MISSION STATEMENT
The Northwest Film School is dedicated to cultivating creative talent through a
balanced education in motion picture production.
PHILOSOPHY
"To me, the great hope now is that...people who normally wouldn't make movies will
be making them...for once, the so-called professionalism about movies will be destroyed
forever and it will become an art form."
Francis Ford Coppola
People are often drawn to moviemaking because they have a story inside them that
must come out. As a moviemaker, we move through a process of translating an idealized
concept from our mind to moving pictures and sound on the screen. This act of creation
carries with it enormous power. Each time we create, we embark on a voyage of self-discovery.
As we discover what we are trying to say, we learn who we are and what is important
to us. This allows us to reflect on our own fears, vulnerabilities, passions --
our identity.
One of the main motivations for creating a moviemaking program is to provide people
with the opportunity of self-expression and self-realization. With knowledge and
confidence, anyone can make a movie and have their voice be heard. However, there
is currently very few quality programs around the world that teach creative storytelling
with motion picture and sound.
This empty hole robs communities of voices that are drawn to this increasingly popular
medium of expression. These voices either never have a chance to speak and die out,
or they are absorbed into the massive juggernaut of Hollywood and overwhelmed by
the cultural values of Los Angeles. The cultural values of the world are not the
cultural values of Los Angeles, despite the current state of affairs.
The need for a university level moviemaking program is made even more urgent by
the rapid expansion of video programs at a high school level. Every year, growing
waves of students are left without the opportunity to continue their development.
All of this is happening at the same time we are seeing the explosion of digital
distribution on the Internet, providing the opportunity for content creators to
participate in the global marketplace of ideas.
The Northwest Film School was created to fill this need, providing an educational
program for those who lack access to a serious, quality program.
CONTENT
First and foremost, the focus of the program is creative storytelling. The ability
to tell a story is a critical requirement to fulfilling any role on a moviemaking
team, regardless of your position. The emphasis of the program is with the creative
“above the line” positions – namely the producer, director, screenwriter and actor.
Although the positions of director of photography, production designer, sound designer
and editor can all be considered technical roles, it is more accurate to describe
them as artisans. We offer classes in these disciplines because we feel it is important
to understand their contributions to the creative process and how their skills and
artistry can enhance the story.
Technology does play a role in the moviemaking process. Recent developments in digital
technology have liberated the medium from commercialization and lowered the barrier
to entry. This makes it possible for more voices to be added to the public discourse
which are outside the realm of corporate control – what Lawrence Lessig would describe
as re-emergence of the “Read-Write Society”. With the evolution of digital technology,
we also see a rapid acceleration in the ease-of-use and accessibility. This allows
the aspiring moviemaker to spend their time creating rather than learning the complex
and highly technical systems that were required a few years ago.
Although students need to understand how to leverage new technology to their advantage,
the emphasis of the program is not on what cable to plug in where and what keyboard
shortcuts to use in which program. This is knowledge that expires quickly and has
little value. The theory and the application of the theory taught in this program
will be transferable to any technological environment.
HISTORY
AUGUST 1997
Film Underground, a website consisting of a collection of how-to filmmaking articles
and knowledge base questions is launched by Glen Berry.
FEBRUARY 1999
Film Underground is awarded "Top Moviemaking Site on the Internet".
OCTOBER 1999
Film Underground content first appears in MovieMaker Magazine.
JANUARY 2000
Traffic on Film Underground exceeds 42,000 visitors per month, equal to the print
circulation of MovieMaker Magazine.
APRIL 2000
Film Underground content first appears on FilmFestivals.com.
JULY 2003
Film Underground acquires Cyber Film School, one of the oldest online resources
for filmmaking on the Internet and the producers of the award-winning educational
CD-ROM, "The Cyber Film School Moviemaking Encyclopedia".
JANUARY 2004
The Film Underground mailing list exceeds 17,000 recipients worldwide.
SEPTEMBER 2004
Northwest Film School (NWFS) offers its first class with one instructor and eight
students in Bellingham, Washington.
JANUARY 2005
Class offerings expands to three courses and 32 students.
MAY 2005
NWFS grows into a larger, 1000 sq. ft space.
SEPTEMBER 2005
Course offerings expand and are structured into a two year, sequential program.
NOVEMBER 2005
Northwest Film School students comprise the majority of entrants in the Northwest
Projections Film Festival.
APRIL 2006
NWFS begins professional partnerships and internships with industry professionals.
Faculty and students complete post production on Albert Pyun's "Cool Air".
APRIL 2007
Northwest Film School students travel to Los Angeles to work on the feature film
titled "BulletFace".
AUGUST 2007
Students and faculty from NWFS produce the feature film "Kung Fu Joe".
SEPTEMBER 2007
Northwest Film School enters in a partnership with Western Washington to offer a
one-year certificate program in Video Production. Glen Berry, director of Northwest
Film School, also serves as director of the video production program. All curriculum,
course materials and faculty are contributed by NWFS, WWU provides marketing and
classroom space. All classes at NWFS are now taught at Western Washingon University.
AUGUST 2008
The first students of the certificate program complete the program and screen their
thesis projects for the public.
DECEMBER 2009
Northwest Film School launches "Northwest Film Studios", a networking resource for
filmmakers in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Australia.
APRIL 2010
Northwest Film School students comprise the majority of official selections at the
Northwest Projections Film Festival and command the nominations in most cateogories.