Need to hone your production, camerawork, or sound recording skills for the next project you want to take on? Continuing Education classes run by MFA Social Documentary Film faculty will equip you with the skills you need. No matter if you’re looking to build your skills in another area or perfect your expertise - our small classes and experienced faculty will ensure you get what you need from the course.
We’re offering three production-focused classes this Fall in person at the SocDoc department in Chelsea, NYC. Discounts available for SVA Alumni and for military veterans. Register at the links below or email us for more details.
NEW Documentary Verité Cinematography Workshop with instructor Bob Richman
Saturday & Sunday, October 21-22, and Sunday, October 29 2023, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Cinema verité in documentary filmmaking is in capturing an event as it is happening; filming in the present. In this workshop, through discussion and hands-on filming of actors at work on a play, students will explore the craft of filming verité footage. Learn from expert cinematographer Bob Richman. With over 100 documentary film credits, he is best known for his verite cinematography on iconic films including The September Issue, My Architect, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, and the Paradise Lost trilogy, among many others. Participants will benefit from learning at his hand (and eye), and strengthen their own camera skills which can be applied most directly to observational or 'fly on the wall' documentary filmmaking. These techniques are also applicable to commercial, narrative and experimental works. Participants should have a foundational knowledge of cinematography basics to best benefit from this class.
Documentary Sound Workshop with instructor JT Takagi
Saturday & Sunday, November 4 - 5, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM
This is an introductory workshop on sound recording for film/video production. It will cover the how and why of sound, acoustics and human hearing, microphone types, recorders and mixers. We'll discuss how documentary and dramatic sound is recorded, and cover the "must have" gear. Students will be introduced to boom operation, using lavaliers and wireless microphones, and best practices. JT Takagi is an expert sound recordist with credits including The Celluloid Closet and Strong Island. Students will have a strong handle on a variety of recording techniques by the end of class.
Introduction to the Documentary Interview with instructors Erik Spink & Amitabh Joshi
Saturday & Sunday, November 11 - 12, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Interviews are a critical component of documentary filmmaking. This weekend workshop will introduce the uniqueness of a documentary interview and what sets it apart from journalistic or broadcast interviews. We will focus on hands-on techniques for producing, filming, lighting, recording sound, and conducting documentary interviews. Erik Spink and Amitabh Joshi - both have extensive experience producing, directing, and filming - will walk participating students through every step of the documentary interview process. You will end the weekend with new knowledge about how best to conduct interviews relevant for your own work and applicable across many mediums.