Hands-On Filmmaking Workshop in Ann Arbor - FREE!
Details
Try the gear. Take a role. Make a scene.
Curious about filmmaking, but not sure where to start—or ready to get your hands on equipment you haven't used before?
This beginner-friendly workshop is built around learning by doing. Rather than spending the afternoon listening to a lecture, you'll explore filmmaking equipment, see how different production roles work together, and then help make short one-line scenes.
We'll start by walking through three filmmaking setups, from familiar and accessible to more advanced:
1. Content Creator
A smartphone, simple tripod, and lav mic—the basics you can use to start creating almost anywhere.
2. Indie Filmmaker
Dedicated camera, lighting, sound, and familiar film-set tools and practices.
3. Small-Crew Production
More specialized camera, audio, monitoring, and lighting equipment—the same basic filmmaking jobs, separated into tools that different crew members can operate together.
Along the way, we'll connect the dots between them: the equipment changes, but the fundamental problems filmmakers are solving stay surprisingly similar.
### Then you'll make something.
Choose—or get assigned—a production role such as:
- Director
- Cinematographer / Camera Operator
- Gaffer / Lighting
- Sound Mixer
- Actor
- and, depending on group size, additional crew roles like Boom Operator, Assistant Director, Camera Assistant, or Lighting Assistant
Your group will choose a one-line script, make a few creative decisions, then:
Block → Light → Rehearse → Shoot
We'll run a few takes, see what happened, switch things up, and try again.
There is no expectation of perfection and no filmmaking experience is required. You can focus on the parts that interest you, try different equipment, stick with one role for more practice, or simply explore.
The workshop is designed to be flexible, low-pressure, and approachable for different experience levels and learning styles.
Saturday, August 22 | 2:00–3:30 PM
Ann Arbor District Library — Downtown Library
Lower Level Program Room
No experience or equipment needed. Just curiosity.