I’ve just finished casting, putting together a film crew, and finding a location for my first short film. I am just so excited. Without BDFI, I would be sitting in some film theory class, discussing what film making is all about rather than having hands-on instruction from day one. Just this week, 2 majors events were happening at BDFI: 1) private viewing of Randy Quaid and his wife’s project (Randy is so
tall), 2) an open discussion with a local bay area producer, Debbie Brewbaker who’s working on Banjanmin Bratt’s project. It’s so awesome!!! You are not an outsider, but an insider of the film industry. My life is not the same any more.

Yauna Baron

Things are starting to come together and we are making way on our first project. I’m beginning to develop my 3 min two person script. The first week was a solid introduction to what we’ll be doing this semester and week two got the ball rolling. I’m feeling much more confident in my story development. Fred Ritzenberg, our screenwriting teacher has been helping us evolve our scripts and they are becoming much stronger. We’re learning about character development, backstory, and motivation. All three elements are essential to developing a good story.

Our first draft of our script is due next week and the following week we will be casting for our projects. We’re starting to scout locations and we’re beginning to learn about the casting process and how to search for and select actors for our roles. In our acting class I’m discovering what makes a good actor and how to guide and “direct” actors in order to get their best performances. We’ve been doing a lot of improv and short scenes. It really helps to actually step into their shoes. I never realized quite how challenging this craft of acting really is. It’s tough. My respect for actors and their talents has grown exponentially.

On the more technical side of things, in our directing class we went more in depth on setting up basic shots. Patrick showed us the correct technique for framing a shot; shot size; and how to determine the appropriate headroom. It’s one of the many details I think I have taken for granted. It’s one of those things where if it’s done right, it seems so natural that it almost goes unnoticed. But, when it’s not, it’s disturbingly obvious. All week long I’ve been looking at films and noticing when it’s done correctly and when it’s not. It really gives the audience a completely different feel.

At this point, I’m feeling much more confident behind the camera. I know what to look for and the basics of how to create the shot I want. Compared to most of my classmates, I would say that I’m the least technical, but I am still able to keep up with everyone else. Each of us seem to have our own strengths, and everyone works well together in helping out one another.

The thing that I enjoyed the most about class this week was our editing class in which we had a lesson on ‘”ballistics”.

Ballistics is basically an editing concept taken from a fundamental physics theory that every movement has a beginning, middle, end, and settling point. When applied to editing, it produces some of the most amazing and brilliant editing.

This week in class we analyzed the Kanye West video for “Jesus Walks” which was directed by Chris Milk who is one of Patrick’s former students. He learned the same thing we learned this week, and he received “video of the year” award for it.

It was very cool to see how this technique was in every clip of the video and really made it stand out as one of the best. Not that we’re all Chris Milk yet, but our homework this week was to edit our own video using a movie, a song, and our ballistics lesson. I’ve already began this project and it’s lookin good.

I am beginning to see how the fundamentals that we are learning are really going to carry on throughout our careers. It’s not just throwing us behind a camera and letting us run wild, it’s learning the fundamentals and putting them into practice. And, learning what the rules are so that we know when and how to break them to evoke the feelings we want our audience to experience.

My second week at BDFI was one that really had me thinking. On Monday we pitched our ideas to Patrick. These are the ideas that we are eventually going to put into production, so it was important that we got his feedback. I had three ideas to start from and ended up pitching two.

The first, even I admit, was a bit weak and didn’t quite fit with the theme of having two people hold a strong conversation facing each other. Patrick’s feedback on my second idea asked if my characters really had enough back and forth to push each other and create a real dynamic. The more I thought about it they didn’t have as much as I intended. It’s funny because it is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of your own idea that you often overlook the things that potentially give it huge holes.
I decided to work on it a bit more and by Wednesday when we pitched to Fred I had an entirely new idea. It’s a good thing. I definitely picked something now that is a challenge, but otherwise there would be no point.

In our screenwriting class with Fred we talked about how conflict is the essence of drama. We also got feedback on our pitches from Mellissa, our acting coach, as well. Both of them reminded me to give my characters more than just the surface treatment. What they meant was to create a third dimension something that wouldn’t be so clich’ and add a real element to them. I’m going into next week feeling more confident that I have a stronger story and hope to pull it off.
On another note we got our first editing assignment. I am really looking forward to this. We are supposed to create our own music video using any song and any film. Coming into the program I didn’t have any Final Cut Pro experience and hadn’t worked on a Mac for awhile. But I feel pretty comfortable in getting my hands wet with this project. It doesn’t seem like an issue.

