FILM SCHOOL
Scholarships
Grants

“You walk away with more than skills — you walk away changed.”

“This wasn’t just about being on set — it was about running one.”

“I came in unsure and left with a new career path — this changed my life.”

“Craft services wasn’t just food — it was how I learned to read the crew’s needs.”

“Thank you for the one of the greatest experiences of my life. My mentor is an awesome guy with great professionalism and knowledge!”

“What I learned applies to everything — not just film.”

“I made more progress in two months here than in two years elsewhere.”

“I didn’t expect the program to be so tailored to me — that’s what made it effective.”

“I didn’t just shadow — I got to lead a crew by the third week.”

“The mentorship was better than any lecture — I got custom guidance.”

“I leave this course ready to be hired — and useful on any set.”

“Every position on set taught me how stories get told — one task at a time.”

“I am incredibly grateful for the experience. The Film Connection is so unique and a terrific find especially for me and my younger brother who have spent so much of our schooling career in a less than conventional setting. Continuing to pursue our education in such a ‘hands-on’ manner has been excellent.”

“From a practical point of view I have most definitely left the program with a broader understanding of the industry. This has been learned through time spent in the studio, time spent on various shoots, and also through the reading and video materials that the Film Connection has provided. “

“The crews from L.A. were really great to work with, and it was a great experience to see how different their productions go compared to the work that we do at AD-Venture Videos. With getting to know them and see what they do, I could not be more certain that THIS, being a part of the entertainment industry and being the crew behind the scenes for the shoots, is most definitely what I want to continue doing and learning about. There are a lot of different jobs to learn about and I want to be able to do at least a little bit of everything. I will find one job I would want to specialize in, but for now, I want to learn basically everything.”

“I didn’t realize how much communication shapes production until I did it wrong.”

“Running a slate helped me understand continuity like never before.”

“Learning to break down a script by department made planning feel real.”

“My mentor gave me his studio and equipment to shoot whatever I want while he’s out of town. I’m planning on shooting a couple of friends playing acoustic guitar and singing. It should be fun. Life tends to be more fun when fear is cut out of the picture. It’s an exciting adventure!”

“My first week in the program and I’m already working on a big short-film/film video for one of the biggest hip-hop artists around. Thankfully everyone especially my mentor has been very helpful and answering any questions I have. It’s a lot of work and long hours but so far I haven’t minded it. The one downside I have to say about my first week is getting back in the routine of waking up early and sitting in traffic but other than those factors I’ve really been enjoying myself.”

“Jay, from Student Services, called me Friday night about a job. It’s a documentary about a Jazz player. Very interested, so I called the man who wants to make it and seems like a nice man and I’m very much going to do it. First job, yay!”

“Still coming down from last Thursday’s video shoot! It was amazing to finally get my hands dirty and actually be in a production. It was scary and exciting and all kinds of feelings. Got to help set up with my mentor and scope out where I wouldn’t get in the way of the other cameras and the band. And when the time came to record… WOW! I was in the moment and loving every minute of it. I’m looking forward to doing more of that for the rest of forever and a day, if I’m so lucky”

“I’m booked for a feature my mentor’s producing and will be working as a production PA! Even though I’m a student, this opportunity will be a paid job, so I’m real happy to hear that!”

“These past few weeks I have had the opportunity to work on a film set. It has been a very interesting experience. I have found it fascinating to see how each department has their own niche on set. And how the different departments coordinate through the AD and others to make the best possible picture arrive on screen. The other thing that I find really interesting is to see how an idea will start from the script, be molded by the director, and then used by the director of photography. The director of photography will use the idea to get an idea of the atmosphere he needs to build for the scene at hand. He will then give the idea to the gaffer, who then gives it to the electricians and grips. They then build the atmosphere with lights and other equipment. While they are doing that hair and makeup are getting the actors ready for the light and the art department makes sure that everything is ready for the set. There are all of these moving parts coordinating to make a set work. I think that it is awesome and it has been a lot of fun.”

“My mentor told me I will get to be on set for the shooting of an independent horror movie this coming Wednesday! This is great news. I am appreciative that he is giving me this opportunity right out of the gate.”

“I learned to anticipate what the director needed before they asked.”

“I finally understood set protocol by doing — not just watching.”

