Underwater Videography Workshops/Training

[Pre BC]

I am starting this thread specifically to track upcoming classes, seminars, workshops and bootcamps regarding UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY. I hope this will become a permanent center for the exchange of information regarding upcoming opportunities for us to learn about shooting video (with and withsound sound) underwater.

If you know of an upcoming program, please post it here and let us all know about it!

P

[Jonathan Bird]

I used to run underwater video courses (http://www.jonathanbird.net/course.htm) about once a year but I have become a little busy recently and haven't had the chance. I really enjoy teaching and hope to run another one soon.

If I had a group of people interested, I would schedule one.

[sorvju-f]

I used to run underwater video courses (http://www.jonathanbird.net/course.htm) about once a year but I have become a little busy recently and haven't had the chance. I really enjoy teaching and hope to run another one soon.

If I had a group of people interested, I would schedule one.

I am in if 2010.

Jukka

[Pre BC]

Jonathan:

If you were going to start teaching UW videography again:

1. How long, what type of program would you propose?
2. Which of the equipment (recorder, housing, lighting) would be provided by instructors/sponsors and which would be provided by the students?
3. What would be the legnth of the program?
4. What would be the approximate cost?
5. What part of the country would the program be located?

P

[Jonathan Bird]

My normal video course works as such:

1. The students bring their own housings/lighting/cameras. Anyone that is serious enough about taking a video course typically has a camera system already. It may not be a great system or an ideal system, but it's what they have and the person running the camera is much more important than the camera itself.

2. I provide laptops (Macs) with Final Cut Pro and hard drives for editing. If people have their own laptop and preferred software, they are welcome to edit on that. My course is NOT a course in editing software. I teach just enough Final Cut to get by, so the student can learn the language and aesthetics of film editing, not become a whiz at special effects. 98% of what you need to do is capture footage, cut between shots and output back to tape. Everything else is just pizzazz. Learning to edit is mostly about learning to tell a visual story with cuts, and editing teaches the student how to shoot for the edit.

3. The course is typically a week at a tropical dive resort where there are several things available:

-Convenient shore diving
-A secure classroom where we can set up and LEAVE the editing gear set up all week.
-On site meals, etc.

Bonaire is a good place to run the course, even though I'm not entirely crazy about Bonaire. Cayman is OK too. I have run the course in both of those places. I would love to run one in the Pacific someplace. Lembeh would be awesome, but it gets expensive to put a video course on top of a really expensive flight on top of an exotic resort.

I have tried running the class on a live-aboard and while it is convenient, it doesn't work out well. (Too hard to convince the students they need 4 hours of classroom work every day when they are missing dives that others are doing.) An entire liveaboard is too many students. I prefer 4, maximum 6 students. Any more and there is not enough personal attention to go around.

I have never tried running it "locally" because I doubt there is much interest in doing it in cold water or a non-exotic/tropical location, but I would be happy to do that if there was enough interest.

4. The class is typically around $1500 plus the cost of the resort/diving.

I have been talking to Jean at Ikelite about teaching a "sponsored" course where Ikelite would bring a bunch of gear for people to try out, but so far this hasn't happened. You never know though!

Pierre was my star student...the only one who has gone on to become a truly professional shooter. :) Now he is my #1 Blue World cameraman, has his own show that is coming out in Canada soon, (and is my wine mentor!) When he started my course, he was truly a beginner with a lot of potential--just needed some direction and some valuable tips. He can give some thoughts I'm sure on the course and ways I could improve it.

Jonathan

[Pre BC]

Unless anyone knows of anything sooner, here is the basic information on the first available week long underwater videography workshop. More complete information can be obtained at:

http://www.prodiveusa.com/red_one_boot_camp.html

"Pro Dive will play host to the World's First RED ONE™ Underwater Video Boot Camp. This is your chance to get your hands on the latest technology in the video and film industry.

Location: 429 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale. (Google map the location, it is spectacular.)

Dives: A 60 foot dive boat is docked at the facility and is scheduled for 15 trips (30 dives per week providing a mix of barrier reef, wreck, sunken oil platform and night dives).

