Reel Expressions: Filmmaking – Chapman University, Orange, California
Welcome Letter
Syllabus
Student and Parent Guide
Program Details
- Open to students currently enrolled in Grades 9-12
- June 21-July 5, 2008
- $3,800 (Airfare and books not included)
- Airport: John Wayne/Orange County (SNA)
What participants are saying…
“I learned so much from this TIP program. My understanding of the history and making of film has improved dramatically.”
—2007 participant
“Lights, Camera, Action!” Students play the roles of writer, director, editor, and actor in this filmmaking experience. Students will study at Chapman University, using new, state-of-the-art facilities in the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Each student enjoys the creative freedom to write, shoot, and edit at least two short films in collaboration with film industry professionals and gifted instructors.
Notable Attractions and Excursions:
- Learn from an Academy Award ™ winning Instructor
- Work with state-of-the-art cameras, film stock, and editing equipment
- Visit Hollywood sites such as the Hollywood Entertainment Museum and Warner Brothers™ Studios
- Complete two original films
- Study and work in beautiful Orange, California
The Site
The Duke University TIP Filmmaking Field Study takes place at Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, which is one of the finest film schools in the country. The campus is located in historic Orange, California— near many major film studios and “a heartbeat from Hollywood.” The old-fashioned downtown and colorful neighborhoods have been the location for many films, including the 2001 Coen Brothers’ motion picture, The Man Who Wasn't There. With cutting-edge equipment and all digital editing and networked storage systems, Chapman's School of Film and Television is a place where people come to make movies—lots of them. In fact, Chapman's student filmmakers produced over 800 films last year, and the Marion Knott Studios building is alive with creative activity twenty-four hours a day.
The Course
Students begin the course by learning the basics of storytelling, filmmaking, and editing. By the third day, each student will have created and edited a short non-dialogue film using Chapman’s digital cameras and non-linear editing systems. Students will then refine scripts for their second film and begin pre-production. The second film will be shot and edited over the weekend and, if time allows, an optional third film will go into pre-production; students may opt to work on group projects or alone. Other scheduled activities include guest speakers from the film industry including Academy Award ™ and Emmy Award ™ winning filmmakers, trips to movie studios, and tours of historic Hollywood. This exciting program concludes with a gala premiere of the students’ final projects. If you are looking for the intense production environment of a Hollywood movie studio, then this course at Chapman University is for you.
A Typical Day
Students will soon discover that each day in film brings with it a new challenge. Some students may be up before dawn trying to catch the morning light for that special shot, while others may choose to work late at night. During the day, students may spend time inside on script revisions or out on location for a shoot, and many hours will be spent finishing films in the editing bays. During the evenings, students in this course may screen and analyze recent or classic films. Amid all of this daily creative activity, students will find time for guest lectures from industry insiders and eye-opening tours of Hollywood studio lots.