Join Family Before Everything (FBE) for a one-day, hands-on filmmaking experience designed
for adults who want to explore the art and craft of film production. This workshop brings
together some of Buffalo’s top creative professionals to teach the essentials of storytelling,
cinematography, audio, and directing — all culminating in a collaborative, on-set experience
where participants apply what they’ve learned.

 

Workshop Schedule & Sessions
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Learning the Craft: Department Sessions
During this intensive three-hour block, participants will choose a primary focus area led by
industry professionals. Each department session offers both discussion and hands-on training
designed to prepare participants for the evening’s practical film exercise.

 

Audio for Film
• Instructor: John Stover Sr.
• Description:
Explore how professional sound design shapes the emotion and clarity of a film. Learn
the fundamentals of:
o Microphone types and placement
o Capturing clean dialogue
o Ambient sound and room tone
o Basic mixing and post-production tips
Participants will record live dialogue and ambient sound to use in the evening
film exercise.

 

Cinematography: Painting with Light and Motion
• Instructor: John Massey
• Description:
Discover how lighting, camera movement, and composition tell a visual story. This
session will take place indoors and outdoors, focusing on:
o Framing, exposure, and movement
o Working with natural and artificial light
o Visual continuity and tone
Participants will film short scenes and practice dynamic camera work for the
final group project.

 

Writer’s Seminar: Building Strong Stories
• Instructors: Phil Davis Sr. & Monique Cunningham
• Description:
Great films begin with great scripts. This seminar guides participants through the
essentials of story development:
o Story structure and pacing
o Character arcs and dialogue
o Developing scenes that translate well to screen
Participants will create or refine short scripts that will serve as the foundation for
the evening’s production.

 

Directing, Technical Direction & Assistant Directing
• Instructor: Paulette Denise Harris
• Description:
Learn how to manage a film set, communicate with your team, and bring your creative
vision to life. Topics include:
o Blocking, staging, and shot lists
o Managing actors and technical crew
o The collaboration between Director, TD, and AD
Participants will plan and storyboard the scenes to be filmed later in the day.

 

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Dinner & Networking Break
• Description:
Enjoy a relaxed, catered dinner with instructors and fellow filmmakers. Build
connections, discuss creative ideas, and prepare for the evening’s collaborative film
shoot.

 

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Application in Action: “Putting It All Together”
• Facilitators: All Instructors
• Description:
Participants will now take everything they’ve learned and apply it to a short collaborative
film project. Working in small teams, participants will rotate through roles in writing,
directing, cinematography, and audio to produce a short 1–2 minute scene.
o On-set collaboration and workflow
o Problem-solving under production conditions
o Practical experience with professional film equipment
This immersive, hands-on session simulates a real film shoot — bringing
classroom knowledge to life.

 

8:00 PM | Wrap-Up & Certificates of Completion
• Description:
The day concludes with a brief reflection, Q&A, and presentation of Certificates of
Completion from Family Before Everything Productions.

What Participants Will Gain
• Hands-on experience across multiple film disciplines
• Instruction from seasoned film professionals
• A collaborative short film project experience
• Networking opportunities with filmmakers and instructors
• Certificate of Completion

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FBE Productions