Only week two at BDFI, and already I feel so at home with my professors and classmates, enthralled with my subject matter, and excited about my upcoming projects. Inspiration is not hard to come by when surrounded by such high caliber creative individuals, and the guidance offered by Patrick and Fred is so clearly rooted in years of in-depth experience in the industry.

I love how Patrick tells all these real stories to convey certain lessons about the industry—“the 58 takes story” is a favorite.

Lectures on pitching, casting, locations, and the technical ins and outs of shooting are valuable beyond price—I simply can’t imagine having dived into the industry without all this insider information. The vernacular of the trade is seeping into my everyday speech, which thrills beyond belief and impresses my friends and roommates—always a plus.

Patrick’s theory of “ballistics” editing was a specifically exciting lecture—how to make footage look and feel like a good movie does, how to create something that acts upon its audience the way a good film should: with clarity, artistic movement, and emotional resonance—I was enthralled.

Our first editing assignment has allowed me to put this knowledge to work and it’s amazing to see it all come together by way of your own hand. What had previously seemed like such a mystery is made so clear and the philosophy of effective mixing and editing is so vastly interesting to me—I will forever watch movies with a different eye now!

The daunting task of editing in Final Cut Pro, which I had previously never laid eyes on, has been removed of its veneer of terror by Sharif, our incredibly cool and friendly editing teacher who is appropriately, staunchly anti-mouse. Eric is always available for techno-help and the facilities are unparalleled—“I get to edit my little movie in here??” was my first reaction to the state-of-the-art editing suites.

I couldn’t be more thrilled with my experience at BDFI thus far, and I can’t wait to start shooting and carve out a little room for myself in this industry with the help of the tools given to me by this wonderful program.

Adria Kloke

Being involved in the program feels like a natural progression from the production experience I’ve accumulated in the last year.

Ultimately I decided to participate in this program because I do not see my possession of a bachelor’s degree in film as the end of my filmic education. If I want to make a living with movies, then I felt it was worth it to immerse myself in a program such as this which would aid my growth as an aspiring filmmaker.

In my most recent production course prior to this class, I felt that as much as I was gaining extensive experience with movie projects, quality of production wasn’t always an emphasis. I am pleased that this course is structured around fewer projects and emphasizes mastering the material to the fullest extent possible. This is what I felt was missing from my previous production class.

The material that I’m learning will be beneficial to me in both practical and professional ways. Although a lot of the basic concepts I already have experience with - like movie editing and screenwriting format/structure - I like that this program is teaching me how to hone and build upon my skills in those areas.

However, I do feel less confident in my editing and screenwriting abilities; those are the technical elements that I hope to improve, so I am glad that these aspects of movie-making are also being covered.

I’m really excited that I am also finally learning skills that will be of vital importance in my future career, like scouting actors and locations. Although the program is an intensive and will require a lot of work and dedication, this is not foreign to me. I feel like I am competent enough to meet the challenges of the class.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised on the first day of instruction to find that the professors in the program encourage film storytelling that is honest, authentic, and true to life.

In my mind I usually associate professional and skilled filmmaking with contrived, artificial storytelling - the complete antithesis of the kinds of movies that I enjoy watching and ultimately want to make myself. But it has been proven to me that this isn’t always the case, and it doesn’t have to be. In this way, the philosophy of the Institute really resonates with me.

This, along with the kinds of seasoned instruction and training that this program is endowing me with, will hopefully enable me to blossom into a more confident filmmaker.

Whereas I was previously reticent to share my movie ideas for fear that they would expose and reflect too much of myself, I’m finding that I can use that as an advantage.

I do want to make my mark in the film world, but I want to do it without having to jeopardize my integrity or my vision. Part of that integrity lies in my desire to succeed in the industry without necessarily having to situate myself geographically in the region itself (the region being Los Angeles/Hollywood).

