First Week: The Challenges of Sound Staging

In the morning, theoretical aspects are explored through listening sessions, screenings, and various analyses. The afternoon is dedicated to practical exercises directly related to the morning's theoretical questions.

Theoretical concepts about sound: developing an awareness of listening. Sessions include listening to sound excerpts, films without images, and radio documentaries.

Sound recording exercises will be conducted in pairs, initially without images and then with images. The works will be presented, collectively listened to, and discussed.

Second Week: Personal Projects

Participants will propose a hypothesis of sound writing before the arrival of their images. During this week, they will engage in sound recording exercises: direct sounds and staged sounds. Guided by a sound editor, they will edit and assemble the recorded sounds.

Critical approach to sound editing: methodology and contextualization.

Participants will learn to formulate requests based on their choices in sound and image production.

On the final day, the works will be screened and analyzed in the presence of invited professionals.

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

"I feel the necessity to think about the act of sound construction, rather than analyzing finished artistic objects. Sound is initially a variable interweaving of durations, intensities, materials, and distances. To understand it, one must practice sound. In this workshop, we create short films in reverse; we start with sound. Participants record sounds and images separately and place them on an editing timeline, leaving gaps and silences to understand, as Bresson said, when one must be 'all eye' or 'all ears'. This produces films without synchrony. Image and sound are placed simultaneously, but it's the sound that must drive the necessity of editing, allowing us to find the durations of looking and listening."

Interview with Daniel Deshays, in Les Cahiers du cinéma, November 2018.

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 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

Satisfaction

In 2023, 102 people were trained at Ateliers Varan across all programs. Overall satisfaction rate: 100%.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can pursue careers in audiovisual and film production companies, corporate audiovisual services, and television channels, among others.