Lights. Camera. Learn! Film education classes are back at Robinson Film Center – specifically for adults who want a deep-dive into the world of movies.
There will be two kinds of classes offered: Filmmaking 101 and Film Appreciation. Filmmaking 101 is for the person who has always wanted to try their hand at making a movie, but doesn’t know where to start. Taken together, the Filmmaking 101 classes offer a complete overview of making a film from start to finish. Alternately, participants may choose to enroll in only the aspects of filmmaking that are most interesting to them. Film Appreciation classes will explore in-depth a particular genre, filmmaker or time-period.
Here’s the upcoming line-up. All class times are 6:30-8 p.m.
Filmmaking 101: Screenwriting
January 13, 20 and 27
Do you want to make your own films, but don’t know where to start? Every movie begins with a story, and in these screenwriting sessions you’ll learn how to develop your ideas from a concept to a script. During this three-class series you’ll learn how to identify the elements of a good screenplay, how to get an idea out of your head and onto the page, and how to make that script sizzle so it’s ready to film. Most importantly, you’ll actually write a script and get feedback. Taught by television industry veteran Chelsea Caitlyn Woodham.
Film Appreciation: Film After Dark: The Changing Landscape of Horror
February 3, 10, 17 and 24
This series is not just for aspiring filmmakers, but all movie-lovers – especially scary-movie-lovers! Award-winning producer and LSUS director of media and public relations Wendell Riley will lead you through an exploration of why he loves horror films, and why you should too – with a focus on filmmakers of the African diaspora. Through this course you’ll not only examine the horror genre, but also genres that have influenced horror directors and how the horror genre has had its own influence on the wider world of film. You’ll watch films on your own and clips in class, then discuss the themes, techniques and thrills from the movies. If you like movies like Get Out and Candyman, this class is for you!
Filmmaking 101: Production
March 8, 9 and 10
Once you’re armed with a great script, how do you actually make a movie? The Production class will teach you just that. Covering the basics of lighting, camera and sound, this course will equip you with the knowledge needed to convey your vision to your crew or to go shoot a film on your own. Led by RFC education director and filmmaker Rich Hansil, who has mentored multiple assistant cameras, directors of photography, gaffers and grips throughout his career.
Filmmaking 101: Directing
April 7, 14 and 21
Do you fancy yourself the leader of the pack? In the Directing series you will learn to tie all of the elements of your film together and get the story in the can. Taught by directors Mark Bonner and Alexander Jeffery, this course will cover identifying and developing stories, blocking, working with actors and more!
Filmmaking 101: Editing
May 12, 19 and 26
It’s time to land the plane! Our Filmmaking 101 series concludes with the Editing course. Here you will learn how to take the raw footage and turn it into a finished film. Folks in the film industry often say that editing is the final rewrite of your script, and it can make or break a film. Learn from Taylor Bracewell and Colby Doler, award-winning filmmakers with features, shorts, and TV series under their belts. These two will teach you the basics of editing and the particulars of getting to the final version of your story.
Pricing and Registration
Individual classes may be purchased at robinsonfilmcenter.org or by calling RFC box office at 318.459.3122. To purchase a complete series at a discount, please call the box office at 318.459.3122.
For each series, participants may purchase classes individually for $30 per session or purchase the whole series at $25 per session.
All classes are offered at a discount for RFC members. RFC members may purchase classes individually for $25 per session or purchase the whole series at $20 per session.
A limited number of scholarships are available. Please contact Rich and Rachael Hansil at 318.459.4112 or rhansil@robinsonfilmcenter.org to apply.
K-12 Education Programs
These education offerings for adults join RFC’s full slate of K-12 education programming including in-school workshops; field trips; virtual field trips; summer film camp; and our flagship afterschool program, Teen Film Council.
RFC Education Faculty
Mark D. Bonner
Born and raised in Shreveport, Mark D. Bonner started as an avid writer, from comic book stories to screenplays. He’s dabbled in acting and recently won the 2021 Grand Prize at the Louisiana Film Prize for his directorial debut Shreveport Son.
Taylor Bracewell
Taylor Bracewell hails from Atlanta and moved to Shreveport in early 2015 to further her career as a filmmaker. She has since gone on to win numerous awards and accolades for her short films Polterguys (2015) and Candyland (2017) as writer & director and awards for her cinematography in Hangman (2015). She has received multiple awards and recognition at film festivals across the globe for her directing and cinematography work.
Colby Doler
J.C. “Colby" Doler grew up in the small town of Grantville, Georgia. At 23 years old, Doler began his first foray into the film industry by directing his first short film, The Zombie Vlogs, a found-footage horror mockumentary. Since then, Doler has worked on dozens of short and feature films as writer, director, producer, editor, actor and more. Doler’s award-winning work has been recognized by top festivals such as Tribeca, Louisiana Film Prize, Holly Shorts and Dead Center as well as prestigious institutions such as ShortsHD, The Telly's, The American Advertising Federation and more.
Rich Hansil
Rich Hansil is an award-winning filmmaker with experience in shorts, features, and television. He worked across multiple departments in the industry before finding his niche as a showrunner, director and director of photography. His credits include Netflix, Discovery, NBC, ABC and Fox along with multiple film festivals.
Alexander Jeffery
Born in Canada, raised in Arkansas, and schooled all over the world, Alexander Jeffery has always carried a deep respect and passion for the art of telling a good story. With a BA in theatre performance and a BFA in film and new media, Jeffery has the ability to relate to actors but also the wherewithal behind the lens to make a story work visually. In addition to prize-winning shorts, Jeffery has feature films, branded content, commercials and music videos to his name. He also helped start the El Dorado Film Festival where he now serves as executive director.
Wendell Riley
Wendell Riley is an award-winning filmmaker from Trinidad and Tobago. He began his film career at Moonbot Studios, where he was a production manager and producer on multiple Emmy-, Annie-, Webby- and Cannes-Lions-winning animated projects. He served as producer on the Oscar-shortlisted The Numberlys and earned a Creative Arts Emmy Nomination in 2017 for his work on The Boy Who Learned to Fly. Riley also worked on the Rational Middle: Immigration documentary series, and Unexpected Modernism: The Weiner Brothers Story, which aired on PBS in 2020.
Chelsea Caitlyn Woodham
Originally from Washington state, Chelsea Caitlyn Woodham attended New York University, where she studied screenwriting at the Tisch School of the Arts. Upon moving to Los Angeles after graduation, she worked as a creative executive, developing TV shows with a focus on telling unique and authentic stories. She recently relocated to the Shreveport area, where she lives with her husband James, daughter Winifred, and puppy Greta Gerwag.