Although I know that this will inevitably be a detour, I’m finding validation in the filmmaking resources - including BDFI - that the Bay Area has to offer. I would much rather spend time truly polishing my skills here than throwing myself blindly and naively into the film business down south.

I enjoy being in a class with a mixture of people I do and do not know, people who do or do not have backgrounds or aspirations in film. I’s a testament to my belief that you do not have to be a filmmaker to understand how or why films work - you just have to love it and want to learn about it.

Although film is a medium and an industry, it is not self-contained. It interacts with and reflects and challenges multiple other disciplines and people and ways of thinking.

It’s wonderful to see that the make-up of the class is diverse in this respect and acts as a microcosm for how the industry itself actually works. I feel that by being in this group, I am simultaneously able to learn more about movies and share my own knowledge about movies with others - which is a position that I enjoy.

My only complaint about the program is that I wish I had known about the institute sooner. I hope that I can establish a more permanent, long-lasting relationship with the institute - whether or not that comes in the form of instruction.

Bianca Beyrouti

I randomly found Berkeley Digital Film Institute (BDFI) and feel that finding such a professional, serious film school was a twist of fate. After finding the flyer for a music video workshop, I called about a month before the program was to start and explained my interest in the course.

From the first conversation I had with Patrick Kriwanek, I really appreciate how polite and welcoming the school has been. Even when the desired enrollment didn’t take place, Mr. Kriwanek still invited me to participate in the “Producing and Directing” intensive summer course. I felt very welcome and encouraged to participate, even though my previous experience in film is very small.

I was really impressed when I first came to the school. The building was easy to find, and parking wasn’t a problem. I think it’s an excellent idea to offer prospective students a chance to sit in on classes. This gave me a good idea for how the school is taught. Everyone; from Mr. Kriwanek, to other students, to the guard sitting at the front desk are welcoming. I instantly got a good vibe from the class I sat in on, and could tell everyone was excited to be there, and more importantly excited about film.

Since I started the course, I am amazed by how professional and organized each class is. I feel that every lesson, no matter how simple or complicated is thoroughly explained. More importantly, I feel everything I have learned (so far) is what is important towards my success in becoming a great filmmaker.

I have looked at other film schools to attend, and have taken film courses, but no place has been this professional. I feel the important concepts are taught directly. I have always been somewhat scared of private film and art schools because I didn’t want my creativity and originality to be manipulated, changed, and damaged.

I was nervous and intimidated when I first started BDFI, because my prior skills and experience is little to none. My confidence was quickly regained by how helpful the teachers and other students are.

I also feel my personal potential will expand because I am encouraged to share my personal creativity. Everyone is positive towards helping each other grow as an artist. It is an environment where creativity is shared and carefully critiqued, instead of a competition. Everything is an open discussion between students on helping with projects and executing visions.

When I have questions or need help with an assignment, someone is always available. Plus they are highly knowledgeable of the topic. All types of technology, mentoring and services are available for me to make the very best of this course.

Probably most important of all, I can tell that everyone at BDFI is here because of the common love of film. It’s obvious that they love their job and want to share their knowledge of success with people who strive to be equal, respectable professionals.

Brooke Schmill

So I have been at the summer program at BDFI for about two weeks now and it is fantastic. I am learning so much and I absolutely love it.

It is really fast paced, because of the 10-week limit, but it is worth it, no question.

I am taking classes at Cal and working so it definitely keeps me busy. We have gone over casting and location scouting recently and I have several options for both. There is so much that goes into filmmaking that people don’t realize, and that I didn’t even realize myself until now.

I really enjoy the screenwriting class because it allows for our creative side to come alive. I have SO many ideas for films and it is getting very hard to choose just one of to really pump out a final script, I just keep changing my mind and thinking of new things.

