Recent Shoot Camp USA participants at FMC.

If you don't live in Hollywood but are interested in getting an education in moviemaking, Filmmaker's Central School of Cinema may be the answer. Though the program calls Los Angeles home, their mission is to educate aspiring moviemakers on a global level-and they're not afraid to bring the program to you!

By partnering with film festivals, organizations and moviemakers around the world-and with an instructional video series in the works-Filmmaker's Central is about to give new meaning to the term "global education." Here, the school's executive director and co-founder, Rayelle Belleau, talks about their unique approach to film school, their international expansion and what a hands-on education can teach a student about "follow-through."

Jennifer Wood (MM): Filmmaker's Central is not your typical film school for many reasons. What is the number one thing that you think makes this program different from the other available educational opportunities?

Rayelle Belleau (RB): Our programs are all non-prerequisite, with year-round admission, and are open to everyone. The classes and workshops are both job and topic specific. Our student body represents 40 countries internationally, and practically every corner of the Untied States, including Alaska and the Hawaiian islands, with ages ranging from 16 to 80 years old. If a student is trying to become a filmmaker/crew member or simply trying to become a better one, these classes provide the student the up-to-date information and experience they need to reach their goals.

MM: Filmmaker's Central is made up of several different components that tackle the various means of film education-from on-site classes to traveling events. What is the organization's official mission statement?

RB: It's our mission to be an enthusiastic provider of quality training for everyone. We are dedicated to teaching practical information and providing a hands-on experience to the student filmmaker, as well as supporting them even after they move forward in their careers. Our unique old Hollywood style "learning by doing it right" approach, combined with a respect for new technologies, sets us apart from the rest. Our instructors are mentors, and are not only excellent teachers but are actually working Hollywood industry professionals.

MM: As well as directing, digital moviemaking, cinematography and script supervision, FMC offers classes in just about every area of film production-including those not normally offered by traditional film schools (financing, sound, assistant directing, etc.). How do you go about developing your course curriculum? What factors are taken into account?

RB: The movie industry needs competent, skilled people-and there's a real shortage when it comes to the right kind of training and support. Our curriculum is forever changing. We're always updating to meet the needs of our student body and the industry. The classes are developed primarily from the suggestions and submissions from our participating student body, alumni and the school's 53,000-plus active Internet subscribers and readers.

Our participants drive our school's direction. We listen to their desires and needs and act accordingly. Once a new course has been selected, we look to the filmmaking community for an enthusiastic working professional and develop a course for the selected topic. The course incorporates the FMC "learn by doing it right" standard approach, which includes personalized small class sizes, group applied exercises, simulations, presentations and special guest lectures.

MM: FMC takes a number of their classes "on the road" by pairing with like-minded film organizations. This fall you'll be working with Women in Film Las Vegas, the NYC Independent Horror Film Festival and Entertainment Technology World, to name just a few. Who are some of the other groups you have-or plan to-partner with and how do you go about choosing these groups?

RB: Realizing that not everyone can travel to Los Angeles, and to be true to our mission-- if you can't come to us, we'll come to you! The film community is truly global, and Filmmaker's Central is keeping up with the global needs. We've been partnering with both individual filmmakers and filmmaking groups to make it happen. We believe collaborations with individuals, universities, community colleges, industry retailers, sponsors and many other organizations and people help to nurture grassroots, homegrown feature film, TV production and talent/crew in the hometowns of our participants throughout the world. We are currently working with individuals, colleges and organizations from Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Canada and even as far a Beijing for 2004. It's a very exciting time for us!

MM: Shoot Camp USA is probably FMC's most intense program-where participants spend a week making their movie from start to finish. Can you talk a little bit about how this program came to be, what you expect of participants and how people can sign up?

RB: Shoot Camp USA is moviemaking in the real world. It came from a desire to provide a program for people who really wanted to get into the trenches of filmmaking by making a true "Hollywood-style" movie. Shoot Camp USA is a full eight days of filmmaking, where students produce, direct, edit and become the crew of a live-action, short feature film!

