Fun, affordable classes in the arts! Looking for professional, step-by-step instruction at an affordable price, from a teacher with years of experience? Check out our classes! For a full list of Seattle art classes, writing classes, acting classes, film classes and more visit classesandworkshops.com Questions? Email Nilsosmar@gmail.com or call 206-420-1309

Filmmaking 101: The basics
Sponsored by: ASUW Experimental College and Wonder School of the Arts
Taught by Nils Osmar ~ Questions? Call 206-420-1309 or email
Sat. 10/10 only, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuition: $99 (U. District Seattle)

See also:
Filmmaking 102: Lighting
Filmmaking 103: Audio

Let's Make a Movie
Let's film an ACTION movie

Want to make a high-quality independent movie that looks and sounds great, and has a good chance of playing in a film festival? In this information-packed workshop, taught by a Seattle filmmaker with over eight years of experience, you'll learn exactly how to do it.

You'll learn about:

- how movies are made, step by step (and what needs to be done at each stage)

- who's who on the set of a movie (what's the difference between a producer and director? What's a grip? What's a gaffer? And what is the world is a best boy?) (The basics you need to know, whether making a movie yourself or working with a crew)

- camera angles: how to use closeups, medium shots, reverse shots, over-the-shoulders, and other angles to tell your story

- equipment, with an emphasis on cameras and camcorders (you'll learn the differences between standard def and high def camcorders; consumer, prosumer and pro models, and how to find a camera that has the features you need but fits your budget) (and even a way to get use of a camcorder for free) (If you're thinking about buying a camcorder, the information you learn in this part of the class may save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, and help you make sure it has the features you need)

- shot lists and storyboards

- directing (how to work effectively with your actors to bring the movie to life)

Plus, you'll learn how to hold auditions; where to find actors and crew; tips for getting your movie seen and distributed; and some basic info about contracts, release forms and other essential information.

See also:
Filmmaking 102: Lighting
Filmmaking 103: Audio

Let's Make a Movie
Let's film an ACTION movie

To sign up now, call 206-420-1309 or click the Add to Cart button below. If you don't see a button, go to Filmmaking 101 class page


Student comments

The instructor is professional and well organized and had patience for questions from beginners. I will recommend the class to my friends. - R.W., Seattle

took your class and I finnnnnnnally know what a best boy is!! Plus a million other things I was wondering about. Thanks for all the fun and helpful info. - Megan R., Seattle

I took your advice about how to camcorder for "free" - it was a win-win situation - worked great! - Neil G.

I learned exactly what I have been wanting (and needing) to. - Chris L., Seattle

Thanks for showing us how to make a low budget movie look great. - H.T., Seattle

You took me from doing amateurish films to making the kind of movies I had been trying to. Thank you for all of your help. - Jerry W. Kent

... just to say thank you for the class Nils. I feel like I'm on track now to make more professional movies and actually start getting them into film festivals. - Alan D., Bellevue

Questions and answers

Can you tell me more about the instructor?
Nils Osmar has made his living in the arts for over twenty years, working as a writer, illustrator, and filmmaker. He is the creator of an award-winning television series, and has made over thirty shorts and three full length features. His films have played in both local and international festivals, and won numerous awards.

What's the difference between this class and your other film classes?
This class, Filmmaking 101. covers the basic information everyone needs to know before they start shooting a film. You'll learn all about camera angles, camcorders, contracts and release forms, film festivals, finding actors and crew, turning a script into a shooting script
Filmmaking 102: Lighting teaches about oneof the most important aspects of filmmaking, effective lighting (what kinds of lights you need, where to buy them affordably, how to set up three point and four point lighting, how to use lighting to create mood and atmosphere)
Filmmaking 103: Audio teaches students how to record good audio in the field, and how to fix it audio problems and enhance the audio in studio.
Let's Make a Movie is a production class in which we make a movie as a group, coming up with the story then acting in it and filming it.
Let's film an ACTION movie! teaches about how to do action scenes safely and effectively, and how to film them.

Are these hands-on classes?
All of them are part lecture/discussion and part hands-on. We do some filming and see the results of it in all of them.

Which one should I take first?
Read them over and see which ones interest you, then call and we can advise you on an order for taking them if you're not sure.

Will these classes provide me with crew training?
You won't get professional union training -- that would take years, and is beyond the scope of introductory classes -- but you will get some basic training and practice in things like slate, boom, continuity and audio, that will give you the knowledge you need to make better films, and an advantage when helping out in some crew positions in indy films. If you're looking for training in a particular skill, call us and talk before signing up to make sure you're signing up for the right class. They're each different and provide different information.

Registration basics:

All classes are held in Seattle; most are on the U.W. campus.