It really is fascinating how characters seem to just create their own fate once you develop them. And the infinite possibilities and outcomes of the story make it quite difficult to keep our first film down to only three minutes. We read a few scripts this past week, which were all amazing and most people went over the 3 page limit, which is currently my problem as well. Hopefully, I will be able to be concise as well as thorough in my final draft.

Editing class was overwhelming at first because the first day Sharif just showered us with tons of key commands and instructions on how to navigate through final cut pro. I have worked with it very little before, so I was unaware of a lot of what he was introducing to us.

However, since the class, his instructions have been on colossal help and have allowed me to edit much faster and certainly much more efficiently than I would have otherwise on my own. Our fist assignment due date is coming up quickly, this Thursday in fact.

We are supposed to edit clips from a movie to music according to Ballistics, which Patrick gave a lecture on in class. The theory of ballistics really does make a huge difference in film editing and is of tremendous consequence if one really wishes for a beautiful and stylistic final product.

I had a little trouble at first getting final cut onto my laptop but as soon as that got fixed up, I started working with it as well as Mac the Ripper and MPEG Streamclip to compose my short 1 minute “music video.” I am already at about a minute right now so I think that I will definitely go longer, for the whole song ideally, but that really depends on how much other work I have to do this week, so I guess we’ll see on Thursday!

Patrick’s classes on Tuesday’s are especially enlightening. He unquestionably has just so much experience in the film industry and can tell us so many things that can be of real use when we embark on our careers. From how to work with cast and crew to making sure there are enough bathrooms on set, he is the expert. So much just goes unnoticed and people overlook the simplest of things, but in doing so create the worst of disasters. For this reason, he reminds us constantly of the importance of being prepared and staying calm and professional.

The whole class is really starting to feel more and more comfortable and open. My classmates are all wonderful and very friendly and everyone seems very willing to help each other out, which is great because we will all probably need each others help at one point or another. I think this is going to be a great learning experience for all of us and will undoubtedly shape us into the filmmakers we wish to be.

-Felicity Trevino

My experience at BDFI has been entirely positive. I am in the third week of the 10 week summer intensive at BDFI. To have found a resource of such experienced, helpful and professional film teachers in the Bay area has been a pleasant surprise.

I came to BDFI with a history in photography, writing and fine art, up until the course I had had no experience in editing, production or directing. Not once have I felt intimidated by my lack of knowledge, rather the staff have made me feel encouraged and inspired.

Although our course is compact, we have already written short scripts and are about to begin casting. Upon completion of the program, we will all be proficient in Final Cut Pro, have solid screenwriting foundations, and will know what to expect as Producers/ Directors.

The school is comprehensive in it’s dedication to producing well rounded, educated film makers. The courses offered during the summer include screenwriting, editing, production and direction.

Class size remains small, so an intimate, productive and uninhibiting class environment is fostered.

Each of the teachers at BDFI are more than generous with their time and vast experience and there are a wealth of tutors available. While the atmosphere is quite relaxed; our deadlines, along with the level of work demanded, results in a great work ethic that can be felt upon entering the building.

Along with excellence in teaching and a fantastic reputation, BDFI has a wealth of equipment. There are top of the range cameras available for use, excellent sound equipment, editing suites and a green screen room.  

All of these factors combine to make BDFI an incredible facility and program. I am thrilled to recommend it to any burgeoning filmmakers.

Louisa de Cossy

I just started the 10 week Summer Intensive Program at the Berkeley Digital Film Institute and I love it!

I checked out ALL the film programs in the Bay Area, searching for one that would give me hands-on experience and enough knowledge to walk away confident in my skills as a Producer and Director.

Other traditional film schools were not for me because I wasn’t interested in learning film theory and the cost and long term commitment freaked me out.  And the shorter classes offered by other schools didn’t seem to be worth the cost, nor did they appear to have a proven track record for their graduates. I was beginning to think that what I was looking for did not exist in the Bay Area!

Then I learned about the BDFI summer program.

