The Florence Film School

What's new at Florence Film School

2008-06-10T17:54:00.001+02:00

What's New!

With so many exciting new things happening here at the Florence Film School it is difficult to know where to begin.

First I would like to introduce our new Student Coordinator Hannah Urkowitz!

Hannah Urkowitz is a Multi Media Artist, originating from New Jersey. She Holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree from Albright College dual majored in Studio Art and Digital Media. She has previously studied at Studio Arts Centers International (SACI), Moore College of Art and Accademia Italiana. She has assisted in the filming of a two documentary in Ghana, West Africa to support the NGO Women in Progress and shown nine films with the Berks County Pennsylvania Film Society Worked as a technical intern for Berks County Television. For three years Hannah’s works were accepted into the Pennsylvania Freedman Gallery's Spring Juried Shows. In 2006 she was awarded the Fine Art Commission award for the acrylic painting "The Pro Choice Deli". She currently works freelance as a Videographer, Photographer, Web and Graphic Designer. ¬

She is a great gal who has joined the Florence Film School to help teach workshops, mentor students in the latest motion graphics, animation and editing techniques. She will also be on hand to help students to have fun; meet film makers, artists and musicians living here, participate in parties, and events and make important contacts for your career as a professional film maker!

EVENTS:

May 14^th-25^th THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL UPDATE:

Our most recent graduate Nannette Del Carmen is at THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL with the film short Eve olution. She will be promoting her film, making pitches to international distribution companies and attending great parties through the contacts she made here at Florence Film School!

May 23- 22^ndThe Florence Film School in affiliation with ABC news is producing a 2-hour special that will air on ABC in the United States this Fall called, Earth 2100

This is a show about what the world's top scientists, economists, and historians say our world could look like by the year 2100 if we don't act now to save our troubled planet. Experts say that the "perfect storm" of climate change, resource depletion, and population growth could converge with catastrophic results.

This Spring, leading up to the broadcast, we're launching a massive online event engaging people from across the globe to create their own versions of the next century. The Florence Film School and other journalism programs will be recruiting people interested in being our 'reporters' from the future. This is an incredible opportunity for young filmmakers to create short videos on issues facing our future, and we will incorporate the most compelling submissions into our national broadcast.

July 7^th- August 29^th : Summer Eight Week Film Making Intensive & Workshop Series begins!

Learn the latest in digital film making, motion graphics and film productions form international professionals form around the globe in one of the most beautiful cities in the World Florence, Italy!

Join our eight week intensive or take a week long workshop!

July 11^th Welcome Party:

Students will meet other film makers, artists and students here in Florence.

August 29^th: Multi Media Event premiering the Summer Intensive Film Project.

September 1^st FALL SEMESTER BEGINS

NEW WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS:

This summer and fall we will be bringing in a host of professionals in Film Production in from all parts of the world to teach and mentor our students on their own projects. We have a fantastic staff of top professionals and fun activities where you can get to know them both professionally and personally.

Each Issue of The Florence Film School Newsletter will highlight one of the many guest lecturers who will presenting a workshop at our school and /or participating in a our Florence International Film Festival Teaching and Learning Forum

This issue we are focusing on Larry Sugar:

With over 35 years in the film and television industry Larry Sugar has been fortunate enough to have had very diverse opportunities. He has run major corporations, produced dozens of feature films. He has written both screenplays and teleplays, and produced over 400 hours of television programs. He has owned and operated his own international distribution company.

In addition to a career within the entertainment business, he has also been a lecturer at many U.S. universities including UCLA, USC, Brandies University and Tulane University. For approximately 12 years, and created his own class at the cinema department of the College of Santa Fe (entitled The Business of Entertainment--Finance, Production and Distribution) to help students understand the ins and outs of succeeding in the business side of Film Production. He presently lives and works in Vancouver BC, Canada and has recently completed a series for the CBC.

He will be on hand to help student film makers learn the business of selling, distributing and receiving funding for their films.

TOURS OF FLORENCE:

Our students receive year long passes to all the major museums and gardens here in Florence. We arrange special tours for our students to experience this amazing city through the eyes of a Film Maker. Our Tours focus on the Art Treasures helping students learn the art of storytelling, developing a cinematic eye, scouting film locations, listening and recording the sounds of the city, animating works of Art and many more creative and fun ways to inspire students and utilize this unique opportunity of film making in Florence.

EVENTS:

Florence Film School also organizes Happy hours, Artistic Events and Club nights where are students can meet other students in our creative community for collaborations on their projects and to form important contacts for their future and have fun!!!

Creative Campus is a fun and challenging opportunity for students living in or visiting Florence. It offers an innovative approach to night-time entertainment, the chance to learn about other cultures, and feel a part of a community, especially if they are far away from home. Students create and participate in cultural projects that help enrich their lives and the surrounding community. Along with FITC professionals and community members, students also work with their peers from all over the world.

This summer the Creative Campus events will include:

MUSIC

WITH THE CREATIVE CAMPUS BAND –

Musicians and Singers Needed!

PERFORMANCE AND ART

STORY HOUR -

If you like children, art, and performing this is for you!

