Home Video Shooting
Intensive Workshop (suitable for beginner to advanced students)
Taught by Franc Péret.  Click here for Franc's profile.

This course is intended to help the amateur video enthusiast get the most out of his/her camcorder in order to produce stunning footage, whether for travel, holidays, or everyday family experiences like children's football games.  Topics will include how to preset your camera, how to configure the appropriate settings for any situation (recording mode, white balance, shutter speed, ...), how to master focus, light and composition, to build up beautiful frames from various camera angles (long shot, close-up, etc.), to improve sound quality, to achieve continuity so that your videos "tell a story", and how to assemble the shots in your computer and edit them with the addition of titles, transitions, and music (introduction to Adobe Premiere and some other popular editing software is included).  The main objective of this course is to introduce the principles and practices of professional video shooting, enabling you to produce quality footage that is exciting, beautiful, and compelling.  Most of the lessons will be conducted in a workshop-style manner, with plenty of hands-on practice to apply the information being learned.  Each student should come with his/her camcorder, his media support (tape or SD card), a spare battery, a battery charger and eventually a tripod.  For those who don't have all of the equipment for the first class, no problem.  The instructor will give advice on purchasing the appropriate camcorder for your needs along with the proper accessories.

The course will cover the following:

Part 1 – Camera Basics (1 lesson)
Introduction to usual mistakes done in amateur video shooting.
How to preset your camera: recording mode, white balance control, digital zoom, focus control.
The basic settings of your camera: focus, white balance, shutter speed, zoom.
Accessories: tripod, small lighting, external microphone, computer and software for editing.

Part 2 – Shooting basics (2 lessons)
How to achieve proper composition: notion of camera angles, different positions and zoom ranges.
How to achieve smooth movement with the use of a tripod: notion of anticipation.
How to achieve a steady picture when shooting hand held style.
How to follow movement.
How to handle focus, light, and exposure.
How to maximize and optimize the use of the zoom feature.

Part 3 – Shooting advanced (4 lessons)
How to incorporate a sense of narrative (story) into your home videos (story-boarding, rhythm, 'scenes' or sequences).
How to set camera position to keep continuity.
How to change the composition from shot to shot.
How to direct people.
How to record a better sound.
How to improve lighting.

Part 4 – Editing (3 lessons)
How to import your footage into your computer.
How to start with Adobe Premiere and other editing software (such as iMovie for Mac).
How to create a timeline, insert cuts and start the edit.
How to add titles, transitions, sounds, and music.
How to export your movie in an easy-to-watch media: mov, mp4, DVD format.

Course Title: Home Video
Tuition Fee: RMB 3200

Spring Session 2013: March 3rd to May 11th

Section A: Tuesday mornings (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from March 5th to May 7th (Course Code: HV103)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section B: Tuesday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from March 5th to May 7th (Course Code: HV104)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section C: Saturday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from March 9th to May 11th (Course Code: HV105)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section D: Sunday mornings (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from March 3rd to May 5th (Course Code: HV106)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Fall Session 2013: October 12th to December 17th

Section A: Tuesday mornings (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from October 15th to December 17th (Course Code: HV103)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section B: Tuesday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from October 15th to December 17th (Course Code: HV104)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section C: Saturday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from October 12th to December 14th (Course Code: HV105)
Location: ELC Learning Center

Section D: Sunday mornings (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)   Registration Closed
10 weeks from October 13th to December 15th (Course Code: HV106)
Location: ELC Learning Center

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE

Registration Procedure:
First register online to reserve your place.  You will receive a confirmation email with further details and instructions.  Payment must be made on site at the ELC Learning Center during the payment dates shown below (you can come in person or send someone).

Tuition fee payment for the Fall Session 2013 will take place Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, September 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th.  The payment hours are 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Payments will be received in the Registration Office at the ELC Learning Center.  Payment must be received on time to complete your enrollment and maintain your reservation in the class(es) for which you have registered.

Register early to reserve your place, as many classes fill up quickly.  If the course for which you are registered does not reach the minimum enrollment requirement, you will be notified of the cancellation before the payment dates.  As such, we receive payments only for courses which are proceeding as scheduled.  Please note, we do not offer trial lessons or discounts of any kind.  Refund Policy: No refunds will be issued after the start of the term.