The 2010 Christian Filmmakers Academy Presents...
Our Most Innovative and Practical School for Christian Filmmakers to Date. This October 25-27, 2010. Space Is Limited, So Sign Up Now and Join the Independent Christian Film Revolution!
This is Your Opportunity to Be Mentored Under Kirk Cameron, Stephen Kendrick, and an Outstanding Faculty of Christian Actors, Directors, and Seasoned Filmmakers at the 2010 Academy
Our faculty and list of guest speakers includes veteran star of television and film Kirk Cameron; award-winning producer Stephen Kendrick of Fireproof and Courageous; Oscar-nominated composer of Silverado, Bruce Broughton, who has received more than twenty Emmy Award nominations; Doug Phillips, producer of The Mysterious Islands and The League of Grateful Sons, and founder of the Academy; noted filmmaker and cultural commentator Geoff Botkin of the Western Conservatory of the Arts; Isaac Botkin, also of the Western Conservatory; David Cook, producer of the upcoming feature film starring Robert Duvall, Seven Days in Utopia; award-winning producer, and award-winning filmmaker and producer of soon-to-be-released film Indoctrination, Colin Gunn. Also joining us will be the team from Leclerc Brothers Motion Pictures, Stephen and David Bowman of The Effects Forge, and feature film finalists for the 2010 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
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Presenting “How to Become an Influential and Winning Director” and “Maximizing the Christian Filmmaking Revolution”
It’s a directorial revolution at the 2010 Christian Filmmakers Academy as students and professionals come together to learn, network, and cast vision for the future of independent Christian filmmaking. We need to see a generation of entrepreneurial, creative, wise filmmakers with a passion for the best kind of storytelling and the skills to execute their craft with excellence. Toward that end, this year’s Christian Filmmakers Academy will focus on “How to Become an Influential and Winning Director” and “Maximizing the Christian Filmmaking Revolution.”
The Christian Filmmaking Revolution
Worldview, Entrepreneurship, Technologies, Financial Strategies, Maximizing Our Cultural Influence
Geoff Botkin teaching at the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival
1. Biblical Worldview for Filmmakers and Culture Changers
This is a powerful crash course on the theology and art of distinctively Christian filmmaking for the glory of God. The fact is that you CANNOT be a Christ-honoring filmmaker without a solid theological foundation that informs your worldview and every aspect of the craft. Our mission is to take “every frame captive,” and this means developing an epistemologically self-conscious approach to making movies.
2. The Art of Scoring Films, With Oscar-Nominated Composer Bruce Broughton
One of the great Achilles’ heels of independent Christian filmmaking is the absence of well-considered, excellent musical scores. Now filmmakers can hear from Oscar-nominated composer and Christian, Bruce Broughton, speak about the best way to score a film, common mistakes to avoid, and the ideal interaction between filmmakers and their composers to create the very best results. Bruce will be joining us through video-conferencing from the location of his latest project, and will provide students with a rare and unique opportunity to study under one of the leading Christian composers in the world.
3. Real-Life Success Stories from the Last Five Years of Academy Graduates
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Christian Filmmakers Academy, and the time has come to evaluate the movement and the success of our filmmakers, both in terms of the excellence of their craft and the financial viability of the projects they have promoted. You will hear from past Jubilee Award winners and Academy graduates who have embraced successful economic models for filmmaking, taking their skills to increasingly higher levels of technical and storytelling excellence.
4. Guerrilla Documentary Filmmaking for the Glory of God
The documentary genre is one of the most powerful tools for cultural influence, for fighting evil, and for building an informed citizenry. New technologies and market opportunities have opened the door for some highly successful approaches and variations on the documentary format that will allow Christian filmmakers to bring important messages to the world. Learn the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking from experienced pros. This symposium may change your life as a filmmaker.
5. How to Successfully Market Independent Christian Films
Over the last few years, successful Academy faculty and graduates have generated millions of dollars in sales from their films, have enjoyed theatrical releases, have benefitted from successful overseas marketing campaigns, and more. How are they doing this? What do you need to know about making financially successful films for the glory of God? Get the most up-to-date insider tips and strategies.
How to Direct Actors
Castings, Directing Professional Actors, Directing Novice Actors, Voice Control, Blocking, and More
Kirk Cameron at the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival
1. Acting and Directing Actors, with Kirk Cameron
Join Kirk Cameron, veteran television and film star, for an exciting symposium on acting and directing actors. This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn the craft of acting and gain valuable insights on the proper way to direct actors from one of the leading Christian actors in the world.
2. Character Arc
All character interaction and accomplishment is based on morality tests. In order for a character to be able to tackle larger problems as the story progresses, he must grow as a character. The protagonist’s character arc will be tied to plot elements and be mirrored by the antagonist. Learn how to use arcs to drive story elements and manage plot pacing.
3. Madness and Methods (John Wayne vs. Marlon Brando)
The Meisner Technique, the Stanislavski System, and various strains of method acting have all been developed in an attempt to add “truthfulness” and realism to the craft of acting. Each approach has its own strengths and weaknesses, but which school is best for your cast and characters?
4. Directing, Plots, and Casting
There are only two kinds of films: those featuring a plot that happens to characters, and those featuring characters that a plot happens to. A film’s characters are created by a joint effort between the writer, director, and actor. Their concerted efforts must be in unison for those characters to serve the plot well. The 2010 Christian Filmmakers Academy will equip you as a culture-changer for the cause of Christ in the medium of film. Invest into yourself and your team!
How to Direct Your Film’s Story
Structure, Stories Worth Telling, Imparting Greatness to Your Story, Directing Your Script, Directing Memorable Scenes
Stephen Kendrick on set with his new film Courageous
1. Structure and Beat
Story is structure, and timing is everything. Learn how to build a story around the principles of Hollywood’s most successful and powerful projects. Find out what Syd Field, Robert McKee, and Blake Snyder have discovered about genre, structure, and story beats, and learn how to analyze the elements and pacing of your own screenplays and story concepts.
2. Defining Your Universe
Joss Whedon, Christopher Nolan, and Steven Spielberg have all developed systematic theologies that permeate their entire library of films, creating a consistency that makes all of their stories stronger. Learn how to analyze the worldviews of directors and why stories that take place in a unified universe are more powerful.
3. The Director’s Guide to Visual Screenwriting
Going from a printed page to the silver screen presents both opportunities and challenges. Is it the director’s responsibility to turn a written story into a visual representation, or should the writer build the story with images in mind? Learn how to use symbols, types, and colors to show rather than tell.
4. How to Avoid the Most Common Directorial Mistakes
The judges for the SAICFF reviewed some 250 films, about 75% of which were rejected for basic, fundamental errors of filmmaking. In some cases, films with high production budgets were rejected, while films of modest means with attention to fundamentals made it as semi-finalists. What can make or break your film regardless of budget, and are you paying attention?
Sign Up Today. Space is Limited.