The script is selected before shooting begins from our Screenwriting Extreme project. This allows the FMC staff time to acquire fantastic locations, hold casting sessions and hire a professional crew to guide the students during the program. This way they can learn to do it right the first time. Shoot Camp USA is a one-of-a-kind, life-changing experience. We only allow 12 students to participate in the program at a time, so in order to find the right combination of students to undertake such a collaboration, students are selected by application only at http://www.onlinefmc.com/application.html.

MM: I hear that you're also in the process of developing an instructional video. Do you believe that film education can be taught just as effectively with a video as it can in a classroom? How will you translate the "hands-on" approach taken in your classroom setting to the home video market?

RB: Just like we don't claim to be able to replace a four-year college or a traditional three-year film program, we know an instructional video will never replace the classroom experience. The instructional videos are for those students that can't make it to the classroom because of distance or time. In translating our "hands on approach" for our Digital Film School course, for example, we feature the equipment with lots of close-ups and universal instruction and principles that can be applied toward the students' own equipment or rented gear they can find in their own areas. Combined with a home study work section and a detailed workbook, students can practice, test gear and shoot on their own. Just like any at home, self-study college course, students get a required reading and needed equipment list to complete their studies, and it's up to them. One great thing: our e-mail and phone lines are always open for student questions.

MM: Having an education in film is one thing, but finding a job in the industry is something different altogether. What does FMC offer in the way of career planning or placement services to its graduates and attendees?

RB: We are continually adding resources, choices and events for our alumni to utilize and attend to help with their careers. We provide ways for them to continue the relationships they form with our staff, instructors, industry affiliations and each other during their studies with us. We have also partnered with organizations such as CrewNet, the film and television industry's employment resource. Our graduates are exposed to the Job Hotline, which is updated daily and a place where they can create their own personal resume Wwebsites called RezSites.

We also provide a message board for listing opportunities, production companies to list jobs and subscribers to network with each other. In addition to our open door policy, our instructors make themselves available for phone calls, e-mails and even generate and participate in online group discussions.

MM: It seems that you've got almost every angle of the film education market covered right now-are there any ideas/markets left that you plan to conquer? What developments can we expect to see from FMC in the future?

RB: I am pleased to announce for the first time our new Shoot Camp Jr. teen program, created specifically for the teenage filmmaker that will officially launch in April 2004. Shoot Camp Jr. has been modeled after the already successful program for adults, Shoot Camp USA.

Shoot Camp Jr. is an intensive program designed to give young people confidence in their abilities, as well as knowledge and skills they can use in the future. The vision of Shoot Camp Jr. is to teach high school students the skills necessary to jumpstart them to compete in the entertainment industry with special emphasis on the building of character, teamwork, virtue, discipline and self-esteem. They'll work hard and have lots of fun building social relationships, becoming "connected" to the filmmaking community and making a fantastic project. It's a great time to be a teenager!

MM: Lastly, what's your favorite FMC success story?

RB: There are so many. We've had people from all walks of life. Our programs have attracted average first-timers to industry pros, Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes, doctors and those in the corporate world. However, I think the one person who stands out is a farm girl from Pennsylvania.

Sherry Waple worked an office job and saved up her money and resources to attend our Shoot Camp USA 2002 program. She came to Shoot Camp about as non-Hollywood as you can be. Her hard work and dedication at Shoot Camp paid off. By showing investors the completed project from Shoot Camp USA 2002, Radio Silence, she was able to demonstrate her collaborative and technical abilities to complete a quality product. She gained their confidence and raised the money for the short Poultry and Prejudice, which was just completed with Kristina Foster (another Shoot Camp 2002 alumni) this summer. This achievement has lead to her success in acquiring the financing for her next project, which is a 35mm full feature in pre-production due to shoot next summer. It's for real!

Sherry's not alone. We have many stories just like hers, and stories about genuine enthusiasm and success. Our alumni follow through! It's the root of our success and it's what Filmmaker's Central is all about.

For more information on Filmmaker's Central School of Cinema, visit http://www.onlinefmc.com or call 323/467-6580.