Educational offerings

Apple Computer Demonstrations

Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pack Place Gallery, free admission

Come see the latest in computer applications and hardware for film and video production. Apple computer will roll out its latest gear for editing, animation, graphics and effects. Come by and sample the equipment, or come to one of the scheduled sessions led by an Apple representative.

New Generation Screening

Sunday, 10 a.m.
Fine Arts Theatre, lower, free admission

Middle and high school students from Western North Carolina teamed up with mentors at the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Mass Communication Department to produce these awesome short films. Come to their world premiere! The filmmakers will be there to share their experience and to address your questions.

Professional Development Courses

Whether you are an experienced filmmaker, or looking to break into the industry, this free two-day film school will be of interest to you. Come to all sessions, or pick and choose. Our experts will take you though the production process from screenwriting to distribution. All professional development courses are free and open to the public. (Seating is limited. First-come, first-served, so arrive early).

Fri, Oct. 28

Producing Motion Pictures

11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
The Ritz, lunch available**

Producing motion pictures requires the most complex balance of skills in the industry. Working with producers requires an understanding of how producers think. Join Hollywood producer Barry J. Weitz, who puts his career experience of producing features, television series, and television movies on the table, and outlines what a producer is and what a producer does. Special attention is given to developing and pitching stories to producers, and navigating the tricky road of financing films in today’s market.

Session Leader: Barry Weitz. Mr. Weitz is a producer and executive producer of dozens of projects for film and television. He produced the theatrical feature “The Seven-Ups” and 32 television feature films, pilots, and series for CBS, ABC, NBC, USA, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Tri-Star, Lifetime and the Family Channel. Before serving as a film and television producer, Weitz was vice president of the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills, where he represented Warren Beatty, Nick Nolte, Bill Cosby, Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway and Jack Lemmon, among others.

Directing the Actor

1-2:45 p.m.
The Ritz, lunch available**

Films are often made or broken on their performances. This session is an active workshop for students of both acting and directing, to help them work together to explore the elusive art of honing a performance for the camera. We will examine interpretation, rehearsal, blocking and the collaborative relationship between actor and director.

Session Leader: Paul Schattel. Mr. Schattel’s debut 35mm feature, “Sinkhole” was the rage at the First Annual Asheville Film Festival. Paul is currently in pre-production of his next project, “The Mourning Portrait,” and is coming back to share his experience and expertise.

Sound Recording and Design

3-4:45 p.m.
The Ritz

Sound is one of the most important facets in filmmaking. It can also be the most subtle and least focused facet of film. John Sisti will walk us through how powerful sound can be in film and what filmmakers can do to utilize it to the fullest power.

Session Leader: John Sisti. Mr. Sisti started his sound career with A&M records, working with artists like Hoyt Axton, Carol King and The Carpenters, among others. His feature credits include: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (which won an Oscar for Best Sound and a Golden Reel nomination for Best ADR), Cable Guy, Bottle Rocket, Shadrach and Polish Wedding.

Sat, Oct 29

Animation

11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
The Ritz, Lunch Available**

Do you love Disney or Pixar films? Want to learn more about how they are made? Have you worked with AfterEffects but wish you knew a little more? Robert Klein and other animators will lead this demonstration and explanation of several of these programs. This workshop will cover current animation technology and applications, like LightWaves, AfterEffects and more.

Session Leader: Robert Klein. Mr. Klein is the founder of Klein Digital. He has been producing award-winning graphics and effects for more than six years.

Screenwriting, Hal Marienthal

1 p.m.-2:45 p.m.
The Ritz (upstairs), Lunch Available**

Explore structure and content as components of effective and marketable screenplays. If you have a screenplay, bring your draft. Your scene might be used as an example in the workshop. New writers will learn how to begin, and advanced writers are sure to learn strategies to improve their work.

Session Leader: Hal Marienthal. Dr. Marienthal is a world authority in screenwriting education, and has 50 years experience in theater, film and screenwriting education, including appointments with the California State University and the University of North Carolina.

Location Scouting

1-2:45 p.m.
The Ritz, Lunch Available**

Did you ever wonder what it takes to get your house into a movie? Are you currently looking for that perfect sunset scene for your new feature film? Location, Location, Location! Find out from a professional what to look for when scouting locations, and why professionals pick what they do.

Session Leader: Michael Bingham. Mr. Bingham has been a location scout and manager for movies, commercials and photo shoots for 20 years. Movie projects he has worked on include The Last of the Mohicans, Patch Adams, Forrest Gump, The Hunt for Red October, Hannibal, My Fellow Americans, The Journey of August King, and The Winter People. He was worked with numerous directors, including Michael Mann, Michael Bay, John McTiernan, Tom Shadyac, Jeff Zwart and Clint Clemens. His experience includes work on national and regional commercials for Lexus, UPS, Exxon, Jack In The Box, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Mazda, Mercedes, Havoline, Burger King, Chex Party Mix, Cadillac, BMW.

Marketing and Distribution, Case Study

3-4:45 p.m.
The Ritz

Making a film is only about half the battle. Successful marketing and distribution are key to a project’s success. This session is a case study presented by Tom Anton and Sandi Russell, who tell the story of their strategy in the release of their 35mm feature, At Last.

Session Leaders Tom Anton and Sandi Russell. Mr. Anton and Ms. Russell co-wrote and co-producer At Last. Tom is director of the film and has created a unique marketing and distribution strategy, including self-theatrical distribution, which is a model for independents. At Last was filmed entirely in New Orleans, and the film is dedicated to the City of New Orleans following the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.