THE BIG FRATELLO/BIG SORELLA PROJECT –

Pair up with local teens to create a performance together

What Is Creative Campus?

“… the most important part of my experience in Florence.”

“one of my greatest memories from my time abroad.”

“an amazing experience.”

Former Creative Campus students

Come visit us at our summer kick-off event on June 5th at 8:30pm at and learn about our programs and talk to company members. Other events in June and July can include an Art Crawl and the launch of the Global Creative Campus Initiative. Please contact info@florencetheatre.com for any questions or inquiries. You can also visit us at www.florencetheatre.com.

Theatre Internships:

Student can attend and or work with one of the International Theatrical Companies here in Florence to learn the art and craft of acting, stage design, lightening, stage management.

Video Documentary Making:

Student can film short promos and documentaries on their projects and the artistic happenings around Florence and post them on our U Tube news channel New Renaissance News and work in our video journalism program with Florence’s Online Newspaper.

Professional Films Shot on location in Italy

Our students have opportunities to work with Professional production companies who come to Italy to shoot their films. Our last group of students went to Venice during the Venetian Carnival and worked with a British Film Maker. Now one of our Directors will be meeting up with them in Cannes!

DECEMBER 12^TH FLORENCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:

The Florence Film School working together with The Tuscan Film Commission and our Media Partner The Florentine. Together we will be sponsoring the first International Student Film Festival as part of the 50 days of cinema. The 50 Days of Cinema is a Festival already a great success with a long track record! Sandwiched into the 50 days festival is The French Film Festival, the Indian Film Festival, The Women’s Film Festival and The Documentary Film Festival and more, we are honored to be part of a prestigious established Festival. We look forward to the great contacts and opportunities our students will have premiering their films, attending parties and symposiums with professional film makers from all over the world! Students from The Florence Film School will have an opportunity to intern in the Festival and attend the Gala Parties!

ALUMNI

Julian Ulrichs a recent graduate from The Florence Film School had his film short Eye Talk which he filmed in our program, accepted into The Durango International Film Festival. He has returned with wonderful tales of being hosted at the Festivals Hotel and attending all the parties and where he made some great contacts with other independent film makers!

In June he will be going to Nigeria to film a Documentary on Female Genital Mutilation.

Elizabeth Monroy
Director
Florence Film School

The EVEolution EVEnt

2008-02-29T01:01:00.000+01:00

Don't miss the EVEolution EVEnt this Friday! See the post on The Florence Newspaper.

We have also started New Renaissance News. Watch our first in a series of broadcasts delving into the cultural happenings around Florence. This particular video has Elizabeth Monroy interviewing the students of The New Renaissance Florence Film School discussing their new film EVEolution.

The EVEolution EVEnt

2008-02-19T09:22:00.001+01:00

THE FLORENCE FILM SCHOOL IS HONORED TO PRESENT:

The EVEolution EVEnt

Eve has been kept in the dark, in the shadows of men for eons. Now is the time for Eve to step into the light and redefine herself as a woman, can she? And Will She?

Two women Directors Jamy Silver and Nannette Del Carmen would like to invite you to the premiere of their film short: EVEolution

After the film we will have an open forum on the topic of women in the new era. Can women rule the world, as women?

We would like to hear your opinions and also video tape the open forum and put some of the comments on our blog. It will be a lively and energetic evening discussing and defining the role of women as we face the "Dawning of the New Eve".

Please join us on Friday February 29, 2008 at 8:30 pm at
The Artist's Workshop via Toscanello 33 r (near the restaurant 4 leone.) .

Best of 2008!

Elizabeth Monroy
Director/Florence Film School
www.newrenaissanceflorence.com

Shooting in Venice

2008-02-09T10:46:00.000+01:00

View Larger Map

Nannette and I just came back from a riveting few days of Carnevale shooting in the heart of Venice. Wandering around the vast array of bridges, boats, masks and markets made the task of assisting with a small film production all that more exciting!

I arrived in Venice to meet the location scout and actor Stefano, a native to the Veneto region and therefore a life saver as the crew inevitably got lost through the streets of the lagoon-filled city.

We hopped on a boat to meet Mike, the Director of Photography, who was flying in from Brighton. Paul, the Director, was on his way to pick up the lead actress, Deita from the airport.

Upon meeting Mike, Stefano took us to Mezzorbo, a small island about 45 minutes off the coast of Venice, in order to scout out one of the filming locations as well as do some preliminary establishing shooting. The lighting was magnificent and the area was very peaceful. After a couple of hours, we headed back to the main island to meet Paul and the others.

After a brief meeting, with equipment in hand and costumes and microphones in place, we ventured out into what turned out to be a torrential storm. Despite the rain, however, some amazing footage was shot in the small streets and crevices of the center of Venice.

The following day found us a bit drier which helped produce some additional shots of the city and of the residents in their masquerade attire. In the afternoon, we had the privilege of shooting extensively in a local hotel along one of the canals. Everyone that we encountered were more than helpful in our mission to film. It certainly made the time enjoyable and uplifting.

Wednesday came upon us rather quickly and after a couple of hours of shooting at a beautiful restaurant along the Grand Canal, both Nannette and I had to bid farewell as we headed back to Florence.

