FAQs

Class starts promptly at 9:30AM each morning and runs until 6PM each day. Please make your travel arrangements/flights accordingly.

Each day starts with a lecture on some aspect of filmmaking—shooting, storytelling, etc.—followed by a hands-on activity (i.e. field shooting or editing) where you will learn how to put the theory into practice.

In your first shoot, you will be staying near the classroom and focusing on using the disciplined shooting techniques learned on the first morning. Your goal will be to get comfortable with the camera in your hands and to capture the specific sequence of shots you’ve learned.

On the 4 Day course, your second shoot is your opportunity to apply what you have learned during the first shoot and edit exercise to the creation of a more focused story. By the end of the course, you will be the proud creator of two one-minute videos that you have shot and edited all by yourself.

We purposefully avoid handing out minute-by-minute agendas since production is a very organic process and it’s difficult to anticipate how quickly each class will be able to grasp and apply the concepts taught. Rest assured that while you are working hard to make your masterpieces, we’ve got an eye on the clock and will get you where you need to be when you need to be there.

There is no need to do any pre-planning for your first shoot. On the 4 Day course, for your second shoot, though you do not need to pre-arrange anything, start giving some thought to what type story you might want to tell. Remember that you will have one minute to tell the story so don’t plan on doing any sweeping documentaries.

Again, don’t feel like you need to do a ton of pre-planning before you get here. If you walk in with a general idea of what type of content you want to capture, we’ll help formulate the rest.

While it may be possible to bring a guest to the final screening, this is based upon space availability and prior approval. The actual class is closed to guests and family members who are not enrolled in the class.

Deposits:

All deposits are non-refundable.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

• If tuition is paid in full at the time of registration, a refund is allowed up to 30 days before the course date.
• All refunds are subject to a £25.00 service fee.

RosenblumTV and Guardian Media reserve the right to cancel a scheduled course up to 21 days before the course starts. If RosenblumTV and Guardian Media cancel a course, all deposits and course fees will be refunded. Course participants who book non-refundable travel or accommodations do so at their own risk.

For filming, you’ll need a Mini DV or HDV tape camera with an iLink port or an HDV tapeless camera with a Mini USB 2.0 port.

For editing you’ll need a Macintosh laptop that has Final Cut Pro X (10.0.3 and later) installed on it. Your laptop should also have either a FireWire port (for tape cameras) or USB 2.0 port (for tapeless cameras) which are used to connect the laptop to the video camera.  You’ll need a pair of headphones and tape stock. A two-button mouse is highly recommended but not required. If you don’t have Final Cut Pro X (10.0.3 and later) to use for the course, we recommend downloading the free trial from the Apple App Store a day or so before the course.

If you bring your own equipment, please make sure that you have checked that everything is working before the course and that your camera is compatible with the Final Cut X software. Also, bring any cables that came with your camera to the course. If you are renting a laptop from us but bringing your own camera, we recommend that you let us know what type of camera you will be using when you register, allowing us to be sure it will work with our laptops.

If you don’t have your own equipment yet don’t worry, you can rent it from us.

During the course we discuss the pros and cons of different video and audio equipment. Many students who have purchased cameras immediately before the class often end up returning the cameras they’ve just bought, saying they wish they’d waited until after the course when they had a better understanding of what equipment meets their specific shooting needs. For a small fee, we rent cameras that are very easy to use and lend themselves well to the needs of the course.

If you already own a MiniDV or HDV camera that is FireWire equipped that you have been using for some time, then by all means, bring it. Just please be sure that you are familiar with operating it and, if you are bringing your own Mac laptop, that you have hooked it up to your camera successfully in the past and have been able to capture footage. This is particularly important if you have a hard drive camera, as sometimes they can be a little tricky to import from. Please be sure to bring your own tape stock, camera manual, and any cables that came with your camera (e.g. FireWire/iLink, AV, component, composite, USB, power, RCA).

There are a lot of editing software programs out there, but we have found that Final Cut Pro X (10.0.3 and later) is exceptionally intuitive and lends itself well to a fast-paced learning environment.

If you are bringing your own camera, please be sure that you are familiar with operating it and, if you are bringing your own laptop, that you have hooked it up successfully in the past and have been able to capture footage. This is particularly important if you have a hard drive camera, as sometimes they can be a little tricky to import from. Please be sure to bring your own tape stock, camera manual, and any cables that came with your camera (e.g. FireWire/iLink, AV, component, composite, USB, power, RCA).

If you are bringing your own Mac laptop double check that you have successfully installed and tested Final Cut Pro X (10.0.3 and later) and have successfully connected your camera to it. The course is very fast paced, and we want to be sure you are able to maximize the time you have with us on happier pursuits rather than troubleshooting equipment problems. Also, please be sure to bring your own headphones and, if desired, a 2-button mouse.

If you are bringing your own laptop, we recommend that you bring your own footage, pre-loaded onto it. If you are renting a laptop from us, then we will provide you with footage. Of course, if you are bringing your own laptop and still need to use our footage, we’ll make sure that you have something to edit!

Just be sure that your laptop has Final Cut Pro X (10.0.3 and higher) and a FireWire port (for tape cameras) or USB 2.0 port (for tapeless cameras ) to connect your laptop to your video camera. You’ll also need a pair of headphones. A two-button mouse is highly recommended but not required.

Bring casual, comfortable weather-appropriate clothes, sunscreen and a hat, if desired. Most importantly, bring comfortable shoes. When out on shoots, you will be walking a lot.

For the 2 and 4 Day courses, you will have the opportunity to grab a quick bite when out doing your shooting exercises.

On editing days during the 2 and 4 Day courses, you’ll take a break to go out and grab a quick bite. There are many dining choices in the area from which to choose. You are also welcome to bring your lunch.

Our 1 Day courses will include lunch and coffee.

Of course. You’ll need to keep your energy level up.

Please just be mindful of eating and drinking around the equipment.

Here’s a list of accommodations that are close to the training location:

Hotel Russell,

1-8 Russell Square, Bloomsbury

London, WC1B 5BE

020 7837 6470

www.principal-hayley.com/hotelrussell

The Bloomsbury Hotel

16-22 Great Russell Street

London, WC1B 3NN

020 7347 1000

www.doylecollection.com/locations/london_city_hotels/the_bloomsbury_hotel.aspx

Novotel

St.Pancras

100-110 Euston Road

London, NW1 2AJ

020 7666 9000

www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-5309-novotel-london-st-pancras/index.shtml

Ambassadors Bloomsbury

12 Upper Woburn Place

London, WC1H 0HX

020 7693 5400

www.ambassadors.co.uk/