“This week my mentor showed me the studio in a very in-depth way, and I also got introduced to many more employees in the studio. I spent the day getting to know what tools we have in the studio and where certain equipment lives. Basically being informed as to the culture of the office and what types of services my mentors company provides. I got to help and PA, as well as Grip on a weekly shoot that was going on that day. During shoot I assisted the Director with gaffing and provided general help to the talent and crew. I continued on to learn more about KINOs and how their ballasts work. Afterwards, I wrapped and broke down equipment like a pro thanks to my PA experience my mentor had just given me. Along with their in house Gaffer/DP, my mentor taught me some very useful production tips. We spent the day learning tricks on building c-stands, moves every dolly grip should know, and swapping production stories. I also learned to mount a camera and tripod that I had never set up before. We set up their green screen and lit it for different purposes. I also learned more about the whys and how’s of those lighting techniques. I was able to see how the lit set looked through the camera, and how to adjust it for a better picture. The DP taught me the different names of their lights, uses, and their pros and cons. I’ve been really enjoying the company and its employees. Everyone has been very welcoming and willing to show me new things! The reading is more interesting than I first thought and I find it equally helpful to the hands-on training.”

“I went every single day this week. Monday I worked with my mentor on more commercials fixed numbers and words in it. The following two days were my externship days where I got to work on going through multiple commercials in order to make sure all the appropriate contact data was correct, as well as the Add Id’s and such, making sure they matched up with the correct ones on all documents. On Thursday I went to a film shoot with the other extern I work with every so often in the studio, as well as an actual employee from my mentors’ studio, who I worked with before early in the studio. I was introduced to a guy who taught me about lights, as well as the different lighting he was going to be using for the shoot. I got to time the lady who was being filmed and read along with what she was reading to make sure she didn’t miss any words and to ensure she said them correctly. Everything with my mentor is great. I love the way he teaches me things, making it easy for me to understand. To top it off, he is really good with working with me on different projects and such. I’m really enjoying it here and like that I get to learn new things each day every since I made the choice to enroll in the Film Connection.”

“I’m starting to pick up jobs outside of the program already and looking for other productions companies in the Dallas area for a paid internship once I get out of the program. To say the least I have jumped light-years ahead in my production game due to my connections I have made in this program.”

“Through this program I have been introduced to many aspects of film production unknown by me before the beginning of my study. The incoming flow of information has been consistent leading me to learn at a fast pace. The experience only gets better as time goes on. There is always something new and interesting. I know Jack really wants to see me as well as his other students succeed. All we have to do is show up and put in the work, at his studio and at home. I am able to ask questions and am given any help that I could possibly need. I’m far from being a professional but this path that I am taking will certainly help to get me there.

The work is hard but exciting and rewarding. As my experience grows and my skills improve I am looking forward to the remainder of the program. The weeks we are approaching are filled with big assignments, allowing me to do more. This program is allowing me to learn my craft, meet quality people and do amazing work. After only eight weeks I know attending The Film Connection is one of the best decisions that I have made.”

“Fresh week and I had a very busy weekend. Working with my mentors last Friday we were on set filming the Flo-Rida Seagrams Gin Concert as well as interviewed some of the Seagrams Gin calendar girls. Was a great experience and I had a great time working. That brought me home around 2a.m then we were back on the road by 7:30a.m on the next day to film a few interviews for Inside Edition. Can’t wait to see where this will take me next!”

“One day this week, I set up a shoot in the stage, set lights worked with Art department, also working as a dolly Griped for the DP. A few days later I had my one-on-one Lesson time with my mentor, then started editing a reel for the Director himself! The next day I went over the next assignment my mentor, then worked some more hands-on, editing the reel for another director in the Company. The remainder of this day I helped with Pre Pro for shoot that is fast approaching in the near future. Then the next day I went on location for a shoot, call time 12 noon, helped set lights and ran smoke machines, struck lights and rapped shoot with crew, long day. We got done at 4 am, returned smoke machines and 4k ballast back to rental house! I love the production company and my mentor. I had no clue about FCP before I started this course and the team I’m working with is amazing and so helpful. They always critique in a way that is helpful and kind. The course lays out the ground work in a simple and concise way that I feel anyone could understand.”

“I learned to anticipate needs, not just follow orders.”

“I arrived at the studio in the morning to everyone scrambling around the studio due to a shoot happening that very morning. The shoot was for a woman who was explaining the most efficient ways to shop and save money at different grocery stores around the country. I got to run the tele-prompter until we were done, which was roughly around noon. At that point, my mentors had to go to a business lunch at the Chamber of Commerce, so I spent that time reading and familiarizing myself more with the studio. When my mentors returned, we I discussed my homework assigned to me prior to the lesson plan that day, as well as our upcoming plans for the following day of training. I showed up at the office the next day at 6:45 am and quickly departed for Newberry, South Carolina. We had an all-day film shoot up there for a local hospital that has the best joint replacement program in the midlands. I was placed into the role of Assistant Gaffer under the supervision of a professional working for the shoot. He was a fascinating older man who had been running lights in the industry for decades. I learned a great deal from him, including some terminology that would otherwise have gone right over my head. We had multiple locations for the shoot, so by the end of the day I had become fairly efficient in the tear-down and set-up of the lighting equipment, as well as the terminology. Once the lighting was set-up at each location, I listened and watched as intently as I could to what my mentor, as well as the rest of the crew, including our cinematographer, were doing, while trying to stay out of their way. This day was an excellent first day crash course on what I will be doing over the next few months while enrolled in the Film Connection. I had a blast, learned a lot and, despite being exhausted by the end, cannot wait for more.”

