Documentary Filmmaking

DATE & TIME

8 sessionsMondays, October 21-December 9, 6:30-8:30 pm

LOCATION

In-Person

FilmNorth at 2441 Arts
2441 University Avenue West,
Saint Paul, MN, 55114

Parking & Building Entrance Information

DESCRIPTION

Unleash your creativity and showcase your unique vision! In this class, you’ll have the freedom to choose a topic of interest and create your own documentary film (works-in-progress welcome!). Award-winning documentary filmmaker Pam Colby will guide you every step of the way, helping you bring your project to life. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned filmmaker, we’ll meet you at your level and provide personalized advice tailored to your needs. You’ll have the option to record interviews and narration at FilmNorth, or we’ll assist you in optimizing your own technology, and you’ll learn the best practices for shooting videos with your own camera or cell phone.

You’ll learn the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro (for Mac) for editing, and you’ll have access to the FilmNorth edit lab during business hours. If you prefer, we’ll help you choose the best editing software for your laptop or desktop computer. It’s a class where stories are shared, feedback is given, and filmmaking principles are integrated into the learning experience. Students who have basic digital camera and lighting experience are entitled to one free camera package rental from FilmNorth (C100, tripod, light kit, mic) during the course.

TUITION

Regular$285

Member$230

Low-income$185

INSTRUCTOR

Pam Colby

Pam Colby has worked in television and film for over thirty years. Pam’s most recent narrative short, Perennial (2022), premiered at the Roze Filmdagen: Amsterdam Film Festival and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. It has been a finalist in 12 international online festivals and has won two Best of Fest Awards. Pam’s film, Not in My Lifetime (2018), a feature-length documentary film won the Audience Choice Award for Best Minnesota Made Documentary Feature at the 2018 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. Pam’s love of storytelling led her to the Moth Storytelling competition where her GrandSLAM-winning story was featured on National Public Radio. Pam works as a freelance producer and director and has taught both narrative and documentary classes at FilmNorth since 2013.

CLASS REGISTRATION GUIDELINES & CANCELLATION POLICY

  • Space is assigned on a first-come basis. Registrations must include payment in full. Registrations are accepted after registration deadlines if space is available.

  • If minimum enrollment has not been reached by 7 days prior to the start date of a class, FilmNorth may cancel it, in which case registrants will immediately be notified and receive a full refund within 2 business days. A check will be issued for registrations that were paid in cash. In lieu of a refund, students have the option of applying their tuition to another class scheduled in the same calendar year.

  • For those needing to cancel a registration at least 7 days prior to the first class session, 100% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. For registration cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the first class session, 50% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. As of 5:00 pm the day prior to the first class session, no refunds or credits/exchanges will be given (Friday at 5:00 pm for Sunday classes). 

  • Tuition is not prorated for missed class sessions.

  • By registering for this class you are agreeing to our Community Values Statement.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions regarding this class, please send us an email or call (651) 644-1912 ext. 2.

REGISTRATION

Registration DeadlineOctober 16, 2024

Maximum Enrollment10

Link to register at Film North

In-person. 9 sessions: Mondays, April 15-June 17 (no class May 27), 6:30-9:30 pm

This course is designed for students with little or no previous production experience and a keen interest in developing their skills in moving image arts. In addition to providing hands-on experience through production exercises and projects, the course places considerable emphasis on visual literacy and the application of film language. This includes the basics of storytelling, cinematography, lighting techniques, directing, and audio recording. Students work together to create cinematic scenes, covering the basic crew positions, and having the option of acting on-camera. Basic nonlinear editing with Adobe Premiere Pro CC is demonstrated and practiced to complete class projects. For the final four sessions bring a hard drive or 32GB USB flash drive, plus headphones or earbuds.

The knowledge communicated is well structured and the hands on experience we learned in this class gives us many insight about the whole process of filmmaking. —Spring 2023 student

NOTE: this in-person course is held at FilmNorth, 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 120, Saint Paul, MN 55114. FilmNorth is following CDC’s current COVID-19 variant guidance for Ramsey County:

Tuition: $390 regular | $295 member | $220 low-income

Pam Colby has worked in television and film for over thirty years. Pam’s most recent narrative short, Perennial (2022), premiered at the Roze Filmdagen: Amsterdam Film Festival and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. It has been a finalist in 12 international online festivals and has won two Best of Fest Awards. Pam’s film, Not in My Lifetime (2018), a feature-length documentary film won the Audience Choice Award for Best Minnesota Made Documentary Feature at the 2018 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. Pam’s love of storytelling led her to the Moth Storytelling competition where her GrandSLAM-winning story was featured on National Public Radio. Pam works as a freelance producer and director and has taught both narrative and documentary classes at FilmNorth since 2013.

Class Registration Guidelines & Cancellation Policy

  • Space is assigned on a first-come basis. Registrations must include payment in full. Registrations are accepted after registration deadlines if space is available.

  • If minimum enrollment has not been reached by 7 days prior to the start date of a class, FilmNorth may cancel it, in which case registrants will immediately be notified and receive a full refund within 2 business days. A check will be issued for registrations that were paid in cash. In lieu of a refund, students have the option of applying their tuition to another class scheduled in the same calendar year.

  • For those wishing to cancel a registration prior to the class registration deadline, 100% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. For registration cancellations received after the registration deadline but prior to the first class session, 50% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. As of 5:00 pm the day prior to a class start date, no refunds or credits/exchanges will be given (Friday at 5:00 pm for Sunday classes).

  • Tuition is not prorated for missed class sessions.