One-Day / Weekend 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.

 

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Navigating the Festival Maze

Wednesday, Oct 20, 6:30–9:30pm
Instructor: Beth Barrett
Tuition: $30/WigglyWorld members, $40/general
Max Attendance: 15 

Learn what it takes to safely and effectively navigate the worldwide film festival circuit and maximize your profile while minimizing your costs. In addition, you'll learn to rank your film as well as ranking film festivals; learn what a publicist does and how much one should cost; go through a typical press kit and learn what production notes really are; and find out what it takes to make someone else pay your way. You will also learn the inner workings of festivals such as Slamdance, Sundance, and Seattle as well as international festivals such as Toronto, Berlin, Rotterdam, and Cannes.
 
 

Production Nuts and Bolts

 

Saturday, Oct 23, 12–4pm 
Instructor: Daniel White 
Tuition: $15/WigglyWorld members, $20/general 
Max Attendance: 15
 
As a concise, yet comprehensive introduction into the world of independent filmmaking, this class will cover the terminology and definitions associated with film production as well as the major jobs that are represented on most film sets. A brief overview of budgeting, insurance, permitting, scheduling tasks and post production will be given, but the primary attention will be on the nuts and bolts of film production—the fundamentals of lighting, set design, rehearsal, blocking and shooting. Attention will be given to the diverse choices of current recording formats. Additionally, students will learn time management in film production and its  importance to the production process. This class will benefit students who plan to take further classes that go into more depth with hands-on production skills as well as active filmmakers who are seeking to refine their understanding of film production.
 

Any Time Whatever: A Partial History of Looking in Narrative Cinema

Visiting Filmmaker!

Sunday, Oct 24, 12–3pm 

Instructor: Curtis Winter 
Tuition: $15/WigglyWorld members, $20/general 
Max Attendance: 15
 
With Anders Edström, visiting director C.W. Winter created the feature film The Anchorage (playing October 22-28 at Northwest Film Forum) with inspiration from a history of film, music, art and ideas. In this workshop, C.W. will talk about The Anchorage in a discussion that reviews some of these monumental creators. He'll discuss cinematic moments from Yasujiro Ozu, Vittorio De Sica, George Cukor, Ingmar Bergman, Monte Hellman, and Jean-Marie Straub; as well as the work of artists such as Bruce Nauman, Jack Goldstein, Tony Conrad, Caspar David Friendrich, and Robert Smithson. And he will look at recordings from musicians such as LaMonte Young, Terry Riley, Henry Flynt, and Earth, as well as sounds from the contemporary cassette Noise culture.
 

Sensible Financing for Feature Filmmaking

 

Saturday, Dec 4, 11am–4pm 
Instructor: Daniel White 
Tuition: $25/WigglyWorld members, $30/general 
Max Attendance: 15
 
Feature filmmaking can be an outrageous experience, but that's no excuse for your financial expectations to be outrageous. Useful for all scales of film budgets, this class will give you a sense of how to set up your project in the early stages while keeping a realistic goal for your finished product in mind. Different projects call for different business models and we'll look at the specifics of setting up an LLC with an investment package, but also determine when an overinflated investment arrangement can do more harm than good. In every case, distribution is the key factor before the first frame is shot. Come with questions about your project, and leave with a strategy for a successful production!