Overall it was a very good learning experience, one that will not soon be forgotten by any involved!

Studio Daily

2008-02-07T14:09:00.000+01:00

Studio Daily is a new portal site dedicated to helping film and video pros evolve in their crafts and jobs through access to information on tools, workflow, technique and collaboration.

Shooting in Venice

2008-02-04T10:52:00.000+01:00

Happy Mardi Gras!!!! Here in Italy Carnival is a month long party and what better place to celebrate it then in Venice! Everyone wears the traditional robes and masks of canivale. It is a true visual feast! Our students are off to Venice interning on a professional film shoot in Venice during Carnival!
Have a great time in Venice Florence Film Students!

Mean while I would like to post an up and coming contest for the Perfect Pitch!
AVID: THE PERFECT PITCH CONTEST
Film Specific is thrilled to team up with Avid for The Perfect Pitch contest!
AVID: THE PERFECT PITCH
Do you have a film you'd like to get made? Avid has launched 'The Perfect Pitch' contest. Submit your best 60-second video pitch and see what the world and Avid's panel of industry experts have to say. One grand-prize winner will receive a package valued at over $25,000.
We are thrilled to have been selected by Avid as part of their prize packages and look forward to seeing all of your perfect pitches!

Multi Media Cinema

2008-01-31T11:05:00.000+01:00

We are in the fourth week of our winter term The Director as Story Teller: Creating the Documentary. I am very proud of our students dedication, courage and passionate creativity!
Our students have been honored with the presence of very creative, talented and unique mentors. Andre Parente a independent director form Rome who taught a fantastic workshop on The Psychology of the camera and really helped the students understand the concept of letting the story motivate the camera along with a true pearl of wisdom for all independent film makers "Let your limitations be your inspirations!"
This week we have an incredibly inspiring artist Andi Nufer who is taking our students creativty to the max with her installation art and mulit media concepts. She is helping them bring a deeper creativity and origionality to their documentary films that will make their work stand out among the glut of film shorts!
Yesterday we were introduced to the concept of mind mapping and I would like to direct our students to a website and video clip that explains that in greater detail.
http://www.jcu.edu.au/studying/services/studyskills/mindmap/

Florence Film Festival and Breaking Ground

2008-01-29T11:17:00.000+01:00

The soon-to-be-announced Florence Film Festival that we will be heading is thrilled to be working directly with Breaking Ground for the further development of this ongoing project.

We are encouraging all students and faculty to sign up with Breaking Ground and develop a stronger community that will be working with this upcoming project.

Call For Entries!

2008-01-29T09:28:00.000+01:00

Festival International du Film Spot Environnement

Babel Gum Online Film Festival

Notes on the Sound Design Workshop

2008-01-28T20:32:00.000+01:00

First of all, hello to my workshop participants, Jamy, Nannette & Chris-I'd love some feedback on what you want to get out of this workshop. If you get a chance, please send me an e-mail- since we're a small group, I'd like to conduct this as a conversation.

Here's a the best way to prepare for the workshop:

1) Download the .zip file with the reading materials (http://www.divshare.com/download/3629705-038), and finish reading as much as you can before the workshop begins. Some tips:

2) DON'T TRY TO MEMORIZE THIS STUFF, especially not the technical info. It is only meant to give you an overview; of certain terms needed to do sound design for your film projects, basic info regarding the use of sound & music, and hopefully, some insights to think of sound & music in a new way.

One basic source I used to gather the materials was an online library (http://www.questia.com) that only lets me copy documents one page-at-a-time. I've organize the separate pages into folders, and hope this doesn't make too much inconvenience. Some of the folders have links to websites that might be useful. Many sites on sound & music are very technical, or too full of advertising to be relevant- again, this info intended as an overview.

The material is contained in the folder "Philosophy Of Music" will, I hope, spark some interesting conversation - please give these six pages some special attention.

3) I noticed that all of you have a Yahoo or Hotmail e-mail account. This is important, because you will need it to register for various websites where you can download sound & music for your film projects. If you have a problem with giving this e-mail address (fear of spam, etc.), please start another e-mail account like Yahoo/Hotmail that you can access from a web browser.

As I said in my 1st blog post, I want this to be as much a learning/sharing experience as a teaching one, all the more so because we're a small group.

See you soon,
Loren
mail@loren-taylor.net

Pre-Production: Research, Research, Research!

2008-01-28T17:01:00.001+01:00

Yes, I did give a lot of information today (all of which is re-posted below), but this is what we will be covering all week, so sink your teeth into it and let's get down and dirty!

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

The Initial Stages

1. Define your working hypothesis of your subject

2. Site and background research

Familiarize yourself with:

a. People/situations that you plan to film
b. What is typical of the world you are going to film?
c. What’s unusual and particular to the world that you are going to look at?
d. Use the internet to do research and get references/ideas you can find
e. Study publications covering your subject: magazines, newspapers, etc.
f. See films on the subject
g. Talk to any experts (which means more research)

3. Develop trust

Communicate: Make yourself and purposes known to those you want to film
Learn: Put yourself in the position of learning from your subjects
Hang out: Spending time with subjects can be the most valuable thing you can do

4. Make reality checks

Do you have multiple perspectives on each person, fact, or facet?
Is what you want to film accessible?
Are the people open/responsive to you and the subject matter?
Will releases and permissions be forthcoming?
The resources for the project are not beyond your means?

