Building a scene is like conducting an orchestra. That’s the concept behind this inspiring masterclass by ARRI Academy on MZed educational platform. A professional crew led by cinematographer Julio Macat ASC will teach you some cool filmmaking stuff.

How to build (and shoot) a scene

Although Christmas is behind us, the ARRI Christmas Master Class is relevant for the whole year, since it teaches us how to build a scene and plan a shoot. Furthermore, the Masterclass is focused on teamwork, which is one of the most significant aspects of professional filmmaking. In this masterclass from Camerimage 2019, cinematographer Julio Macat ASC (Home Alone, Wedding Crashers) is joined by 1st AC E. Gunnar Mortensen (The Morning Show, Transparent), DIT Arthur To (The Revenant, Game of Thrones) and TRINITY operator Charlie Rizek (1917) to create a series of scenes showcasing the holiday spirit, demonstrating the roles and workflow of a professional film set. The masterclass is composed of nine short modules that deal with various common filmmaking dilemmas. The total time of the masterclass is three hours approximately. The sessions are uncomplicated yet very enlightening even for indie shooters.

Cinematographer: The conductor of the orchestra – it’s all about teamwork

One of the best things about this masterclass is simplicity. To deliver an efficient and intriguing piece of education, ARRI Academy chose the significant functions that are needed on a professional set: 1st AC, DIT (Digital Imagine Technician), and TRINITY operator. DP Julio Macat ASC led all of those. Indeed, the role of the DP is well demonstrated as the conductor of the set’s orchestra. Furthermore, each role is well explained by its importance and function onset in order to assemble the right shoot for the story.

Practical demonstration

The ARRI Christmas Masterclass can be defined as a valid crash course that anyone can watch. In my opinion, it’s more focused on independent filmmakers that are not familiar or experienced with professional production and set. This lite masterclass will definitely shed some light on how things work in the real world of professional filmmaking in a convenient and straightforward style. Also, it’s worth mentioning that this masterclass looks very cinematic (was shot on ARIMA), and thus, it’s fun to watch.

The Masterclass highlights

Here are some of the major topics and insights:

Positions and roles on a film set The formula for building a scene Lighting the close-ups with one light course The complicated job of the focus puller, in the era of large sensors and camera movements Camera movements- Cool demonstration of the ARRI TRINITY Teamwork and the importance of the crew’s synergy Onset music and its positive factors and contribution to camera movements Changing lenses – changing the story The three main elements to guide your audience’s eye: Composition, lighting, and camera movement

In the final lesson of the masterclass, Julio deconstructs the personality traits of a successful cinematographer and offers inspirational advice for filmmakers looking to build a successful and meaningful career in the film industry.

Final thoughts

I’ve seen a lot of masterclasses. This one is more focused on the role of the cinematographer from a practical point of view, which, in my opinion, is the most correct approach to educate filmmakers. You’ll explore how the DP works together with 1st AC, DIT, and a TRINITY operator. Full synergy is a must in order to achieve the precise shot. However, as written above, this masterclass is very lite. It doesn’t cover a lot of other topics (sound recording – boom operator, post-production, technical perspectives related to the camera, etc. ). Nevertheless, there are dedicated courses to dive deeper into the details in case you are fascinated by the ARRI ecosystem. For instance, check out the Certified ARRI Camera System course (read our review), and the ARRI Certified Online Training dedicated to ARRI Large-Format Camera System (read our review). To sum up, this masterclass aims to educate everybody that loves the process of filmmaking. You don’t need to take any notes. Just relax and enjoy the show 🙂