On 27 May, the Nantes campus opened its doors to a group of 12 students from the film club at the Lycée Gabriel Deshaies in Saint-Gildas-des-Bois, accompanied by two teachers, including history and geography teacher Ms Davenel.
The aim of this day of immersion was to give the students a behind-the-scenes look at audiovisual creation, the various film professions and the training courses offered by CinéCréatis.
Led by Francis Frenkle, image teacher, accompanied by a CC1 student who came to share his experience, the workshop offered an educational, practical and interactive approach.
Discovering the tools and trades of the film industry
The morning began with a visit to the technical areas of the campus and an immersion into the world of filming. Students discovered the set, the equipment shop and a range of professional equipment used in the film industry.
Among them was an ARRI Alexa Mini LF camera, an iconic model that has been used on international productions such as The Revenant and DUNE, as well as a rail-mounted dolly for smooth, precise camera movements.
The first part of the event also featured a fun and dynamic PowerPoint presentation on the diversity of the film industry: pre-production, shooting, image, sound, directing, post-production and visual effects. Film extracts were used to illustrate the different areas covered.
There was then time for the students to ask questions of the speakers, the students present and the teachers.
A hands-on workshop to experiment with cinema lighting
In the afternoon, the students took part in an immersive lighting workshop organised in the campus studio. For an hour, they worked on creating a ‘very cinematic’ visual atmosphere, inspired by a dramatic scene.
Using three professional LED projectors, they learned how to shape light, create contrasts and build a cinematic atmosphere. One of the teachers acted as an extra while the students operated the lighting themselves.
Thanks to live video feedback broadcast on a large television via a Sony A7, the participants were able to immediately observe the impact of their lighting choices and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in creating images.
Hands-on immersion in the audiovisual world
This day illustrated the Nantes campus’ desire to bring young people closer to the reality of the artistic and technical professions in the film industry. By combining discovery, exchange and experimentation, this workshop gave students a real immersion in the conditions of a professional film shoot.
The meeting ended with a photo session in the studio set, a convivial moment to round off this cinematic experience.
