Lesson Plan
- 01Introduction
Meet your new instructor, a self-taught filmmaker who's made films on all seven continents. Are you ready to become a 'soldier of cinema'?
- 02Teach Yourself Storytelling: Watch Films
Werner teaches you the importance of careful film analysis by deconstructing the opening scene of Viva Zapata, starring Marlon Brando.
- 03Teach Yourself Storytelling: Read
If you want to master storytelling, don't just watch movies. Werner explains why reading is key to becoming a great filmmaker and shares passages from his mandatory reading list.
- 04Writing a Script
Forget the three-act screenwriting structure. Werner reveals how he draws on poetry and Beethoven to inspire scripts that capture his vision in words.
- 05Financing First Films
You don't need millions to make a movie. With $10,000 and an extraordinary idea you can start the journey toward bringing your project to the screen.
- 06Negotiation Skills
Film is an art—but it's also a business. Werner shares his insights into the industry to help you learn how to protect your stories.
- 07Locations
Jungles, oceans, and volcanic craters—Werner has shot movies in them all. Learn how to find spectacular locations and turn them into functional sets for your own films.
- 08Leading The Platoon
When Christian Bale had to eat real maggots in Rescue Dawn, Werner offered to eat them first. Here, he explains the power of leading by example to inspire your cast and crew.
- 09Set Rules
In filmmaking, if you're on time, you're late. Be professional: Organize your set to tell the story, not to impress anyone. Forget the director's chair, turn off your cell phone, and stay close to your actors.
- 10Camera: Shooting Strategy
Keep it simple, focused, and efficient—don't shoot coverage. Learn how to use one camera to make the best film possible.
- 11Camera: Cinematography
Learn how to paint with light, work with cinematographers, and bring your vision to life with extraordinary images.
- 12Camera: Techniques
Werner teaches the basic rules of cinematography—and how to break them—to maximize your creative vision.
- 13Working With Actors: Creating the Character
Through casting, wardrobe, and behavioral ticks, Werner shares both the subtle and bold techniques for developing characters with your actors.
- 14Working With Actors: On-Set
Werner breaks down how he directs actors on set and how to work with the best of the best, including Klaus Kinski.
- 15Sound
Sound quality can make or break your film. Learn how to avoid lost footage and listen for the remarkable.
- 16Music
Learn how to communicate the mood you want for your music and how to work with composers to create amazing, memorable scores.
- 17Editing
Editing begins on the set. Werner's methods are unique, and will give you a practical way to cut through the footage to make a beautiful film.
- 18Invaded by Images: Part 1
Inspiration can come from anywhere, but you have to know how to recognize it—and seek it out. Learn where Werner got the ideas for many of his most famous films.
- 19Invaded by Images: Part 2
Amazing stories are often a combination of discoveries. Werner breaks down the genesis of Fitzcarraldo and the development of scenes in Stroszek.
- 20Documentary: Making the Conversation
Werner discusses his techniques to "crack a human being open." Learn how to make your subjects comfortable, identify with them, and capture their humanity.
- 21Documentary: Eliciting Difficult Stories
Werner breaks down the need for narrative discipline and "knowing the heart of men." Learn how to get to the heart of your subject and shape your story.
- 22Documentary: Dealing with Human Beings
There are lines you should not cross. Learn from Werner's experiences filming Grizzly Man and Into the Abyss, and how to get to the heart of your subject quickly.
- 23Documentary: Truth in Nonfiction
Ditch the 'fly-on-the-wall' approach to documentary filmmaking. Shape the 'ecstatic truth' to tell a beautiful and brilliant story.
- 24Career Strategy
Be one of the ruthless ones who burst onto the scene. Learn how to deal with rejection and take control of your career.
- 25Life as a Filmmaker
The life of a filmmaker is fraught with doubt, rejection, and constant battles for survival. Learn how to survive in an impossible industry.
- 26Postscript
Werner leaves you with the words of a medieval mystic and wishes you luck on your journey.
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