In the midst of the week I sometimes forgot that it was our second week. Everyday adds something a little more to the wheels that have already begun to turn. I like talking to my classmates and finding new interest. For example editing is a new love for me and I can’t get enough of cinematography.

So now I’m getting geared up for next week. I’m screening some films that I think would be cool for my editing assignment. I’m writing and rewriting my script. And thanks to our cinematography class I can’t stop noticing the headroom given on some of my favorite shows and movies. I noticed that I’ve been taking a more concentrated approach to TV, and it’s hard not to.

Things are good, and I know it’s going to get crazy once we start production. Thankfully I have a little more time before we get there. Right now I’m just trying to stay prepared and not put so much pressure on myself. Things are a lot easier and more fun when you approach it that way.

We are finally settling into the rhythm of BDFI and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s great to actually look forward to each and every class, something that had eluded me during my undergrad tenure. I did enjoy my undergrad experience, but I feel so much more focused here at Berkeley Digital Film Institute. Before, I had two maybe three classes that were interesting and beneficial for my major, but at BDFI, all of my classes pertain to my passion for filmmaking. This keeps me focused throughout the week, which creates a great learning experience.

I’ve pitched my idea three times already and it is amazing how quickly it is evolving. Each professor has a different viewpoint, which allows me to internalize all of the different perspectives that the audience members will have. This is enormously valuable, because it gets us thinking outside the box.

I’ve also found that I have become much better at pitching in only a week. This is really valuable since we will be relying on our pitching skills once we enter the business. I have become better at communicating my idea by being clear and concise. My first pitch was quite wordy and went through the plot points without describing the characters and how they change. The second pitch explained my idea in fewer words and with better description. Then my third pitch had evolved to a point where I was much more confident in conveying my idea.

We are already in the planning stages for our first projects and the pressure is starting to apply itself. We got together and went over the schedule for Danielle’s shoot and realized we have a lot of work to do. She is shooting at her house, which allows her to get started with pre-production first. It’s really exciting helping plan the shoot and makes me anxious to get started with mine.

I went location scouting this weekend, which was a great experience. I got to see a few possible locations, which will really bring my scene alive. I can’t wait to get started with the location agreements, which will be a huge relief to get signed. Once that is taken car of, I will be able to have a shooting date. Patrick has told us multiple times that the location is your most important cast member and I can now see that it is incredibly essential to get it wrapped up soon.

I can’t believe how well everyone gets along already. It’s exciting to know that the friendships we are making now and slowly becoming working relationships. I believe we will all work hard for each other and make sure that each project gets as much attention as the one before.

I’m also glad I got to learn Ballistics, which is a fantastic editing technique that Patrick showed us on Thursday. Once we had the Ballistics lecture, we started watching a magnificent example from a Kanye West video (which one of Patrick’s students directed). Ever since the lecture I’ve not been able to watch a movie or show without relating it to the ballistics technique. It’s amazing how much your perspective and be changed in a week at BDFI. It’s the weekend and I already can’t wait for class on Monday morning, which is definitely the first time I have every said that.

The pace began picking up early in the week, as we created and then refined the pitches for our first project, and by the end of week 2 i had the distinct feeling that this river down which we had been leisurely bobbing along was in fact simply preamble to a waterfall. now comes time to fasten quick the helmet.

There are so many pieces and details to juggle it can seem, when stepping back to fit them all into frame, somewhat astounding. the artistic issues - script, cast, setting, storyboard, etc. - were anticipated, of course, as welcome challenges. in any art form, creation of a particular piece - the realization of an idea - is mostly about process; if one doesn’t love that (slow, often difficult & frustrating) process it’s the art that suffers. (likely along with the audience.)

What i couldn’t or simply didn’t anticipate were the logistical issues inherent in a film shoot: location agreements; lengthy on-location set-ups; scheduling; the almost laughably short and rigid window into which we must fit a large number of complex moving pieces. and so on.

Though this is, more or less, how things work on professional shoots - or so i’ve been led to and do believe - it’s in here that your head can start to spin. the trick, i think, is to keep moving forward. and really, that’s not a terribly hard maxim to uphold, because for all the implicit astonishment there’s an equal measure of exhilaration. it’s hard work but it’s fun work, and exciting too. necessarily so. why else, after all, would we be here?