It has a hands-on emphasis, an impressive faculty, and it was the perfect length to fit in with my commitment phobia. My interest is in making documentaries so I wasn’t sure if I would fit in. I spoke to a few documentary filmmakers for advice. They all said that it is important to develop your storytelling skills and what you learn by doing fiction is transferrable to making documentaries.

So I made a last minute decision to go for it and was really nervous about it.  But on the first day I knew immediately I made the right decision!

The teachers are working professionals in the industry so they can tell you real stories of being on set and offer real world advice. The classes are small so you get individual attention.

And I like the unique collaborative atmosphere with all the students in the school. So not only are you crewing on your classmates films, you are also getting peer advice from students ahead of you.

The summer program just like it’s name is indeed intensive. You start pitching ideas and writing your script right away. I enjoy the pace because I want to “do” not just talk about it. I look forward to going to class (never thought I’d say that!). Anyway, back to working on my script. See ya…

Lyn D.

When they say ten week intensive, they mean intensive. It’s only been two weeks, but I feel like I’ve learned so much and I feel way more productive than I would have been without this program.  I mean what else would I be doing this summer? 

Probably making big plans to make a crappy movie with my friends and never actually getting around to doing it.  At BDFI I am forced to be productive and take action with the hope that all this will be habit forming.  As of now, I have pitched ideas to my class and started writing a script.  It still needs work, but “writing is rewriting.”  I’m also hunting down locations and learning how to deal with a casting call. 

Students from classes ahead of us are always around, and they’ve been really helpful in giving us advice.  Which is fantastic, because they have been, and are, going through all the things we are doing: pitching, writing, rewriting, location scouting, casting, shooting, editing, everything!

The faculty here is great.  Patrick, the dean and our directing teacher, is just the nicest guy.  He makes himself available to us students, always there to answer your call and he is very encouraging of our work. 

Fred, our screenwriting teacher is another great guy.  He’s patient with us, when ask questions and ramble on about our pitches and stories.  And he wants to get an idea of what kind of things we are interested in personally, so we can, hopefully find our own voice. 

Sharif, our editing teacher, is just fantastic.  He’s another one that makes himself available and makes sure we are all on the same page.  He really knows his stuff.  I mean, I am using Final Cut Pro for the first time ever and I am already feeling comfortable with it.  After two sessions, I already feel better about my editing skills.  What’s great, though, is that I am learning what I will get the most use out of.  There’s no beating around the bush with this guy.  

I’ve met some great people so far, too.  The small class size allows us to get to get comfortable with one another quick and become a unit. 

What’s amazing about this semester’s group is the amount of women we’ve got.  With the exception of our T.A., I’m surrounded by bright, ambitious women of all ages and backgrounds who want to make movies! 

I hope this is a sign of things to come.  It feels like something is shifting for the better in the film industry, but we will have to wait and see.  

Samantha Bennet

I honestly can’t believe it’s been 5 weeks at BDFI already!  It’s almost as if time speeds up exponentially every week.  I have learned a great deal in class, but I’ve learned even more on set.  We had our first shoot of the class today.  Laura shot her piece at a bar in the Financial District today, and I performed as Script Supervisor for the first time.  I also acted as gaffer along with our DP and Cameraman. 

You learn a lot in class with Mike, in terms of how to set up lights, etc., but I learned even more on set when it became critical to create good lighting.  There is nothing like being handed a C-stand and a flag and expected to mimic 5 o’clock at night, when it is actually 11 o’clock in the morning, to get you motivated.

My favorite class so far is my editing class, not only because that is where my main interest lies, but because our editing teacher is amazing.  He is brilliant in both the technical and the design side of editing.  I enjoy his class immensely. Sharif is a great teacher.

My favorite part of every class is discussing our projects in depth.  That is where what we are taught in class can be applied to each and every situation.  I feel that is the time that we learn the most.  I am a visual learner, so reading a script in class and having Fred critique it is much more helpful to me than discussing concepts which can, at times, be abstract.  All of our classes have been so helpful in getting us prepared for our shoot.  I also really appreciate that all of our teachers have volunteered their time outside of class to provide us with more assistance.