“We are still wrapping up a movie. I am in the office from nine to five, helping the production coordinator with paperwork. I do it all here, from deal memos to checks and errands. We are all pretty much “buddies” in the office right now. So far I’m loving the studio! From the recent movie I have learned so much on set. I was pretty much a PA on set, met so many great people. The wrap party was just great! I got a chance to meet the actors and the crew, so that was cool.”

“I participated in my first shoot this past Friday night! It was a concert in Rome, GA and the crew was filming one band in particular to make a film video for one of their songs. It was an outdoor shoot with the temperatures dropping to 30 degrees so it was rather cold, but aside from that, it was really fun. I got to observe everything and felt like I learned a good bit.

Then a couple days ago I was able to participate in my second shoot! The production manager from my first shoot called me and asked if I would like to assist them in making a sizzle reel for a TV show, so I was happy that they were willing to invite me back. The shoot was officially titled Master of Mix Post-Show Digital Sizzle and they even included me on the call sheet, which made me feel like a legitimate team member.”

“In going over Lesson 3 with my mentor I was surprised to learn that it is not actually the producer’s job to raise the money that is needed for production, but rather, the role is designated to the executive. Needless to say, the producer will be expected to hire on the best person for this job. My mentor and I agreed that trying to be a hero requires common sense and treading carefully. He explained an anecdote of his experience in being hero on the set of his first produced horror feature, the Attic. Just as the camera was about to roll for a heavily prepared shot, my mentor noticed that there was no entry wound, and that the camera would pick up on it. My mentor followed his gut and shouted his concern just as the director was prepared to roll the camera. It turns out that my mentor was in fact correct, and this risk was certainly appreciated. During this session, my mentor was also able to review a short film script that I had written, in the hopes of ultimately producing it under his guidance. My mentor had excellent, constructive criticism and suggestions about how to improve the story. He questioned some of the back-story, which helped me better understand the importance of logic and story-flow from another pair of eyes. I was very appreciative of his commentary, as I knew my story was missing some important elements. Tom also referred me to a 2-day, short film shoot. I gladly seized the opportunity to volunteer as a production assistant for both days. The objective of the short film is based on a 168-hour challenge, in which religious filmmakers are expected to produce a final-edited film in one week. The challenge begins when the filmmakers receive the theme of their stories; this year, the theme is “keeping promises.” The producers of the film were connected to my mentor through his last feature film, Sprawl. The whole production takes place at the producer’s house in Altadena, California. So day 1 of the film I arrived at the set at 9:30 AM and was greeted by the primary producer of the film. I met the DP and the 1st assistant director (AD), both of whom who turned out to be my direct bosses. In preparing for the first scene of the shoot, the 1st AD gave me an opportunity to be the clapper throughout the production of the film, therefore, making my title the 2nd AC for the production. Something which had amazed most people on the set, I was able to use an IPAD application for movie slates. My role required saying “Scene #, Take #” prior to each take. I was surprised to learn as much as I did just being designated as the clapper. This required coordination with the DP and the sound technician.”

“Film Connection put me in a great position to work at a great studio that allowed me to network and learn the tools necessary to succeed in this business. Through my mentor I was able to work in many different departments (pre-production, casting, production, hair & make-up, post-production, and research) on many different shoots. Because of the work I did with my mentor I acquired the skills that enabled me to land jobs on shows such as The Voice (which I’ve been working with the last two years), The Newsroom, Suits, and 30 Rock. The latter of which I worked on its last two seasons as a casting assistant. I’ve also worked on several reality shows and most recently a film featuring Ben Stiller and Amanda Seyfried. I’ve maintained a relationship with my mentor and continue to work with him when able.”

“I like working with my mentor a lot, and I don’t want to misrepresent him by sounding like a bootlicker, however I will say that I have learned more things I actually want to know from him than from the accumulated sources of knowledge that I have collected in my entire life. Math? Nah, I don’t need that trash. Lighting? Absolutely fascinating!”

“The walkthroughs of safety protocol made me someone people trust.”

“Crew etiquette clicked when I saw how smoothly a set can run with it.”

