The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo College of Continuing Education and Community Service (CCECS) launches a series of workshops for individuals interested in learning about screenwriting and film making. The sessions will be taught by Artin Mardirtousi, a professional Los Angeles-area videographer and graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles.
Introduction to American Motion Pictures provides an informational baseline for screenwriting and video production classes by presenting a historical perspective on the birth and development of American cinema. Topics include the Silent Era, “first seen, now heard,” and the advancement of the art. The session will be held on Wednesday, January 27, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., in UCB Room 100. Tuition is $20.
Fundamentals of Screenwriting is a four-week course that teaches participants how to take a story and present it in a professional format. The course includes sessions on screenwriting formats, sequence and structure, story aspects, creating memorable characters, sustaining a plot, conveying a conflict, and more. Classes will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on the Campus Center Plaza. The cost is $95.
The series concludes with Amateur Filmmaker’s Training (Consumer Cinematic Creations), which teaches participants how to use iPhones and iMovie to take personal projects to the next level with a better understanding of filmmaking composition, editing and credits. Classes meet on Tuesday, Thursday, Monday and Wednesday, March 8, 10, 14 and 16, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in UCB Room 125 (ITS Mac Lab). Cost is $125. A Smartphone with video recording capability and basic computer experience is required.
Students can enroll in the courses separately or take the entire Introduction to Screenwriting and Film Makers series (three workshops) for $220.
For more information, call CCECS at (808) 974-7664 or email ccecs@hawaii.edu.