THE THREE courses on practical filmmaking include:
Techniques of Practical Film making; Saturday, 2-4 p. m., October 10-December 12, $60 ($30 to students enrolled in a filmmaking workshop).
This course is specifically recommended for those enrolled in one of the filmmaking workshops. Through lectures, screenings, and question-answer periods, students will be taught techniques of lighting and exposure, editing, synchronized and non-synchronized sound, and special effects, as well as the working relationship between filmmaker and laboratory.
UCA admits that the 85 students already enrolled in the course might make it difficult for each student to get the tremendous amount of individual attention needed to make the course worthwhile.
Eric Isen, a Harvard graduate who is presently cameraman-editor for WGBH-TV in Boston, teaches the course. He has written and directed several short films and is working on a documentary concerning transcendental meditation and the Maharishi.
Super-8 Filmmaking Labs. There are four sections, each meeting in two hour sessions twice a week, $150.
The major drawback to this course is its cost; $150 is only the basic fee for instruction and use of the labs.
After paying about $50 for film and film processing, plus the cost of renting or buying a camera, a student could be paying as much as $350. Moreover, if the new film labs don't open in time for immediate use, the course might be rendered worthless.
This is probably the most ambitious course offered by The Film School and is probably the most difficult to assess in terms of worth. One Vis Stud senior at Harvard said, "I'm worried that they'll just tell you what buttons to push and you'll go out and push the right buttons and everything will come out fine. But that's not the way to get quality stuff." The staff at UCA insist, however, that highly personalized attention will be given to each student with a strong emphasis on editing. Each workshop is limited to 15 students.
This course is headed by Ben Butler, but each section will be taught by a different instructor.
35mm Slide Workshop. Four sections meeting for two hour sessions on alternate weeks, $50.
As in the super-8 workshop, the student should be aware that the cost of tuition is only the basic cost; costs for film and film processing are expected to average $50, plus whatever the student is willing to pay for a camera.
The course will start off by teaching the basic principles behind the use of the 35mm camera. Workshops will consider the use and juxtaposition of color, form, shape and light.
Like the super-8 workshops, this course will be most valuable only if the labs open for use soon. Critics question why a course for beginners starts off with color photography instead of black and white, particularly in view of the cost differential.
This course is headed by Owen Franklin, but each section will be taught by a different instructor.