Background Action

Participants
12 directors, first assistant directors, second assistant directors
Date and venue
11 to 14 December 2008 in Geneva
Registration/Application deadline
4 November 2008; please add your cv and filmography
Fee
Reduced fee:
CHF 600.-
Full fee:
CHF 1'600.-
Language
English, without translation
Organisation
Denis Rabaglia and Pierre Lacourt
Pitch
Theoretical considerations and practical exercises with a crowd of some 50 to 100 extras in, respectively, a panic situation, a background action that requires specific timing and a scene involving over 20 cars

Background Action is an essential contribution to the quality of feature films. Directing extras completes the mise-en-scène of a movie, but requires specific skills. Such skills will be the subject of the upcoming seminar, since the art of moving extras in the background requires hands-on experience.

After some theoretical considerations, the seminar will focus on practical exercises. The participants, devided into groups of four, will have the opportunity to direct a crowd of some 50 to 100 extras in, respectively, a panic situation, a background action that requires specific timing and a scene involving over 20 cars.

This event represents a unique opportunity for directors and assistant-directors to discover the potential of effective crowd choreography for the screen.

Tutor

Ali Cherkaoui

First Assistant Director, Paris. He has worked on several big film productions - among others, BLACK HAWK DOWN (R. Scott), SPY GAME (T.Scott), ALEXANDER (O. Stone) and MUNICH (S. Spielberg) - as key Second Assistant Director, in charge of crowd movements.

Recently, he has been working as 1st AD on JULIE AND JULIA by Nora Ephron with Meryl Streep. He also developed his own software to handle large numbers of extras.

For further information on his work, consult : > www.alitronics.com
in cooperation with

cinecasting

with the support of

srg ssr idéesuisse

Focal is supported by
OFC