Refining the Proposal

1. Narrow the focus, deepen the film

Always seek the center of your film by assuming that you may not yet have it.
Constantly re-check yourself

2. List points that your film must make

Expository information: what the audience must take away, and plan to cover that
information in several ways

Thematic/other goals that you want the film to fulfill

Shoot material to show what or who is in conflict & bring about a confrontation

3. Develop your own angle

What exactly do you want to say & WHAT EMPHASIS YOU MAY NEED TO FOCUS ON SO THAT
YOU PERSONALLY CAN COLLECT THE MATERIALS NEEDED

4. Write a three-line description

If you can do this, and people react to the description positively, then you are
ready to direct. If not, then you aren’t

5. Make other important choices

a. Casting: Decide which places/people you are going to use. Define their
rhythms, routines and imagery such as a cityscape, landscape, workplace that
emblematic of their condition

b. List what’s typical/atypical to guide your filming when you are ready

c. Remove cliché’s completely!!! List what you can show that is FRESH, SURPRISING
& DIFFERENT COMPARED TO OTHER PEOPLE’S WORK

d. Decide central character or characters (ask yourself frequently: WHOSE STORY
IS THIS?)

e. Define the essential central points and counterpoints of the arguments to be
able to collect the materials that you need

Aesthetic Issues

1. Style

What is your personal style? Style can be defined as "An individual stamp
on a film, the elements in a film that issue from its maker’s own artistic
identity

Define:
a. The style that best serves EACH SEQUENCE
b. The style that best serves YOUR POINT OF VIEW
c. The stylistic characteristics of the film as a whole

2. Seek inherent myths, emblems, symbols, key imagery

What life-role each person is going to enact
What images you have seen/expect to see that convey the heart of what you have to
say
Key actions whose connotations have special meaning for the central purposes of
the film
What type of story is yours? Any parallels that suggest archetypes, myths,
legends will strengthen your film by moving it to the universal

Additional Research Questions

1. What have I not yet been told about this subject?

2. Is everything I have been told the truth? How much do I need to verify?

3. What would I personally like to know about this subject?

4. If I were a member of the audience, what would I want to learn about this subject?

5. What can I find that is little known on this subject?

6. If the shooting has not yet started, what information can I gather that would aid
the filming process?

Relevancy Test

1. Is this information or source of information directly related to the subject of my
film?

2. Is it necessary for the audience to know this information?

3. Will this information add to the overall quality of the film?

4. Even if it is relevant and will add value, is it more relevant than all the other
information I have gathered so far?

5. Will I be able to incorporate this information into the script even if it is
relevant to the subject?

...Whew! Lots of stuff! But all relevant and good to ponder as we switch gears this week and begin to work on more practical issues for the student's upcoming projects.

The Proposal

Form and Aesthetic Questionnare

Taken from M. Rabiger: Directing the Documentary and T. Das: How To Write A Documentary Script

On A Side Note...

2008-01-21T23:31:00.000+01:00

DoEAT (The Department of Ecological Authoring Tactics), an art collective with which I am affiliated will be participating in an art performance piece in Art up-Art at Sesto Senso Bologna this Thursday 24 January.

If you find yourself wanting to hit a pinata, please stop by!

Jason.

Homework for Monday

2008-01-21T23:14:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to post the homework that will be due for tomorrow. After discussing the significance of composition in images and analysed a few paintings (both figurative and abstract) as well as some photographs, the following assignment will be due tomorrow:

1. Create 3 photo compositions

2. Use the following questions as a guideline to ask yourself before/after to assess the strength of your compositions

1. Why did your eye go to its particular starting point in the image?
2. When your eye moved away from its point of first attraction, what did it follow?
3. How much movement did your eye make before returning to its starting point?
4. What specifically drew your eye to each new place?
5. Are places in your eye’s route specially charged with energy?
6. If you trace out the route your eye took, what shape do you have?
7. How do you classify the compositional movement? Geometrical, repetitive textures, swirling, falling inward, symmetrically divided down the middle, flowing diagonally, etc.
8. What parts do the following play in a particular picture?
A. Repetition
B. Parallels
C. Convergence
D. Divergence
E. Curves
F. Straight Lines
G. Strong verticals
H. Strong horizontals
I. Strong diagonals
J. Textures
K. Non-naturalistic coloring
L. Light and shade
M. Dimension
N. Human figures
9. How is depth suggested? Depth is always a construct. How is it made in a particular image?
10. How are the individuality and mood of the human subjects expressed?
11. How is space arranged around a human subject?
12. How much headroom is given above a person, particularly in a close-up?
13. How often and how deliberately are people and objects placed at the margins of the picture so that parts are cut off?

3. They can be connected or not, that is up to you.

4. Please place them on a CD to present to the class and be ready to explain the choices that you made

See you tomorrow! We are going to watch La Jetée as well as discuss your photographic composition projects and continue honing in on your final documentary projects...

