"documentary filmmaking training session "
This course consists in learning video techniques and making a 10 to 20-minute documentary film. The course aims at understanding, through practice, what is implied, intellectually, morally and aesthetically, when shooting a film.
Spring 2010 : from Monday 1 February to Saturday 24 April 2010
Autumn 2010 : from Monday 4 October to Saturday 18 December 2010
The eleven-week sessions are very intensive. Utmost availability and motivation are essential. Courses are limited to 14 participants. The group is managed by five coaches, members of Ateliers Varan, who work in teams of two.
Participants : anyone wishing the full experience of filmmaking, with the involvement and the demands it implies (no technical background necessary)
Courses are done in three parts
Part One :
Learning techniques, practical exercises, film analysis.
During these three or four weeks, trainees will simultaneously learn camera, sound recording and editing techniques ; practical exercises ; screening and analysing films (key films in the history of documentary cinema) and meeting with documentary filmmakers.
Screening on demand at Varan’s film library.
During this time, each student chooses, defines, prepares and selects locations for the film he/she wants to make.
Part Two :
Shooting the film.
During this session, the students organise their one or two day shoots. The rushes are viewed regularly by all the students. Progressive analysis and criticism of the shoots will give the students a chance to correct and enrich the making of their films.
Part Three :
Editing and post-production of the students’ films.
As the shoot progresses, each student begins logging and pre-edit his/her film with a professional editor (or a editor trainee). This collaboration enables the definitive structure and final editing to be completed. Editing is an instructive step which reveals the director’s intentions of the work carried out over the past few weeks.
APPLICATIONS
IN PARIS FOR FOREIGN APPLICANTS LIVING IN FRANCE
A pre-selection is done after examination of the application forms which are available at Ateliers Varan :
e-mail : contact@ateliersvaran.com.
The selection is done in two stages, the first in writing and if successful, after an interview.
The application forms must be sent at least 4 months before the beginning of each course.
After selection, the applicant will have to send Varan a file completed by the organisation which will finance the course.
Varan will return the file with all the required documents (quote, course contents...).
The candidate will then submit the application file to be approved by the financing body.
Financing the course :
The course can be taken within the CIF professional training scheme (individual training leave) and can be financed by any public or private body.
Personal financing is not accepted.
There is no exhaustive list of financing organisations but here are a few examples : AFDAS, MEDIAFOR, FONGECIF, AUVICOM, UNIFORMATION, FAF, TT, ...
Each applicant has to find his/her own financing solution depending on his/her situation and background.
IN PARIS FOR FOREIGN APPLICANTS LIVING ABROAD
If you live abroad, the conditions are the same, except for the interview which will be conducted over the phone.
Financing the course :
The course has to be financed by an appropriate public or private body in the applicant’s native country.
Personal financing is not accepted.
There is no exhaustive list of financing organisations but here are a few examples :
Cultural services of the French Embassy, the Gulbenkian Foundation (Portugal), Studiesenteret (Norway).
Each applicant has to find his/her own financing solution depending on his/her situation and background.
