What we’re about
Are you passionate about film making? Are you a professional looking for new opportunities and challenges? Are you a film lover curious how to get started? If you have experience behind or in front of the camera, or just starting up with dreams and aspirations - bring your talent and let's work together to make independent films. We are a group of passionate film creators focused on development, creativity and production of film in Berlin. We also offer help, film equipment, advice and all that goes into a film project.
The purpose of our community is to :
1. develop ideas for films, either narrative or documentary
2. build partnerships so that films can get shot and
3. building the team/crew and shoot the short film(s)
4. educate
4. If you already have an ongoing project and you need help/crew, this can be the group for you.
We want to stress is that we are not here to select or have opinions about what type of films you want to develop, it can be of any type or genre. The more diverse the better! But we do want to get started and shoot as soon as possible so that we get to start working together and learn more together.
Not all of us will work on all projects, you choose freely what project you want to get involved with and in what capacity. The community will support and assist all projects and facilitate planning and meetings and also create our own ideas together with you. And for those of you who don't have a massive experience already - this will be an excellent opportunity to get down and dirty and learn by doing :)
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Pitch and Planning Session # 41Skalitzer Str. 80, Berlin, BE
The last Pitch and Planning session was packed and we had some amazing pitches! Join us on Wednesday, October 4th for the next Pitch & Planning Session of 2023. Pitch and Planning is a monthly English language event held here in Berlin for people who have an idea for a film and would like to pitch it, as well as those people who are eager to work on films. It's all about getting films made.
If you have a film idea that is burning a hole in your brain tell the people in the audience your story idea and hopefully you will meet people who can help you make your idea into a reality!
It's nearing the end of summer, which is the perfect time to plan a shoot! Come on down and meet some film people who are hungry to make films happen.
This event is also for people who want to help out in all aspects of filmmaking to help make these pitches happen. So if your passion is camera, sound, hair and makeup, writing, lighting, fighting, or anything that could help, you are always welcome. Whether you're new to filmmaking or experienced and want to work on something cool and creative, no matter what your area of expertise/interest is, this is for you!
Be sure to show up to either pitch your idea or be ready to listen to some interesting pitches from excited people and potentially help someone make their film. Let's keep the momentum going. The days are getting longer and people's moods are improving, mine included. Let's make some cool shit!
If you still want more information you can head on over to our website:
https://berlinfilmcommunity.com/pitch_and_planning/
I have been a part of making some of these pitched projects into real world movies and I have always had a blast. - First Step Film Workshop: Make Your Own FilmSpace Meduza, Berlin, AL
*** Note:
RSVPs made here do not guarantee a spot at the course. In order to register you must go to: https://berlinfilmcommunity.com/product/first_step_filmmaking_2day/***
The goal of this course is to demystify the filmmaking process, making it the fun experience you know it can be. Have you always wanted to make a film? Let’s get that crossed off your bucket list! In a bit more than two days you will come up with an idea, shoot it, and edit it, all while being supervised by an experienced and entertaining instructor!
I have tailored this course to make it flexible enough to accommodate people with absolutely zero experience as well as for people who have done a bit of filming. With this course you don’t need any fancy equipment, you can use whatever you have for a camera and a computer. This is a very hands-on workshop, the bulk of the learning will come through the process of actually making your own short film. You will learn the basics of how to structure a story, the art and techniques of visual storytelling, and how to piece it all together in the edit.
The workshop will be taught in English and will include 2+ days of instruction, in field help and that sweet sense of accomplishment you will get from making your own film. In order to make sure you get the attention you need, the class is limited to a max of 12 people.
The workshop costs 275€, or if you are a student or over 65 with ID, you pay 250€.
Friday equipment check and brief storytelling:
In addition to the two days of instruction and practical film work we will hold a 2 hour pre-meeting on the Friday before the workshop, which is of course included in the cost of the workshop. These two hours will allow me to check your camera and computer, making sure that they are capable enough to shoot and edit footage. I will also make sure you have an editing program installed which you will be using on Sunday. There will also be a brief story/script session which will give you some tools to help guide your story writing process so that you can hopefully have an idea prepared for the next day. This Friday session has been added in order to assure that the workshop runs super smoothly, plus we will all get to meet a bit before and hang out! If you cannot make the Friday session please let me know so we can discuss your equipment.What you need to bring:
A camcorder, DSLR or mirrorless camera with video capabilities, or even a phone that can shoot video (make sure to have enough space to record onto it). You will also need a laptop for editing on Sunday.Conducted in English.
