator, 1st Assistant Camera, 2nd Assistant Camera, Sound Mixer, Boom Operator, Sound Utility, Locations Manager, Locations Scout, Production Designer, Art Director, Set Decorator, Set Dresser, On Set Dresser, Key Make-Up, Key Hair, Props Master, Assistant Props Master, Rigging Electrician, Rigging Grip, Key Grip, Best Boy Grip, Grip, Gaffer, Best Boy Gaffer, Electrician, Wardrobe Supervisor, Costume Coordinator, Costume Designer, On Set Costumer, Camera Scenic, Scenic Charge, Craft Service, Caterer, Transportation Captain, Drivers, Special Effects, Casting Director, BG Casting, Visual Effects Supervisor, Digital Imaging Technician, and Unit Publicist.  

I will spend the majority of time on the positions that you can potentially include in your next independent film, and less time on the positions only necessary for professional and bigger budget films.

Furthermore, for this section, please write back to me (Woodrow.Travers at Gmail.com) with the positions you are most interested in learning about so that I can prepare and focus on those roles in greater detail.  I don't want to waste anyone's time as this is solely for your edification, so let me know what you want to talk about.  If, for instance, no one cares about what a Digital Imaging Technician is or does, there's no need for me to bring it up.  


* - should be done together...

*ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT:

In a nutshell...how to be an assistant director.  What is there role?  Why are they necessary?  Since this is what I am training to become, this seminar is a much greater in-depth look at what an AD does and how they help the production.
This should be done in conjunction with the Paperwork seminar below, but in this section we will discuss the theoretical reasons for the existence of such a position as an AD, and then follow with the tips I have as to how to be a good and successful AD.  Even if you have no intention of becoming an AD, it will be helpful to know what to expect out of an AD that you hire to organize your movie.

*PAPERWORK:

Paperwork is crucial to any professional film set that hopes to operate smoothly, and it is a knowledge of film paperwork that will make your independent film set run like a professional one.  This workshop with cover, with examples to take home, the forms and schedules created to organize a film set and make sure your film comes in on time and under budget.  You will learn the purpose and importance of One-Line Schedules, Shooting Schedules, Day Out Of Day Schedules, Prep-Schedule, Call Sheet, Production Report, Progress Report, Camera Reports, Sound Reports, Short Form Breakdown, Background Breakdown, Camper Breakdown, PA Breakdown, Walkie Breakdown, Shot Lists, Exhibit "G," Crew Lists, Vendor Lists, Location Attachments, Production Calendars.

Picking and choosing from these forms will directly and immediately help you on your next film set.  In addition I will hand out examples of less crucial, but still helpful forms such as: Photo Releases, Safety Forms, Accident Forms, Actors' Contracts, and an AD Kit Supply List.


BEHIND THE SCENES / ANGELS AND DEMONS:

If anyone can tell me how to rip specific scenes from a DVD and turn them into .mpeg's or .mov's I would be happy to go through specific scenes in the movie and talk about how they were filmed, lit, and other juicy details. (Woodrow was an Assistant to the A.D. on A&D.)


All of these seminars can upon request also be peppered with random tidbits about:

-  HOW TO GET A JOB IN THE INDUSTRY.

-  HOW TO GET YOUR FILM INTO FILM FESTIVALS.

-  HOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR INDEPENDENT FILMS.

-  AWESOME MOVIES YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT.

-  RECOMMENDED BOOKS ABOUT INDEPENDENT FILM.



Next, each lecture would probably last about 2 hours and so if we were to do all 4, I would schedule them over a Friday and Saturday. I would like to do them January 29th and 30th, though if that particular Friday and Saturday is not good for multiple people, we could push the workshops till the next week.


Finally, if we were to do all 4 workshops, I'd schedule Behind the Scenes / Angels and Demons for 1-3PM on Friday, Roles of the Film Set for 4-6PM Friday, Assistant Director Spotlight for noon-2PM on Saturday, and Paperwork for 3-5PM on Saturday.


Please fill out the questions at the top - if there is particular interest in one or two of the workshops and a lot of people seem like they would be unable to attend them, I'll try to rearrange things.


Lover of lengthy emails,
Kyle