“After we finished reading over the quizzes, my mentors showed me what I had missed the day before. They were working on an eye glasses ad using a green screen! Jim started explaining to me what was being done that day, and turns to the lights. He stands in front of the 2k with a large diffuser in front of it, and then removes the diffuser to show me the difference between hard light and soft light. After the door rings he asks Tony, the DP, to explain to me even further. Tony begins to introduce me to the setup of the lights, and then takes a tennis ball and places it in front of the camera. He points a light to it and talks about dimension. When the light was placed behind it, the shadows made it look a lot more three dimensional. Then he placed the light on the right side, casting a shadow on the left of the ball. He continued to tell me some basics on lighting using some terms that I couldn’t wrap my head around. The whole time I was thinking, “I really have a lot to learn.” It made me extremely glad though, because that was why I came here.”

“This week I participated in a 48 hour film festival based in Richmond, VA. For this assignment I had the role of production assistant. All total we had a cast and crew of about twenty members for a short film to be shot within one day with post on the next day. We as a cast and crew were able to complete our task for the production and as I write this blog post the film is now in post production. This experience for me is unbeatable. I was able to be on a set for a full day surrounded by artists who are all dedicated to their craft and love to work hard. I learned a lot about the realities of filmmaking and what it takes to complete a film. As I continue to learn, my roles on a set will increase and soon I know I’ll be a major factor on a set. I was happy and grateful for the opportunity to even be a part of the festival. I know the short we created will do well in the judging next week and I hope the audience at the premiere enjoys what we put together.”

“My first call sheet was a disaster — but I learned what goes into good prep.”

“Nothing replaces setting up a C-stand with your own hands.”

“This past week at the studio has been busy. Saturday we filmed a 5K run to raise awareness for autism. Then Sunday we began shooting a film video. My first day on a film video set was amazing! We shot three separate locations including a sound stage/bar/ and park. I learned about lighting and set etiquette, along with terminology. I helped put together the dolly and crane and during the actual shooting it was my job to handle playback of the track. We began at 9 A.M. and wrapped around 8:30. Was a long day but sooo worth it. I followed my mentor around on set and watched exactly what a producer has to handle when there is twenty people working under you. The most challenging part had to be remembering terminology. There was so much to observe I just sat back and soaked it all in.”

“I learned a lot about equipment and how to set it up safely (C-Stands, Stingers, Fabric and screens used to carve or “paint with light,” how to operate a fog machine, how to figure out how many volts can go into a generator, etc). I can now confidently set-up a 12×12 frame with little help! Being able to observe the different departments and all the considerations that they have to make was great, especially as everyone was helpful and good at communicating. I think one of my favorite parts of the first shoot were operating a fog machine and seeing how people come together during a low budget film when obstacles arise.”

“The shoot ended and Zac made sure all the forms were signed as needed. Mike and I took the equipment down and packed up, he showed me how to fold the sound cords so as not crinkle them up, and we loaded everything up and drove back to Nashville. We had stopped for Lunch on the way up and stopped for Dinner on the way back, Zac paid for our meals as we were helping his shoot so that was cool. All in all we spent about 5 1/2 to 6 hours driving for a two hour shoot. I asked Zac how much of that would be in the film and he stated it was maybe Five minutes all told, we would see during the editing process. Two hours for only a few minutes’ worth of film time. This is how things go in the world of film shoots I suppose. Not terribly stressful and I learned a bit about how Zac works and what is expected on-set.”

“One day, while at my day job, I received an email from Christine asking if I would be interested in going with her and one of her staff members to shoot a commercial in Galveston, TX. It’s on a Monday so she knew I would probably have work, but I’m glad she asked, because I was able to get the day off. Since I wasn’t able to make the film video filming, I DEFINITELY don’t want to miss another opportunity to be on a set!”

“Hands-on training made me comfortable working with lighting, grip, and audio.”

“I never thought I’d enjoy scheduling — but now I can’t imagine a set without it.”

“I am a man of many questions and stories, as is my mentor, so we spend quite a while – I’d say at least 4 rounds of coffee – talking. Though like I said it is a high point of my week being able to talk to someone who not only has the same love and values for the industry, but can also extend advice about it. To me, that is the best way to spend my afternoon!”

“My lessons were strictly hands on. Textbook work was kept to a minimum and I was put in positions to learn on my own with my mentor there in case I needed assistance. My mentor did not hover over me correcting everything that I did wrong, instead he allowed me to realize my faults and correct them myself. The one on one approach to learning helped the most. This approach as an extern far outweighs learning with other students around.”