Wow two weeks have gone by now. Its somewhat hard to believe because time is just flying by with everything that we have leaned.

Every class day I learn something different may it be small or huge. It does not even have to be about class. Sometimes it is about my class mates and how much we are all getting along no matter where we come from. I am always surprised by what people will have to say about our idea and how they help enrich them or make them stronger.

Each day my friendships with different parts of the class have gotten stronger. With the labs I work with different classmates and learn about them.

I have noticed that what I have learned I notice more in movies now. I don’t even mean to notice them at all some times but I do. Some times it drives me crazy but other times I find it fantastic.

My second week at the Berkeley Digital Film Institute was one of excitement and learning. The more time I spend here the more I realize it really is a fantastic venue for learning the art and trade of film making. Patrick gave us a fantastic class on the “ballistic” paradigm for film editing. A real simple – and critically important - concept once you get the hang of it. I was impressed with his teaching style and ability to package the information in a way that makes it easy to learn. By just attending his one class I already have a lot of confidence going into my first project assignment and am looking forward to putting into place the techniques and concepts he showed us.

The second week also gave me an opportunity to get to know my fellow classmates better. We seem to be really clicking and they are just a cool bunch. Most have some background in film making and they are more than willing to lend a hand with struggling students like myself who have little formal training. I am also impressed with how my fellow students are diving right into it. They are filming projects, coming in on weekends, and burning the midnight oil. That kind of hard work and dedication is great to see. It’s also good to be around because it is contagious!

One of the things that I am really excited about is how the subject matter I am learning in the program will help me with an existing project I am working on. As an amateur documentary film maker, the formal training and exposure to professionals in the industry is a big help. I seem to have a lot of support and interest in my project just from staff, teachers, and other students I’ve met in the last couple weeks. It’s good to bounce ideas of people who know what they are doing and will give you honest and constructive feedback.

The other highlights this week were a great intro class on framing the shot with a camera and proper light settings. We practiced wide shots, medium, medium close, etc. We also saw clips from the movie Seven to see the proper way to frame a shot. Sharif also delved into Final Cut Pro during Thursday’s editing class. Sharif is, well, not much to say about Sharif other than he is as good as it gets when it comes to teaching. Good thing to, because Final Cut Pro is not easy to navigate through unless you’ve done it awhile.

Looking forward to seeing what week three brings. Until then, enjoy your art!

The second week of classes are finished, and I’m excited for what’s to come. On Thursday we were given an assignment to create a music video with our favorite song and clips from our favorite movie. I’m very excited about this project, as when I was working on my first short, during the editing process, I made a music video out of it one day just for kicks. I’m excited.

We also have our first project due in mid-late October. I’m having a lot of fun working on the script and I can’t wait to find my actors. Melissa, the acting instructor, has offered to send out our call sheets
to various actors she knows. This is fantastic news and will really help us in wasting less time finding the right actors.

Overall I am pleased with the school. The instructors are all knowledgeable and I’m learning a lot. The entire school is utterly professional, and the things we’re learning are industry standards, which is exactly what we need to know. BDFI wants us to leave the school and enter directly into the feature filmmaking world, and they’ve done a great job so far of establishing what’s to come.

I just wrapped up week two and I’ve already had some amazing revelations. I scratched my first idea for the first project for being superficial and derivative. After speaking to some teachers and peers about it, I realized that I had no idea what I was trying to say. There was no authenticity.

So I decided to write a short dialogue stemming from a larger idea that I have for a feature film. The idea is based on a personal experience of mine. After writing the first draft of the scene I had this feeling that I was about to embark on an incredible adventure. I still feel that way.

Despite all of my expectations, I am thoroughly enjoying screenwriting. It was something I had always struggled with in the past, but now I absolutely love it. It’s still a difficult process, now more than ever because it is coming from a more authentic place, but it really feels great.

This is not so say that every great idea needs to stem from personal experience. Some of my favorite films are made up stories, surreal and dreamlike. I still need to figure out how to balance these two notions.

Another thing I realized is something that I already knew, but only fully grasped once it was put into effect. It is the notion that no one is going to make this film for me. Not much filming is done in the
first couple of weeks because we are still being taught the basics and I was getting pretty antsy. But then I realized that there was an entire room filled with equipment waiting to be used and a class full
of students waiting for something to do. It’s really amazing what the power of motivation can do to people.

