Explore the key collaborative processes of the director and the cinematographer at work.

Dates:
Nov 16, 2024 - Nov 17, 2024

Levels: All
Workshop Fee: $425
Workshop Duration: 7 hours over 2 sessions (Saturday & Sunday, 1-4:30pm ET)
Workshop Location: Online
Class Size: 15

Note: This workshop will be held in a live, online format utilizing the Zoom platform.
Class meets on Saturday & Sunday, Nov 16 & 17 from 1-4:30pm ET.

Few relationships on a film are more important than that of the director and cinematographer. This 2-day workshop examines the practical and creative aspects of how a director and cinematographer achieve a unified cinematic vision, communicate, and find effective methods of working together. 

Instructor Nicole Leier on set
Instructor Nicole G. Leier is a film director, actor, and writer. As an independent writer and director, she has produced and worked on many award-winning films and commercial projects.
Instructor Brendan Uegama CSC on set
Instructor Brendan Kuroki Uegama, CSC recently lensed Them: The Scare, the second season of Amazon Prime’s hit horror anthology.
Brendan Kuroki Uegama teaching cinematography at Maine Media - Photo by Sebastiano Caccetta.
Brendan Kuroki Uegama, CSC teaching cinematography to students at Maine Media – Photo by Sebastiano Caccetta.

Day one will examine the dynamics of how the director and cinematographer collaborate during pre-production, and day two will explore this relationship during the production phase. 

Through lecture, discussion and case studies, the class will cover breaking down the script, finding a common visual language that serves the story, establishing the look, and how to arrive at the choices of lenses, lighting, blocking, framing, and camera movement that will amplify the power of a scene. Other topics examined will include the role of the production designer, shooting on location vs. a soundstage, dealing with budgetary constraints, deciding aspect ratio, the use of color, and how the director and cinematographer can help set the stage for the actor to do their best work.

Leave the weekend with new tools and insights that can lead to powerful collaboration.

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Instructor: Brendan Kuroki Uegama, CSC

Brendan Kuroki Uegama recently lensed Them: The Scare, the second season of Amazon Prime’s hit horror anthology. Previously, he shot features including: sci-fi / comedy hybrid Moonshot from director Christopher Winterbauer for New Line Cinema starring Zach Braff, Cole Sprouse and Lana Condor; MGM’s Child’s Play, directed by Lars Klevberg and starring Aubrey Plaza, Brian Tyree Henry, and Mark Hamill as the voice of Chucky; and Electra Woman & Dyna Girl for director Chris Marrs Piliero, an official selection at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.

Uegama’s television credits include Hulu mini-series Iron Mike with Director X, created by I, Tonya writer Steven Rogers; Apple’s Truth Be Told for creator/showrunner Nichelle D. Tramble and produced by Hello Sunshine & Endeavor Content; and numerous collaborations with creator/showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa including Chilling Adventures of Sabrina & Riverdale, for which Uegama earned Leo Awards for Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series in 2018 and 2019.

Instructor: Nicole G. Leier

Nicole G. Leier is a film director, actor, and writer. As an independent writer and director, she has produced and worked on many award-winning films and commercial projects. Her award-winning film, Black Chicks, was produced with acclaimed writer, director, and showrunner, Neil Labute. She recently directed the action film Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas, produced by BET+ with Emmy award-winning actress Mishael Morgan & Vivica A. Fox. She recently wrapped directing the thriller Trapped in the Spotlight and a commercial for Lexus that celebrated Latin heritage. Upcoming projects include Alone Together, co-directed with Brendan Uegama and Neil Labute. As an actor, she has worked with some of the best directors in the industry, including Robert Redford and James Cameron. Currently, she is developing several projects through her production company, Black Tree Pictures Inc.