“This past week I was able to be on location during a production. We had a pretty small crew but it was very interesting nonetheless. I got to see how a guerrilla crew goes about getting everything done that a production needs to get done. And how on a film set there needs to be little ego because things have to get done. It was refreshing to see everyone pitching in to try and get the shots that we needed to get for the production.”

“Today was a learning experience for sure. While doing our video that we shot from the week before, we decided we needed to do voiceovers. The studio where we were at, however, was being used, so we were unable to use those microphones and record them. So like a real filmmaker, when we encountered a problem like this, we thought out of the box for an alternative idea. We went into a quiet room, set up a camera very close to the person speaking, and recorded voiceovers for every scene. Then we went back to edit it. It was an interesting lesson and I learned a lot from it, especially learning how to cope with situations.”

“I’ll be getting a work schedule this week at the studio. They’ve done everything from Avatar to Jurassic park. Tomorrow I’m putting on the glove that Robert Downey Jr. wears in Iron Man. So stoked! I met some incredible people and I also made another great contact. It was honestly one of the most incredible days of my life!”

“Even small shoots had big takeaways — like the value of backups.”

“I didn’t know how to label gear until I worked with the team hands-on.”

“My first day, I was very nervous. I was given a script to breakdown. I was able to get it done within the day, but I brought it home to double check my work. On my second day, I was given to script. The first one, I was asked to read it & write a summary about it & give my personal opinion about the script. The second script, I was asked to breakdown again. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first week at the film studio & can’t wait until next week!!”

“My mentor is very knowledgeable and passionate about what he does, only motivating me more.”

“Over the past five weeks I’ve been very busy, working my summer job, keeping up with my film business, and meeting with my mentor at Backseat any chance I get. My summer job is full time so I am only off on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I haven’t had a whole lot of time to meet with my mentor lately, but one highlight over the past few weeks was our shoot in Camden, NJ for “But Deliver Us From Evil”. This is the same movie we did down in North Carolina and now we are working to get some final shots needed to complete the film. Doug and I are also working on a Behind The Scenes video for “But Deliver Us From Evil” which should be done with-in the next few weeks. Keep an eye out for the video in my upcoming blog posts!”

“The equipment room became my classroom — I learned setup and storage.”

“Helping reset for every take showed me the rhythm of a real set.”

“In Chapter 2 I watched a lot of movies, not counting the twelve we had to watch and write about. I also got to experience and participate in the progress of doing a casting. it was very interesting seeing the steps that had to be taken for a casting. I did not expect it to be as fun as it actually was. The company that my mentor owns, got hired to do a shooting for a company named OPMA. In this shooting I got to experience what it takes to carry out a task, that when compared to a movie doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when compared to what other video production companies do, it was a very big deal. During this shooting I learned things such as, how to work a boom stick, how to bounce lights, what were the name of some of the camera shots we used, I even learned a little about makeup. Over all I learned a lot from the movies I watched, but I also learned a lot more from the hands on experience that was provided by my mentor.”

“I’m almost nearing the end of this program and I can already say that I learned a whole lot doing this, more than I learned going to college!”

“I started going to college for film production, but as time went on I realized that I wasn’t gaining the knowledge or making the right connections I knew I would need if I wanted to achieve my goals. I needed to find something that would provide a “hands on” learning experience, as well as opportunities to work with people who were already in the industry. That’s when I started looking into The Film Connection.”

“I finally understood grip gear when I had to fix it mid-shoot.”

“We rotated crew positions — now I know how each department supports the shoot.”

“During the week with my mentor I did transcribing for a film called “All Screwed Up”. It was actually kind of fun. It’s very tedious, however, I earned film credit for the project! That week part of the lesson was about script breakdowns. So Anastasia went over the process of how to complete a breakdown and explained that it’s necessary to keep the production organized and in budget. That week Wednesday, I accompanied the producers to a screening at the Friars Club. The film was terrible, to say the least. But I learned a lot about production value and what not to do to make my project bad. The following week, I finished transcribing the film and began the process of doing a breakdown for one of the studios projects, “Walking Dead.” Also my work on my mentors’ last film continues and this is something else I am earning film credit for. I’m enjoying working with both of my mentor, as they truly do give me a lot of responsibility and I’m treated like part of the Company.”

