Fundamentals of Filmmaking

This beginning filmmaking class is designed to introduce students to the exciting world of filmmaking. Through hands-on experiences, students will develop their original ideas into compelling visual stories and screenplays, learn how to create storyboards to blueprint their films, plan a realistic pre-production schedule, and understand how to shoot cinematic images using available technology. Students will also be introduced to editing software and learn how to distribute their films to an audience through platforms like YouTube and high school film festivals.

In addition, students will acquire strong skills in communicating their ideas through image and sound, as well as gain valuable experience in planning and implementing real-world projects. They will work with the latest technology for filmmaking in the 21st century and collaborate with their peers to create dynamic films.

Our students have a track record of success, with many of their films being featured in film festivals across the country, including some of the largest and most prestigious festivals in the nation. This class is the perfect starting point for any student interested in pursuing a career in filmmaking or just looking to develop their creative and technical skills.

Online meetings with the whole class will take place every other week to discuss projects and share presentations. Students will sometimes be paired together or in small groups during our online meeting time or may occasionally arrange their own meeting times for collaborative activities and projects.

During our 3 to 4 face-to-face sessions we may be meeting filmmakers, visiting cinemas, film festivals and film production studios. Students will need access to a video camera (this can be your smartphone) and be able to upload video to the web. Students should also have access to video editing software and a tripod.

  UC Approved: Interdisciplinary Arts  

About the Instructor

Peter Tamaribuchi – The Athenian School
Peter started out as a playwright and earned his MA at Boston University and his MFA from UCLA. His plays have been produced at a wide range of theaters and venues including Boston Playwrights Theater, Francis Ford Coppola’s One Act Festival, Kennedy Center Festival, Oakland’s Black Box Theater, and Stanford University. He has been published in MONOLOGUES FOR ACTORS OF COLOR (Roberta Uno, editor).
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He also is a screenwriter and his last screenplay, LINK, has made it onto Coverfly’s Red List and it was listed in the top 6 percent out of over 11,000 short film screenplays. LINK has received accolades and awards from the following festivals: Hollyshorts, Austin Film Festival, Outstanding Screenplays, Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, WeScreenplay Shorts, New York International Screenplay Awards, Top Shorts Film Festival, and many more.

In addition to screenwriting, Peter has been a drama and film teacher for twenty years and has worked with youth from the inner city to the suburbs. He currently teaches filmmaking at The Athenian School. He is also the founder of the film production company, Storytelling for the Screen LLC. Visit his latest project at www.questionfilm.com.