I am having a great time so far.  I am getting along very well with all of my classmates, and I realize the value of having people on your set that are not only reliable, but trustworthy and that will work hard for you to create a great project which can only be achieved through exceptional teamwork.  I am excited for my shoot, to see what can be produced with the great team I feel I have assembled.

Although I feel overwhelmed with the amount of work I have to complete in the next week, I am optimistic, due to my incredible classmates.  I have relied heavily on the experience and knowledge of several of my classmates, which has helped me immensely. 

Raul, in my class, has been amazingly generous with his equipment, without asking for anything in return.  So many of my classmates have volunteered their time without demanding reciprocation. 

This is the spirit of camaraderie which I sought in other schools and could not find.  BDFI has created an amazing environment which breeds excellent teamwork and bonding.  I feel I will be friends with these people for a long time.  

Alisa Simonds

I’d like to share with you some of my thoughts of the past five weeks here at the Berkeley Digital Film Institute.

First of all, what is BDFI really and what do we do here? I get asked this question all the time. On the surface, it is a fairly new, private film school located in the Saul-Zaentz media center in Berkeley, California (If you don’t know what the Saul-Zaentz media center is, uh, well then look it up).

Beneath the surface however, is a little niche of reality the dean, Patrick Kriwanek, created so that students can come and pursue their aspirations of being filmmakers.

Like a scriptwriter who creates a world for the reader to live in, Patrick created a little subculture for student filmmakers to live in. Environment is important to me. Especially when it’s one where artists come to create. BDFI is definitely a place where creativity is encouraged, not stifled because it promotes a certain agenda.

Another interesting quality of the program is the quality of students. People who come here are not only serious about their learning but all seem to be great team players. Everyone crews on everyone else’s shoots and we even help each other in the story and script writing process. The students here do not selfishly work to promote their projects at the expense of others. This is refreshing.

Another interesting aspect of the program is the emphasis on learning all the skills and sub skills involved in filmmaking. The point of the school is not simply to become a filmmaker, but to be an employed filmmaker! During the course of the program all aspects of filmmaking are covered, e.g. producing, directing, editing, scriptwriting, light, sound, acting, etc. It is basically a vocational program for filmmaker.

Another intriguing characteristic along these lines is how each student is allowed to follow his or her area of particular interests. Some like to produce. Some are into directing. Some are tech geeks, editors, etc. You can essentially make the program fit whatever your particular interest happens to be.

Personally, I came to the program to help me be finish a documentary film. And as a combat veteran, I am also am interested in acting as a form of catharsis. So to that end, I am casting myself in some of my film projects. Again, you can shape the program to get whatever you want out of it.

In a nutshell, BDFI is a creative, supportive place for me to pursue my goals in filmmaking. It better be dammit, I was supposed to be living in Italy this summer.

Cheers.

It’s been a month and the level of experience that I’m getting is going through the roof at BDFI. The project on deck right now is the 3min short that is now in pre-production.

My time in completing this project has been a real blessing… writing the script has to be one of the more challenging parts of the creation process.

Luckily we have Fred and Patrick to help guide us on things in the script and also other little things that help to inspire the creative flow.  The second draft of my script is fit for shooting, pulled in actors with Saleah’s structure in casting calls and cast the roles in my first round of auditions.

Capitalized on a good location for the set at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in the city, now from this point on it’s down to working with the actors and crew so that we are all on the same page and can make the best scene possible.

Grady Coleman

Once I discovered this hidden gem, I was invited to visit the campus for a tour earlier this year 2009. Upon meeting Patrick, the Dean, I knew right away this was the place for me.

