Multi-Session Workshops
Northwest Film Forum classes and workshops are designed to instruct filmmakers on both the mechanical skills required in current filmmaking technology and the artistic application of tools to explore the critical and emotional range of the cinematic experience. Classes and workshops are taught by working artists: filmmakers, writers, producers and editors.
Explore filmmaking by doing it. We do not want you to make a commitment you are uncomfortable with; we offer a wide range of classes and workshops that can be taken at whatever pace you prefer. Whether you are new to the art and plan to plunge into filmmaking as a career or you have purchased your own equipment and wish to drop in on a few certifications to learn more, our classes are for you. NWFF's curriculum offers a complete education in nearly all aspects of filmmaking. Multi-session classes meet weekly and offer in-depth, hands-on experience with filmmaking tools, while one-day workshops offer both insightful lectures and practical techniques on current filmmaking topics.
Introduction to Flash
Four Wednesdays, Apr. 8, 15, 22 & 29, 6:30-9:30pm
Instructor: Bryan Schaeffer
Tuition: $290 WigglyWorld Members / $320 General Public
Max Attendance: 6
Prerequiste: Basic knowledge of Photoshop and a vector-based drawing program (Illustrator, Freehand) Flash is the premiere software for animating different media formats-photography, line art, sound and video-for the web. Learn the basic skills of Flash's robust animation tools to incorporate in the interactive environment of a website. With hands-on learning in class and between class assignments, you'll learn how to create animations starting from storyboards and a project plan, navigate the Flash environment, determine the best production methods, and put into motion your most creative ideas. During the class, students will each develop individual projects under the guidance of the instructor, and by the end of this introduction, you will feel comfortable with Flash's comprehensive set of tools to really begin exploring new realms of animation and interactivity.
After Effects Basics
Three Tuesdays, Feb. 10, 17 & 24, 6:30-9:30pm
Instructor: Trent Woolford
Tuition: $250 WigglyWorld Members / $280 General Public
Max Attendance: 6
AfterEffects is a powerful animation and compositing tool, with a wide range of applications. Commonly used for film, television and multimedia, this program can be difficult to crack at first. Once the basics are mastered, it offers a rich and nearly unlimited range of creative possibilities. We'll be learning from the ground up how to animate typography, as well as combine and manipulate footage and other elements to create effects and motion graphics.
Sound Recording for Film/Video
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 6-8pm & Wednesday, Jan. 14, 6-9pm
Instructor: Robb Kunz
Tuition: $65 WigglyWorld Members, $80 General Public
Max Attendance: 12
This 5 hour workshop will present you with the essential principles of audio signal, microphone and recorder technology and technique. The first evening will be a two hour lecture, and the second class will include three hours of hands-on, field test and evaluation. Participants will learn how to listen and capture better in the production phase.
Basic Videography
Saturday & Sunday, Apr. 4 & 5, 10am-4pm
Instructor: Erik Vilinskas
Tuition: $250 WigglyWorld Members / $280 General Public
Max Attendance: 8
Learn how composition, lighting, and depth of field interact to create memorable images. This class will cover basic videography skills and provide the opportunity to operate the Northwest Film Forum's Canon GL1, Panasonic AG-DVX100, and HVX200. We will discuss the differences between video and film and the benefits and pitfalls of some of the more popular video formats currently in use. We will also address the basics of lighting for video, as well as how to record good field audio using a shotgun microphone and boom. Hands-on sessions will demystify the buttons and menu functions common to most consumer and professional video cameras. This class will give you a solid foundation for your video projects, whether you plan to use the Film Forum's cameras or your own.
Beginning Editing with Final Cut Pro
Three sessions to choose from:
Three Wednesdays, Jan. 14, 21 & 28, 6-9pm
Three Mondays, Mar. 9, 16 & 23, 6-9pm
Three Mondays, Apr. 13, 20 & 27, 6-9pm
Instructor: Dina Guttmann or J. Cody Lucido
Tuition: $250 WigglyWorld Members / $280 General Public
Max Attendance: 5
Learn the basics of non-linear editing with Final Cut Pro. Covers settings, basic principles, effects, titles, sound and printing to video with hands-on experience for each student. This class is for students who intend to work in digital video productions who want to know some of the basic skills of editing in a non-linear environment. Prior experience in non-linear editing is not required, but basic computer skills are necessary. Time is available in NWFF's edit suite for students to work between classes.
Screenwriting 101: The Eight Week Screenplay
Eight Tuesdays, Feb. 3 - Mar. 24, 7-9pm
Instructor: Walter Dalton
Tuition: $230 WigglyWorld Members, $260 General Public
Max Attendance: 8
Whether you want to pitch your film to Hollywood or make your independent feature, students will learn the details of script formatting, story structure, character development and dialogue, while working in small groups and individually with the instructor to complete a feature-length screenplay in only eight weeks. The only pre-requisite is you come to class with an idea for your feature film.