“I really have been enjoying my experience with this Film Connection program. I think it is definitely the one-on-one time I have with my mentor that helps out the most in my progression into the Film Industry. Not only this, but learning from someone who has done this type of work for a long time, alike my mentor, who is a true professional. I have had the pleasure of helping out on two short films and even a feature film which is REALLY exciting! This is definitely something I didn’t think I would be doing before I started this program. I have now also gained the confidence I need to make a feature film of my own. What really surprised me about the Film Connection was how far I have come within the program. Before the program, I thought that I could get in the industry with only my writing. However, now I know I have the skills to get a job in the industry, regardless the position. I had no idea how to light a scene and now I know that I can do it myself if needed to and my mentor is a great help in this process. Thankfully he is extremely patient and is, and will always be, there for me if I have, any questions, as he continues to currently do so. This is an experience that was worth every penny, and I will do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

“Safety talks and teamwork drills made me a reliable crew member.”

“Watching a real production workflow gave me a system I still use.”

“Man, oh man, what a week this has been! I get to the loading dock, to help put stuff in the film truck, and I find out from the man in charge of this shoot, that we are going to the beach for an Ambervision Sunglasses commercial and I would be doing the teleprompter.”

“For the past couple of weeks I have been helping my mentor with one of her films. I guess you can say that I am helping coordinate and run a group of animators who are working on some animations for this film she has in the works. I’ve had the opportunity to talk with both the director and VFX director and get acquainted with the project and what they expect or want at this particular point in time. Everything has been going great, we have a couple of animators who are working hard and are excited about contributing to the film. I am excited as well, I didn’t think that I would be working on something this soon in the Film Connection. This is a really great experience and opportunity to further my knowledge in leading a group through this journey and contribute to the film’s success. I have also been reading the lectures and sitting in on my mentors’ conference calls with numerous people. Being able to watch and listen to her talk to directors and writers is really a big help as to how to work in building good relationships in this business. I had the opportunity as well to meet and talk to the director she worked with in the past and will work with in the very near future. I’m excited to see what we will do in our next meeting.”

“The gaffer gave me one lighting challenge — and I nailed it.”

“My mentor pushed me to prep faster without sacrificing quality.”

“Today at the studio I was able to start entering dubs on to Excel and make some tape and shipping labels for all of them. I then made a priority list and put all of the client forms in order. The spots were for Credit Guard Spanish, Complete Classic Rock, 25th Anniversary Rock, Roll Hall of Fame, and Love Alive. The Formats were DVD, DVCPro25 Beta SP and the clients were Relient Media LLC, Revshare, Time Life, and Credit Guard of America. My mentor and I then moved on to have an in-depth discussion about the camera I have and if I would be able to make something substantial enough with it. I also brought up that I have officially started work on a short film and they gave me pointers on where I should start looking for different things to improve the Production. One of my mentors’ gave me an amazing Website called Soundrangers.com, which is a lot of stock sounds that you can buy or get for free. This works amazing because they have everything you would need to start sounds you would not easily get on a low budget film. Talking about my short film with my mentor came about that my mentors’ also offered that if it came down to it I could use the V.O. booth at the studio for my film, which is amazing because that’s a huge asset if I really need a place to get the perfect kind of sound. The following day I went into the studio again, which turned out to be a short day, however, it put a fire in my step on working with my short film and now daily I am working towards the goal of putting it out there. I am really excited about the workbook the Film Connection assigned me because it is also in the directing portion and I’m learning a lot to prepare myself for my film and I can’t wait to start filming each and every scene. I love the studio the Film Connection has placed me in, as it is a real studio where I can learn and grow. It is also making me much more confident to start my own film projects alike the one I’m working on now. The Film Connection program has really been life changing because before this I was just working in retail.”

Taylor Walker, Staten Island, NY

“I was able to set up an interview with one of the Artist Producer/ DJ. The goal of the short interview was to get a tutorial of how this Artist produces his own film. I was lucky to get the interview done at his house. This was a new experience to me since I’ve never interview or film someone at their own house. The environment was slightly small but I had to get creative to the job done. I was able to film the footage and get the interview done within 45 minutes. In addition, it was my first time getting this kind of job done by myself. My mentor Anthony Barkdoll believed that it will be great experience to get this job done on my own since I’ve done it before with his assistance. I was very excited to execute this job on my own and get a feel of how I perform in this kind of assignments.

The equipment I use was a standard FS 100 Sony camera Manual Lens, Monopad, 2 batteries, 1 ARRI Light, wireless microphone. The interview and footage was successful and excited about next week interview. Next week interview is very important because this Artist/Event Coordinator, Producer, Graphic Designer, DJ is a very important piece to this project. It took a little bit of work to schedule this interview but got it done. I’ll be sharing with you on my next blog how this assignment went.”

“Peter is very meticulous when it comes to the homework and I’m so glad I have such a great mentor who makes sure I fully understand everything I’m learning. He gives me real life examples from his own career which really enhance my learning experience.”

“From batteries to boom poles, I learned the gear that keeps us running.”

“Building a sandbag wall around C-stands was my introduction to on-set safety.”

