Mastering the art of visual story-telling

This is a school for storytellers. We are looking for passionate people who have a significant message to tell. If you love films and if you want to have a part in producing meaningful, relevant films for this generation, then this school is for you! The University of the Nations film program has launched dozens of its students into film and television industry careers.

Intensive training in today's digital film technologies  

The School of Digital Filmmaking provides intensive training in topics such as directing, producing, screen writing, digital and film camera operation, lighting for film and video, digital sound, computerized editing, working with actors, and other technical aspects of filmmaking, as well as a comprehensive view of the film industry.

Through practical assignments, students receive an broad view of the world of television, film and professional video production. Industry professionals teach and supervise students on hands-on exercises. Students write, shoot and edit the projects produced with professional equipment provided by the university.

The school emphasizes excellence, relevance and effective communication. It also explores integrity issues and the challenges this media presents. The school gives special consideration to character development in an industry where the challenge is to learn how to deal with success and rejection without compromising your morals.

 

 

 

Topics include:

• Camera operation (digital video and film camera)
• Audio, digital and analog recording, and sound mixing
• Lighting technique
• Picture composition
• Directing actors
• Film history
• Screenwriting
• Computerized digital non-linear editing
• Production management
• Post production
• Marketing and distribution

In only three months,  our students produce and direct their own short film and assist on at least three others with sound, camera, art, etc. The main focus of the school is fictional narrative storytelling. The SDF does not teach how to do video journalism, documentaries, commercials or music videos.

Tuition & Dates

The next School of Digital Filmmaking will run from April 7 to June 30, 2010. Information regarding student fees will be sent to all applicants. For more information contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Prerequisites

Completion of the YWAM-DTS (Discipleship Training School and Field Assignment -- IDS 701/702) or YWAM-CDTS (Crossroads Discipleship Training School -- IDS 703/704).

Credits

Twelve (12) semester-equivalent credits will be earned upon successful completion of this school (COM 236).

New film projects

www.relapsemovie.com

www.24framesoflight.com

 

Meet the School leaders

Willy & Patricia Navarro met in their native Argentina when they were teen-agers, and they have been a team ever since. Willy founded the award-winning filmmaking group 24 Frames of Light, the School of Digital Filmmaking and the School of Acting for the Screen, which Patricia directs. He is one of the founding members of The Film Institute and he and Patricia are on the Board of Directors. For many years Willy has been a member of the International Committee of the College of Communication.

Willy & Patricia pioneered the School of Digital Filmmaking (SDF) on the movie set of To End All Wars in the spring of 2000.  Willy´s passion for films and teaching motivates him to develop new courses such as The School of Applied Filmmaking, which was run alongside the making of the U of N´s first feature film, Relapse.

"Willy and Patricia are both creative and skilled and understand the place of film and entertainment in effecting this change in society," said Darlene Cunningham, co-founder of YWAM.

The School of Digital Filmmaking is aimed towards students who want to keep working towards excellence,  who want to keep growing in their craft and make a difference through their character.

Internship

Upon successfully completing the school, there will be opportunities for students to do an internship in professional film and TV facilities. Such opportunities happened on the sets of "To End All Wars", "Liitle House in the Prairie", "After", "The Path to 9/11" and just recently "The Dark is Rising". Students have also worked in places such as:

• Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, California.
• Lakeshore Entertainment, Hollywood, California.
• ORTV, Tai Pei, Taiwan.
• Vision Arts, Santa Monica, California.
• CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Killer Films, New York.
• Pray for Rain Pictures, Hermosa Beach,California.
• Overseas Locations, Amsterdam, India, Russia, Japan, etc.

The School of Digital Filmmaking is developing a number of opportunities for students to take their first steps into the film industry. We are working with a growing number of film directors (mostly our former students who are now directing their own films) in opening opportunities for practical training in film sets.

These internship opportunities are limited and a pre-selection process will be necessary to choose students to take part in them.

An example of such opportunities happened when we took a group of students onto the set of the film "To End All Wars". Students worked as assistants to the different departments and had first-hand experiences of the filmmaking process.

What the students have to say:

"I learned the foundation and the basis for my career and my calling. Without this spiritual foundation and without the practical tools I was given, I would not have been able to go through the process of making a film. I constantly go back to what I l learned at UofN and apply those principles."
-David Cunningham, director of the motion pictures "Beyond Paradise", "To End All Wars" and "Little House in the Prairie" miniseries.

"Being a writer, the School of Digital Film making was instrumental in directing the transition from page to screen. It enabled me to offer my view of the world, and that is a world that needs Christ. The methods and values that I brought away from the school have equipped me with the skills and confidence to succeed in a very unique and relevant industry."
-Terrence Nelson, Killer Films, New York

"I went to check out a film school in Vancouver (it's a 10-month course and costs over $14,000, not including residence). I had an interview and I showed them my school projects. They told me there was no point in me taking their school because everything they were going to teach us I had already learned. By the way, they had four cameras to share between 80 students."
-Jessie Scherle, 1999 student.

Video interviews with former students

Enock Freire (Brazil), Associate Producer - Pray For Rain Pictures, Hollywood, CA, USA (4.2 Mb)
Jennie Dvoak (USA, Development Executive - Santa Monica Studios, Hollywood, CA, USA (1.9 Mb)
Mike Ramsey (USA), Line Producer - Script-To-Screen Productions, Hollywood, CA, USA (2 Mb)

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