Joan Scheckel Filmmaking Labs

PREP, REHEARSE, SHOOT!

It's time to Direct the Set Up

It's the beginning - the launch of your story. It's how you bring your audience straight into the story you are telling. The music, the rhythm, the feeling of the opening and how you begin will be explored in this Lab.

It's time to:

1. Bring in the "SET UP" Scene of your story and land it on screen!
2. Solidify your directorial visual style and tone.
3. Establish your approach to "Prep, Rehearse, Shoot!"
4. Observe Joan work with actors and directors in each rehearsal. 
5. Learn how to polish actors' performance.
6. Watch the finished scenes and observe how an emotional beat can land in a shot!

In this Lab you will:

1. Focus on the first emotional beat of your script: the SET UP
2. Learn how to put this pivotal scene on its feet, while focusing on the concepts of:

1. Character 
2. Blocking
3. Camera Blocking
4. Location
5. Tone
6. Pace
7. Visual Style
8. Happy Accidents!

By the end of the entire DIRECT Series you will have learned how to shoot the 5 key scenes of the Emotional Journey of your script!

Day 1: Prep

On day one, the Hands-On Scene students will bring their fully prepped homework into class. Joan will examine these materials, and use them to show the class how to prepare for an investigative, productive rehearsal on Day 2. 

During the class, all students, whether live or online, engage with the exercises, lectures, and the Q & A's with Joan.

Day 2: Rehearse

The 4 Hands-On participants will conduct rehearsals using the concepts covered on Day 1. 

The day will be spent observing each rehearsal, with Joan coaching throughout.

By observing this process, you will:

1. Learn about the integration of all that was covered in DIRECT FEELING, DIRECT ACTION & DIRECT JOURNEY.
2. Break open the additional layers of Location, Character, Camera Blocking, Tone, Pace, Troubleshooting, Happy Accidents and creating your own visual style.
3.  Use these tools to land the Set-Up of the Journey in a scene!

By the end of Day 2, you will begin to see scenes take shape; coming out of the realm of exploration and start to see how the rehearsal room can lead directly into shooting!

Day 3: Shoot

On Day 3 the 4 Hands-On students will shoot their rehearsed scenes. Watch Joan observe and coach throughout. 

During the class, all students, whether live or online, engage with the lectures, the exercises and the Q & A's with Joan. 

You will learn:

1. How the work done in rehearsal lands in a finished scene. 
2. How to land the "Set-Up" Beat of your story in a scene! 

Day 4: View 

After the weekend intensive,  Monday night via Zoom the 4 Hands-On students will share a chosen take of their scene, which will be viewed by all in attendance. 

Recap all the new tools the Lab has delivered!

Watch the students ground as a group (both Live Hands On and Live Online students have a chance to meet in the Zoom Room!)