“Even when I wasn’t the director, I felt like part of the storytelling.”

“At the beginning the week when I got to my mentors house and we tested his new sound equipment, using it plugged into his Canon 60D. The sound was pretty good but there’s no headphone jack in his camera so it’s hard to monitor the sound while shooting a video. He also showed me a short film that was pretty cool. I don’t remember the name but the shots were really artistic and well lit!

A few hours later we drove over The Phoenix Restaurant in Bend, as my mentor had been asked to make another commercial for Bend’s Where to Eat Guide’s website. When we got there we sat down with the manager and figured out what we wanted for the commercial’s voiceover, then my mentor recorded that while I went outside and got some exterior shots of the restaurant. Once I was done with that I walked around and got some videos of the bar and the kitchen and staff interacting with customers. I used my new Canon T3i, and I was surprised and pleased with how comfortable and confident I was when I was getting the shots and changing the settings on my camera so that I got the best image. Once we had all the shots we needed we went back to my mentors’ house and he downloaded the footage that was on my camera to his computer.

A few days later I went over to have my session in Final Cut Pro. My mentor contacted a well-known studio to ask them to go over all the basics of editing with me, so I arrived at this new studio ready to learn. When I got there the engineer asked me about myself, and I told him that I’m just trying to learn all about filmmaking so that I can decide which area of it I’d like to go into. Then I asked him about his filmmaking journey. He went to film school in Seattle, WA, and then decided to open his own business and become a ‘commercial producer’, as in he makes videos commercially and goes out on hire. He recently went down to Argentina to make a feature length documentary about Malbec wine, which I was able to watch at the Bend Film Festival.

He then proceeded to show me his editing suite after we had talked for a few minutes. It had three huge computer monitors for him to edit with and then three TV screens for him to watch his edited footage on. It was awesome. He showed me a project that he had shot the previous weekend and had just finished editing. It was a commercial for a healthcare clinic. He then walked me through the steps he had taken during the editing process, showing me how he organizes his footage and ‘promotes’ clips to help narrow down what he wants to use. He told me to try to get as familiar as I can with all the shortcuts that can be used in Final Cut because it will save me lots of time and it’s very important to be able to edit quickly. He showed me some mistakes in the footage that he had to fix with Adobe After Effects and told me to become familiar with Photo Shop because After Effects is very similar to it. I did have some questions about video format which he answered thoroughly.

After showing me the basics of editing Sky talked for a while about how he learned about making videos and said that the best way to learn is to go out and shoot videos and then edit them and then, if I have any questions, figure out the answers to them by searching on the internet or looking in books or talking to people. I asked him about making the wine documentary and he explained how he went down to Argentina three times: once to do research, once to shoot the interviews with the winemakers, and once to get b-roll that enhanced what the interviewees said. He showed me how he stuck up about a thousand sticky notes on his wall when he was deciding how to shape the story for the documentary. He also told me to watch movies with a discerning eye, but, again, the best way to learn is by doing.

“We prepped, shot, and wrapped like pros — and I felt the pressure and pride.”

“I now understand how camera teams coordinate under time pressure.”

“My mentor trusted me to run walkie traffic — and I didn’t mess it up.”

“We practiced rainy-day protocols even on dry sets — that’s real prep.”

“At the beginning of the week my mentor called me to advise he wanted me to come in earlier in the week than expected. My mentor was shooting a documentary on war vets that day and wanted me to get some behind the scene and production experience. After agreeing that I could come in, and that we would also go over and review my Lesson assigned to me by the Film Connection, after the shoot. As the day progressed with my mentor I realized that during the beginning, as well as the end of the shoot, there was a lot of time put into setting up as well as getting everyone settle down and deciding what was next. My mentor was head of the crew, then there was a man with the floating camera, another of my mentors controlled the shot another angles, and next to him was another employee holding the boom mic. From my observations today there is a lot of communication going on, as there are a lot of little errors due to lighting, positions and background noise that need to be fixed during a professional shoot. Mainly everything went smoothly though, and at the end of the shoot everyone was pretty tired. But I still continued to keep my energy up, continuing to assist my mentor and the staff with the cleanup of all the items as well as components put back in their secure places. As promised, once the shoot was wrapped my mentor and I went back into his office for our one-on-time review of my Lesson assignment. We went through this is great detail and I wrote every little bit down. Looking back on this day I really feel as though I have learned a lot from my observations, as well as assisting in the smaller tasks. Everything is really progressing great in the Film Connection program, as working with my mentor is great. He is easy to interact with, and it is just a pleasure to be there in the studio working with him”

“The load-out checklist became my favorite ritual.”

