MASTER CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WITH DIRECTOR RICK MINNICH (languages: English, German)
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Writer/director Rick Minnich is offering master classes and workshops on the making of “Forgetting Dad.” (listen to Rick’s master class at the Planete Doc Review festival in Warsaw in May 2009) The events are flexible in structure and duration depending on the needs and capacities of the organizers, and can range from a screening of the film with an extended discussion (approx. 3 hours total) to a week-long workshop on documentary filmmaking.
Rick is based in Berlin, Germany, but is available for workshops worldwide. Co-writer/co-director/editor Matt Sweetwood and composer Ari Benjamin Meyers (both based in Berlin as well) are also available for selected events. Please contact Rick for more details.
Some points covered:
• How to make a film about family trauma,
• How to unveil your underlying motivations for wanting to make a film,
• Learning to follow your instincts,
• Finding a beginning, middle and end to a never-ending story,
• Discovering the universal elements in your personal story which will make your film accessible to a wide audience,
• Shooting alone vs. with a crew,
• Finding the right partners to help you tell your story and prevent it from drifting into mere naval gazing,
• Music: When, what, why, and how much? How to use music (composed or licensed) to express story elements and emotions which images and words alone cannot convey. How to work with a composer,
• Working with home movies / archival footage,
• Development and editing consultations: Working with filmmakers in person and from abroad to help shape their stories both BEFORE shooting and DURING the editing process,
• Screenings of key documentaries of various genres which might help and inspire workshop participants,
• Getting your finished film out there – navigating the often confusing and overwhelming world of film festivals, sales agents, distributors, and broadcasters.
"Forgetting Dad" filmmaker blog 
Hi Rick, I too live in Berlin and have an amnestic dad as well (he’s got limbic encephalitis), with all the attached doubts and questions. Unfortunately I missed the screening of your movie as well as your interviews. But I would very much like to buy a DVD – would that perhaps be possible via yourself?
Best, Blanca.
Hi Blanca,
I’m sorry to hear about your father. The official DVD will not be released until the end of this year, but there’s going to be another screening in Berlin on August 30th at 8 p.m. at Kino Toni in Weissensee. I’ll be there to answer questions after the screening. It would be great if you could come, then we could meet afterwards and talk some more about our fathers.
Best wishes,
Rick
Hi Blanca,
We’ve got some screenings coming up in Berlin and Potsdam over the next few weeks. Maybe you can make one of them:
Nov. 19th at 5 p.m. Filmmuseum Potsdam (with lecture, in English) by Matt and me at 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 18th at 5:20 p.m. at the Akademie der Künste am Hanseatenweg. I’ll be there.
If you come, please introduce yourself!
Best wishes,
Rick