Introduction to Directing

With: Rachel Raimist
$350

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4 weeks
36
Introduction to Directing
36
Introduction to Directing

About this Live Online Course

"This was such a fascinating, comprehensive overview of all aspects of the director's job. It was so amazing how much information Rachel covered in such a short amount of time!"

—Susan J., Los Angeles, CA, USA



The director works with every department head to create the film you see on screen. From the set to the shot choices to the costumes and the edit, the director is consistently making decisions to create a visionary cinematic journey for their audience. But what does it truly mean to be a director? Where do you start in your journey to become one and what do you need to know before you step on set?


With an experienced film director as your guide, this four-week course will provide you with a fundamental understanding of the craft. By looking at scenes from existing films, discussing different directing techniques, and analyzing case studies, you will learn the director's visual language and the tools they have available to them. Whether you are preparing to direct your first film, transitioning from another industry position into directing, or generally have an interest in directing, this course will provide you with an entry point into the art of filmmaking.


What you bring to the course:

  • an interest in fiction film directing. Creators at any level of experience are welcome to apply. (You do not need to have a screenplay or active project to participate.)

What you’ll get from the course:

  • An understanding of the director’s role in every phase of prep and production
  • A breakdown of the key crew positions and what to consider in your hiring process
  • Best practices for collaborating with your creative team
  • Dos and don'ts on set
  • An overview of composition and shot types
  • Blocking basics
  • Approaches on how to work with actors
  • Analyses of of different directing techniques
  • Setting the tone for the film
  • An understanding of the director’s role in the post-production process

This course will:

  • provide tools and techniques to apply to any project.
  • showcase successful film directors and their approaches.
  • allow you to pose questions to the instructor in an open forum. Interaction with the instructor will take place only in the classroom.
  • recommend reading and viewing, but not require outside class work.

For an additional fee of $150, you may elect to meet with your Instructor for a 1-on-1 session during the course term. 


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.

Live Online Course
Beginner
Live virtual class sessions
1-on-1 meeting with Instructor (for additional fee)
Certificate of Completion
Access to course for one year

Scholarships

Sundance Collab offers a limited number of full and partial need-based scholarships for individuals who need assistance. 

Due to limited scholarship funds available, we prioritize one course scholarship per participant in a 12-month period. Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline and do not stack with discounts or promotions, including early registration.

Outline

Topics covered include:

  • The role of the director in film and television
  • Set protocol
  • Directing do’s and don’ts
  • Anatomy of a scene
  • Tone and intent
  • The importance of point of view

Topics covered include:

  • Crafting the look of your film with your department heads
  • Mise-en-scène
  • Identifying locations and building sets
  • Blocking
  • Selecting shot types
  • Choosing when and how to move the camera
  • Creating storyboards, shots lists, and overheads

Topics covered include:

  • Casting
  • Using rehearsal time effectively
  • Communicating with actors
  • Giving notes
  • Acting techniques
  • Directing approaches
  • Creating a safe space for your performers

Topics covered include:

  • The art of creative collaboration
  • The roles of the producing team
  • Making your set as sustainable as possible
  • The responsibilities of the assistant director(s)
  • The importance of a script supervisor
  • When and how to hire a casting director
  • Working with an editor
  • Sound design, music, color and VFX
  • Finishing and delivering your film

Team

Rachel Raimist

Instructor

Dr. Rachel Raimist is a formerly tenured college professor turned trailblazing television director. She is passionate about telling stories of smart women, messy families and teen life. Her directing credits span genres including drama, comedy, action, musicals, science fiction and fantasy. She has recently helmed episodes of ELSBETH (CBS), BEL-AIR (Peacock), THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Roku), SEX LIFE (Netflix) and WU-TANG: AN AMERICAN SAGA (Hulu), among others. She is one of the few Boricua directors working in Hollywood.