We already did a couple of lighting tests for my first assignment. The shoot is going to be in my house, which makes things a lot easier. The first time we went, we only took one light. After testing the lighting, we realized that we would need much more equipment. One of the graduated students looked at my footage from the first test and gave me advice on how to light the scene better. He also showed me how different things work, such as scrims and dimmers, flags and reflectors. The second time I decided to do a test we loaded up a cart with three lights, scrims, gels, a dimmer, a reflector, etc. This time, the lighting looked 10 times better. Still not perfect, but it’s definitely getting there.

I’m starting to feel much better now that things are picking up in pace. I’m planning on holding auditions next weekend, which I think will be very exciting. I can’t wait to see my idea come alive.
My classmates have been really awesome too. I feel like we are all in this together. Everyone puts a lot of effort into advising their peers. Everyone just wants to be busy… we’re all here for the same
reason, which is really awesome. I can’t wait to see what everyone creates.

Finished up my first week at bdfi and have to say i feel exhilarated about the possibilities, anxious to start working & just a bit wary of the sheer volume of information to marshal in order to make these or any project a reality.

Thank goodness for collaboration. the other students here have all been terrific so far, and everyone appears to have a different strength. what’s struck me most about this first week with them is how open & supportive everyone has been; there’s not really any sense of competition, at least not yet. and i, for one, am glad of it.

if there’s been an overarching take home from this first week it’s likely that the process of creating movies is difficult, and having the right, strong people around you makes all the difference. not sure i could ask for a better group of peers, then. we may not agree on artistic choices but everyone has been willing to listen, to explore & experiment.

the beginning stages of our first projects, a two person static-location dialogue, are upon us now. drafts of scenes need to be written and rewritten, locations scouted, crews and casts assembled. even though these will only be three minute films, there’s still a feeling of being poised behind a giant rock on a hill, leaning on it, praying it will soon budge, and then, once it does, that gravity and momentum will keep it rolling. the trick, it seems, from listening to the opening week lectures, will be to make sure we all stay on its proper side, following it down and not the other way around.

With my first week at BDFI in the books, I must say, that I feel like I have taken a major step towards my goal of becoming a filmmaker. The first week introduced us to five completely different classes, which will help sculpt us into well-rounded filmmakers.

Now that I have some classes under my belt, I see a clear pathway into my career. Not to say that it will be easy, because it will take loads of hard work and dedication, but BDFI definitely helps illuminate the path to my goals. Step by step, I will become a more experienced filmmaker, by learning from my previous mistakes. It’s a long road ahead, but it is outrageously exciting. I would love to be able to create a feature of my own in the future and I know that each project I finish at BDFI will help me tremendously on achieving this goal.

My fellow classmates have already exceeded my expectations, as we learn to work with and support each other. We all have different areas of experience, allowing us to confide in each other whenever we have questions or advice. It’s easy to see that everyone has a passion for film, which just bounces around the room whenever we are together.

It truly is an immersion program, in that we constantly have film on our minds, even when we are out of class. We have gone out to grab some food after class multiple times and on every occasion, the conversation is based around school and film. It’s exciting to bounce our ideas off willing and motivated peers, who can in turn give an ample amount of criticism.

BDFI is great because it creates a very relaxed environment, even though so much is happening. The faculty is extremely personable and always willing to give individual help. I enjoy have five completely different teachers who can influence me in unique ways. They each have a different perspective, which helps create a solid learning experience.

BDFI has a vibe that is totally unique, in that, egos are thrown aside for the greater good of the learning experience. Every student is on a level playing field, and can comfortably ask for help from their classmates in any area. This is possible because they know that this respect is reciprocal.

My experience lies primarily in the production and post-production fields. I have been able to help my classmates in our cinematography and editing classes, while I have received input and help in our screenwriting class. It is amazing how much help you can receive when you are comfortable enough to ask your classmates for their input and advice.

It’s also nice to have all of BDFI’s equipment and resources at our fingertips. Whenever class is over, it doesn’t mean it’s time to go home. We have the opportunity to do massive amounts of independent learning through our allotted lab time. I have already stayed after class a few times to spend time with my classmates, and get to know the equipment around the building. We have spent time getting to know the cameras and the lighting equipment, which was a great opportunity for independent learning.

