Welcome to Film Spring
FOCAL - the Foundation for professional training in cinema and audiovisual media (Switzerland), the UIAH - School of Motion Picture, Television and Production (Finland) and the Norwegian Film Development (Norway) are launching the third edition of the film workshop Film Spring under the mentorship of the renowned Polish cinematographer and director Slawomir Idziak (A Short film about Killing, The Double Life of Veronica, Three Colours - Blue, Gattaca, Black Hawk Down, King Arthur, Harry Potter V).
After developing a professional script via an internet forum, the participants of Film Spring will meet in Poland for a 3-week seminar and production of a 45 minute film. The group will consist of 14 young directors and cameramen from Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia.
A new challenge, a new dynamic
“Musicians, even when they are meeting for the first time, sit down and play music, they improvise. Filmmakers start their meeting by arguing who will be the leader.”
Throughout his extensive 35-year career Slawomir Idziak has unfortunately suffered from this experience over and over again. His credo, by contrast, is that a good film is the result of a collective and creative effort. Contrary to the traditional model, he believes that the authorship of a film should not belong to a director alone but rather to a group of filmmakers. Film Spring is the practical implementation of this belief.
In the centre of today’s training is the notion that the individual artist tries to transform his/her vision into a singular reality. Only later, does he/she discover that he/she is stretched too far. The approach of Film Spring is directly opposed to this concept. It is comparable, rather to that of chamber music, where success and failure are shared amongst the participants with hope that true growth is achieved.
Changes in technology over the last decade have had a huge influence on the way feature films are produced. Yet, one gets the impression from educational institutions that this change in technology has not had much effect. Films continue to be made desperately, reiterating the same patterns and negative working relationships. Here too, it seems necessary to offer a different paradigm.
Film Spring will address these new challenges. Our workshop is an attempt to create a European educational model in the film sector, where work from European countries can be nurtured and stimulated under the motto of the relativity of directorial ego.
For several years, Slawomir Idziak has been conducting his Camera – Drama – Decoupage seminar in cities all over Europe. He has always succeeded in initiating a highly professional creative process amongst filmmakers. Film Spring is thus the logical development of his training experience.
A collective effort
Film Spring not only offers emerging filmmaker’s the chance to develop a screenplay, but also the opportunity to shoot and edit it. The script will be developed by the participants in a specially created Internet forum, where they can exchange their ideas, develop the screenplay, and discuss pragmatic issues, such as casting. The only condition set by Slawomir Idziak is that the film be a love story between two cultures and nationalities.
Furthermore, the technical and artistic proceedings will be organised by the participants themselves. This includes full involvement in set decoration, costumes, props and equipment. The organisers will take care of general organisational duties, logistics related to the site, equipment transportation and post-production.
The rules of the game for the actual shoot will be that every participant will change position and responsibility for every scene. For each scene there will be one director, in the next he/she will become the assistant director, costume, etc…For the camera department, the same holds true, the DOP for one scene will become the gaffer for the next.
The first cut of the film will be assembled day by day, during the shoot. The film will thus take shape and constantly be discussed, under the creative mentorship of Slawomir Idziak.
During the preparation period, a couple, consisting of one actor and one actress from different European countries, will be cast and chosen by all the Film Spring participants. Despite variations amongst the group, the language of the workshop will be in English.
An inspiring location
The location of Film Spring is Jurata, a small town in the Bay of Gdansk (Danzig), Poland. This location will provide us with a cost-effective setting and the opportunity to shoot without interruption. Every participant will have his/her own room, alongside various conference rooms which will facilitate the working environment. The Internet forum will also contain extensive photo documentation of Jurata and Poland. More information is already available at www.wzwjantar.pl
New profiles for a new process
The workshop is aimed at film young professionals working as directors or cinematographers, as well as editors, sound professionals and designers.
Pre-requisites for participation include professional experience in the film industry, readiness to take part in a group creative process (including script development) and involvement in the complete post-production of the film.
A selection process will take place before Film Spring 2007, to evaluate the participants’ interest and verify their commitment.
If you have any questions contact us.