# Video Production Bootcamp: Shoot a Dialogue Scene from Script to Set Canonical URL: ## Overview This hands-on course teaches students how to take a completed script and turn it into a fully planned, professionally executed dialogue scene. The course spans a full week: three in-person sessions (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) plus two independent production days (Tuesday, Thursday) where students apply what they've learned by completing assignments that are reviewed and workshopped in the following class. Across the week, students move through the complete production cycle: breaking down a script, planning coverage, creating storyboards and shot lists, directing performances, and managing key production elements including camera, lighting, sound, and on-set workflow. Students will shoot their scenes on an iPhone, making the course accessible without requiring specialized camera equipment while still emphasizing professional production planning and technique. By the end of the course, they will have built practical, hands-on experience managing a small-scale shoot from script to post-ready delivery. ## What you'll learn - Break down a finished script and prepare it for production with a shooting script, storyboards, and shot lists. - Plan coverage and shot design with editing in mind. - Evaluate casting and location choices for a dialogue scene. - Use core production techniques for camera, composition, lighting, and sound recording. - Apply on-set workflow principles such as slating, setup organization, and screen direction. - Prepare footage, notes, and production assets for an efficient post-production handoff. ## Curriculum #### Day 1: Pre-Production — From Script to Shot List - Script breakdown for production: identifying beats, actions, and logistical needs - Storyboarding as an editing tool and planning coverage with the edit in mind - Shot lists and production planning: organizing shots for efficiency on set - Casting fundamentals: finding actors and running simple auditions - Location scouting: evaluating locations for sound, light, and blocking - Introduction to budgeting and funding: basic cost considerations and low-budget strategies - Scheduling and workflow: call sheets, time management, and planning your shoot days #### Day 1: Assignments - Convert the script into a shooting (lined) script - Create storyboards for the scene - Cast actors - Scout a location for the shoot and bring reference photos to class #### Day 2: Production — Camera, Sound, and On-Set Workflow - Review and critique of assignments with group discussion and instructor feedback - Camera fundamentals: frame rate, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, focal length, and lens choice for storytelling - Composition and coverage for dialogue: master shots, over-the-shoulders, singles, and inserts - The 180-degree rule and maintaining screen direction - Lighting basics: three-point lighting and shaping light for actors - Sound recording fundamentals: clean dialogue, lavalier vs. boom microphones, room tone, and audio consistency - Slates and clapboards for syncing and organization - Crew roles, communication, and efficient on-set workflow #### Day 2: Assignments - Shoot the scene - Compile dailies and prepare footage for final review #### Day 3: Delivery to Post - Review and workshop of student footage - Capturing pickups and final coverage: ensuring all necessary footage is captured, including inserts, cutaways, wild lines, and room tone - Preparing footage for post-production: backing up files, labeling media properly, and delivering notes, logs, and assets to the editor - Discussion of strengths, challenges, and next steps - Planning remaining post needs such as pickup shots, ADR, and sound effects ## Instructors ### Jerron Smith — Program Director & Senior Instructor Jerron has more than 25 years of experience working with graphics and video and expert-level certifications in Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator along with an extensive knowledge of other animation programs like Cinema 4D, Adobe Animate, and 3DS Max. He has authored multiple books and video training series on computer graphics software such as: After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash (back when it was a thing). He has taught at the college level for over 20 years at schools such as NYCCT (New York City College of Technology), NYIT (The New York Institute of Technology), and FIT (The Fashion Institute of Technology). Learn more about [Jerron Smith's](/jerron-smith) background and expertise. ### Stephen MacGillivray — Instructor Stephen teaches classes in the Motion Graphics and Video Editing Certificate programs. In addition to his work with Noble Desktop, Stephen teaches Nonfiction and Fiction Video Production, Motion Graphics, and Introduction to Film Production to grades 9-12 at LREI, a private K-12 school in New York’s Greenwich Village. In addition to teaching media classes, he runs his own production company, Indian summer Media. Through ISM he works as a freelance producer, specializing in documentary style films. Stephen holds a B.A. in Classics from Concordia University in Montreal and an MFA in Screenwriting from Columbia University. While an accomplished professional his most beloved project has been raising his two young daughters, Margaret and Grace. ### Michael Venzor — Instructor Michael Venzor is a multi-disciplinary filmmaker, video editor, and motion graphics artist with over twenty years of professional experience across television and short films, commercial projects, and educational media. His background spans the full post-production pipeline, including editing, animation, visual storytelling, and workflow design. A dedicated educator and mentor, Michael has spent years teaching video editing and animation to students of all experience levels, helping them build both technical proficiency and creative confidence. His teaching style emphasizes real-world workflows, thoughtful problem-solving, and clear communication, empowering students to develop skills they can immediately apply in professional environments. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $975