Launchpad - Introduction to Directing

Ffilm Cymru Wales

A one-day training course for new and emerging directors, led by Kivu Ruhorahoza, and hosted by BFI NET.WORK, Ffilm Cymru Wales, and Watch Africa. 9:30 - 9:45 Introductions 9:45 - 10:30 Being a modern director 
<UL>
<LI>Self SWOT analysis: What filmmaker do I want to be? (Know your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)</LI>
<LI>Available resources: Refusing to be nostalgic of realities you never knew. Examples of best use of available resources for outstanding achievement (Case studies)</LI>
<LI>Being knowledgeable: Self-education (film analysis, tutorials for technical skills, makingof, new watching habits — read synopsis, watch film, read 3 reviews, read script/watch film)</LI>
<LI>Visual storytelling: Introducing a world, characters, story and genre. Tacit contract with the viewer. Examples to come after lunch break (Introduction of my own work: Things of the Aimless Wanderer, American Psycho by Mary Harron, Elephant by Gus van Sant) </LI>
</UL>
10:30 - 10:45 Coffee break 10:45 - 11:45 Visual Storytelling 
<UL>
<LI>Things of the Aimless Wanderer - 4 minutes: Introducing location, protagonist, antagonist, possible conflict, possible genre.</LI>
<LI>American Psycho by Mary Harron - 5 minutes: Introducing a world, character, possible conflict, possible genre.</LI>
<LI>Elephant by Gus van Sant - (two excerpts : 9 minutes): Subtle introduction to social context, internal and external conflicts. Detailed but subtle introduction to a character.</LI>
<LI>Developing a voice: Essays on Robert Bresson’s Hands, Jonathan Demme’s close-ups, David Fincher’s extreme close-ups, Wes Anderson’s visuals.</LI>
<LI>Originality: Watch a parody of a Sundance Film, an SNL parody of a romantic comedy. Discuss them.</LI>
</UL>
 11:45 - 12:30 Documentary filmmaking 
<UL>
<LI>Subgenres in documentary: biographical, historical, military, political, experimental, science and nature, social and cultural, sports, crime, music, news reports, etc.</LI>
<LI>Dealing with real life characters: psychology (dominant characters reluctant characters…), sensitivity, commitment and ethics, evolving characters and evolving realities.</LI>
<LI>Style: It doesn’t have to be boring and visually unappealing because it’s real life. Examples: Bodysong, Food Inc, Darwin’s Nightmare</LI>
</UL>
 12:30 Lunch Break 14:00 - 16:00 Introduction to writing 
<UL>
<LI>Visual storytelling (dialogue, exposition, verbal and non-verbal communication, subtext)</LI>
<LI>Basic structure (Three acts structure - long form)</LI>
<LI>Industry screenplay format</LI>
<LI>Story packaging (logline, synopsis, treatment, director’s statement, visual statement, pitching)</LI>
<LI>Developing a story with workshop participants and pitching it.</LI>
</UL>
 Kivu RUHORAHOZA (1982, Rwanda) has worked on various film and TV projects. He was one of the participants in the 2009 Berlinale Talent Campus; won jury Special Mention for Best Emerging filmmaker at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, the film also won numerous awards at Warsaw Film Festival, Tubingen Film Festival and Cordoba African Film Festival . In 2005, Ruhorahoza became the first director of the Rwanda Film Festival. His short film Lost in the South (2008) won the Best African Short award at the 25th Pan Africa Film Festival in Montreal. His feature debut Grey Matter was the first long narrative film directed by a Rwandese filmmaker in his homeland. Things of the Aimless Wandereris his second feature film.

Chapter Arts Centre

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Launchpad - Introduction to Directing

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Launchpad - Introduction to Directing

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