Week Three. The Beginning.

2008-01-21T09:32:00.000+01:00

Week Three is ahead of us and I hope everyone is ready for yet another thought-provoking, mind-opening, fun-fulfilling week in the realm of documentary theory and practice. This week we will be doing much more hands-on practice, which is something all students are chomping at the bit to do. I know I was when beginning my training.

We will also have the privilege to have Andrea Parente with us for the 17:00 - 19:00 workshop entitled The Psychology of the Camera Angle.

More to come!

Jason.

Questions To Ponder

2008-01-15T08:52:00.000+01:00

My portion of Monday's class ended with some thought provoking and relevant questions for each student to seriously consider as s/he makes the choices that will end in the final piece for the semester. As a benefit to everyone, I am posting them here so that you can continue to review them. If that wasn't enough, this will be one of our main focuses this week: focusing your project into a workable piece.

ON TESTING YOUR SUBJECT

1. Do I really want to make a film about this?

2. Is there an area in which I am already knowledgeable and even opinionated?

3. Do I feel a strong & emotional connection to it, more so than any other subject?

4. Can I do justice to the subject?

5. Do I have the motivation to learn more about this subject?

Remember that this topic will have to be something that will need to be researched and refined everyday. We briefly spoke about different ways to collect information, but I strongly want to emphasize the need for each student to begin to always have a journal with them: to take notes and to write down ideas as they come. As you never know when one will come up, it is beneficial that you carry it with you at all times.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF (AND THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK)

1. What is this subject’s significance to me?

2. What do most people - people like myself - already know?

3. What would I - and most people - like to really discover?

4. What is unusual and interesting about it?

5. Where is its specialness really visible?

6. How narrowly (and therefore deeply) can I focus my film’s attention?

7. WHAT CAN I SHOW?

Great class yesterday. I hope that you enjoyed Nanook of the North (Robert Flaherty, 1922) yesterday. It is a seminal piece that every filmmaker must see. I am happy to have been able to show it to you.

Babelgum

2008-01-14T23:41:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to add an interesting link to the ones Jason already suggested

Babel Gum

This site is endorsed by the Clermont Ferrand film festival, one of the most important in Europe for short movies, and by the director Spike Lee.
Its dedicated to short movies and documentaries and it's an interesting opportunity to show your (our :-) stuff.

Cannes....

2008-01-12T14:01:00.000+01:00

Call For Entries

Film Screening This Sunday.

2008-01-12T13:22:00.000+01:00

Special Showing this Sunday Evening, January 13 at 8PM!!!

In light of the recent developments concerning the results of the New Hampshire primary that took place earlier this week, we are proud to announce a special emergency showing of the award-winning 2006 HBO film Hacking Democracy.

This film documents the story of Seattle's Bev Harris, who started the organization Black Box Voting.org. As we will see, the important and under-reported investigative journey she took led to the discovery that the voting machines used in American elections since 2000 are easily hackable.

*Please excuse the short notice of this announcement, but after reviewing Dennis Kucinich's call for a recount in New Hampshire and finding this film, I thought a special showing was called for, especially since I have some American friends and family in town who need to see this film. Beginning in February, our regular film night for 2008 will be held on the THIRD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. We can show this film again for those of you who cannot make it on such short notice.

To see a clip and to read more about the film go here.

To read more about the disputed election results go here.

Where: Via Toscanella, 33 (near Piazza della Passera in the Oltrarno)

When: Sunday evening, January 13, at 8:00 PM

Donation: 2 Euro...(to go towards the purchase of a video projector, chairs, etc.)

If you like, please bring a snack and/or beverage to share.

Also, if you have an idea for a future film, lecture, reading, etc. please contact us. Your ideas and suggestions for future programs are welcome and encouraged!

About the Artists' Workshop, Firenze:

The Artists' Worshop is made up of a group of friends and artists who share a passion for learning that leads to both personal and communal growth. Sharing workshop space as well as ideas, creative energy, technological resources, etc., we hope to build community while facilitating learning and creativity in a comfortable, stimulating environment....Got ideas? Come join us! And, by all means, spread the word!

Film Contest Opportunity

2008-01-12T13:06:00.000+01:00

WHY
Imagining, introducing, enhancing and amplifying the extraordinary in
everyday life means demonstrating a distinctive, original, unexpected and
surprising personality.
The claim EXTRAORDINARY, EVERY DAY is an invitation to overcome the
banality and monotony of everyday life through creativity.

WHAT
The EXTRAORDINARY, EVERY DAY movie contest is aimed at all those who live their personal experiences based on the same values that make Alcantara® unique: censorial, aesthetics, functionality, exclusivity and who practice the art of making life extraordinary, every day.

The participants to the contest will have to conceive, design and realize a video production (which should not be longer than 3 minutes), using all video techniques and languages available (graphics, animation, actual filming and so forth).

WHO
Alcantara Spa, the leading company that "dresses" design in all its forms, has created Alcantara® LAB, a virtual lab that studies new, expressive languages based on research and innovation.

The purpose of the LAB is to create an ongoing dialogue with the creative world at 360 degrees, to listen to the needs and requirements of the different creative sectors, and to try and interpret them according to the
Alcantara® codes and values.