I am really happy with my choice to attend BDFI, the faculty and students our wonderful. It’s nice to know that you have people on your side as you make your way to becoming a filmmaker.

Well, it’s the end of my first week at BDFI and it’s been a great one. Overall, I am beginning to put all the pieces together. I learned a ton and I know that it’s only the beginning.

We started the week off with Producing/Directing class. We watched a clip from David Fincher’s film Seven and began to review how to set up shots; camera angles; blocking and all the stuff that goes into setting up a good shot. There was so much I learned from our discussion that I may have overlooked on my own. But it’s those things that make the movie.

Also during this week, we got our first assignment – prepare a pitch for our first project. We’re beginning to put everything together to be able to write and direct our first film.

Day 2 was cinematography. This was an intro to just become comfortable with the camera and being able to recognize and adjust lighting, focus, etc on the Panasonic HVX200. It’s a good feeling to become more confident in the same equipment that the pros use.

Then it was Screenwriting class which was awesome. We pitched our first projects and got feedback on our ideas. Everybody had something beneficial to contribute and I definitely have a better idea of where I want to go with my story as a result. We began to learn about script layout and how to write and correctly format a script as well as understand script from a director/producer standpoint.

In Acting, we did a lot of improv and learned the basics of acting techniques and how to direct actors. The improv was a great exercise on creativity. All of our classes are really opening my creative juices. It’s amazing how much learning the acting techniques and practicing with improve will make us better behind the camera. We are learning how to work with, and talk the language of actors to be able to give them the best environment to work in while getting the most from our actors.

All of the teachers were great. Each of them have such a different perspective and so much to contribute. They are all very talented and well respected in the industry. And, they are all extraordinarily supportive. I am confident in the quality of instruction and relevance of what we’re learning.

All in all, I had a terrific week. I can tell that I’m going to be very busy this semester. I’m learning a lot already, and I’m definitely starting to watch movies differently and with an even more analytical eye. I’ve already started my script for my first project and I can’t wait to see how it progresses. I know with my hard work and the support of everyone that it’s going to be a great learning experience. I’m excited, scared, nervous, and a whole lot of other emotions. Overall, I’m just ready to learn.

My first week and BDFI has come and gone. What a week!

Every day we cover a different subject with a different professor. I like that structure because it really lets you focus on each element of the filmmaking process.

Mondays was Directing/Producing with Patrick, which was the first day of class so we spent most of the time getting to know each other and previewing the rest of the semester.

On Tuesday we had Cinematography with Alan. He introduced us to the HD Panasonic camera we will be using. Instead of starting off with MiniDV tapes we are jumping straight into P2 cards, which is exciting for me because I have never used P2 cards before. We discussed things such as focal length and distance. Alan said that in terms of cinematography, the story is really told through the lens.

We went over the different tasks and hierarchy of roles involved in cinematography, such as the DP, the AC, the gaffer and what they are all in charge of. We also learned about the meaning of 3CCD and interlaced video versus progressive video. We were also introduced to white balance, and how to transfer footage from the P2 cards into Final Cut Pro.

In the afternoon a bunch of us took one of the cameras and went out to practice using it. We shot a simple scenario in a strip of land that runs underneath the Bart station. It was good to practice using the camera and was also nice to bond with some of my classmates. We had a scary situation where a giant dog was barking from behind a fence where we were shooting and he got out somehow. We had to run away, so that was the end of our shooting experiment. After that we went back to school, loaded the footage into the computer and cut together the short scene.

On Wednesday we had screenwriting with Fred. I am really excited for this class because I feel that screenwriting is probably my weakest asset. Some of us pitched our ideas for the first assignment, including myself, and the other students and Fred gave their feedback.

On Thursday we had editing with Sharif. He seems like a really great teacher,

Friday was acting with Melissa. She told us about the importance of learning to work with actors and how to treat them and we did some improv exercises. She taught us about “The Method”, a popular acting method. She told us that actors need to feel safe and respected, but that at the same time the director also needs to be authoritative.

I think this will also be a valuable class. The afternoons are reserved for lab time, to work on whatever project you are working on. Since we are still in the beginning, we don’t have a whole lot to do, but many of us have been utilizing the time to familiarize ourselves with the available equipment and practice whatever we can.

Overall, it was a good first week, and I am looking forward to learning more and getting started on my film!

