“My job is to turn psychology into behaviour”, said Elia Kazan when he was inquired about his role as a film director. Regardless if it is Documentary, Experimental or Narrative, film has the ability to portray the psychological depth of a person by photographing their actions and reactions. Throughout the history of film, this powerful tool has been used to portray on screen the inner qualities of both relevant and anonymous figures.
What will you be doing?
In this course you will learn how to film the personality and psychology of a person seen through your own eyes. You will focus on observing and recording the subject’s actions, reactions and interactions with others and their environment. You will learn shooting techniques and different tips to make your subjects be themselves and shine on camera. During this course you will record images and sounds of your subject and then edit them into a 3-to-5-minute piece. You are free to choose any subject you want for your film.
There are also no genre or style limitations and this course can be used for multiple purposes. Is there someone that captivates you but you don’t know how to translate that unique charm into a film? Do you have a significant other that you would like to make a film about? Maybe you are an artist, a maker or someone that wants to learn how to visually present yourself? Any subject is valid, even yourself! (Yes, self-portraits are also a great subgenre in itself!)
This is a hands-on course. After a brief introduction to the genre, context and background on Monday, where examples will be provided, the rest of the course is designed to plan, shoot and edit a small film portrait.
