The eight-session series is designed to give members in non-directing categories the opportunity to exercise their own creative vision via the technology of digital filmmaking, and provide them with hands-on experience as they make their own short documentaries, experimental or scripted videos. The only requirements are a basic consumer model video camera and a simple computer editing system. The workshop will be taught over a three-month period by its creator, director Chuck Workman, winner of the 1987 Academy Award for his short film Precious Images.
“Most people come into the film industry with a passion for creativity that they can lose along the way,” said Workman of impetus for the workshop. “We want to encourage DGA members in this workshop to make a short film that’s not a calling card to get them a job, but that’s about something they are passionate about, or utilizes some film ideas they might want to try. The idea was to take the emphasis off the career and more into pure filmmaking and the internal person.”
The initial session laid the groundwork for the concept of making a personal film. Future sessions will cover all aspects of the process, from conception to distribution and feature screenings of the works in progress and advice from guest experts. The workshop will conclude in March with the participants presenting their completed films.