Wow! What an awesome experience.

I can honestly say that I have never in my life looked forward to school until now.

We started out day one with introductions. It was cool to see that everyone had such different backgrounds and experiences. I can see already that each person has something unique to bring to the table and that I can learn a ton from everyone. There also seems to be a lot of support from not just the students in your own class level, but from students that are one or two semesters ahead. I feel like I’m embarking on this brand new, overwhelming journey, and as nervous as I am I know that I have all the support I need to succeed.

Following the introductions we went right in to our first class which was Producing/Directing.

We analyzed a clip David Fincher’s film “Se7en.” We got our first introduction on blocking, camera angles, the 180, screen direction and coverage. It’s an awesome feeling to know that the instructors here are top rate and that they’re not just talking the talk, but they’ve been there… and have the Academy Awards to prove it!

If I were to shoot something today, I would definitely be better off than I would have been yesterday just from one lecture… and on the first day of class no less! I can’t wait to see how the rest of the semester unfolds.

This is truly the first step of a life changing journey….. it’s like the opening scene of a great film… when you can tell after the first minute that you’re going to be in for a ride. You may not know exactly what to expect, but you’re going to be on the edge of your seat in anticipation the entire time. So here I am, on the edge of my seat…

Today was my first day at the Berkeley Digital Film Institute. My first impressions of the staff, facility, and overall program lead me to beleive that I made an excellent decision by choosing their program. It appears to be a very top notch school that is well organized and well staffed by caring, dedicated
professionals. I am also impressed with the quality of students in the program.

I am in a small class of ten and am excited about what each brings to the table. I feel that I will have a lot to learn from my fellow students as well as the staff and instructors. It seems BDFI has succeeded in creating a professional environment conducive to teaching at the level of the Hollywood
standard.

Met this morning the new class of students with whom I’ll be learning the craft of filmmaking over the course of the next sixteen or so months.

There are ten of us total, coming from all across the States (and Canada), and though the age range is somewhat shallow it seems fairly clear already that our backgrounds and experiences present a welcome store of diversity.

Moreover, throughout the class today and afterward, during an impromptu & informal lunch at a deli across the street, everyone conveyed such enthusiasm and collegiality - for the process, the school, our collective & individual goals, etc. - that I couldn’t help but become excited about what lay ahead. Even as the uncertainty of what exactly that might be, and how we’re to go about realizing it, remains.

Most of our class time today was devoted to getting to know each other, and the program, better. More of a toe-dip than swan dive.

After an overview of the directing & producing class - our first short film due in seven weeks - we had a terrific, if necessarily brief, dissection of a few early scenes from David Fincher’s “Seven,” during which we covered, among other things, framing and shot composition and the preservation of momentum & direction. Just a taste of the care and thought that accomplished directors invest in the smallest of details, the quickest of cuts.

If some of it was intuitive, it still felt a touch overwhelming, considering that the idea & goal of this whole endeavor is to have our own projects approach that level - ideally as quickly as possible. But of course I’m getting ahead of myself. For now’s time to simply come up with a workable idea for our first project - a conversation between two people in a fixed setting - and prepare for tomorrow’s camera class.

More to follow, I’m sure…

It’s Monday night, and I am still buzzing with energy after my first day of class at BDFI. My passion for the art of filmmaking led me to BDFI last spring for a visit and after sitting in on classes and meeting the students, I was hooked. I must say, I think Patrick has brought in an amazing group of students; everyone seems passionate, excited and ready to get down to business. I love the diversity of the group of students, different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences.

We started out the morning with introductions and a quick overview of the semester. Patrick clearly conveyed his expectations, which will help each of us reach our goals of becoming filmmakers and professionals. This semester is going to be challenging and exciting, as we get into the groove of filmmaking. We will be taking our ideas through every stage of filmmaking, which will allow us to get a full sense of the filmmaking process.

Later in the day we had a mixer with the upperclassman, which was a great opportunity to ask questions and get to know everyone at the school. I love the fact that all the students are incredibly open and friendly, ready to give advice and lend a helping hand.

As the mixer ended, all ten of us decided to grab lunch at the café across the street. This was great way to the end of the day, giving us a chance to talk and laugh, releasing a lot of the nervous excitement. I am really excited to get going and start working with my fellow classmates. I’m sure we will all become a great team and support base for one another.

