The following are common workshops I’ve been teaching in German and English since 2020. There are also more individual ones available, for single audiences or groups, online or offline. Some are available to listen in at SAE Institute Berlin on a regular basis.
- VIDEO FORMATS & CODECS
Technology is constantly advancing and new, better formats and compression algorithms with exotic-sounding names or simply a sequence of numbers are constantly emerging. Cinema, TV, the web and computers all use different codecs. In this basic course by professional editor Sebastian Leitner, you will learn what is actually behind all these things and what digitalisation and signal processing actually mean.
- VISUAL COMPOSITION IN FILM
How is tension created, what makes a filmic image or photo immersive? What is the central theme of image design, how do we perceive the world through the camera’s eye and where do all these unconscious impulses come from? In this basic workshop by director and filmmaker Sebastian Leitner, you will learn the most important connections between subjective reality, interpretation, manipulation and dramaturgy of the image section and its content.
- MOVIE MAGIC: THE LANGUAGE OF FILM
The illusion of colourful worlds and dangerous action scenes is created primarily through one thing: manipulation. In the media, the view through the camera, an edit and the montage of images are never objective, even if you actually want to work as a documentary. However, this is how stories can be told and emotions made tangible through skilful psychology. A short excursion into the basics of storytelling by professional editor and filmmaker Sebastian Leitner.
- SCRIPT PITCH & STORY SALES
By industry standard, sell your idea or book. What is expected with this, especially American, standard? This webinar will shed light on the reality of big players like Netflix: How does the pitch make an impression? What are they looking for? What is an exciting world? Characters or plot more important? Filmmaker and producer Sebastian Leitner will give you an insight into the film business to prepare you for submissions and offers.
- UNDERSTANDING THE LIMITS OF A.I.
Why ‘Skynet’ won’t replace artists (yet). It’s about the media and the use of AI, more precisely about the use cases of generative artificial intelligence. What role humans play as operators, and why more knowledge and craftsmanship are needed to achieve satisfactory results with AI. An overview of the areas of application of AI in film and media, as well as an open discourse on its limits and restrictions.