NewEnglandFilm.com

Guy Magar’s Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminar is truly a boot camp for filmmakers of all levels. While you don’t actually get your hands on equipment and shoot film, you are equipped with the knowledge to do just that after completing the seminar. Magar addressed everything from lenses, to working with actors and crew, to drafting an investment package for an independent film. He led the class through two intense days with animated passion; sometimes taking questions, sometimes not, and covering enough information to fill a week-long seminar. Those who were tempted to write everything down were quickly admonished, "look up please." Magar said one would miss everything if they attempted to write it all down.

The first day was spent talking about directing for television. Magar has been directing for film and television for 25 years, and he uses this experience to demonstrate technique and know-how to the class. Clips from television episodes directed by Magar were reviewed, and the class was able to read a scene from the pages of the original script and see exactly how it was brought to the big screen.

The second day, a day which Magar referred to as "magic day," was spent on feature filmmaking. Once again, Magar led the class through a dissection of a film that he directed. Standing before an easel, he drew diagrams of where cameras and actors were placed to get the most interesting shot. After the class learned everything that went into the scene, they were able to see it in its uncut and final cut forms.

Something that Magar hailed as one of the most important parts of the seminar was lunch. Not because of the actual eating, but because these were "networking" lunches. Each day, the entire class dined at a local restaurant and networked with other filmmakers, screenwriters, actors, film students, etc. from the Boston area. It was a chance to practice an important part of the success of every filmmaker — making connections, and each class member left the seminar having met 30 other people with similar goals and interests.

Magar named the seminar Action/Cut because "between those two words is where all the magic happens." There was magic at the seminar during those two days as well; light bulbs going on in the heads of aspiring filmmakers hoping someday to experience that which Magar so avidly outlined. By the end of the seminar, it was clear that Magar’s passion for sharing what he knows about films is almost as strong as his passion for making them, and that is what makes this seminar as successful and powerful as it is.