Being a part of such a great institution, while attending BDFI the first five weeks has surpassed anything I learned in university regarding cinematic studies. I enrolled in BDFI primarily because the atmosphere is very family-like, but also because I would be learning from instructors who care. All the classes are intimate so you get to know everyone which has truly been a measurable experience personally for me.

The school has a unique spin on how to learn filmmaking, as each class is structured to learn by a hands-on approach. Since I am a visual person, this has been essential to how I have been able to learn quickly in the shortest amount of time. Really the first five weeks has been a serious learning curve. Every aspect of this school has changed me in some way professionally for the better. Within in the first three weeks, I learned to understand cinematography as not a skill, but an art.

Learning from the instructors is always inspiring. The fact that every instructor is a specialist in their field makes me more confident in how I am learning.

All my classmates have been great to work with because everyone brings something unique to the table. In class I enjoy learning new perspectives from editing to cinematography. Also, I am learning the art form of how to feel the editing process naturally.

One of my favorite aspects of the campus is the ability to have access to the HD camera & film equipment. I find it fascinating to have hands-on classes in the first few weeks that teach you how to edit in Final Cut Pro and use pro lighting gear. Even though our class projects are incredibly challenging, they have taught me unbelievable amounts of applications on ways to view professional filmmaking.

The senior students are a great resource when it comes to letting you know how to tackle tough situations in a real world setting. As a student, I have experienced opportunities to advance my knowledge, even through casual conversations over lunch. Learning how to perform auditions, castings & call backs has educated me on how to start a talent agency.

Instructors provide guidance and mentoring on whatever level you want to focus on in the industry.

Because of this I think BDFI is a genuine place to start for anyone.

I enjoy the intimate classes, knowledge of my instructors & inspiration I draw from my classmates. It feels great to belong to a place that has a wonderful atmosphere where you can learn through osmosis, it seems sometimes.

I mean the place oozes with a tantamount of hospitality & synergy. I feel the collective intelligence has basically increased my passion for filmmaking through this program. It is all about your ability to understand what is required of you then really committing to the process because it works.
I am truly enjoying filmmaking from a more organic process of learning from instructors who actually have worked in the industry.

Nevertheless, I have visited other bay area film schools, but felt that this one had what I was looking for. I feel BDFI has a futuristic philosophy that is training students who will succeed. It is creating a new generation of prominent filmmakers.

Kevin Tucker

At the fifth week mark of the first semester I am preparing to shoot my first project this weekend.

It has been an intense first five weeks, since day one the classes I have taken have been preparing me for this first project. The program in my opinion is incredible.

As an SF State student studying cinema I feel like I have learned more in my short time here than I have at the SF State program. I feel that the SF State program is too theory based as oppose to hands on production.

When the program started almost immediately we began the process of developing an idea and turning that idea into a three-minute script. After developing a solid idea, our task was to find a location to shoot. The process of finding a location and actually dealing with property owners is essential as a filmmaker, and its something that most college programs don’t teach.

Once I found my location the next step was to cast my project. We were taught how to hold auditions in a professional manner. The process to me was very surreal, all the stuff I dreamed of doing as a filmmaker, I’ve had the chance to do at this school. It’s amazing witnessing the creation of your idea turn into an actual reel. The experience is extremely valuable. It also helps having classmates who have the same amount of passion for film that I have.

Unlike other classes that I have taken in various other universities I actually want to show up everyday to class. I feel like each class I attend I learn so much about the business. I also enjoy working and communicating with my classmates. Everybody in my class is very anxious to learn and to help out in anyway possible. Everybody helps out everybody, each classmate has an understanding that these projects are difficult and take a lot of planning and effort.

This school does demand a lot of attention; it was wise for me to quit my job to pursue this program. But believe me I have been very busy.

Pre-production planning takes the longest and in my opinion it’s the most stressful, because you are in the midst of creating something, a narrative that represents an idea that’s personal to you. With my first production coming up I am a little nervous naturally. But for the most part I think my shoot will go well.

Today I just got done working on a shoot with some classmates. Today’s shoot went very well, and we had a lot of fun. It makes a difference when you work with people you actually enjoy being around. I’m hoping my shoot goes well this weekend; I’m working with many of the same people from today’s shoot. The difference being this Saturday I’ll be the one who is in charge. Wish me luck!
Kingsley Lara

As I finalize my shot list for filming on location tomorrow I can say that this has been the busiest and most exciting few weeks so far this year.

I cannot believe we have been in school for five weeks, the time has flown.

But looking back I am astounded at the amount of material we have covered. Our cute class of ten have incurred so much valuable knowledge in this short period. It is hard to believe that we have penned short film scripts and some of us are on the verge of actually shooting and going into production.

One of our assignments was to edit a music video and we all embraced the chance to jump right in to actually editing a piece as opposed to just learning the editing system in its entirety before practicing what we learnt.

This hands on approach administered by the school is a rarity in other film schools and one of the most favorable aspects of Berkeley Digital Film Institute.

All the lecturers at BDFI are highly regarded and in some instances, award winning industry professionals in their field. This affords the students to not only learn the trade, but also gain an insight into working in the industry first hand from the masters of the art.

The Dean of the school has done an absolutely wonderful job of bringing together an eclectic and enthusiastic group of people to takes classes at BDFI.

This makes for some very interesting takes on critiquing films, story telling sessions and developing into scripts as well as leaving the barn doors open for equally interesting filmmaking methods, editing styles and differing takes on lighting and shooting the short films.

Laura Livingstone

Wow, it’s hard to believe that we’ve only been in school for five weeks! So far, we’ve experienced the tumultuous first stage of movie making known as pre-production. Planning for a short film and making it happen takes a lot of passion and patience. I’ve learned that you have to be able to handle high stress situations because in pre-production, there will be many times when things will not go as planned.

I’ve become close with my classmates. Although we do not share the same levels of experience, I have never felt that I could not go to them and ask them questions with out feeling intimidated or a bother. I feel the exact same way about our instructors. They provide time outside of class to help us with our projects and for this reason I have never felt lost or unsure of my progress.

The first week, we started with lectures on the basics of directing/producing on Monday, Cinematography on Tuesday, Screenwriting on Wednesday, Editing on FCP on Thursday and Acting on Friday.

In the third week, we were assigned our first editing assignment, which was to edit a music video together. Sharif, made it easy to learn this program because he took the time to answer every single question no matter how small or big. I’ve worked with FCP before but relearning it with Sharif has made me more confident with using the program.

In these 5 weeks, I’ve learned so much about the instructors through their stories about their experiences in the business. It comforts me to know that these are real down to earth people who had to start from the bottom to get to where they are now. I’ve also learned a lot about myself as a filmmaker. I am still developing the type of films I want to make.

As far as where I am on my project, I am constantly re-writing my script and expect to up to my actual shoot day; I have my location down, thanks to my producer Chris; my actors are cast and I’ve done a technical scout with my wonderful crew. I am set to shoot this week and in the process of arranging catering for my shoot as well as rehearsal with my actors. In addition, I am also producing two other students’ shorts. Producing is a lot of work, but I absolutely love every minute of it.

One thing about BDFI is that you’ll never know who you’ll meet and what opportunities will come up. In my 3rd week of class, I helped upper division classmates with their auditions. I was walking a talent down the stairs and saw in the hallway MC Hammer with the dean of our school, Patrick. I later found out that he was there to meet with Patrick about a new project. It turns out that he ended up recruiting two of our students to work on his next music video, so awesome!

It’s funny because none of us realized that it has been 5 weeks into the semester. We have 10 more to go but I’m sure it will go by before we know it. I’ve learned so much and have definitely accomplished a lot. I’m excited for what’s to come.

Michelle Chan

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.

