Upcoming Event

If you want to ignite your career as a cinematographer, or simply want deeper knowledge, this ShotClass 3 Day Short Course is the perfect place to begin learning all that is required to be a professional Director of Photography. And there is a LOT to learn if you want to position yourself at the top in a highly competitive industry.

Is this for you?

The key essential element for all successful people working in the screen industry, especially in the camera department, is a strong foundation of knowledge from which to build on over the years. Being educated by active professional DP’s ensures that you are taught about the art and technology of cinematography to industry standards. Make no mistake, trying to launch your career with outdated, inaccurate and incomplete information can ruin your reputation before you even get going. Your success depends on how well you are considered by those who are looking to employ you.

This short course is led by ACS Accredited cinematographer, Warwick Field ACS. His vast experience and passion for sharing knowledge will guarantee, that after three very intense days, you will walk away inspired and ready-to-go. You’ll be able to confidently walk onto set with long time crew and fit right in, because what you do next, will definitely be professional! Solid fundamentals that lead to robust practices that won’t let you down.

All this, in just 3 Days!! Based on a tertiary course Warwick taught that took over 13 weeks to get through part-time, this goes way deeper, uses fully professional gear and technicians and gets you out there half way through Week 1 – so you can start your career as soon as possible (which is the plan, isn’t it?). Oh, and everyone here is into cinematography – just like you.

Much of the time will be spent hands-on, trying out methods for yourself. This will include camera configurations, lens comparisons, lighting, composition and camera operating. Our small group course sizes ensure you get a good go ‘on the tools’. You will be encouraged to try further experimentation in your own time as well.

ShotClass is committed to providing a welcoming experience and access to events for everyone, regardless of your skill level, experience or needs. This includes physical venue access and consideration for people from diverse and marginalised groups as well as people with disabilities. As far as practicable, we take into account the special requirements of our participants and providers.

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The short course is run over 3 x 9.5 hour days.

Day 1 covers ‘The Art and Technique of Cinematography’. This includes:

• Practical hands-on: Camera Build. How to set up the digital cinema camera like a pro.
• Practical hands-on: Data Wrangling. Digital file management protocols
• The Role of the Cinematographer (before, during and after the shoot)
• Finding your unique visual voice. Is your ‘taste’ important?
• Developing Cinematographic techniques, creativity and wild imagination
• Working with the Director and other key creatives
• Working with your Camera Operator(s) and 1st AC
• Working with your key Lighting and Gripping crew
• Working alone: benefits and challenges
• Breaking down your Shooting Procedures and Methodology
• Choosing your Camera Package (film/digital) based on genre, need and budget
• Comparing lenses and filters – practical testing by eye and collimator
• Considering options for: film gauge/sensor size/resolution/codecs/bit-depth
• Shooting for HDR vs SDR delivery
• Deciding on lighting requirements
• Deciding on camera support and camera movement requirements (dollies, sliders, cranes, steadicam, gimbals, tripods, drones, aerials, hand-held)
• Testing in pre-production and ongoing quality-control management
• Controlling the technical and aesthetic look: Exposure, Contrast Ratio, Colour Temperature, Shutter Speed, Slow/Fast motion, Depth of Field, Filtration
• Recording RAW v LOG v LUT in digital capture. Discuss ‘exposure latitude’ in film stocks.
• File transfer procedures
• LUTs/DI/Colour grade collaboration and the DP’s authorship of the image

Day 2 covers ‘Introduction to Film Lighting’. Lighting is a complex and rather enormous subject. We will spend the whole day covering the basics, with a professional gaffer and their gear, to get you started on the journey of understanding the process and its many forms. We will demonstrate, show visual references and ask you to try hands-on. The day includes:

• Practical hands-on: Lighting exercises you try
• Professional Gaffer and their gear
• Professional Model
• Discuss “Why we light”
• Types of lights
• Characteristics of light energy
• Cinematic Lighting Styles
• Using ‘practical’ lights
• Augmented Lighting
• Location Lighting
• Special Effect Lighting

Day 3 covers ‘Composition and Camera Movement’. Another big day where we cover how we frame shots, move cameras and how to operate. This includes demos, lots of hands-on practicals and visual references. We look into:

• Practical hands-on: Hand-held, Fluid Head, Dolly/slider, gimbal
• Professional Model (tbc)
• Visual story-telling fundamentals
• Deciding on the Aspect Ratio
• Working with the Director and Production Designer on set
• Blocking scenes and Shot Design
• Setting up and executing shots. Shot matching
• Sticking to genre and story arcs. Character/location themes and styles
• Composition rules and why we break them. The X, Y and Z axes of the frame.
• Screen direction and continuity
• Lens focal length choices
• Depth of Field
• Shot Description terminology
• Prime v Zoom Lenses
• Camera Operating practices
• Working with Dolly Grips and other camera operators
• Working with your Focus Puller

The day finishes with some advice about starting out as a DP, how to find work, how to move up/across from another crew role, and most importantly how to build your career and earn a living.

What’s Included?

• 3 jam-packed days of tuition and practice
• The best chance you’ll get to launch your career in only 3 days
• Full professional digital cinema camera kits
• Multiple Cine Lenses
• Colour Accurate Monitoring
• Professional Gaffer including their full complement of Pro lighting equipment*
• Professional Model*
• Film Set and Props
• Lots of hands-on practice
• Hand-outs of technical documents
• Tea/Coffee is included.
• Participants attending all days will receive a ShotClass Certificate of Completion

*On Day 2

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Are you a HotShot?

ShotClass HotShots offer. Any returning ShotClass event participant is eligible for a special discount on most of our events. If you have previously completed one or more of our events, you are an automatic ‘HotShot’ and can purchase your ticket for less. It’s our way of saying thanks for participating.

Book

There is no application process for this course, so ShotClass suggests you make your own appraisal as to whether the course is suitable for you.

Places are strictly limited. Don’t miss out. The Registration form must be completed. See below under Book Here.

Prices include GST.

• Register & Pay on or before April 25th: ACS Member, or Student/HotShot (Limit 5)  –  $890.
• Register & Pay on or before April 25th: Standard Entry  –  $990.
• Register & Pay from April 26th onwards: ACS Member, or Student/HotShot (Limit 5) –  $990.
• Register & Pay from April 26th onwards: Standard Entry  –  $1090

Note that ACS Members, Students and HotShots discounts are limited to a maximum of 5 ONLY. Be Quick or miss out.

Remember, for most participants working in the industry, our events are Tax Deductible, so you could end up effectively paying nothing to build your knowledge and gain more work. Check with your Tax Agent or Accountant. Find out more here.

Please be sure to read our Privacy Policy here and Disclaimer here.

**IF you change your mind or pick up a job and need to cancel up to 2 weeks before the course, you get full a refund, no questions asked.

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