The movie contest is addressed to students and professionals alike, active in the fields of communications, graphic design, web design, animation, photography, movie making, and visual arts.

WHEN
The deadline for enrolment is January 31st, 2008.
The work should be submitted by February 29th, 2008.

WHERE
Prize-giving ceremony during Milan Design Week, April 2008

MORE INFO
Award: 15.000 euros
Info & Rules: www.alcantaralab.com/moviecontest
Email: moviecontest@alcantaralab.com
Jury: Paul Arden / Patrizia Beltrami / Giulio Cappellini / Maria Grazia
Cucinotta / Joshua Davis / Armin Linke /Fabrizio Giugiaro / Stefano Quaglia
/ Stefano Pirovano

Regards

Marco Mazzanti

Alcantara S.p.A.
Corporate Communication
Head Quarter Via Mecenate 86
20138 Milano - ITA

www.alcantara.com
m. +39.347.96.96.943
ph. +39 02 58030 339
fax. ++39 02 58030 316
marco.mazzanti@alcantara.com

The end of the week, and yes, more homework!

2008-01-11T18:26:00.001+01:00

Today was indeed a heavy load for the students but I am very happy of the effort that they put forth, especially with THE PITCH towards the end of class. Elizabeth and I were not easy on you, but then again, that's our job: to be nuturing but tough at the same time. That is the only way that you are going to make something that shines.

Next week, we will delve further into your projects and get into a bit of documentary history. So as preparation, please read the following:

Documentary: A History of the Non-Fiction Film by Erik Barnouw: Pages 1 - 71 (Parts 1 & 2)

Introduction to Documentary by Bill Nichols: Pages 20 - 81

DUE ON WEDNESDAY 16 JANUARY 2008:

ASSESSING A DIRECTOR’S THEMATIC VISION*

Pick a director whose work you know or know by reputation and whom you find interesting.

1. View two or more films by the same director.

2. Note what feelings and thoughts the films stirred in you.

3. Do a bibliographical search and assemble photocopies/web printouts of any relevant articles or essays by or about the films or the director.

4. View your chosen films again, this time making notes of each sequence’s content so that you have a complete running order list. (A sequence is a block of material whose unity is determined by a location, piece of time, or subject matter.)

5. Research the director’s biography and write a 4- to 5- page essay (typed and double spaced) assessing the themes of the two films and how they fit into the director’s life and his philosophic vision. Demonstrate the connectedness of his or her themes and vision to two or more of the following, noting in your essay which of these you have chosen to use:

A. The director’s personal and professional history.

B. The intention implicit in the films to change the audience’s perspectives in a particular direction.

C. The degree to which the films correctly (or incorrectly) anticipate audience reactions, especially ones that are biased in some way.

D. The degree to which the films’ “social awareness” component is (or isn’t) revealed organically and naturally within the subject.

E. Visual, aural, or other special considerations of cinema form that you find are successfully or unsuccessfully used.

F. The way your own attitudes to the subject evolved because of seeing the films and writing the paper.

(*Rabiger p. 115.)

Have a wonderful weekend! See you on Monday!

Jason.

The Alter Ego Assignment

2008-01-10T17:17:00.000+01:00

Thank you Nannette, Jamy and Chris for your time today in delving further into discovering your own creative self-identity. The goal is to get you to look deeper, to dig and really uncover what it is that interests you and how we as a group can effectively produce something meaningful.

Just to emphasize the homework that is due for tomorrow, I want to place it here for you to review if needed. Please post if you have any questions or thoughts on the subject. Okay???

YOUR ALTER EGO: THE DIRECTOR

1. List six to eight fictional characters from literature or film with which you have a personal liking to. (It becomes more interesting if you are interested in the darker sides). Rank the characters by their importance to you.

2. Do the same thing for any public figures important to you, such as actors, politicians, sport figures, etc.

3. Make a list of influential friends or family, people who have exerted a strong influence on you at some time. LEAVE OUT IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

4. Taking the top two or three in each list, write briefly about any dilemma or difficult situation they have in common.

5. Note what mythical or archetypal qualities you can see they represent.
From the above information and what you discover, DEVELOP AN IDEAL AUTHORIAL ROLE that you can describe to the class.

6. To direct is to play a role, always. Develop one from your own qualities, but make the role more defined, passionate, courageous. THE AIM IS TO BUILD A PROVOCATIVE/ACTIVE ROLE that you can uphold while you direct.

Second Assignment for Friday: THE PITCH

A pitch, or oral presentation, is common when you want to express your idea for a film project in order to raise funds or involve commissions.

- Prepare your ideas so that you can make a 4-minute pitch of a documentary idea to the class for Friday.

- Your words should be colorful and your enthusiasm should convey a clear, almost pictorial, sense of what the film will be like and why it should be made. Rehearse in front of a mirror!

- Your pitch should include:

1. An outline of the background of the topic, characters (and what makes them special), the problem(s) that put(s) them under pressure, and a general style of how you want it to be covered.

2. A Description of any changes or growth you expect during the filming.

3. A Statement of why it’s important to make this film and why you are motivated to make it.

A lot to do, I know. Get some rest. Work hard. It's all worth it! If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. That's what we're here for...