Last week the acclaimed Red camera made an appearance in our cinematography class. What an amazing device! Basically, the Red camera brings digital film up to the quality of digital still photography and at one tenth the cost of anything comparable. The picture is simply stunning and since it is recorded in a raw format, there is a much greater range of picture adjustment and color management that can be done in post production.

The trouble is that this camera puts out an absolute fire hose of data and current storage and editing systems are barely capable of handling it. But that’s a good problem to have. The capacity of storage and the power of computers and editing systems will only increase and the Red camera is driving the next wave of digital filmmaking. It’s a fine camera, but for now, I’m happy with the Panasonic HVX200’s that we’re using, which provide a fine HD quality picture.

I love this kind of new technology, but I don’t want to get too distracted by it. We need to keep reminding ourselves to stay centered on the story and casting, then take as good a picture as you can.

This week at B.D.F.I. was very exciting for me. To begin, we started the week learning about sound and how to operate a boom microphone. Opposed to the strictly visual nature of the program thus far, this was a welcome change of pace in addition to being immensely informative. Patrick cut his teeth in the business as a sound tech, so having all that experience relayed onto us was very cool.

Antoher big event of that week the stands out in my mind is the guest lecture with Debie Brubaker. Having one of the most respected producer’s in the bay area come in is a testament to the pull B.D.F.I. has in the bay, as well as the amazingly close-knit relationship shared by entertainment professionals here. Debie was very cool and laid back. It was refreshing to see someone in her position that is so cordial and polite. Just goes to show that good things do happen to good people. Antoher amazingly cool person in the industries elite that we had the pleasure of meeting this week was Randy Quaid. He and his wife came by to show part of an independent feature that they’de been working on during their recent vacation to Texas. It was edgy, dark, and twisted, so naturally I liked it right away. The subject matter and style may not have been for everyone though. Different strokes for different folks and such, but I believe everyone there could agree that Randy’s acting was fantastic.

Going further, it was a chance for many of us to see him in a totally different light and attaining a whole new range than he had ever previously attempted. It was exhilarating to see an actor of his reputation still willing to take chances and explore that recluse, shakespeare spouting, fur wearing degenerate artist in himself. I’d have to say it was a pretty amazing week here at B.D.F.I. and it makes me wonder what’s in store for us next week.

This week has personally been a rough one for me but being at BDFI
reminds me of what I really love most and I forget about everything else
when I’m here. Although producing is what I really want to do with the
film/TV industry, I love learning everything from cinematography to
acting here. I think it really helps me to develop as a knowledgeable,
well-rounded filmmaker. Debbie Brubaker came in on Tuesday and shared
with us her experience in producing film. She was very down to earth and
shared a lot of valuable experience, and her story reinforced my desire
to produce.
Working on my first film project, I first seemed overwhelmed with the task
but it is coming together nicely. I got a great producer and I’m learning
a lot from her at the same time. Fellow students no matter what class
level are so willing to help each other out. Scriptwriting seems daunting
since I haven’t creatively written anything for about 6 years, but I got
positive reviews from Wednesday’s class. I’m glad that everyone liked it,
but I wish that I’ve gotten more critical feedback so I could’ve changed
more of my script and really improve it. I don’t know if it’s as solid as
everyone think.

It’s been almost 3 months since I started at the school and I am working on my second film project now. It’s been very intense. Why I say that? I say that because, personally, I realized that film making isn’t just another career, but it’s a life. I feel that I’ve become more in tuned with the under-current of human emotions that runs deep inside of all of us. In order to create characters, your key ingredient is to tap into that. I see the characters that I create become alive in my script and film.

It’s incredible to walk in these characters’ shoes. I’m grateful to have around the faculty and the senior students of the school. Their unwavering support and willingness to nurture the members of the school is priceless. Also, I have a new respect for people who write scripts and work in the film productions. It takes so much hard work and synchronized team coordination. You just can’t do it if you are half serious.