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Go at your own pace
5 Sessions / 10 hours of work per session
Price
Premium membership $20/month (Preview session 1 free)
Credit Eligible ($300 USD)
Included w/ premium membership ($20/month)
Skill Level
Beginner
Video Transcripts
English
Topics
Design, Storytelling, Art, Animation, Movies, Post Production

Not available for purchase in India

Open for Enrollment

Cinematic Storytelling

Open for Enrollment
You can also start immediately after joining!

Would you like to enroll?

Enrollment for this course has closed. But you can enroll in a future offering (please select)

Enrollment has closed

Go at your own pace
5 Sessions / 10 hours of work per session
Price
Premium membership $20/month (Preview session 1 free)
Credit Eligible ($300 USD)
Included w/ premium membership ($20/month)
Skill Level
Beginner
Video Transcripts
English
Topics
Design, Storytelling, Art, Animation, Movies, Post Production

Not available for purchase in India

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the methods of cinematic storytelling, with an emphasis on visual grammar and techniques, taught by CCA Instructor and seasoned veteran of Lucasfilm and Pixar, Craig Good. Students will learn story structure, and how to develop written or spoken ideas into a clear dramatic narrative arc, and how to edit and juxtapose images to create a clear and emotionally engaging result for live action film and animation. They will also learn how collaboration and the ability to show work in progress, giving and getting notes from peers, makes everybody’s work better.

Reviews
schedule

This course is in adaptive mode and is open for enrollment. Learn more about adaptive courses here.

Session 1: We Are Story (December 11, 2024)
Stories are a part of us. We’ll cover story structure, including the classic 3 acts. A movie is more like a symphony than a painting. A cinematic story has one job: Convey emotions. The technical term for a movie that fails is "boring". The hardest part of making movies: Getting and giving feedback, or notes. Do it early. Do it often. Get lots of eyes on the screen. Cinema is writing, but with a different grammar. Guiding the viewer’s eye. Let’s learn to see movies in a new way. If you don’t like watching them, you won’t like making them.
8 lessons
1. Course Introduction
2. Why Do We Tell Stories?
3. The Parts of a Story
4. Becoming Good Cinematic Storytellers
5. How is the Language of Cinema Written?
6. Guiding Your Viewer's Eye
7. Seeing Cinematically
8. Take the Red Pill: Paying Attention
Session 2: The Elements Of Visual Storytelling (December 18, 2024)
Contrast and affinity Bruce Block’s basic elements of visual language, including: Line, color, shape Space (deep/flat) and perspective Rhythm, intensity
5 lessons
1. Contrast and Affinity (Premium Exclusive)
2. Visual Elements (Premium Exclusive)
3. Color (Premium Exclusive)
4. Shapes, Space, and Rhythm (Premium Exclusive)
5. Observing Visual Elements in Action (Premium Exclusive)
Session 3: Perspective-Based Composition (December 25, 2024)
Composition is more than where things are in screen space, but where the camera is in world space Camera myths Depth cues Rule of Thirds Always ask: Why is the camera here, now, running, and pointed this direction?
5 lessons
1. Perspective and Depth Cues (Premium Exclusive)
2. Anatomy of the Camera (Premium Exclusive)
3. Where to Put the Camera (Premium Exclusive)
4. Composition / Where to Point the Camera (Premium Exclusive)
5. Perspective Based Composition (Premium Exclusive)
Session 4: Staging For Clarity, Lighting For Effect (January 1, 2025)
Stage line (180º rule): Establishing and moving the line Hitchcock rule Camera grammar: Camera angles and shot types. The uses of camera motion. Move the camera because you should, not because you can. Make it understandable even with no words. Light, shadow, specularity, falloff
6 lessons
1. Blocking and Staging (Premium Exclusive)
2. Honoring the Stage Line (Premium Exclusive)
3. Managing the Stage Line (Premium Exclusive)
4. Other Shot Types (Premium Exclusive)
5. Lighting (Premium Exclusive)
6. Staging for Comedy / Christian Roman Guest Lecture (Premium Exclusive)
Session 5: Editing: When Movies Get Made (January 8, 2025)
Eye hookups (affinity of motion). Cutting for emotion. Make movies for yourself, not an audience. The rule of rules: Break any rule as long as you understand it. Review and conclusion
4 lessons
1. Context and Juxtaposition (Premium Exclusive)
2. Guiding the Eye (Premium Exclusive)
3. Emotion and Rhythm (Premium Exclusive)
4. Make the Movies You Want to See (Premium Exclusive)
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Learning Outcomes

Below you will find an overview of the Learning Outcomes you will achieve as you complete this course.

Instructors And Guests
What You Need to Take This Course

There are no required materials for this course.

Additional Information

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