Directing Intensive: Mastering Emotional and Narrative Point of View
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About this Intensive
The most powerful films don’t just tell a story—they immerse the viewer in a distinct emotional experience. In this four-day online intensive led by acclaimed filmmaker Julian Higgins (God’s Country), you’ll dive deep into the art of shaping emotional and narrative point of view—one of the most essential, yet often overlooked, elements of directing.
Over four days, Julian will guide you through the artistic and technical decisions that shape narrative perspective. You will learn what goes into infusing your artistic voice into your film throughout the creative process, from camera to performance to edit. You'll break down exemplary sequences from influential films, participate in targeted exercises to reveal your directorial voice, and develop practical techniques for translating emotional intention into cinematic language.
Whether you’re working on your first short or preparing your next feature, this intensive will help you move beyond technical competence and into emotionally resonant storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll.
What you bring to the course:
- A scene, short script, or feature concept you'd like to develop with a focus on point of view
- Openness to exploring new approaches to visual storytelling
What you'll learn from the course:
- How to identify and implement different types of POV
- Techniques to align camerawork, performance, and sound design with emotional perspective
- Methods for managing audience relatability and engagement
- Strategies for maintaining consistency of vision through production challenges
- Approaches to communicating your vision to cast and crew with clarity and purpose
- How to develop a distinct directorial approach that serves your story's core truth
This course will:
- Provide practical tools for strengthening the emotional impact of your directorial choices
- Include analysis of both classic and contemporary examples of masterful POV direction
- Connect you with other filmmakers via a discussion board where you can share ideas and receive peer feedback
Intensive Schedule
Monday, May 12
- 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. PT (extended opening session)
Tuesday, May 13
- 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. PT
Wednesday, May 14
- 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. PT
Thursday, May 15
- 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. PT (extended closing session)
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available and are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Those who apply earlier will have a greater chance of getting support. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the course registration form.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Accommodations and services are designed to meet the needs of each participant. Please email us at accessibility@sundance.org to arrange for services.
IntensiveScholarships
Sundance Collab offers a limited number of need-based, partial and full scholarships. Scholarship applications can be submitted until one week before the registration deadline and do not stack with discounts or promotions, including early registration. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not always able to provide a scholarship, but we may still offer a spot in the course.
Outline
Topics covered include:
- Understanding how we talk about point of view
- Subject, object and the gaze
- Audience positioning and relatability
- How form creates meaning
- The artist’s POV
Topics covered include:
- Narrative POV
- Auteur theory and the role of the director
- The director’s toolkit
- Creating an emotional experience for your audience
- Doing vs telling
Topics covered include:
- Identifying directorial choices in film
- Understanding how art affects audience
- Maintaining POV from prep to post
- Making bold choices
- Fostering strong collaborations
Topics covered include:
- Developing your directorial voice
- The misconception of objectivity
- Leaving things open to interpretation
- Bringing your personal experience to your work
- Establishing and maintaining a POV throughout your career
Team
Julian Higgins
Instructor
Julian Higgins is a director, writer, and producer. His first feature, God's Country – a neo-Western thriller starring Thandiwe Newton – premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired for worldwide distribution by IFC Films and Universal International. His second feature is currently in postproduction.
Prior to God's Country, Julian's short films screened at over a hundred festivals around the globe and won dozens of prizes, including the gold medal Student Academy Award, two Student Emmy Awards, and the grand prize of Ron Howard’s “Project Imagination” Contest. His 2015 short, Winter Light, was a top ten finalist for the Oscar.
A New Hampshire native, Julian holds a BFA in Film from Emerson College and an MFA in Directing from the American Film Institute. He has served on the faculty of both institutions for over a decade, and now offers directing courses and one-on-one coaching independently as well.
FAQ
In Sundance Collab’s Intensives, participants attend live, virtual class sessions in a condensed time period. These sessions are led by an instructor and supported by the Sundance Collab courses team.
All members of the Sundance Collab community are welcome to register for Sundance Collab Intensives. Some Intensives require an application. Please review the description and any eligibility requirements to ensure the Intensive is a good fit. If you have any questions, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
For application-based Intensives, note that space is limited. Applications are considered as they are received and applicants are accepted on a rolling basis until the Intensive is full or the deadline has passed, whichever comes first. If the application window is open, you will see an “Apply” button on the course page.
We send our application acceptance notifications on a rolling basis, starting after the application deadline. You will be notified of your acceptance status no later than three days before the first session. At any point, you can check the status of a course that you have applied to by logging into Sundance Collab and visiting the course page. You’ll see a purple bar there indicating your status.
When reviewing applications for an Intensive, the Sundance Collab team evaluates the needs and expectations of each applicant. We are also looking to convene a diverse group of participants who will work well together and support each other throughout the Intensive. Finally, we will confirm that the applicant can meet the time commitment necessary and has a strong interest and readiness to complete the Intensive and meaningfully contribute to the group process.
We do not offer any combined applications or discounts for Sundance Collab Intensives.
We often offer a limited number of need-based, full or partial scholarships. Check the course description to see if that course currently has scholarships available. Scholarships are prioritized for one per person per year (from the date of issue). Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline. To apply for a scholarship, complete the registration form by clicking the REGISTER button and selecting the option to apply for a scholarship, if available.
Applicants will be notified about their scholarship decision prior to the first day of the course. Due to the volume of applicants, we are not always able to provide a scholarship, but we may still offer a spot in the course. In this case, depending on the course, payment plans may be available and can be selected at checkout.
We may offer the option of either a two or three-part payment plan for Intensives. If offered, the first payment will be due at the time of registration and the last payment will be due before the halfway point of the Intensive. Due to the length of Intensives, a payment plan option may not be available closer to the registration deadline. For specific payment plan dates, please reach out to our team at: collab_courses@sundance.org.
Yes, you are welcome to take a live, online Intensive even if you can’t make the live sessions. Recordings of each session are available online within two business days.
All sessions are recorded and usually made available within two business days. The videos will also contain the chat and transcript from the session, viewable in the video playbar.
Participants will have access to the recordings for one year following the last session.
All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate will include the name associated with your Sundance Collab account.
You can join a course via a computer or mobile device. All of our Intensives are conducted via Zoom.
Download and set up the Zoom software and make sure you have the latest update. Here are some great resources from Zoom’s Knowledge Base to take a deeper dive into using Zoom:
- Watch Zoom's Video Tutorials or review training materials on the Getting Started page.
- Join a Live Training from Zoom.
If you have any further questions, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Please contact us at (435) 776-7790 or email us at accessibility@sundance.org to ask any questions or to discuss your specific needs after you have been accepted into the course.
No sessions scheduled.
Want to be notified when new dates open for this course?