Seminars & Workshops

Note: 50% DISCOUNT for students with student card & members of BELIZE AUDIOVISUAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION & THE GLOBAL PARISH PROJECT
Register for workshops or seminars by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Getting the most out of your Digital Still Camera / Facilitator: Tony Rath
Saturday, July 17th / 9 a.m. – 12 noon / Bliss Centre, BELIZE CITY $20 BZE

Most people think that the cost of their new digital camera is directly related to how great their photos will look, and it’s all automatic. Unfortunately Auto or Program mode takes average photos (occasionally, a great one), but to truly take consistently great photos, you need to take your camera off program mode and understand what your camera is doing and is capable of. This seminar explains the basics of how to see light; how to control exposure; and if time permits the fundamentals of composition. Bring your own camera (and manual if you have it).

Tony Rath is a commercial, editorial and stock photographer living in Dangriga, Belize. For the past 30 years, his company, Naturalight Productions and Tony Rath Photography have been providing photos of Belize and the surrounding region to businesses and publications in Belize and to numerous magazines and books around the world. His client list includes: APA Insight Guides, Chaa Creek Cottages, Chan Chich Lodge, Earth Watch, Oceana, Organization of American States, Shell Oil Company, The Smithsonian Institution, United Nations (UNESCO), Western Union, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). You can see some of his work at http://www.tonyrath.com

The Art of Screenwriting / Facilitator: Prof. Abiyi Ford
Sat. July 17 & Sun. July 18 / 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. / TBA (lunch included) $250 BZE
KA’ANA Boutique Resort, San Ignacio (DISCOUNT ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPANTS)

This workshop introduces & discusses key elements necessary for the script writing process: Thinking in pictures, Script research, Finding the organizing structure, Writing the treatment and Writing the script. The “Three Act Structure” of the film by Carol Munday Lawrence will be discussed and participants will be expected to write a short script for a reading at the end of the workshop.

Prof. Abiyi R. Ford has taught Film Studies and African Studies at the graduate level at Columbia University, Hunter College of the City University of New York, Howard University in Washington, DC and the George Mason University in Virginia. He is the former Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism and Communications at Addis Ababa University and Professor Emeritus at Howard University. He is also an independent filmmaker, and an accomplished musician.

Editing Theory / Facilitator: Manuel Iglesias Pérez
Mon. July 19th & Tues July 20th / 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. / (lunch included)
ITVET campus, BELIZE CITY $160 BZE

An introduction to the grammar and syntax of the film language, the most important tool for working in any audiovisual genre: fiction, documental, animation, television report, music video, etc. Participants will learn how to plan their creation for all phases (from pre-production, production and post production) using the essential aspects of composition, camera locations and axis, continuity, rhythm and dramatic progression.

Manuel Iglesias Pérez is an editor, film director and writer who shares his time between working on films and teaching and facilitating workshops in film assembly and Non-Linear Edition in Cuba, Spain, Mexico, Curazao and Costa Rica. His has worked as an editor on documentary and fiction films with Cine Arte in Spain, Zebra Films in Spain, General Society of Authors and Editors in Spain, Iroko Films in Spain, Ro75 in Mexico, New Digital, New Art Lab and New Art Sound in Mexico, Fearless Films in Canada, Medallion Labs in Canada, Banana Films in Costa Rica, many of which have won him both national and international recognition. Manuel Iglesias Pérez is both the editor of BIFF 2009 Feature Film winner “El Benny” and the Haitian Doc. “Port Au Prince is Mine” featured in the BIFF 2010 Tribute to Haiti.

Building Guerilla Lighting Equipment / Facilitator: D. Adair Crow & Israel Gonzalez (Riviera Maya Grip | Riviera Maya Studios, Mexico)
Wed. July 21st & Thur. July 22nd / 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. / (lunch included)
ITVET campus, Belize City $160 BZE

This very low tech workshop teaches you the meaning of light - and how to tell your story using lights that you can make yourself out of just about anything; flashlights, cooking utensils, construction equipment and more. Don't limit your creativity because you don't have the latest in lights because this workshop can teach you to use the materials around you to enhance your story telling through better lighting. We'll show you how to build the lights and then we'll use them in a basic lighting class. You'll be able to compare and get hands on with Joker Bugs, Kinos and Tungsten lamps - and their Do It Yourself counterparts in this Guerilla lighting seminar.

D. Adair Crow is the owner and operator of Riviera Maya Grip. Lighting clients include documentary, stills, feature and commercial productions shot in Mexico, USA and Europe for clients as diverse as the BBC, National Geographic, Sony Pictures, HBO, Corona, Vogue, Elle and GQ. Mr. Crow works as a Gaffer, DP and photographer. He recently opened Riviera Maya Studios, a 300m2 facility with traditional and green screen cycloramas in Puerto Morelos, Mexico.

Israel Gonzalez (Simba) is the owner and operator of Alux Productions. As a DP he has worked on a wide range of projects including commercial and feature productions on both sides of the camera.

The Art and Craft of Documentary Storytelling / Facilitator: Cybel Martin
Thur. July 22nd & Fri. July 23rd / 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. / (lunch included)
George Price Center, BELMOPAN & Teakettle Village $120 BZE

Gain hands-on experience on how to create a moving documentary film! This theoretical and practical course will focus on film analysis, discovering and building your documentary idea and basic HD video production to bring that story to life.