Today was my first day at BDFI. I met the 9 other people in my class and I look forward to working with all of them. We have a pretty diverse group, with people from all over the country.

Mostly what we did today was orientation. We sat around a big table with Patrick and introduced ourselves, said where we were from and what film experience we had, if any. Then Patrick talked about the program and filmmaking in general.

Something that really stood out to me was when Patrick said that 98% of filmmaking is the script and the actors. I’ve always been more drawn to the visual side of filmmaking… the lighting, the atmosphere, the style. But when he said that I realized that there are also specific types of stories that intrigue me, and ultimately the story is what making a film is all about. All the other elements contribute to the story and reflect the story, but the bare bones of everything is the script. And without good actors the film is worthless.

I’m really excited by the fact that I can come up with a story in my head and bring it to life. I can’t wait to get started.

After going over the syllabus we shared embarrassing stories from our childhoods and then watched a coverage asset previewing what we will learn this semester.

It explained different elements that were going to be relevant to filming our first assignment, which is a three-minute dialogue. It talked about positive and negative space, preserving headroom (which is something I never thought about before), matching sizes, angles, height and background, the 180-degree line and the angle of intimacy, screen direction and continuity. I am anxious to get started in practicing all of these aspects of shooting and look forward to making some great films!

After that we had a mixer with other students who are further along in the program. It was nice to hear about the school from other students and see where they were at. I think it is really useful to have them around because they’ve already been through what we’re about to go through and could offer advice. They could also help out with our shoots, which is great.

After the mixer, the 10 of us in the new class went to the Westside Bakery Café around the corner and had lunch together, which was a nice way for us all to bond. I’m excited about going to school again tomorrow!

Today was my first day at Berkeley Digital Film Institute and I still can’t believe I’m here. On our first day I met all of my first semester classmates in the program. We’re a quiet group on the surface but the fact that we all decided to have lunch together after a three our lecture and mixer with upper classmen and faculty says a lot.

Our class with Patrick today gave us an intro to our upcoming semester and some perspective on what it would really mean to become a filmmaker. He shared his beginnings with the class, something I’m sure each of us will eventually come back to draw upon. We even learned a few Hollywood terms, like vetted and asset. Your asset is your product or project. To have your script vetted is to have it critiqued and reviewed.

Later we reviewed a few scenes from the film “Se7en” by David Fincher. In those short scenes we were able to see how Fincher exercised the preservation of momentum. For example if the actors are performing, looking, or moving on screen right that is essentially kept until they stop, reverse or change scenes. We also reviewed Axis of Connection, the 180° line, and even matching the proportions of the actor’s heads.

We ended with sharing our own personal stories of embarrassing moments. Patrick showed us how our stories have themes that fit into the grander scheme of the human experience. There is always a universal theme that our experiences and eventually projects will draw from. The importance of recognizing that is just as important as telling the story.

At the end of the day I think everybody walked away feeling that we were really on to something good.

I started off today with eager anticipation. I have been in Berkeley for two weeks alone now and have been waiting to get started. I walked to class this morning listening to some beatles tunes to calm my excitement.

Once I reached the building I was a bit nervous, I went up the elevator and into the class where the rest of my class mates were seated. It was of course a bit awkward at first, and I hate awkwardness so I just started asking people where they were from.

Of course everyone after me started doing that also so it was a bit repetitive.

Finally when Patrick came in everyone seemed eager to get started. I’m not going to lie I don’t really know how I felt I had all these different emotions, excitement, fear, calmness…etc..etc.

When everyone started telling what they all have done I felt a bit nervous, has everyone done more than me will I be behind the pack? Luckily it seemed that the class is fairly spread out, and not that it mattered because everyone in the class seems to be amazing.

When Patrick started talking about getting into the industry I felt sick to my stomach because this has been something I have wanted to do since before highschool, and now I was finally sitting here and having the opportunity to learn and become a great director (fingers crossed). I know this is going to be ALOT of work, which scares me a bit. But I also know that it is going to ALL pay off in the end.

It made me think of last night when I was sitting and watching Philadelphia for the first time and it came to a scene where Tom Hanks is describing an aria from an opera to Denzel Washington. I sat there in awe during this scene, it was such a beautifully filmed scene and after today’s class I hope that I will be able to film such a scene in my future film making career. I can’t wait to see what else this school has to offer in the rest of it’s classes!