Behind the Lines is an in-depth exploration of the creative process in film and theatre through lecture and workshop experiences.

This unique and engaging educational offering consists of three separate programs, each of which can be tailored to the needs of an individual class from a comprehensive list of lecture and workshop experiences.

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LECTURE TOPICS

THE FILMMAKER'S JOURNEY FROM CORPORATE DRONE TO FILMMAKER
Independent filmmaker Tom Hofbauer shares his journey from his first job while still in college to the completion of his latest film project. In addition to thinking outside the box, Hofbauer demonstrates that the quest for career happiness is often not the most direct path a person could take. Hofbauer talks about his experiences in theater, on the road as a stand-up comedian, chasing a career in Hollywood, establishing an improvisational comedy troupe and finally making and directing his first feature film.

This topic is an excellent candidate for "Career Day" programs.

Screenwriting
The Business of Film
Financing Your Film
Pre-production Challenges
Location Scouting
Script Breakdown & Scheduling

Casting
On the Set - Who does What?
Directing
Acting for Film
Post-production Challenges

Editing
Marketing
Making the Most of Your Film Festival Experience
Going West (Making it in Hollywood)

Many of these topics are available as an in-depth lecture or workshop (see descriptions)

GOING WEST
Students who have a desire to head to the coast in pursuit of a show business career will benefit from this program. Hofbauer discusses integrating a real life with the pursuit of a career in LA including:

Getting Started in Hollywood
Headshots
Classes and Workshops
Finding an Agent

Los Angeles Theater Opportunities
Collecting Your "no's"
Surviving the Business

SCREENWRITING
A successful film starts with a compelling screenplay - the blueprint by which the director "builds" the film. The students will learn the importance of structure, story and characterization in writing an effective screenplay. They will also see the importance of proper formatting not only in getting a screenplay read by an industry professional but also in the breakdown and scheduling phase of film pre-production.

FINANCING YOUR FILM
A lot of independent film projects stall out in mid shoot or fail in the post-production phase and financing is often the culprit. In this program, the students will be introduced to various methods of raising operating capital required to make an independent film.

FILMMAKING PRE-PRODUCTION CHALLENGES
The most important part of the filmmaking process is an effective pre-production phase. Proper pre-production can often help avoid major system breakdowns once shooting begins. Students will learn about the production crew hierarchy, effective location scouting, a basic overview of script breakdown and scheduling, casting and audition problems and solutions, and preparations for a problem-free set.

SCRIPT BREAKDOWN AND SCHEDULING
Planning a schedule for a film or video project is a vital part of the filmmaking process. A properly prepared schedule is essential for accurate budgeting and for a smooth running production. The students will learn how to perform a script breakdown and transfer the items to a film budget. They will also learn the intricacies of effectively scheduling a film shoot making the best use of time, locations, actor availability and finances.

ON THE SET - WHO DOES WHAT?
What is a gaffer? Is the Best Boy called that because he's the nicest guy on the set? What does a Foley artist do? Watching the closing credits of a film can be confusing. In this program, the students will learn in greater detail what each job title means and how each fits into the hierarchy of the film production team.

DIRECTING
Direction techniques are as varied as the forms in which they are utilized and change from one director to another. Students will learn one director's approach to the art and science of this demanding job. Performance forms include improvisation, stand-up comedy, theater and film.

ACTING
There are many different forms of acting and each form has its own set of challenges. Students will be involved in a lively discussion of techniques and approaches to the topic of their choice including scene study, monologue, cold reading, and auditioning for commercial, TV, theater or film.

POST-PRODUCTION CHALLENGES
Your film is in the can. Now a whole new set of challenges present themselves. In this lecture session, the students will discuss such general post-production issues as editing, sound mixing, foley and ADR, music choice and clearance, and the varied legal issues that must be settled before submitting a film for consideration and exhibition.

EDITING
This interesting lecture allows the students to learn about the job of the editor in a feature film by watching deleted and extended scenes from In the Company of Strangers (best utilized in conjunction with prior film screening) and from other popular movies. Discussion will include shot selection, pacing and music.

MARKETING
Your film has been shot, edited and is ready to be seen. And you thought the production phase was difficult. The challenges of getting an independent film project seen by potential purchasers or distributors are discussed in this enlightening program. Targeting a market, generating interest, making that initial contact, and effective follow-up are some of the topics discussed. The techniques discussed in this lecture can also be applied to screenwriters and performers.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR FILM FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
Getting your feature film, documentary, or short form project into a film festival is the first step. The difficult work starts once you've been accepted. This program introduces the student to the film festival experience including when and how to enter and some of the challenges encountered once a film is accepted. There are also suggestions on how to best utilize a festival to the benefit of the filmmaker.

Each of these workshops is best utilized in a two or three hour block. An intensive six hour weekday or weekend workshop is also available.
Workshops are videotaped for class critique and for student referral at a later date. Students will retain the video tapes.
Call for workshop fee. (Price includes camera; school must provide TV set with AV hookup and individual video tapes).

WORKSHOP TOPICS

ACTING
The student will choose the scene study, commercial, monologue or audition piece they would like to work on or for which they would like to receive input. This on-camera workshop allows students to see their work on videotape as well as the work of others. Being able to watch and critique the work of others is an effective approach to learning the craft of acting.

COLD READING
A cold reading audition is different from a prepared monologue or other audition piece and can be daunting to many actors. This workshop is designed to help the students master the unique secrets and techniques of the cold reading through interpretation of various samples supplied by the instructor.

IMPROVISATION
This lecture / workshop is perfect for any student who has watched "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" on TV and thought "I could do that". Students get on their feet with exercises and games designed to break down inhibitions, encourage interaction, and teach them the basics of improvisation. The students will learn about trust, support, the "rules" of improv, the benefits that improv training provides the traditional actor, and actually practice some of the techniques used in this challenging theater form.