London Film School, offer full-time MA Degree courses in both Film Making and Screewriting.

Paul Cronin, editor of the book ON FILM-MAKING: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CRAFT OF THE DIRECTOR by Alexander Mackendrick, presents a comprehensive workshop based on Mackendrick's influential teachings.

This in-depth seminar is an excellent opportunity for any filmmaker who wishes to learn more about film-making from one of the masters of the medium. Alexander Mackendrick's practical approach serves as one of the best introductions to the craft of film-making available today. The weekend is structured around the illustrated lecture MACKENDRICK ON FILM, which features footage of Mackendrick discussing his approach to film-making, interviews with some of his former students and colleagues who discuss his ideas in detail, and a host of film clips.

The recently re-structured 3-day workshop gives students an opportunity to immerse themselves in Mackendrick's ideas and engage with other participants.

Please note that this is a seminar-based workshop, not a practical hands-on weekend.

“This was a fabulously immersive weekend, with some real “a-ha” moments drawing together several strands of film learning into a more cohesive whole. Paul shared advanced information that is simply not available from other sources. An extremely valuable experience.” Anita Ondine, Writer/Producer/Director and previous participant. Click here for more testimonials

Course Outline

As well as dealing with Mackendrick's ideas on how film should be taught, the workshop topics covered include:

• Crafting a narrative screenplay
• The fundamentals of film grammar: turning your script into a film
• How the director works with actors
• 'When not to write a shooting script'
• Why you should always try to cut dialogue from your script
• How 'Movies show and then tell'
• Why a 'clever plot' might not be a good starting point for your story
• Why props and 'incidental business' are crucial to the job of the director
• 'The Pre-verbal Language of Cinema'
• Why you should be beware of flashbacks
• 'Exposition is boring unless it is in the context of some present dramatic tension or crisis'
• 'Passivity is a capital crime in drama'
• 'The role of the antagonist may have more to do with the structure of the plot than the character of the protagonist'
• Setting the fuse and the obligatory scene
• How different camera angles and movement help create different emotions in the audience
• 'What is happening now is apt to be less dramatically interesting than what may or may not happen next'
• 'If you've got a beginning but don't yet have an end, then you're mistaken: you don't have the right beginning'
• 'Drama is expectation mingled with uncertainty'
• Use of the foil character
• Why a good story can be told from the point of view of any character
• Why you should always look for the longest axis on your set
• 'What you leave out is as important as what you leave in'
• Postcarding as a method of structuring your story

Novice filmmakers will leave the workshop equipped with valuable craft-based ideas that will help at all times when writing and directing. Those who are more experienced will have their understanding of the craft greatly enriched.

Go here for an in-depth breakdown of the workshop:
http://www.thestickingplace.com/pdf/film/study_sheets.pdf

Times: 9.30am - 6pm

Fee: £250 - includes a copy of the Mackendrick book, an extensive handout of extra material and Friday evening networking drinks.
10% Early Bird discount available until 15th August.
50% discount available to previous Mackendrick participants at any time.

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How to book

Please book your place via the instructions in the yellow box at the bottom of this page.

Places are offered on a first come first served basis until the course is full.

If you have any questions please contact us.

Email us:
Carolyn Atherton:
workshops@lfs.org.uk

Postal Address:
Workshops Admissions,
The London Film School,
24 Shelton Street,
London, WC2H 9UB, UK

Telephone us:
+44 (0)20 7836 9642

Fax us:
+44 (0)20 7497 3718

• Paul Cronin and Alexander Mackendrick - More info
  
  
• Testimonials