Advanced Cinematography Program

Sept. 2020 - May 2021

The advanced / second year Prague Film School cinematography program aims to deepen skills developed in the year course through hands on workshops in the “classroom” and full-time work on film sets.

Semester I

Show Reel Development and Shooting for Commercials

Cinematography students should have something physical to show for their time spent at PFS - a body of work that is current, relevant and pertinent to today’s market. This course will introduce the students specifically to the world of the cinematographer on TV commercial productions.

We want to send our cinematography students out into the (real) world with a contemporary and professional looking show reel, a body of work that gets them in the door and working (and earning a living).

We will prep, shoot and post commercials. The aim of the workshops is two-fold: to help students build a body of professional-grade material for their show reels, and to instruct cutting-edge lighting and camera techniques under the mentorship of one of Prague’s leading DPs.

Shooting for Genre

This six-week workshop is designed along the lines of 'genre', working in different styles of lighting, format and lens selection to achieve certain 'looks' in preparation for working with the PFS directing students for their second year projects.

The class projects will include the usual hi-key, low-key, mixed lighting situations in the studio but will also have a heavy emphasis on location. The location work will inculcate a better understanding of color temperature, electrical power and the instruments used for different situations. Also, as has become abundantly clear since students have moved into the various logarithmic functions of the cameras, the connection between the creation of the image in the camera and how it is read and interpreted by the color correction system will be treated.

Semester II

During the second semester, students will be shooting 15 to 30 minute long films. Students will be in production for 45 to 60 days. Following the production of the film, students will be involved in post production (including color correction), post production workshops and classes relating to the business of selling and promoting films.