Intensive Program in Filmmaking

The Sarah Lawrence Intensive Program at EICAR, the Ecole Internationale de Cinéma, d’Audiovisuel et de Réalisation, allows students to acquire intensive training in all the essential aspects of making a movie. The Program is composed of theoretical courses and practical workshops. SLC students take their classes with French students and work with them to complete their films. The Program may be taken for a semester or a year and carries 8 credits per semester. The classes average 12 hours per week.
The Program is composed of two parts:

• A theoretical part comprising courses in the history of cinema and the major theories of editing. The first course will provide students with a general background in the field. The study of the theory of editing offers a review of the main stages in the evolution of cinematographic language, thereby developing the students’ knowledge and awareness of the use of various narrative and stylistic effects. This knowledge is then put into practice through the use of editing software (Final Pro Cut), special effects software (After Effects), sound editing software (Pro Tools), as well as calibration software (Color), all of which are essential in the making of a short movie.

• A practical part composed of selected workshops, including HD camera, light (direct and indirect lighting, blond and redhead studio lights), sound editing (voice, noise, sound effects, etc), scriptwriting (basics of dramaturgy, story-telling), and directing (apprehending acting, finesse of directing).

Students are advised by EICAR’s Director of Pedagogy and his assistant. After choosing the topic for the making of a short film, students will have weekly meetings with a tutor to progress in the development of each stage of the project: the writing of the film (title synopsis, screenplay and note of intention), preproduction (composition of technical and artistic teams, production of documents for filming), shooting of the film and post production (image and sound editing, calibration, and mixing). A ten minute film will be completed at the end of the semester.

Sample Intensive Program (8 credits per semester, for an average of 12 class hours per week)

Students in intensive programs also take one SLC seminar of their choice and a required French language course (see Sample Intensive Programs).

Films by Recent Students

• Camille by Xueli Wang (Fall 2012)
• Jour et Nuit by Anna Quinlan (Fall 2012)

Application Process
All students applying to the intensive program in filmmaking must be approved by and receive initial guidance from the SLC Paris Program Director.

For further information, please e-mail Monique Middleton, Paris Program Director.