Background


This workshop is the result of the tripartite partnership agreement signed in July 2004 to strengthen the links and cooperation among the three top-notch institutions. It brings together the best possible teaching staff and recruits the best possible students from the centers of film in mainland China, Hong Kong and the USA (Hollywood).


Summer Institute provides a platform for creative exchange among students and filmmakers from different countries. Students are required to produce a short digital film between 10-20 minutes following an intense daily schedule. Its goal is to arm students with practical skills and confidence in a specialization in which they wish to gain immersive experience. They can learn to fulfil this purpose in a team-produced work of narrative concentrating on the essential elements of visual story-telling. The practical curriculum allows the students immediate application of what is learnt as a member of the production team. The teaching language is principally English with Putonghua (simultaneously translated into English for relevant courses). Some previous experience in video production and filmmaking is required of students.


Students will choose a specialization to be led by a professor so that they can deepen the craftsmanship and creative ideas in that specialization. Teaching will be focused on practical skill, hands-on digital film shoots and the opportunity to make a fully realized final film feature in digital format. Students taking different specializations will re-group into a production team and create their short film in digital format. Students will spend three weeks together producing, directing, shooting and editing their final project. The team will present their digital film at the end of the course in a public screening. The best work will be selected for entry to local and international film festivals.