Local Indie Director to Present at Filmmakers in Action's July "Basics of Filmmaking" Workshop

July 11, 2009 - PRLog -- Dan Finley, a local independent filmmaker, will provide an in-depth breakdown of what a director must do before, during and after a shoot to create a successful film, during the July 14 installment of the "Basics of Filmmaking" workshop series, sponsored by Filmmakers in Action, an organization for aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters seeking to develop their skills.

The "Basics of Filmmaking" program is a series of monthly workshops that provide compact introductions to specific elements of filmmaking, featuring local filmmakers currently involved in Chicago's vibrant independent film scene. Previous workshops featured an introduction to screenwriting and an overview of lighting terms, methods and applications. The 90-minute workshops are presented on the second Tuesday of each month. Aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters can get additional workshop information and RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/ChicagoFilmmakersInAction/.

The Filmmakers in Action "Basics of Filmmaking" series offers an inexpensive and sometimes free alternative for aspiring filmmakers who don't have the time or the thousands of dollars to go to film school. The group requires no membership fee, and each workshop only charges a $2 donation to cover the cost of the workshop.

But it's not just absolute beginners who are getting involved with Filmmakers in Action. The organization also includes film school graduates and experienced filmmakers who want to network and take part in group projects.

In addition to the workshop series, the group undertakes at least one short film project every quarter. During each project, novice filmmakers will work alongside experienced producers, cinematographers, lighting technicians and sound mixers on a short film written by one of the group members. The group just wrapped up its Spring 2009 project in June and is now gather screenplays for its summer project. Filmmakers in Action will also be participating in the 2009 Chicago 48-Hour Filmmaking competition.

"Technology and the web have made filmmaking more democratic," says Rey Villar, an aspiring filmmaker and the director of the Filmmakers in Action MeetUp group. "Anyone who wants to create a film today has easy access to all the equipment and people they need, especially in a city like Chicago. The big challenge for beginners, however, is learning the fundamentals of filmmaking and then finding people with whom they can collaborate and get experience. This MeetUp group dispels the notion that you need to spend four years and thousands of dollars to create your first short film."


The group's 2009 "Basics of Filmmaking" workshop series began in May, with a presentation at the Mercury Café, 1505 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL. The remainder of the 2009 "Basics of Filmmaking" series continues on the second Tuesday evening of every month, at Mercury Cafe. The full 2009 workshop schedule includes:

   * May 12 – Introduction to Screenwriting: Crafting a Story People Will Want to See
   * June 9 – Film Lighting Basics: Using Light to Paint Your Scene
   * July 14 – Directing Basics: Putting All the Pieces Together to Create A Visual Story
   * Aug 11 – Webisodes: Exploring the New Frontier for Independent & Guerrilla Filmmakers
   * Sep 8 – Producers Panel: Assembles the ingredients for a successful film
   * Oct 13 – Get Talent: How To Cast The Right Actors For Your Film
   * Nov 10 – Sound Opinion: Setting Your Film’s Tone and Background Through Sound
   * Dec 8 – The Festival Circuit: How to Get Your Film Into a Festival

The Filmmakers in Action group is one of thousands of social networking groups hosted by the MeetUp.com, an online social networking resource that promotes live meetings and networking among people with similar interestes.

For more information, visit the group’s website at http://www.meetup.com/ChicagoFilmmakersInAction/.

Contact: Rey Villar, reyvillar@gmail.com