Teaching Method

Each session corresponds to a stage in the creation process:

• Understanding the deep desire of the film and identifying its -sometimes hidden- stakes
• Finding the film’s center of gravity
• Discovering the appropriate narrative form
• Working on the narration and the story
• Finalizing the writing of a production dossier and presenting it to professionals

Each session includes practical shooting or editing exercises, writing exercises, theoretical content, film analysis, and personalized follow-up on each participant's project. The third session involves a writing residency.

Professional experiences are shared by directors, and theoretical training is provided by critics or documentary historians.

Projects in the writing phase are reviewed by various professionals (directors, producers, broadcasters, or festival organizers) known for their rich and diverse experience.

Between each session, participants must complete a certain amount of work as instructed at the end of each module. The success of the workshop depends on the individual commitment and personal work of each participant.

1st session: Identifying the Stakes of the Film - "Deconstructing the Writing Process" (7 days)

Learning to describe and deconstruct the writing process of a film, identifying and analyzing the different stages of work. Learning to define the intentions.

• Practical Exercises: Shooting exercises based on the "shot/edited" principle.
• Theoretical Seminar: Exploring documentary cinema through excerpts, addressing different writing styles (with a critic or documentary historian).
• Film Analysis: Identifying the stakes and choices of cinematic writing.
• Writing Exercises: For example, after watching and analyzing an auteur film, writing an intention note and comparing it with the director’s note of intention. Working on summarizing your project to identify its stakes, etc.
• Masterclass: Analyzing the writing and production process of a film with its director present.
• Project Writing: Group discussions on individual projects + one-on-one meetings to outline each participant’s roadmap (locations to scout, research to deepen or broaden, working notes to compile: scouting reports, descriptions of locations and characters, narratives, etc.).

Intersession: Scouting and research for the film. Finding the film’s central point and a symbolic object (metaphor or metonymy) to film as part of an exercise. Telling a “Production Story” by choosing an inspiring already-made film.

2nd session: Deepening the Stakes - "Finding the Film’s Center of Gravity" (5 days)

Exploring possibilities, redefining the film’s axis, and beginning to identify the main intention.

• Practical Exercise: Bringing an object, a “strong point” or crystallization of the stakes (metaphor or metonymy), that could be the core of the film and creating a 5-minute sequence that captures the intention.
• Theoretical Seminars: “Sound Territories” (with Daniel Deshays) and “Dramaturgy” (external speaker).
• Film Screenings related to the theoretical seminars.
• Production Stories Reports:
• Project Writing: One-on-one meetings on individual projects.

Intersession: Participants should think about the film's mise-en-scène while continuing scouting and research, and if possible, prepare to shoot a first sequence. Each participant must write a first intention note. They should find an inspiring film excerpt that illuminates, nourishes, or argues for their own mise-en-scène choices.

3rd session: Finding the How - "Ways of Doing, Forms of Thinking" (5 days, in writing residency)

Thinking about mise-en-scène choices and finding the film’s form.

• Viewing Film Sequences selected in relation to each participant's project.
• Individual Project Writing with regular meetings with the trainers.
• Evening Screenings related to the writing process.

Intersession: Finalizing the first version of the project. Shooting a sequence or preparing a selection of rushes.

4th session: Editing / Dramaturgy - "Constructing the Narrative" (5 days)

Deepening the dramaturgy of each film through practical work on editing a sequence.

• Theoretical Seminar: Narrative forms through editing (external speaker).
• Editing Exercise: Editing a sequence from your rushes to refine the film’s writing and clarify the final project draft.
• Personal Project Writing: Methodology (summary, intention note, development or synopsis, director’s note) and individual writing follow-up.

Intersession: Writing the final project.

5th session: Presentation to a Commission - "Form is Content that Resurfaces" (5 days)

Evaluating the project’s completion level by professionals.

• Possible Re-editing of the film’s sketch sequence.
• Practical Exercise: Commission simulation, learning to give a short oral presentation of the project to professionals (“pitch”).
• Personal Project Writing: Presenting the project and the sketch sequence to a commission composed of professionals (director, producer, critic, or festival organizer).
• Debriefing and Roadmaps: For each project.
• Workshop Evaluation

Pedagogy

Ateliers Varan teaches the practice of documentary filmmaking, opening one's perspective on the world. 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 / 01 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.