Master filmmaking instructor in Manila

Dov SS Simens, founder of Hollywood Film Institute in Los Angeles, California and known as the "Champion of Independent Filmmaking", is in Manila to hold a two-day Film School on Jan. 24 to 25, at the Expo, Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Makati.

This highly acclaimed 2-Day Film School™ summarizes in two days what, according to Simens, is being taught only in theory in formal film schools for four years and after spending a small fortune on tuition. Among those who have attended this popular workshop modules are Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction), Spike Lee (Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X), Guy Ritchie (Snatch), Baz Luhrman (Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet), producers Emo Phillips (Meet the Parents), Phillipa Braithwaite (Sliding Doors), superstar Michael Jackson and his singer-brother Jermaine, Will Smith, Sinbad, Queen Latifah, Valerie Bertinelli, a host of other network executives and at least 20 Sundance entrants, including the filmmakers of In the Company of Men and The Blair Witch Project.

Simens suggests the following rules of thumb for low-budget filmmakers.

• Use all the available resources. Get a local film directory. The directory includes phone numbers and contact info for local rental shops and film crews.

• Work your idea into a treatment. Break your movie idea down into "Beginning," "Middle," and "End" segments and write a three-page treatment covering each part

• Protect your idea. It’s also a good idea to copyright your treatment at the National Library.

• Keep your script simple. Make it as close to a stage play as possible. Keep the number of actors, locations, and multimillion-pesos explosions to a minimum.

• Poor sound plagues many first film projects. For cheap films, it’s more important to buy a good mic than a top-of-the-line camera. Don’t use the external mic that comes with the camera. A dedicated, experienced soundman is a good investment. You can find sound and lighting experts in your local film directory.

• Learn how to buy digital videotape. Don’t pay retail prices for DV tape. Do your research and find the best deals.

• Keep it short. Your low-budget script schould be 90 pages max, which translates to a 90-minute running time.

• Be realistic with your budget. The film/video format, shooting schedule, and decisions to rent or buy equipment depend heavily on your budget. Simens will discuss all these and more in detail at the Two-day Film School. Registration fee is P5,000 with a 20 percent discount for students, faculty members and groups of more than 10 people. For details, call 9241546, 0917-5289018 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. Visit www.webfilmschool.com for more information.