At the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Raimist made history as the first woman appointed Co-Chair of the Special Projects Committee by President Lesli Linka Glatter. She currently serves the Director Category Rep for the Disability Committee. She has previously served as Alternate Co-Chair of the Women’s Steering Committee, Co-Chair of the Disability Committee and Alt. Co-Chair of the Latino Committee. A passionate advocate for equity and representation, Raimist co-founded the DGA’s annual Women’s Day and leads initiatives spotlighting groundbreaking, diverse directors. She continues to champion inclusive storytelling both on screen and behind the camera.


Rachel earned a MFA and BA in directing from UCLA Film School and a PHD in 2010 in the Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies where the Rachel Raimist Feminist Media Center was named in her honor. Rachel currently teaches directing through her passion project The People’s Film School and as a mentor for the alumni film of the Youth Cinema Project of the Latino Film Institute. She designed and launched the in-person directors workshop for the Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective and also teaches and mentors for Sundance, African Creative Television, Unlock Her Potential and the Stowe Story Labs. She has taught filmmaking, feminism and storytelling at more than 30 colleges and universities and has filmed and taught in more than 20 countries. She serves on the Advisory Board of Kōawa Studios at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and is Visiting Assistant Professor at Occidental College where she teaches screenwriting and production.

FAQ

In Sundance Collab’s Live Online courses, participants attend live, virtual class sessions on the same day and time for a specified period. These sessions are led by an instructor and in some cases, supported by a team of advisors. In some courses, you are given assignments with submission deadlines to help you take the next step with your work. 

  • Each week you will be able to attend live lectures via Zoom video and ask questions of your instructor.
  • In some courses, you will receive individualized feedback from your course advisor on elements of your work.
  • In some courses, you will have the opportunity to have a 1-on-1 session with your advisor. Depending on the course, this session may be included or may be purchased separately for an additional cost. Check the course description for specifics. 

All members of the Sundance Collab community are welcome to register for Sundance Collab courses. Please review the course description and any eligibility requirements to ensure the course is a good fit. If you have any questions about a course, please email collab_courses@sundance.org.


Note that space is limited. If the registration window is open, you will see a “Register” button on the course page. If there is an application, applications are considered as they are received and applicants are accepted on a rolling basis until the course is full or the deadline has passed, whichever comes first. 

We do not allow creative partners to do our live online courses as a team. However, both creators can individually register for the course.

Part of Sundance Collab's unique educational approach is to create a teaching team for every course. Each class is led by an instructor who may be accompanied by additional course advisors. This allows us to keep an intimate ratio of participants to advisors and to provide a diversity of voices and approaches to the course content.

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.

Yes, we offer two or three-part payment plans for Live Online courses, depending on the length of the course. In all cases, the first payment is due at the point of registration. The remaining payment(s) are spread out throughout the course term. For specific payment plan dates for a course, please reach out to our team at: collab_courses@sundance.org. 

Yes, you are welcome to take a live, online course even if you can’t make the live sessions. Recordings of each class session are available online by the following day so you can keep up with the course lectures. For courses that include a 1-on-1 session with an advisor or instructor, the meeting is scheduled according to your (and their) availability.

All sessions are recorded and usually made available within one business day. The videos will also contain the chat and transcript from the class session, viewable in the video playbar.


Participants will have access to the recordings for one year following the last class session.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate will include the name associated with your Sundance Collab account.

You can find any courses that you are enrolled in or have already completed in the profile section of your Sundance Collab account under “Courses.”

You can join a course via a computer or mobile device. All of our live, online courses are conducted via Zoom.


Download and set up the Zoom software (https://zoom.us/download) 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:

 

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.

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Payment Plans:

  • A two-part payment plan is available after you register.

  • Payments are spaced two weeks apart with the first payment due at the time of registration.

Scholarships:

  • A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.

  • Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline and do not stack with discounts or promotions, including early registration.

  • To apply for a scholarship, complete the registration form by clicking the REGISTER button above and selecting the scholarship option, if available.