Elements of Film Directing & Acting

This module focuses on the basic elements of film directing and seeking the personal gaze in cinema. It analyses the notion of film form, personal style, the use of color, the creation of production file for funding, pitching techniques, crowdfunding options, how to organize a casting, how to work with actors, communication between film departments and film strategy.

The students will be trained in depth on the elements of film directing and seeking their personal gaze in cinema. Also, they will be prepared for the film industry as soon as they complete their studies.

1^st Week

Introduction to a profession film set

2d Week

Introduction to the notion of film form and style

3d Week

Creating the psychological profile of the character

4^th Week

Creating the psychological profile of the character II

5^th Week

Stanislavski’s method and working with actors

6^th Week

Workshop with local actors. The students will have to work close with the actors with examples

7^th Week

Casting workshop with local casting director. The students will learn with examples how to organize a casting

8^th Week

Directors note and funding. How to apply in traditional funding paths

9^th Week

Crowdfunding: Pross and Cons

10^th Week

The art of pitching

11^th Week

The use of color in cinema: Color theory and examples

12^th Week

Final check for the assignments  

13^th Week

Presentation and evaluation of the final assignments  

Βιβλίο [21709]: Κινηματογράφος και σκηνοθεσία, Aumont Jacques

Βιβλίο [22042]: Master Class, Tirard Laurent,Boorman John,Pollack Sydney,Sautet Claude,Allen Woody,Bertolucci Bernardo,Scorsese Martin,Wenders Wim,Almodovar Pedro,Burton Tim 

Βιβλίο [21938]: Σκηνοθετώντας μια ταινία, Mamet David 

Βιβλίο [10298]: Σμιλεύοντας το χρόνο, Αντρέι Ταρκόφσκι 

Further suggestions:

Knudsen, E. (2018) Finding the personal voice in filmmaking. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.

Proferes, N. T. (2018) Film directing fundamentals : see your film before shooting. Fourth edition. New York, New York ;: Routledge.

Katz, S. (2011) Film directing : shot by shot - visualizing from concept to screen. Milton: Taylor & Francis Group.

Rea, P. and Irving, D. K. (2015) Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video. 5th ed. Abingdon: Taylor & Francis Group.

De Jong, W., Knudsen, E. and Rothwell, J. (2012) Creative documentary : theory and practice . Harlow: Pearson Education.

O’ Brien, N. (2018) Stanislavski in Practice: Exercises for Students 2nd Edition. New York: Routledge

Stanislavsky, K. (1980) An actor prepares.

Barr, T. and Kline, E. S. (1997) Acting for the camera . [Rev. ed.]. New York: HarperPerennial.

Ραφαηλίδης, Β. (1996) Το βλέμμα του ποιητή. Αθήνα: Αιγόκερος

Στάθη, Ε. (2011) Σημεία και σύμβολα στη φιλμική γλώσσα. Αθήνα: Αιγόκερος

Every step towards the development of the one and major semester assignment provides model examples that emerge from the bibliography and videography according to which each stage should be completed. The stages are prepared by the students at home and presented in class, they are corrected and used as examples for the rest of the colleagues. Since film direction mostly depends on the director’s subjective view, rather than objective criteria, we examine every assignment while reinforcing a spirit of cooperation and aim towards a common perception of things.

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The course evaluation is performed by the delivery of the assignment which consists of the creation of a pilot scene of their final script, the directors note and the shotlist. The students will also have to pitch their final idea in class.