CINEMATOGRAPHY AND OTHER FILM CAREERS
Do you want a career in Film? Are you ready to enroll in film
school but don't know which one is right for you? Are you leary
of crowded classrooms, uninspiring teachers, high tuition costs, and
concerned about the need to relocate? Your answer is the Film
Connection Film School for Cinematography and Other Film Careers.
Film Connection is the film school that breaks the boundaries imposed
by traditional schooling and puts the student into direct contact with
working film professionals outside the classroom and inside working
film shoots. There is no better way to learn than from a
professional who is eager to mentor a student, in a private, one-on-one
basis, and pass on his skills and abilities to you, the next generation
of filmmakers.
If you qualify for The Film Connection film school, you may
choose from practically any discipline or trade you desire. Film
Connection will hook you up with a film professional, 
in your city or town, who makes his living pursuing the
very craft that you want to learn. This professional becomes your
personal tutor, your private mentor if you like,
and he or she will teach you just about all you need to know to get
your start in the film business, doing what you want to do.
Additionally, your mentor will introduce you to their connections in
the film business while you interact with them. Compare our
approach with sticking yourself in some overcrowded, overpriced,
under-performing college
classroom.
WHAT COURSES ARE AVAILABLE?
If accepted into one of our Cinematography and Other Careers in
Filmmaking Courses you will learn how to be a forest ranger, a plumber,
or a bicycle repairmen…(just kidding). Actually, Film
Connection's on-the-job training with skilled mentors will give you the
real deal of hard work, long hours, valuable skills, and hands-on
experience in cinematography or camera, assistant directing, art
department and set design, lighting or gaffing, sound, makeup and
wardrobe, special effects, post production and script
supervision.
And while you are learning you will be placing yourself in a position
to be "at the right place, at the right time" for any job opportunities
that arise.
The cinematographer, also known as the director of
photography or camera operator, works closely with the film's director
to capture the look and feel they are shooting for. A feel for
light, focal lengths, points of view, angles, and knowledge of
available cameras, lenses, cranes, dollies and other gizmos is
essential.
The assistant director makes certain that the film is running
smoothly and on schedule. The AD honchos the actors and crew
members and makes sure call times are conveyed and adhered to.
Additional responsibilities include making sure all required equipment,
props and locations/set needs are fulfilled in a timely manner.
The art department and set designer help convey the mood of a
particular scene by creating and manipulating the set, the furniture,
the props.
The makeup artist manipulates the actor's face to accentuate or hide
features, add or subtract age, or to create an entirely new identity
(think "Planet of the Apes")
by making use of extensive prothesis. The wardrobe
department combines a great sense of fashion design with a
sound knowledge of clothing and style from an historical perspective.
Lighting
is designed by the lighting director and carried out by the gaffers who
do the actual setup and connection of the lighting instruments.
Done correctly, lighting can literally shape a film's identity.
An understanding of the role the key, fill and backlight play in
creating a mood or look is essential. A working knowledge of the
available lighting instruments including HMI, Soft Lights, Arc Lights
as well as the necessary generators, stands and cabling to make it all
work is imperative.
Special effects have grown increasingly important in modern film
making. SFX artists combine mattes, green screen, minatures,
computer animations, digital compositing, animatronics and other
optical wizardry to seamlessly produce visual representations of the
impossible.
Post production is where all the disparate elements of the film get
combined to create the finished project. Anyone who has ever
spent time in a post production house knows the truth of the industry
slogan, "We'll fix it in post!"
The script supervisor is responsible for making sure all scenes in the script actually get shot. Ensuring continuity exists between wide and tight shots is part of the script supervisors role as well.
Are you ready to meet some of our graduates and read for yourself
how our unique program works? Well for starters, check out what David
from Houston has to say...
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL
I studied with Film Connections film school program in
Houston, Texas. As part of my training, I apprenticed at a small
production company here in town. My mentor took me on all kinds
of film and video sets like corporate videos. I got to operate the
camera, work with
lights, casting, electric, post production and I even got to sit in
with my mentor when he met with clients. There is no way that a
regular film school can compare to this. I learned on real sets
and real projects, not is some classroom on pretend projects.
There's an old saying, "Those that can, do. Those that can't
teach." I'm glad I chose to study from film professionals who
are actually doing real film work.
MENTOR TESTIMONIAL
I have been a mentor for Film Connection for almost a year
now and enjoy the recruiting process tremendously. Developing a
strong foundation and work ethic is crucial if you want to
maintain in this industry which is why I appreciate Film Connection's
screening process.
I am in awe of their course structure as there is virtually no learning curve involved. I have strong faith that Film Connection's training beats most film universities in the country. I have always been a strong believer in getting your hands dirty rather than relying on academics. Virtually all of the apprentices who have come from Film Connection have been hired as production assistants with some of them going on to higher ranking paid positions.
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL
I highly recommend this program! Film Connection
trained me in less than six months on real film sets. Now I make
$250 a day in the camera department working in the New York film
community. I can't believe this! Just six months ago,
I knew nothing. Today, I am working on real movies. And
guess what? I just got hired to go to Canada to work on a
documentary. Very cool. No doubt about it, I would not be
in the business if it weren't for Film Connection.