London Film School, offer full-time MA Degree courses in both Film Making and Screewriting.

Introduction

This intensive 2-day workshop with Insight News TV introduces the tools and techniques essential to making broadcast quality News features.

Emmy and Rory Peck award-winner Ron McCullagh reveals how the industry professionals make factual films using the most basic equipment: a digital camera, a microphone and a light. By the end of the workshop participants will be armed with the knowledge, confidence and practical experience required to single-handedly shoot a well-crafted twelve minute News feature. In addition participants will have been introduced to some of the realities of international journalism, finding ways to truthfully report stories through the experiences of the people involved. In short, to make the important interesting.

During the final session of day two, Ron will be joined by Emmy and BATFA award winning journalist Sorious Samura.

(NOTE: Due to the nature of Sorious Samura's work, we may not be able to guarantee his attendance until nearer the date. In the event that Sorious is called away at short notice, his filming schedules will take precedence over his contribution to the workshop.)

Course Aims

The workshops aims to:

• Introduce participants to the necessary skills to single-handedly shoot their own short factual films.
• Increase confidence in the technical aspects of cameras, lighting, and sound.
• Give a raw insight into guerrilla style camera work from award winning professionals with many years of experience of filming in adverse conditions.
• Outline the basic requirements necessary to make broadcast quality films, keeping in mind the ethical responsibilities of the journalist.

 

Course Outline

Day 1

• The deconstruction of a selected film - insights into why shots were used, how sequences were filmed and what is required to make a twelve minute News feature to a professional standard.
• The Sony HVR-Z1E HDV camera - a detailed demonstration, from how to use the menus and the importance of timecodes, to understanding how to use the camera's functions to creative advantage.
• Sound - a discussion on types of microphone, their proper uses, and monitoring levels.
• Lighting - a discussion on how to use lights and gels to achieve the best visual effects, appropriate to factual filmmaking.

Day 2

• Practical shooting - teams of three will put into practice the lessons from Day 1, followed by a detailed criticism of their work.
• "The Interview" Theory and Practice - participants will be given advice on all aspects of interviewing, from the correct method of questioning to the rules of angles, lighting, and close-ups.
• Final deconstruction - using their new knowledge participants will deconstruct and criticize a twelve minute News feature.

 

Feedback from previous participants:

“What a cracking course! I came away with so much more than I thought could be achieved in one weekend. I enjoyed every moment, made even better by the wide mix of very interesting participants. This experience will have a tremendous impact on my future filmmaking strategy.”

“I went into the workshop hoping to be inspired about the process of factual filmmaking, and to get enough basic skills to go out there and start doing it. That’s exactly what this course did for me, in a way that no other course ever has. At the end of the weekend I thought, ‘Why on earth aren’t I doing this already?’ – which I guess is the point.”

“It was fascinating to learn about the work done by Insight News TV, the lengths they go to and the risks they take in raising awareness about the world’s most urgent issues. Very inspiring. and worth every penny.”

"The teaching was excellent, professional and direct and instilled my faith in ethical documentary filmmaking."

“I really liked Ron’s don’t-worry-about-this-button approach. He offered a brilliant mixture of anecdote, theory and nuts & bolts and was energetic, inspiring and humorous throughout.”

“Sometimes in life you meet remarkable people. Ron is one of these. He sensitively stripped down the techniques he employs as a filmmaker and was a fantastic instructor.”

Top

Times: 10.30am-6pm
Capacity: Max. 12 participants
Fee: £350 ( includes all equipment hire)

How to book

Online booking will be available from this page once new course dates have been confirmed.

In the meantime, please register your interest by email.

Email us:
Carolyn Atherton:
workshops@lfs.org.uk

Telephone us:
+44 (0)20 7836 9642

• Ron McCullagh and Sorious Samura - Tutor Profiles