To sign up click on the Add to Cart link, or call 206-420-1309.

The Add to Cart button is a Paypal link, but you do NOT need to have a paypal account. You can use any Visa or MasterCard, or cash or check. Just click through and you'll see a place to enter your credit card information.

Registration questions? Call 206-420-1309 or click here.

Frequently asked questions:
Are the classes sponsored by a school?
They're sponsored by two programs: the Experimental College,
a non-credit program of the University of Washington's
ASUW, and the
Wonder School of the Arts, an independent arts school established in 1996.
(You do NOT have to be a UW student to sign up.)

Do you have to be a UW student to sign up?
No, they're non-credit classes for personal enrichment,
open to both University of Washington students and the general public.

Where are the classes held?
Most of them are held on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
Driving directions will be emailed to you when you sign up.

How do I sign up?
To sign up by phone, call 206-420-1309. To sign up online, click on the course title
to be taken to the class page, then use the Add to Cart button near the top of the page.
Or scroll down this page and usethe Add to Cart buttons below the course descriptions.

When can I sign up?
If the classes are listed on this page, it means registrations
are now active, so you can sign up at any time.

More info about signing up

More classes starting soon:

WRITING CLASSES
Writing and selling your novel 4-week class Sundays 11/1-11/22 - 3 pm-5 pm - $99
Writing Short Stories 5-week class Wednesdays 10/14-11/18 - 7 pm-9 pm - $125
Screenwriting 5-week class Thurs, 7-9 pm, 10/22-11/19 - $125

FILM & ACTING CLASSES
Beginning Acting 5-week class, Mondays, 7-9:30 pm, 10/12-11/16 (no class on 10/26) - $150
Let's Make a Movie 6-week class - meets on Tuesday nights, 7-9:30 pm, 10/13-11/17 - $150
Let's film an action movie - 1-day workshop - Sunday 10/4 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Filmmaking101: The Basics 1-day workshop Saturday 10/10 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Filmmaking 102: Lighting 1-day workshop Sunday 10/11 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Filmmaking 103: Audio 1-day workshop Saturday 10/17 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Documentary Filmmaking Sunday 10/18 only - 10 am-5 pm - $125

ART CLASSES
Drawing for beginners
4-week class - meets from 10/31-11/21 - 9-10:45 am - $99
Painting for beginners 4-week class Sundays 11/1-11/22 - 1 pm-3 pm - $99
Perspective Drawing workshop 1-day class Sat. 11/28 - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Drawing Faces 4-week class Sat. 10/31-11/21 - 11 am-12:45 pm. - $99
Figure Drawing 4-week class Sat. 10/31-11/21 - 1 pm-2:45 pm - $99
Cartooning 4-week class - Sun 11/1-11/22 - 11 am-12:45 pm - $99

PHOTOSHOP CLASSES
Adobe Photoshop 3-week class Fridays, 10/16-10/30 - 7 pm-9:15 pm - $125

starting in OCTOBER
Writing Fiction & Short Stories
5-week class Wednesdays 10/14-11/18 - 7 pm-9 pm - $125
Let's Make a Movie 6-week class - meets on Tuesdays, 7-9:30 pm, 10/13-11/17 - $150
Let's film an action movie 1-day workshop - Sunday 10/4 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Filmmaking1: The Basics 1-day workshop Saturday 10/10 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Filmmaking2: Lighting 1-day workshop Sunday 10/11 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Filmmaking3: Audio 1-day workshop Saturday 10/17 only - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Beginning Acting 5-week class, Monday evenings, 7-9:30 pm, 10/12-11/16 - $150
Adobe Photoshop 3-week class Fridays, 10/16-10/30 - 7 pm-9:15 pm - $125
Screenwriting 5-week class Thursdays, 10/22-11/19, 7 pm-9 pm - $12599
Documentary Filmmaking Sunday 10/18 only - 10 am-5 pm - $125
Drawing for beginners 4-week class - 10/31-11/21 - 9-10:45 am - $99
Drawing Faces 4-week class Sat. 10/31-11/21 - 11 am-12:45 pm. - $99
Figure Drawing 4-week class Sat. 10/31-11/21 - 1 pm-2:45 pm - $99

starting in NOVEMBER
Writing and selling your novel
4-week class Sundays 11/1-11/22 - 3 pm-5 pm - $99
Painting for beginners 4-week class Sundays 11/1-11/22 - 1 pm-3 pm - $99
Perspective Drawing workshop 1-day class Sat. 11/28 - 10 am-5 pm - $99
Cartooning 4-week class - Sun 11/1-11/22 - 11 am-12:45 pm - $99

Nils Osmar, instructor 206-420-1309
Nilsosmar@gmail.com
classesandworkshops.com