TESTIMONIALS

Loren Marsh

Film Director

This course is the only resource that gives you practical hands-on advice about how to make a career in film in today's world. From applying to filmschool, to getting by economically as an artist, it tells you everything you need to know to reach your goal of becoming a working filmmaker. An amazing and unique course!

Matti Johansson

Film Director

Lothars course was of great help to improve my application and understand the application process to the best German film schools as an international student!

Birgit Maiwald

Scriptwriter

The consultation with Lothar Herzog for my application at filmschool was very helpful. Besides giving me general information what I would have to expect, he simulated typical situations and questions in the application process. So he gave me the opportunity to think about my answers and their effect on the audience in a relaxed setting. When the real application situation came, I was very well prepared, and I got accepted on the first attempt.

Course curriculum

  • 2

    The Application for Filmschool

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • WHAT DO FILMSCHOOLS EXPECT / HOW TO FIND JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS

    • PREPARATION: TRAIN YOUR SKILLS / DEVELOP STRATEGIES

    • PERFECTING YOUR APPLICATION & THE SECOND ROUND

    • USEFUL LINKS

  • 3

    Writing a Script - finding strong Ideas, learning to write, developping the Script

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • LEARNING HOW TO WRITE / FINDING GOOD IDEAS

    • STORYTELLING / CREATING SUSPENSE

    • SCREENPLAY FORMATS

  • 4

    Working with Actors Part 1

  • 5

    Working with Actors Part 2

    • DIRECTING ACTORS PART 2

    • EMOTIONAL SCENES

    • BONUS 1: CONFLICTS

    • BONUS 2: MORE TECHNIQUES, TIPPS & TRICKS

    • RECOMMENDED READING

  • 6

    Casting

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • INTRODUCTION / CONSTELLATION CASTING

    • 'TYPE-CAST' / NON-PROFESSIONAL ACTORS

    • WHAT CAN I DO IN THE CASTING-SESSION?

    • COMMUNICATION WITH AGENCIES AND ACTORS

    • SAMPLE Info-Sheet for Casting Invitation for Actors or Agencies (English - without character description)

    • SAMPLE Info-Sheet for Casting Invitation for Actors or Agencies (German - with character description)

    • USEFUL LINKS

  • 7

    Cinematography and staging for the Camera (PART 1)

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • INTRODUCTION / FOCAL LENGTH AND DEPTH OF FIELD

    • COMPOSITION OF THE IMAGE: FRAMING AND SET DESIGN

    • LIGHTING BASICS

    • CAMERA MOVEMENTS & 'DÉCOUPAGE'

  • 8

    Cinematography and staging for the Camera PART 2

    • THE 'ECONOMY' OF THE MISE EN SCENE

    • HOW TO CREATE DEPTH OF SPACE

    • BONUS: HIDING AND SHOWING

    • BONUS 2: PERSPECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE SHOTS

    • BONUS 3: EXAMPLES

    • USEFUL LINKS

  • 9

    Sound Work and Music

  • 10

    To prepare and carry out a Shoot: organizing and directing

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • MAKING THE SHOOTING PLAN

    • COMMUNICATION DURING THE SHOOT / ON SET

    • ORGANIZING THE SET

    • LOCATION SCOUTING

  • 11

    Editing (PART 1)

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • INTRODUCTION: USING AND BREAKING THE 'RULES'

    • THE 'INVISIBLE' EDITING

    • GLANCES & SHOT/REVERSE-SHOT EDITING

    • EMOTIONAL FLOW: FROM SCENES TO SEQUENCES

  • 12

    Editing (PART 2)

    • CONTRASTS & ELLIPTIC EDITING

    • EDITING CHALLENGES

    • BONUS: EXAMPLE FOR ELLIPTIC EDITING

    • RECOMMENDED READING

  • 13

    How do I find a Production Company - or better produce myself?

  • 14

    Financing: The German Film Funding System and other Sources of Financing

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • HOW DOES THE GERMAN FILM FUNDING SYSTEM WORK?

    • HOW TO APPROACH THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF FILMFUNDING?

    • HOW TO KEEP IN TOUCH AND NEGOCIATE?

    • ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF FINANCING

    • USEFUL LINKS

    • SAMPLE EMAIL TO COMMISSIONING EDITOR (TV)

    • SAMPLE PROJECT PRESENTATION

  • 15

    Surviving as a Filmmaker: Jobs, Ideas, and more...

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • SIDE JOBS AND STIPENDS

    • WHAT CAN YOU EARN AS A FILMMAKER

    • HOW TO DEAL WITH REJECTION

    • BONUS 1: SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ARTISTS (in Germany)

    • BONUS 2: PENSIONS AS AN ARTIST

  • 16

    Finding your Audience: Festivals, Distributors, World Sales, Promotion, Press, Social Media...

    • CONTENT

      FREE PREVIEW
    • TAKING YOUR FILM TO GOOD FESTIVALS

    • HOW TO FIND A WORLD SALES AND A DISTIBUTOR

    • WHAT IS A GOOD SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY?

    • HOW TO DO PRESS WORK

    • USEFUL LISTS OF MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVALS, DISTRIBUTORS AND WORLD SALES

    • SAMPLE-E-MAIL to DISTRIBUTORS (German)

    • SAMPLE-E-MAIL to WORLD SALES (English)

    • SAMPLE PRESS KIT

Watch Intro Video

Intro Video

Reviews

5 star rating

indispensible!

Loren Marsh

This course is the only resource that gives you practical hands-on advice about how to make a career in film in today's world. From applying to film school t...

Read More

This course is the only resource that gives you practical hands-on advice about how to make a career in film in today's world. From applying to film school to your first feature to getting by economically as an artist, it tells you everything you need to know to reach your goal of becoming a working filmmaker. an amazing and unique course!

Read Less
5 star rating

I learned a lot!

Kerim Koenig

This master class is not only something for budding filmmakers, but also for film enthusiasts and others involved in a film production. The most important as...

Read More

This master class is not only something for budding filmmakers, but also for film enthusiasts and others involved in a film production. The most important aspects of filmmaking are brought to the point by Lothar and are explained clearly with the help of stills, film excerpts, drawings, etc. Not to be forgotten are valuable literature tips, which allow a further deepening of the subject matter.

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5 star rating

Great insights

Joanna Wald

Very interesting insights that explain what you might see and want to achieve but possible had not fully grasped yet!

Very interesting insights that explain what you might see and want to achieve but possible had not fully grasped yet!

Read Less