The workshop will be facilitated by Cybel Martin and co-facilitated by members of the Global Parish Project, a Belize-based non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of documentary storytelling.

Cybel Martin is the first and only African-American woman to receive an MFA in Cinematography from New York University's Tisch School. She has years of experience, shooting both 35mm and High Def, for feature films, commercials and documentaries. Her documentary work has appeared on the National Geographic Channel, PBS and MSNBC and at the Sundance, Tribeca and Toronto Film Festivals.

Register by calling 604--‐5571/ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Producing a Music Video / Facilitators: Philip G. Atwell, Prof. Abiyi Ford
Grip, Lighting and Electric: D. Adair Crow, Israel Gonzalez, Dorren August (Riviera Maya Grip, Riviera Maya Studios, Mexico)
Thur. July 22nd, Fri, July 23rd & Sat. July 24th (lunch included)
Belize Biltmore Plaza, BELIZE CITY $250 BZE

This workshop takes participants on a journey through every step in the process of making a music video combining theory and music interpretation with composition and storyboarding techniques and finishing with an actual shoot of prepared material that includes camera operation, acting and lighting training.

Director/Executive-Producer Philip G. Atwell is the owner of Geronimo Film Productions Inc, a highly successful Music Video and Commercial company based in Los Angeles. Atwell started the company ten years ago, and under the Geronimo banner has produced videos for directors such as F. Gary Gray, Paul Hunter and Hype Williams, all of which have gone on to successful feature film careers. Atwell began his directing in his own right in the late nineties. Since then he has been honored with an impressive eight MTV Music Video Awards and well over 20 nominations for artists that include 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Marilyn Manson, Snoop Dogg and Tupac. Philip also directed and executive-produced the concert documentary DVD The Up In Smoke Tour featuring such Hip-Hop giants as Dr. Dre and Ice Cube, as well as The Anger Management Tour DVD for Eminem. Recent videos include Ass Like That for Eminem and Dreams for The Game. Atwell's first television commercial campaign for Coors Light featured Dr. Dre's first appearance as a corporate representative. Based on this campaign, and the amazing storytelling and visuals in the music video Stan, Saatchi Advertising championed Atwell by including him in the 2002 New Director Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival. Mr. Atwell also directed Barber Shaq for Verizon's VCast, starring Shaquille O'Neal and was hired by Jerry Bruckheimer to direct the second unit action sequences on NATIONAL TREASURE, starring Nicolas Cage. Most recently Philip was given the opportunity to direct an episode of the award winning hit drama, The Shield.

Israel Gonzalez (Simba) is the owner and operator of Alux Productions. As a DP he has worked on a wide range of projects including commercial and feature productions on both sides of the camera.

Marketing Belize as a Production Location: What’s in it For Me? / Facilitator: Peter Friedman
Saturday, July 23rd / 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. /Bliss Centre FREE

The name of the game is independent filmmaking and as the Belize Film Commission gears up to increase its marketing efforts at bringing films to be made in Belize, opportunities abound for the services sector: hotels, restaurants, ground, sea and air transport, financial, accounting, entertainment, insurance, supplies, property rentals, you name it, the filmmakers need it. Come find out how Belize can make this happen and most importantly, WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU !!

Casting: How to Prepare for an Audition / Facilitator: Peter Friedman
Saturday, July 23rd / 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. /Bliss Centre FREE

Open to Public this Audition scenario will give you the tools to create confidence for any audition. The Workshop provides a rare opportunity for you to prepare for the audition and interview process that is essential for your acting career. You will gain valuable insights for this significant step into your future career.

Peter started out in the commercial production business by working his way up from an assistant, to running a variety of companies and production departments. He left the agency production side in 1985 to start his own production company with a partner. Together, they became one of the most successful independent commercial production companies of their time. After a few years running his own company, he moved on to creating and managing a commercial production company with Industrial Light and Magic for feature film director George Lucas. After Lucasfilm Commercials, Peter returned full time to New York to work again on the agency side. First, as an assistant Head of Production at Saatchi and Saatchi, and then as Head of Television Production at Wells, Rich, Greene Advertising. Always attracted to the Sports Industry, he was asked to come work at Nike Inc. as their first Global Head of Production. Peter moved to Portland Oregon and began traveling the world to oversee production. At Nike, he had a hand in producing the original Tiger Woods commercials. He spent over two years traveling the world shooting spots for Nike with sports legends like Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras, Tiger Woods, Mia Hamm, the Brazilian world cup soccer team champs. Peter returned to New York to run the television production department at McCann Worldwide. He is now overseeing the largest commercial television department in North America with 96 people working for him and oversees a full service studio that produces live weekly shows, world feeds every weekend to over 500 million people, produces a series of Network specials for CBS and NBC and generates millions in commercial production dollars yearly.

Editing Practical (Avid Media Composer) / Facilitator: Manuel Iglesias Pérez
Mon. July 26th & Tues, July 27th / ITVET campus, BELIZE CITY $ 180 BZE

Participants will be introduced to the practical foundations of non-linear digital editing using the Avid Media Composer system. They will learn proper methods to capture and/or import image and sound, effectively organize their material, edit, apply effects and holding, pre- mix sound and to enhance clips using external software such as Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Combustion, ProTools as well as how to export the edit to tape or a DVD making program.