“Even cleanup taught me about teamwork and pride in the process.”

“Watching an experienced 1st AC work was like watching art happen.”

“I spent two days in the studio this week for Lesson 2, it was very exciting. We had a movie premiere at the beginning of the week, and I was assigned to be the Assistant Coordinator for the night. It went wonderfully! Two days later I ran the cameras for a job we had. It was for a client that had an internet class and I filmed her classes for most of the day. After that my mentor and I had a meeting with a group that pitched us an idea for a documentary and reality TV series. It went very well. This week was full of hands on experience. I loved it!”

“Resetting a shot 10 times taught me patience and precision.”

“The first time I called out times on a call sheet, I felt like a real AD.”

“Lighting setups made more sense when I could help place every stand.”

“It has been very informative working on this set. It has been interesting to see how relationships for. And how quickly these strong bonds can be made within a department. Many of the people might have meet each other before working on this project but by the end of it many would go to bat for each other. It has been an interesting progression watching as this develops. That being said I am sure that there will be a similar process on the next set. Where people don’t really know each other and will have to prove that they have value to each other. The other thing that I am really looking forward to is seeing the final product. It will be very educational to see what the fruits of our labor look like on screen. I know what some of the choices people made look like in the moment, but the real question is how they will play on screen after we have had some time away to digest the scene that we had just built. It will also be educational to see how the effects that we making turn out on screen.”

“All I can say right now is I am very excited at how far I’ve come with the help of ‘The Film Connection’ and that I am very glad I came across this school online.”

“I don’t just want to work in production now — I *am* production.”

“I never thought I’d enjoy being behind the camera more than in front of it — but I do now.”

“I went on another shoot with my mentor this Wednesday that was for Wells Fargo. There was a sort of “career day” for multiple students from different high schools. My job was to tail the students that were coming to check out the Wells Fargo bank in downtown, Albuquerque. This was being done all around the country so Wells Fargo could have multiple tapes to form into one “feature” to show how what they are doing for high school students. When we got inside I learned about White balance, and how a shot can be ruined unless it is checked whenever you are entering a differently lit area with a camera. I followed them, room to room as the students were run through the different opportunities Wells Fargo offered like college payments. My mentor and I then went to a private room to allow a young woman, who had set up the whole little event at this particular bank, to conduct an interview with one of the gentlemen who took part in talking with the kids. My mentor, the sound handler, and I set up all the equipment before anyone got there, including the monitor, tripod, video camera and lighting. So we got through that portion of the shoot very quickly. After the interview was over, the lady who was asking the questions needed to be interviewed as well. I got the opportunity to ask her a few preselected questions as my mentor filmed. Later, we stopped to grab a late lunch before we shipped the tape out at FedEx to the address we had been given. I am still putting in hours at my mentors’ production company as well, which has been fun. A few days later I did a project with the sound engineer at the studio, who runs my mentor’s company when my actually mentor, who is the owner, is on shoots that involved taking/uploading dozens of photographs to Final Cut Pro and creating a montage. This was for a family who had lost a loved one and wanted a reel of pictures on DVD to remember her by. My mentor and I went through songs that the family had requested to be put in the video and selected a few good ones. Later that day, a light my mentor needed for a shoot had broken so we needed to swap it out with a backup. I removed the speed ring from the light and reattached it to another one. I am learning a lot from my mentor and getting along with him very well.”

“After this course, I don’t panic when the schedule shifts — I adjust and lead.”

“By week three, I was teaching new students how to wrap cables.”

“I didn’t just learn — I contributed to something real.”

“I have no concerns as I am sure I am in the most helpful hands…You and all the professionals from this program have displayed to me courtesy and expedience that enhance the feeling that I am in the best hands with the best people.”

“They treated me like a professional, not a student.”

“Being on a working set gave me the clarity I needed to pursue this full-time.”

“It was more than a course — it was an apprenticeship.”

“Peter is very meticulous when it comes to the homework and I’m so glad I have such a great mentor who makes sure I fully understand everything I’m learning. He gives me real life examples from his own career which really enhance my learning experience.”

“Watching how every job matters made me respect the system more.”

“Set lingo used to confuse me — now it rolls off my tongue.”

“I stopped seeing ‘grunt work’ as grunt work — it’s foundational.”

“I helped prep gear for a client shoot — and it made me feel trusted.”

“I felt a little too confident because of my past experience at other production companies that I interned at while in college. Now I know I have to act as a rookie in the film/TV business so I can learn everything that I can with an open mind. I cannot wait for my next lesson next week because Tood and Jim said I am going to start doing hands-on work.”

“I learned to troubleshoot problems on set in real time — that’s gold.”