Some links...

2008-01-09T21:51:00.000+01:00

I am constantly coming across different independent film sites and such that I feel everyone should have the opportunity to take advantage of. Learning extends far outside of the classroom!!!

The Independent

The Internet Movie Database or simply, IMDB

Film Specific

Movie Review Query Engine

Rotten Tomatoes

The Self-Inventory and back to the Uffizi!

2008-01-09T15:55:00.000+01:00

I would like to call this day the beginning of introspection for everyone...including myself.

After finally getting everyone logged onto the BLOG, we spent a great deal of the afternoon discussing and recognizing what exactly it means to have an artistic identity. Some major points that were covered included:

What kind of subjects should you cover as a filmmaker?
What are you most interested to learn about?
Do you have an artistic identity and can you articulate it?

After a small "quiz" that tested self-knowledge and how active and intrusive one is able to feel in his/her surroundings, the project of the day was given, that of digging inside to understand and possibly discover issues and themes that have left marks on the individual students. I am placing the project online in case the students, or anyone else for that matter, would like to review it.

1. Make an honest, non-judgmental inventory of your most moving experiences. This will assist you in assessing your underlying issues and what topics are important to you.

2. Go somewhere private and write rapid, short notations of major experiences in which you were deeply moved (anger, joy, love, etc.). Do not stop until you have at least 10 different experiences.

3. Organize them into 2 - 3 groups and name them. Define relationships between them, if any.

4. Do not self-censor between “good” or “bad” truth.

5. Look at what you’ve written objectively as if it were a fictional character’s back story. Look for trends, a vision of a world. Freely imagine this character’s world view.

6. Do not psychoanalyze yourself.

7. The goal: To create a temporary authorial role that you can play with. As a role, you can change it, evolve it, and improve it as you go!

The afternoon continued with a review of the other archetypes, apart from The Hero, found in The Writer's Journey including:

The Mentor
The Threshold Guardian
The Herald
The Shapeshifter
The Shadow
The Ally
The Trickster

After discussing their relevance, their assignment was to go back to the Uffizi and find personal representations of such archetypes as they did yesterday with The Hero.

ADDITIONAL HOMEWORK

Based on today’s self-inventory, non-judgmental examination of key points in your life and your most moving experiences, write notes that, without disclosing anything too private, will enable you to describe objectively and aloud to the class:

1. The main marks your life has left on you during formative experiences. Keep your description of the experiences to a minimum and concentrate on their effects, not their causes.

2. Two or three themes that emerge from the marks you carry.

3. Several different characters for which you feel unusual empathy. These can be people you know, types of people, or people who exist and whom you could contact.

4. Two or three provisional/working film topics. Make them different but all focused on your central concerns. Displacing concerns into other areas of life avoids autobiography and lets you explore new worlds with authority. Choose worlds that reflect concerns to which you are already committed.

*** A REMINDER FOR FRIDAY: THE PITCH ***

A pitch, or oral presentation, is common when you want to express your idea for a film project in order to raise funds or involve commissions.

- Prepare your ideas so that you can make a 4-minute pitch of a documentary idea to the class for Friday.

- Your words should be colorful and your enthusiasm should convey a clear, almost pictorial, sense of what the film will be like and why it should be made. Rehearse in front of a mirror!

- Your pitch should include:

1. An outline of the background of the topic, characters (and what makes them special), the problem(s) that put(s) them under pressure, and a general style of how you want it to be covered.

2. Description of any changes or growth you expect during the filming.

3. Statement of why it’s important to make this film and why you are motivated to make it.

(*The Self-Inventory Project andThe Pitch are based on Directing The Documentary by Michael Rabiger).

trees

2008-01-09T14:11:00.000+01:00

trees

2008-01-09T13:58:00.001+01:00

hello. uh.

See you soon!

2008-01-08T23:41:00.001+01:00

Hi everyone,
My name is Andrea and despite the name I’m a man (you’ll learn in few days Andrea is a male name here in Italy).

It’s pretty exiting to know you already begun to work, unfortunately I live in Rome and I won’t be able to meet you before the workshop but we’re going to spend together one week that I hope will be intense and pleasant.

During the workshop you’ll be invited to look at the documentary with an artistic, narrative and experimental approach.
Beginning from the study of few paintings we will follow a path that goes from the different ways of filming reality to narrative examples of fiction movies applied or applicable to the documentary language.

A good part of the workshop will be dedicated to practical exercises in order to understand better the theoretical part and to learn how to use the basic of the camera and of the editing software.

I’ll be following your journey using the blog so I hope to have a small summary everyday, if you have any question we can use the blog to talk or you can e-mail me (and757@gmail.com).

Enjoy each day of this experience!
See you soon
Andrea

Day Two: YOU are the Hero!

2008-01-08T22:50:00.000+01:00

I hope that everyone enjoyed today's excursion around Florence including the Uffizi. Not a lot of time to spend today there, but now the passes are yours and please get to the museums as much as possible. It is certainly a luxury that many people around town don't get a chance to have!

A reminder to get your photos in the proper size for the school.

