At the beginning of March, nine students from S2, S3, S4 and S6 classes had the opportunity to take part in a workshop at the renowned University of Television and Film Munich (whose alumni include Wim Wenders and Doris Dörrie), organised by Ms Gaëlle Liedts as part of the Art Mentor Programme.
From Friday after school until Sunday evening, the small group worked with three directors, who introduced them to the various professions involved in film production.
After visiting the film school and studios, the students familiarised themselves with the technical equipment for sound and image recording, before moving on to practical exercises such as taking photos for film posters and confidence-building and improvisation exercises. The first day ended with a brainstorming session on screenplay writing.
The second day was very intense, filled with filming. 'Quiet please, we're filming!' and 'Action!' (Actually, you say 'And please!'). Everything was done by the book: the placement of the spotlights, the technology and the technical vocabulary. Even though you had to act to have actors to film, the focus was primarily on the technical aspects.
Sunday morning was devoted to filming the final scenes. While the students learnt how a film is edited from the directors, two technicians edited the film. The day ended with a screening of the short film, which was shot in three days, on the big screen in the cinema.
It was a very enriching experience that will certainly be repeated. Students interested in film production who would like to take part in a similar internship can contact Ms Gaëlle Liedts.
