While studying abroad in Italy, I had the opportunity to take an Intro to Filmmaking class which was an experience that turned out to be one of the highlights of my time in Florence. What made it even more special was that the class was held at the Franco Zeffirelli Foundation, a space dedicated to the legendary Italian director. The foundation housed a museum filled with costumes, props, and set designs from his iconic films, creating an inspiring environment to learn about the art of filmmaking.
Learning from a Professor with Hollywood Experience
One of the most incredible aspects of the course was learning from my professor, who had worked on major films like Avatar and The Lord of the Rings. Hearing about his experiences on these massive productions was fascinating—he shared behind-the-scenes insights about working with cutting-edge visual effects, directing large-scale scenes, and collaborating with world-renowned filmmakers. His industry knowledge made everything we learned in class feel more tangible, and it was amazing to be taught by someone with firsthand experience in such groundbreaking films.
From Script to Screen: The Filmmaking Process
Throughout the course, we covered all aspects of filmmaking, starting with screenwriting. We wrote scripts, developed storyboards, and collaborated with the acting class to bring our ideas to life. Learning how to work with actors was a completely new experience for me, and it gave me a better appreciation for the directing process—how small adjustments in tone, movement, or dialogue delivery could completely change a scene.
One of the things I was most excited about was learning Premiere Pro, as I had very little experience with professional video editing before this class. I had always wanted to improve my editing skills, and this course finally gave me the opportunity to dive into the software. At first, it felt overwhelming, but after working on a few projects, I became much more confident in navigating the tools and creating polished edits.
Filming in Florence: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
For our final project, we were divided into small groups to create a short film. My team consisted of a girl from Massachusetts and a boy from the Netherlands, and together, we ran around Florence with giant camera equipment, capturing scenes in some of the most picturesque spots in the city. Filming in such a historic and visually stunning place was an unreal experience—one moment, we were setting up a shot in front of the Duomo, and the next, we were framing a scene along the Arno River.
Shooting in public spaces came with its own set of challenges—navigating crowds, adjusting to changing lighting conditions, and trying not to attract too much attention from curious passersby. But it also added to the excitement! It felt like we were part of something bigger, blending our creative vision with the timeless beauty of Florence.
What I Learned
This class taught me so much more than just technical skills. It taught me about collaboration, storytelling, and problem-solving. I learned how to adapt on the fly, whether it was adjusting a shot due to unexpected lighting changes or coming up with creative solutions when a scene wasn’t working. I also realized how much I love the editing process and how the right cuts, transitions, and color grading can completely transform raw footage into a compelling story.
Beyond that, it gave me a new appreciation for how films are made. From the smallest creative decisions to the massive, coordinated effort behind every scene. It was inspiring to work in an environment filled with so much film history, under the guidance of a professor who had worked on some of the biggest movies of all time.
Learning filmmaking and video editing has been an incredibly useful skill to add alongside my graphic design work. Both fields require a strong understanding of composition, storytelling, and visual communication, so having experience in video editing and motion graphics enhances my ability to create dynamic, engaging content. Whether it’s for marketing, branding, or multimedia projects, knowing how to craft compelling visuals in both static and moving formats gives me a more versatile skill set—something that will definitely be valuable in my future creative work.
