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film courses

Basic technical courses

Camera, sound and lighting course’ duration is five weeks on a full time basis (five days a week). Students are provided with training equipment, 90 pages document of technical and theoretical material covered during the course (in English and Arabic), and a DVD containing information about the use of the professional camera Sony PD170.

The main objective of this course is to introduce young film makers to basic techniques of film-making. The course is divided into three main parts consisting of a theoretical input, practical exercises, and assessment when student’s work produced during the course is evaluated, discussed and action points to improve the final product are identified. Each teaching session involves theoretical and practical aspects of the learning process.

Weeks one and two involve lectures and practical work on camera and sound, covering basic operations, exposure, composition, focus, camera movement, microphone positioning, recording techniques and shooting sequences. Week three involves theoretical and practical work on lighting. Week four and five involves theoretical and practical exercises on a different camera, and more intensive shooting and building of sequences.

Advanced courses

Documentary film courses’ duration is eight weeks. This course is designed to train young, independent Iraqi film-makers who recently graduated from Baghdad University and Fine Arts Institute. This is a full time course (five days a week) whereby each teaching session involves theoretical and practical aspects of the learning process. Students are provided with hand outs, a printed 120 pages document in English and Arabic covering all aspects of documentary productions. In addition, CDs on non-linear editing and professional shooting on DVcam cameras are distributed to students.

During weeks one and two, teaching sessions cover writing a proposal, research, treatment, script writing, elements of a documentary story, director’s duties and responsibilities, in addition to further development of camera techniques, sound on screen, and introduction to sound mixer.

Weeks three and four are focusing more in details on technical aspects of direction, camera, sound, and lighting. By the end of week four students are invited to select a subject for their documentary for further development in the coming weeks.

During weeks five and six, teaching sessions cover journalistic and technical interview set up, filming interview on location, mics selection, positioning, setting up two cameras interview with a sound mixer, space composition and use of hand held camera. In weeks six students have the opportunity to watch several documentaries of various styles, followed by discussion and analysis of all aspects of film-making. Individual topics selected by student for their documentaries are finalised and approved.

Weeks seven and eight are focused on off line and on line stages of film editing, watching rushes, logging, compiling shot lists, cutting order, first assembly, final cut, music, special effects, commentary, etc. Students are also introduced to non-linear editing on avid and premier machines. On completion of week eight students are embarking on production of their documentaries, which are expected to be submitted for final viewing ….Throughout production period, full tutors’ support is provided by tutors.