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Sign up now for the JANUARY 2022 class:
Course 177301 - LET'S MAKE A MOVIE
• Tuition: $150. Registration fee: $10
• Saturdays January 8-Feb. 5 (Five meetings)
• First 2 meetings: online (Zoom) (11 a.m.-1 p.m. PST)
• Remaining meetings (for filming movie) are in person (greater Seattle area) 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (or thereabouts)

• Prerequisite: Acting 101 and 102 or similar classes.
• Students are welcome to attend all class sessions, but only NEED to be present in the first two meetings and the days they are filming

In this Seattle acting/filmmaking class, we’ll create a short movie, working together as a group.
Students can act in the movieor help out behind the scenes.
We’ll start with two Zoom meetings, then the instructor will meet with students in very small groups (i,e, one or two actors), with social distancing, to film their scenes.
Taking this class is a fun way to learn some key things about filmmaking ––– get some acting practice and coaching ––– and be in a short movie.
To see some of the films made previously in this course, scroll down.
About the instructor – Office: dates/times – Office: class list

HOW IT WORKS!

MEETING 1 – ZOOM MEETING FOR WHOLE CLASS

In this meeting, students will learn some key things about acting in movies and how movies are made.
Plus we’ll brainstorm about movie ideas.
After the class ends, the instructor will write a script.

MEETING 2 – ZOOM MEETING FOR WHOLE CLASS

In this meeting we’ll read through of script, and discuss how we’ll be filming it. Then we’ll CAST IT. Anyone who wants to be in the finished movie will have a role in it.

AFTER THE SECOND CLASS:

If you are in or near Seattle, you will have the choice of either filming your scene yourself (with remote guidance from the instructor) or meeting with the instructor in person to film it.
If you choose to meet in person, your scene will be filmed with masks and social distancing (though the actors won’t wear masks when being filmed). All in-person groups will be kept very small ––– no more than two actors and the instructor. The script will be written in a way that makes it possible to film all of the scenes this way.
If you don’t live in Seattle, or don’t want to meet in person, you will be coached in how to film yourself. If you choose this option, the instructor will meet with you using Zoom and coach you remotely in how to film your scene, using either a camera or a phone. (Doing this can be a fun way of learning about both acting and filmmaking.) Then you’ll send your footage in using Google Drive or a different online file transfer protocol.

AFTER FILMING IS COMPLETED:

The movie will be edited and will have an original musical score created.
When the movie is finished, we’ll meet as a group using Zoom for its premiere.
After that it will go up on Youtube, so that you can share it with your friends.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

Can I take this class if I don’t live in Seattle? Yes, you can take it anywhere in the world, as long as you have access to a way to film your scene (with the instructor’s long distance guidance).

If I live in Seattle, can I meet with the instructor and film my scene in person? Yes, we’ve found it workable to film that way if only one student is involved. This would not be a group meeting, but a meeting between one student and the instructor –– using masks (when not being filmed) and social distancing. The camera can be actually be ten feet away from the actor on a tripod and still film closeups. Another possibility would be meeting with the instructor to be filmed outdoors or on a back deck.

IMPORTANT NOTES

If you are a student in a Rekindle School in-person class which was delayed or interrupted due to coronavirus, you can switch your enrollment from that class to this one if you want to.
Or you can keep your enrollment in the other class active to hold your place in it till our in-person classes come back, and sign up for this class separately.

NOTE FROM NILS:

Here’s a short film I made recently.
One of the actors was a “Let’s Make a Movie” alumnus.
To see a film made remotely using the same directing method I’ll be using in the online “Let’s Make a Movie” class, scroll one more movie down.

NOTE FROM NILS:

Here’s a film I recently made using the “remote directing” method used in the LET’S MAKE A MOVIE – ONLINE ACTING CLASS.
I wrote and directed it. I was also an actor in the film.
The other actor in the movie lives in another state. He was filming himself with his own camera.
I was directing his performance and his camera angles using Zoom.

STUDENT COMMENTS ABOUT LET’S MAKE A MOVIE:

“I’d like to thank you. After taking your (Beginning Acting and Let’s Make a Movie) classes last year, I now have had two acting gigs. One in a movie called Sideways Japan… it was a Fox production… and I was in a commercial in Hollywood, that was a Time Warner production. The reel we made (in the Let’s Make a Movie class) was very useful helping me perform in front of camera and the fact (that I was) comfortable in front of camera got me the gigs.

Tell everyone to not give up and give it your all if you want to make it. It was a slow start, but now I’m living in L.A. and loving it. Thanks again, your classes are good. – K. S. (Hollywood)

I was looking for a filmmaking class, then decided it would be fun to try acting too. I ended up taking the class twice, once to get some experience behind the camera, and the second time to try my hand at acting. Both experiences were interesting and very challenging. I’m also taking the Crash Course in Filmmaking class, which fills in a lot of the more technical information there wasn’t time to cover in Let’s Make a Movie. I recommend all of the instructor’s classes. – Barb B.

I saw a class similar to this at _____ but they wanted $8,000.00 for it! Thank you for a fun learning experience and for keeping it affordable! – Sharon B., Seattle

Thanks for teaching the class! The wrap party was a blast. It was fun seeing our class movie on a big screen…- S.G., Seattle

I was hoping to learn some basics about filmmaking and see how it was all done. That’s exactly what I got. I will recommend the class to my friends. – J.G., Seattle

Just a note to say that I loved the class. Thanks Nils! – V.M. (Seattle)

I was impressed with the professionalism of the movie we ended up with. Everything about it was great. The class was far more than I expected. – Joe G. (Kent)

The instructor was very patient and supportive. We are completing the course project, making a film, as promised. Nils has, and will continue to devote many additional hours working on the editing. I’ll probably take this class again. – M.F., Seattle

It was nice being able to choose, we could be in the film, or be on the crew, or just watch. I did crew this time around but I’ll be taking it again and try acting. – Brad R., Bellevue

Okay, I’ll tell you the truth. I was scared to death. But I really enjoyed the class, and liked the show. It’s fun to have done it. – Mary L. (Bellevue)

Thanks so much for the class. I had a great time, and learned what I was hoping to. – Mike G., Seattle

I was impressed with the professionalism of the movie we ended up with. Everything about it was great. The class was far more than I expected. – Joe G. (Kent)

About the instructor

Nils Osmar has made his living in the arts since the 1980s, working as a visual artist, writer, director and independent filmmaker. He has taught acting classes, film classes, and other classes and workshops for over twenty years. His films have played at major film festivals. To visit his IMDB (professional film credits) page, click here.

Frequently asked questions

What if I don’t like the script we end up with, and don’t want to be in the movie? This is rarely an issue, but if, after reading the script, you decide you don’t want to be in the movie, and let the instructor within 48 hours of the script being mailed out, you can you can either get a refund of 1/2 of the tuition you paid, or switch your enrollment to a different quarter.

What sorts of movies do you usually film in the class? In the past, we’ve done everything from film noire detective movies, to mockumentaries, horror flicks, zombie movies, action movies, science fiction and fantasy, satire, humor, and romance. We’ll film whatever the students as a group decide to make.

Above: a short film made in “Let’s Make a Movie”

What will happen to the movie when it’s finished? We’ll upload it to Youtube, so you can send links to your friends to see it. We’ll give actors a link where they can download it if they would like to use a clip from it for their reels.

Some short films made in the Let’s Make a Movie class