No previous experience is required.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about what we are doing, feel free to reach out to me at alex@berlinfilmcommunity.com.Prep Day:
Friday, November 03rd – 19:00 – 21:00- Equipment Check
- The basics of storytelling
Day 1:
Saturday November 04th – 09:00 – 16:00- How to get started – From smartphones to DSLR cameras
- Composition
- How to tell a story visually
- Shooting for the edit
- Working with actors
- Filming your own short with professional supervision
- Q&A and summary Day 1
Day 2:
Sunday November 05th – 09:00 – 16:00- Introduction to basic editing
- How do you tell a story through editing?
- Using music and sound effects in editing
- Supervised practical exercise: Editing of your short films
- Show your short film – Invite friends and family!
- Q&A and summary of both days
About the Workshop Leader:
Hi, I’m Alex DePew and I have been working in the film industry for over 16 years and have led several filmmaking workshops, many of which have been here in Berlin. I absolutely love teaching newbies the ropes and I get tons of joy when I see someone light up as they make a connection between what I am teaching and something they have seen in a movie. When a student then applies that knowledge to their own film, it is a thing of beauty. - Filmmaking Camera Workshop: Professional Film CameraworkSpace Meduza, Berlin, AL
***
Note: In order to attend you must register and pay at https://berlinfilmcommunity.com/product/film_camerawork_workshop/***
Level: Beginner.
The workshop is conducted in English and costs 299€, or if you are a student or over 65 with ID, you pay 275€.
If you’re looking to advance your filmmaking knowledge by learning the tools and techniques that will get your camera knowledge ready for a film set, this workshop will help you take several big steps down that road. You will learn not just the camera technology, but also how to apply it, because while filmmaking is very technical, that technical knowledge is only a means to an end, which is to give you more time to spend on the creative aspects of filmmaking.
This will be a heavily hands-on workshop that will be a mix of information, demonstration and practical exercise. You will learn how to setup a film camera, what all the parts do, many of the camera settings and how they are used in different shooting situations. Together as a team we will plan out and shoot a pre-scripted scene. However, before planning the shoot we will review the camerawork theory and reasoning behind shot selection. This exercise will familiarize you not only with technical camera information, but also how to operate quickly in order to allow more time for creativity.
Everyone in the class will get the opportunity to setup the cinema camera, use all the accessories, and shoot part of the scene.
If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to reach out to me at alex@berlinfilmcommunity.com.
Schedule:
Day 1:
Saturday, November 11th – 09:00 – 16:00- Cameras used in professional filmmaking
- Mid-level and pro-level Film Cameras
- What to look for when renting equipment
- Event, documentary, and narrative camera choices at different budgets
Codecs and bit depth
- Raw, Log, compressed codecs
- Picture profiles and LUT’s
- Bit depth explained
- Sensor size and crop factor
- Dynamic range explained
Exposure and exposure tools
- False color, Waveform, Histogram, Zebras
- Protecting your highlights
- Exposing your subject correctly – skin tones
- Light meters & lighting ratios with demonstration
- Maintaining consistency between shots
Focus
- Wireless follow focus – setup and use
- Focus monitor and peaking
- Creating marks and measuring distance
Tools of the trade & misc. camera knowledge dump
- Filters – when to use which filter
- Tripods and heads
- Slating (clapper) and set commands
- Video Village monitor setup
- High capacity batteries
- Rolling shutter and moiré – how to minimize their effect
- Pushing footage until it breaks to learn your camera’s limits
Building up a cinema camera
- Cinema lenses, follow focus, focus monitor, wireless transmitter, & video village monitor.
- In camera settings – white balance, frame rate, shutter speed, exposure
- Q&A & Review
Day 2:
Sunday, November 12th – 09:00 – 16:00Scene breakdown
- Breaking down the scene we will be shooting
- Shot list, storyboard analysis
- Determining which shots to group together & why
- Estimating time for setup
Setting up the camera in a group
- Group work - Setup the camera to be ready to shoot.
- Creating shooting schedule and shot list
Shooting the scene
- Shoot the scripted scene using the schedule and shot list.
- Everyone rotating through all roles
- Review of the raw footage
About the Workshop Leader
Hi, I’m Alex DePew and I will be your guide on this filmmaking adventure. I have been working in the film industry for over 16 years and have led many filmmaking workshops. I absolutely love teaching beginners the ropes. I get tons of joy when I see someone light up as they make a connections between what I am teaching and something they have seen in a movie. And when they apply that knowledge to their own film it is a thing of beauty.***Please go to the below link to register and for the full information.***
https://berlinfilmcommunity.com/product/film_camerawork_workshop/