Dates: May 4-10, 2009

Equipement: Red One's with Gates Deep Red Housings will be provided for shared use by students. If you own your own Red One and would like to use it during the bootcamp, with sufficient notice a housing can be obtained for you at a special student rate. If you do not own a Red One but would like to rent one for your dedicated use during the bootcamp, arrangements can be made to obtain both a Red One and Housing at special student rates.

Editing: Computers and editing software will be available both on and offsite. Students who own their own editing suites are encouraged to bring their laptops and practice using their own editing software during all or part of the bootcamp.

Price: $1,895.00 Spots secured by $600.00 non-refundable deposit. This price includes tuition, shared use of Red Ones/housings and unlimited boat dives between May 3rd and 10th. Students are encouraged to come in the day before the bootcamp begins (May 3rd) to fine tune their equipment and skills. Not included in the price is lodging, food, or scuba equipment rental.

Confirmed Instructors: Ric Frazier and Luke Inman

Ric Frazier: Award-winning Director Ric Frazier is one of the world’s most skilled, experienced and versatile photographers specializing in the aquatic realm. He has redefined the art of underwater photography, shooting everything from people, to sets, to ocean life. His client list is extensive, ranging from Nike and O’Neil, to magazines including Men’s Fitness, Esquire, GQ, and National Geographic. He has directed commercials for The Pier at Caesars, the Sci-Fi Channel and Diesel Jeans, and among numerous other awards, was named Best Music Video Director at the 2007 Elevate Film Festival.

Luke Inman: Originally from England, Luke is an experienced cameraman and fixer. He has worked with the BBC, Lucas Films, Castle Rock Entertainment, The Monterey Bay Aquarium, National Geographic, Discovery and Animal Planet. Luke has functioned as both a camera assistant and safety diver on productions such as Star Wars Phantom Menace, My Giant, and numerous commercials and short films. Luke is a PADI Course Director and maintains Instructor-Trainer certifications with several technical agencies, including a Commercial Diving Qualification from the UK’s Health & Safety Executive.

You can check out Ric and Luke’s portfolios and bios:
www.frazierproductions.com
www.lukeinman.com

Red Rentals Mexico will be involved with this event, with others, to be announced

Limited to 20 people

Exclusive Pro Dive student rate pricing on accommodations

For more information on RED ONE™ visit:
www.red.com

For more information on Gates and Deep Red follow this link:
http://www.gateshousings.com/DEEPRED.html

[Jonathan Bird]

Can we assume you are somehow associated with this course? You have posted this several times now.

[solisti]

Doug seems to be doing the same campaign in reduser.net also...

[sorvju-f]

Can we assume you are somehow associated with this course? You have posted this several times now.

I feel it is good to get new information from new technologies even from the people close to ones. Pre BC I translate now Pre Boot Camp. I can read it from one post, second and third starts to be irritating...feels like poster think I am stupid and don't able to read.

If this is the strategy accepted by Gates and RED...I can only ask what else is wrong in their products?

If this is hided spamming, I advice administrator to close this account.

Jukka

[Pre BC]

While trying to find informatiton on photography and videography workshops I found it very frustrating that it is almost impossible to find out who is doing what, where and when. There are simply no threads on any forum dedicated to providing information on upcoming seminars and workshops. Does it exist somewhere I haven't been able to find? If it does, it would be much easier to look there instead of trying to start threads that will serve that purpose.

I apologize if I have been over zealous and have offended anyone by either the information I have posted or questions I have asked. I will refrain from posting anything further on this topic on this or any other forum.

Having places where information on upcoming educational opportunities can easily be found is far more important than any one workshop or seminar.

[Jonathan Bird]

This thread now is the official UW videography and training thread, and I think it's a great idea. The RED course is in it, so we got it covered. Lets just not keep posting it everywhere.

It is obvious that Pre BC is affiliated with the course in some way, and there is no problem with that, but I would appreciate honesty, rather than coming on here claiming to be interested in "finding information on courses," when in fact the point is to advertise your own course. We have a classified section that is designed to allow free advertising for members of this site, with some moderation, and we have never discouraged anyone from posting stuff for sale, trips, etc. and I see no reason why a video course can't be in there. Repeatedly spamming us with the same post in the forums though is annoying.

Jonathan