Watching The Five Obstructions probably created more questions than answers. But that is a good thing. Think of how the notion of the Hero's Journey can tie into the film that we watched and we will discuss it more tomorrow. If you want to do some more research on the film, the internet is certainly at your disposal!

The First Day Of Class.

2008-01-07T19:55:00.000+01:00

The day was drizzly outside and apart from the lack of the heater engulfing the room (promised to be fixed tomorrow), I think that there was a warm, vibrant energy that permeated the first day of classes today.

What does everyone else think?

A lot of paperwork was covered, as is usual for the first day. But I am happy that we were able to show Eye Talk and Joseph Campbell: A Hero's Journey: two films that will be an impetus for the upcoming eight week program.

The students are from diverse parts of the world, specifically Chris from Nigeria, Jamy from South Africa and Nannette from the Dominican Republic. I hope the experiences that they have will enrich the program and that their insights will be mutually beneficial. I have no doubt that this will hold true.

Students, as we spoke during class, please make this your spot to communicate anything to one another and to us as we hope this will be an excellent forum and benefit for the program!

Just as a reminder (for Tuesday 8 January):

1. Please do the reading assignment from The Writer's Journey in preparation for class.

2. After watching the documentary involving the notion of myth and its commonality in life, please think about a myth from your own region that in some way resonates with you. It doesn't have to be profound, but at least be thoughtful.

3. As Elizabeth encouraged, make an effort to do your MORNING PAGES when you wake up. It may not seem easy at first, or you may not know what to write about...but think of it as unloading your random thoughts so that you can utilize your creativity in a more productive way. I highly encourage it!

Also, although you have a hard copy of my syllabus, I am attaching a PDF File if you need it.

Have a good night. See you tomorrow. Get your camera faces on!!! ;-)

Welcome Film Makers of the Future!!!

2008-01-04T18:24:00.000+01:00

I would like to extend my warmest greetings to our growing film community of students and professionals. I am the director of the Florence Film School and we are now entering our second exciting year and have many new and innovative programs in place for 2008!

We are a non -profit organization with the mission of instructing,inspiring and promoting artists with a positive vision for our planet!
We hope that our blog will encourage students and professionals alike to explore the limitless potential of film as we enter into this wonderful new renaissance of technology, awareness and limitless perceptions of new realities!
We offer many programs at our school including eight week intensive film making semesters abroad as well as a one year professional certificate program.

We are also the main sponsors of the Florence Film Festival an International Student Film Festival that highlights creative and innovative work of emerging film makers as well as serving as a teaching and learning forum for cutting edge creativity.
Please feel free to post comments, open discussions and any thing else you feel would be helpful to our mission!

Thanks again and all the best in 2008!

Greetings from The Music Guy

2008-01-03T17:13:00.000+01:00

Hello to the FFS family-

My name is Loren Taylor, & I'll be teaching a workshop on music & sound for film. In keeping with the artistic direction laid down by director Elizabeth Monroy, the main thrust of this workshop is simple: to spark your brain cells and opening up your thinking. Specifically in two ways: 1) to think of music & sound not merely as an add-on to the visual image, and 2) to demonstrate how music & sound can create moods & feelings.

I'm hoping that my experience with FFS is as much a learning as a teaching experience. I'm looking forward to getting to know the students not just as receptacles for information, but as artists. And I've heard so much from Elizabeth about the creative atmosphere of Florence that I'm excited to meet the other instructors and find out what they're all about, too.

For those who are interested: you can find out more about me from my website (http://loren-taylor.net/bio.html), or drop me an e-mail (mail@loren-taylor.net) with any questions, comments, feelings or observations you have.

Peace,
Loren

welcome students!

2007-12-29T21:21:00.000+01:00

i'd like to say hello and introduce myself~ i'm andi and i'll be teaching this semester's "creating multi media cinema" class. i'm excited to work with individuals to find the artist's voice through exploring the infinite possibilities opened up when film, performance, and visual art elements combine. each student's unique investigation of how the use of voice, sound, scene, costume, prop, visual art, multimedia elements, live performance, and the range of content and concept that we will explore is something i cannot wait to see...here's to you and your creative power!

looking forward to working with you,
andi

Alas, the Blog!

2007-12-26T18:49:00.000+01:00

Now that the Christmas festivities have passed us by, I wanted to devote more energy to get the blog that I have been discussing for some time now in working order.

First, I want to thank you, the reader and contributor, for taking the time to read as the construction of this blog, and by extension The Florence Film School, takes its creative shape.

Much time and devotion have been poured into the program and the creation of this blog is merely an extension of this hard work. It also functions as a way to develop a dialogue amongst the facilitators and students in somewhat of an organized and moderated fashion where everyone involved can demonstrate ideas, formulate questions and also vent their frustrations if necessary.

Students, use this as a tool to keep informed and communicate in a forum in order for all the other students to benefit from the issues that need to be discussed and clarified.

Likewise, instructors and mentors are encouraged to post new thoughts as well as maintain a running exchange of their upcoming classes and models of study.

For the time being I will be moderating the blog (Jason Moore) . If you have any further questions, please post them here and the answers shall be provided if they can be.

Thanks again!

JASON