The Platypus for 2008
HD Storytelling for Journalists, Photojournalists, Editors and Producers
Here's the revised schedule and locations for 2008:
New Orleans, Louisiana
The 9-day Platypus Workshop – February 23 to March 2
TO SEE WHAT THE STUDENTS DID, GO TO
http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0803/the-platypus-workshop.html.
Ventura, California
The 9-day Platypus Boot Camp – May 23 to June 1
2-day Advanced FCP/Multimedia Workshop – June 2-4
3-day Platypus Master Class: Development and Selling HD Projects: With Chuck Braverman – June 5 - 8
Rockport, Maine
The 9-day Platypus Boot Camp – July 27 to August 4
Platypus 2 (for students who could not get into Platypus 1 and students who have gone through the newspaper Platypus short courses) - August 6 - 16
3-day Platypus Master Class: Development and Selling HD Projects: With Chuck Braverman – August 7 - 10
Chicago, Illinois
The 9-day Platypus Boot Camp – October 17 to 26
2-day Advanced FCP/Multimedia Workshop –October 27 & 28
3-day Platypus Master Class: Development and Selling HD Projects: With Chuck Braverman – October 30 – November 2
Assignment: South Vietnam
Locations: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Chu Lai and Hoi An
Length: 2 weeks
Dates: November 9 to 22, 2008
Faculty: Dirck Halstead and David H. Lyman
(See description below)
The Basic (9-Day) Platypus HD Journalist Boot Camps
Ventura, Calif. – May 23 to June 1
Rockport, Maine – July 27 to August 4
Chicago, Illinois –October 17 to 26
These workshops are acknowledged as the gold standard of Digital Video training. In nine days, we teach high-definition digital shooting and editing, with an emphasis on storytelling. It is unique in the industry. We have taught over 200 photojournalists since our inception in 1999. Our graduates have gone on to do television documentaries, Web videos, especially for newspapers and even films. One of our graduates was a nominee for an Oscar in 2006.
There are two ways to attend this workshop. As a Shooter you are the storyteller. You get to use a new Canon XHA-1 HD camera, wireless and on-camera mikes from Sennheiser, tripods from Libec and an Apple laptop MacBook Pro with the latest version of Final Cut Pro for editing. You may work alone, or with a Producer (see below), to create the class exercises and a final 8-minute documentary or news story.
Everyone who joins the class will learn about the newest HDV (High Definition Digital Video) camera, field sound recording, cinematic storytelling, the use of lenses, tripods, and Apple's latest Final Cut Pro editing software.
As a Producer (we used to call them participants) you do what the name implies in broadcast. Producers are an integralpart of the process and the course . . . they attend all classes, team up with shooters to "produce" the various segments of the course work. Producers work in collaboration with Shooters as they research stories, make arrangements, conduct the interviews, go out on the field exercises and co-produce the final project . . . as a team. The Producer and the Shooter both come back to the edit bay and cut the projects together, just like in television. This in no way diminishes the role of the Shooter, who is the principal storyteller; the Producer gives the Shooter more time to concentrate on picture, sound and the story elements, resulting in a better learning for everyone and better told stories.
These workshops are taught by Dirck Halstead, PF Bentley and Roger Richards, all award-winning photojournalists. "We know where you come from and what you want to do." We are adding two additional workshops this year, at the request of alumni and the needs of the changing industry.
9-day Platypus Boot Camp – Shooter Tuition: $1,895. Producer: $795
Advanced Final Cut Pro/Multimedia Workshop
Ventura, Calif. – June 2-4
Rockport, Maine – August 5 & 6
Chicago, Illinois – October 27 & 28
This Advanced FCP/Multimedia workshop is in response to requests from Platypus alumni. We cover FCP or multi-media, color corrections, up- and down-conversion to HDV, and broadcast output.
2-day Advanced FCP/Multimedia Workshop – Tuition: $495
The Platypus Master Class: Developing & Selling Your Documentary Project
With Chuck Braverman
Ventura, Calif. – June 5 - 8
Rockport, Maine – August 7- 10
Chicago, Illinois – October 30 - November 2
This new course is lead and directed by Chuck Braverman, an Academy Award-nominated producer/director of short- and long-form documentaries. Chuck will take you to the next level in documentary production. Now that you know how to shoot, cut on FCP, and color correct, Chuck will lead you through the process of developing, producing and selling your next (or existing) project to the networks. In three and a half days of presentations, panels, lectures and classroom sessions Chuck and his guests address pre- and post-production issues including audience, project development, writing the treatment, pitching an idea, budgeting, marketing, distribution and all the legal issues of contracts and protection of your ideas. You will learn about documentary development, shooting for cable networks and foreign television, what festivals to enter, how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences works, learn the role HD is playing, study actual project budgets on Excel, learn about co-pro versus commission and many other "must know" areas.
Who Should Attend
This Master Class is for filmmakers, journalists, producer, camerapeople, photojournalists and Platypus alumni, as well as film students who want to move ahead into filming full documentary projects and actually making money doing it.
Tuition: $1,000; Combined Tuition: $2,750
Combine all three workshops in a continuous two-week period . . . we call it "The Two Weeks That Will Change Your Life!"
Discounts: NPPA and ASMP members can take 10% off the individual course tuitions, but not off the combined tuition price, nor the Vietnam Advanced Workshop.
Assignment: South Vietnam
Locations: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Chu Lai and Hoi An
Length: 2 weeks
Dates: November 9 to 22, 2008
Faculty: Dirck Halstead and David H. Lyman
This two-week tour of South Vietnam is a field production assignment for experienced videographers, photojournalists and photographers who want to explore and document their personal experiences in the company of a team of fellow image-makers and visual storytellers. This is not a course in how to shoot, but an opportunity to learn what to shoot and how to tell your story. Dirck and David will mentor participants, review images and projects in-process in the field. They will help with logistics, provide guidance and make suggestions on coverage image quality and storytelling options. Do not expect to complete and edit your project in-country. We are there to help you come away with sufficient material to create a television special, short documentary, or a personal video. Videojournalists bring their camera, tripod, mikes, and laptop with Final Cut Pro. Photographers bring their SLR kit, and a laptop with editing software. More information on line at:
http://www.workshopsinternational.com/Vietnam_Photo_Workshop.html
Vietnam Package price: Includes tuition, hotels, some meals and in-country travel – $3,895. Price subject to exchange rates.
Registration:
To register, or for more information on the Ventura and Chicago Workshops, contact Media Workshops International.
http://www.workshopsinternational.com/DV_Platypus.html
Home page: www.WorkshopsInternational.com
Contact David Lyman at DHLyman@mac.com
Rockport, Maine:
To register, or for more information on the Maine Workshops, contact Maine Media Workshops: http://www.TheWorkshops.com
Contact registration@theworkshops.com
The workshops are sponsored and supplied by:
