The workshop
The workshop is conducted in French, so a certain level of proficiency in the language is required to fully benefit from the training.
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This intensive training, combined with the Hands-on Documentary editing course, allows participants to engage with the fundamentals of documentary filmmaking. After a brief period of technical initiation, analysis of reference works, scouting, and writing, each participant will move on to filming a short film on a common theme. The editing is carried out by an editing trainee under the supervision of professional editors. The goal is to understand the essential relationship between director and editor.
The programme
First Period: Practical Exercises, Film Analysis, Scouting - Weeks 1 and 2
- Technical familiarization
- Completion of exercises, including an introduction to editing
- Screening and analysis of reference documentary films
- One-day seminar on documentary writing
During this period, each participant chooses, defines, prepares, and scouts the subject of the film they wish to direct.
Second Period: Film Shooting - Weeks 3, 4, and 5
During this period, participants organize their shootings in half-day segments. The footage is screened at least three times a week in the presence of all workshop participants. This ongoing analysis and critique of the footage allow participants to correct and deepen their approach to their subjects.
Third Period: Editing and Finalizing the Workshop Film - Weeks 6 and 7
As shooting progresses, each participant begins logging and pre-editing their film with a participant from the editing workshop, supervised by professional editors. This collaboration allows for experimenting with various phases of narrative construction, establishing the final structure, and completing the final edit of the film. This crucial phase highlights ideas that remained vague during shooting, condenses the story, and creates the narrative.
This training requires significant availability and personal work in addition to the hours spent at the workshop.
Pedagogy
At the Ateliers Varan, through initiation into the practice of documentary filmmaking, we encourage participants to broaden their perspective on the world. It is not a traditional academic school; rather, our methods emphasize learning through hands-on experience to the fullest extent. Each participant’s focus revolves around creating films in real-world settings. Learn more about the Ateliers Varan pedagogical approach
Evaluation Methods
- Pre-training Assessment: Application file + interview
- Formative Evaluation: Conducted at the end of each sequence
- Final Evaluation: Making of a short film
More Information
Accessibility
Ateliers Varan, a Category 5 ERP establishment, welcomes people with disabilities.
For any requests related to accessibility, please contact Fanny Chapuis contact@ateliersvaran.com / (+33)1 43 56 64 04
Key figures
In 2023, 20 people followed the “Hands-on documentary filmmaking” workshop. Satisfaction rate: 95%
Career Opportunities
Graduates can pursue careers in audiovisual and film production companies, corporate audiovisual services, and television channels, among others.
Application details
The application process consists of two stages: initial written submission followed by a final selection interview with one or more trainers.
Required Documents for Initial Submission:
The following documents should be written in French.
- A freeform autobiographical statement, maximum 2 pages
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A one-page text, optionally accompanied by an image, on one of the following themes:
- Tell us about a place
- Describe a moment in your life
- Share a story about your neighbors
Please send these materials via email to contact@ateliersvaran.com along with your complete contact information.
If selected after the interview, the candidate must provide documentation from the organization funding the training.
Ateliers Varan will assist in completing the necessary paperwork (quote, training description). Subsequently, each candidate must submit their dossier directly to the funding organization's joint committee for approval.
Teaching staff
About forty film professionals (directors, editors, producers, sound engineers, cinematographers...) form the team of the Ateliers Varan. They pass on their experience and professional practices in the training sessions and workshops they organize. The teaching team changes for each workshop.
Ask Us
Questions about our training courses? Please contact us 01 43 56 64 04
6, impasse de Mont Louis
75011 Paris
