BRYAN RAMIREZ DIRECTOR MASTERCLASS
COMING SOON
Since breaking into the industry, Bryan has been blessed to be able to continue his career, raise a family, and find success while still living in San Antonio, Texas. He has mentored countless apprentices who have gone to do incredible things in the film industry. Bringing some of the biggest names in the industry to work in town. Fighting to film local, he has filmed two multimillion dollar feature films in San Antonio, many broadcast television shows, and was part of the original push to raise local tax incentives giving us a fighting chance to bring large scale projects to town.
If you aren't familiar with Ramirez, he is an award winning filmmaker from San Antonio, Texas. Upon graduating honors with a degree in Motion Picture Production from Full Sail Film School in Orlando, Florida, He broke into the industry editing the Documentary “Los Lonely Boy's: CottonFields and Crossroads” (Sony Entertainment), while moonlighting at many other post houses, building a reputation as a natural storyteller.
He wrote, directed, and produced “Line of Duty” (Lionsgate) lasting 4 weeks in AMC Theaters across the U.S., acquiring international distribution through Lionsgate, his first feature film.
Following the success of “Line of Duty” as his first feature film, he partnered to direct part of the trilogy “Sanitarium” (IMAGE) as his second. Which led Him to Executive Produce “Entertainment” (Magnolia Pictures) which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2015.
The last few years Bryan has been producing the television shows "Flipping Nightmares" with AMP, and "Built for Business" for MotorTrendTV, As well as producing live boxing broadcasts for major networks.
Most recently he made the decision to leave reality and get back into narrative feature filmmaking, signing on to direct two feature films "Pine Ridge" and "A Brothers Badge”.
Now, that his kids are older, and he is returning to the film industry full time, his goal is to share the knowledge he has learned along the way with local Texas filmmakers. He plans on creating a true film mecca of the south. A third coast if you will. An empire where every film that comes out of this state will be respected, appreciated, and recognized.
“BE OBSESSED”
You must undoubtedly know with all of your being, that film and telling stories is the absolute only option for you. There is nothing to fall back on, the only path for you is to make a career in cinema. No one will understand you, no one will cheer for you, everyone will judge you. But in the end, they will all appreciate you.
- Bryan Ramirez
WHAT WILL BE COVERED:
IN THE BEGINNING
FINDING A STORY
You have to love the story. You have to embody the script. The script has to become a part of you. You must feel every character, see every location, and understand every aspect of the script. You must become the film, it must become real to you.
VISIONING THE FILM
As you read a script, a director must envision it. See it. From the wide landscapes and interiors, the clothes the characters are wearing, the motion the cameras are orchestrating, the angels the story is displayed in. As you read, you must see the film.
LINING THE SCRIPT
After you read and vision the script, it’s time to line your script. This is the part where us as directors notate our vision on the script.
SHOT LIST AND STORY BOARDS
Once the script is lined, we take our lined script and create a detailed shot list with the shots and angles we see our story being told with. We then create storyboards to begin to bring our vision to life.
KNOWING THE CHARACTERS
As a Director we have to find a way to understand and know every single character. We must know their why, and reason for the actions they portray.
CASTING
You absolutely must cast the right person who can bring the character to life.
PRE-PRODUCTION
BUILDING YOUR CREW
Now you have a vision and style. It’s time to look for talented individuals who can bring your vision to life. From the Production Designer, to Wardrobe, and most importantly choosing a Director of Photography that can bring your vision to life.
TABLE READS
Now it’s time to see your actors begin to bring the words to life. This is the first opportunity us as directors can guide our actors to truly bring our characters to life.
LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION!
COLLABORATION
A set can run wild very easily. It could also be a great place of peace and creativity. The Director must be the glue that holds it all together.
BLOCKING
Before a Cinematographer can light and tell the crew where all our equipment needs to be. We need to let the actors play… With our guidance.
WORKING WITH CINEMATOGRAPHERS
There are 4 types of Directors. Story, Technical, Character, and Auteur. Every type needs to work with a Cinematographer, we will go over how each one collaborates.
DIRECTING ACTORS
Every actor has a different personality. They rely on you, trust you, and 90% of the time they will test you. We will go over in real time with real actors how to guide and provide direction to your talent.
YOU "GOT IT" TILL YOU GOT IT"
This is the final lesson we will share and it will be based solely on confidence and assurance. This is your vision, your film, and essentially to many of you, your shot. We have to understand that this is our film, our story to tell, and at the end of the day our name is on the line. I will teach you how to make sure you get the film shot that you want made.
