Apply Now for Next Platypus Workshop

There are still a few open slots for The Digital Journalist's Platypus Workshop next month, headed by award-winning photojournalists Dirck Halstead and PF Bentley, July 26- Aug. 4 in Maine.

In nine days, we teach high-definition digital shooting and editing, with an emphasis on storytelling. We have taught over 200 photojournalists since our inception in 1999. Our graduates have gone on to do television documentaries and Web videos, especially for newspapers and even films. One of our graduates was a nominee for an Oscar in 2006.

Participants are supplied Canon cameras, Sennheiser mikes, and a MacBook Pro loaded with Final Cut Pro.

Tuition ranges from $750 to $1,995. To register, contact Kerry L. Curren: registration@theworkshops.com .

HD Platypus Workshop: May 1-10 in Portland

Dirck Halstead says there are still a few spots open in his upcoming Platypus Workshop in Portland, OR, May 1-10, a comprehensive boot camp for staff and freelance photographers, picture editors and media producers making the transition to high-definition digital video storytelling. You can attend as a "Shooter" or as a "Producer."

As a Shooter you are the storyteller. You get to use a new Canon XHA-1 HD camera, wireless and on-camera mikes from Sennheiser, tripods from Libec and an Apple laptop MacBook Pro with the latest version of Final Cut Pro for editing. You may work alone, or with a Producer, to create the class exercises and a final 8-minute documentary or news story. Tuition for Shooter = $1,995

Producers are an integral part of the process and the course. They attend all classes and team up with shooters as they research stories, make arrangements, conduct the interviews, go out on the field exercises and co-produce the final project . . . as a team. The Producer and the Shooter both come back to the edit bay and cut the projects together. Tuition for Producer = $995

Participants will learn about the newest HD digital cameras, field sound recording, cinematic storytelling, the use of lenses, tripods, and Apple's latest Final Cut Pro editing software.

Register here.

Digital Journalist's Platypus Workshops

The Digital Journalist will be hosting four domestic Platypus Workshops this year.

These 9-day workshops teach high-definition digital shooting and editing, with an emphasis on storytelling. More than 200 photojournalists have attended since their inception in 1999, and graduates have gone on to create television documentaries, Web videos and even films. (One graduate was an Oscar nominee in 2006.)

There are two ways to attend a workshop. As a Shooter you are the storyteller. You get to use a new Canon HD camera, wireless and on-camera mikes from Sennheiser, tripods from Libec and an Apple laptop MacBook Pro with the latest version of Final Cut Pro for editing. You may work alone, or with a Producer (see below), to create the class exercises and a final 3-5 minute documentary or news story.

Everyone who joins the class will learn about the newest HD (High Definition Digital Video) camera, field sound recording, cinematic storytelling, the use of lenses, tripods, and Apple's latest Final Cut Pro editing software.

As a Producer you do what the name implies in broadcast. Producers attend all classes, team up with shooters to "produce" the various segments of the course work: research stories, make arrangements, conduct the interviews, go out on the field exercises and co-produce the final project . . . as a team. The Producer and the Shooter both come back to the edit bay and cut the projects together.

The workshops are taught by award-winning photojournalists Dirck Halstead and PF Bentley.

TUITION: Shooter: $1,995. Producer or educator: $995. Student: $750. (10% discount for NPPA and ASMP members).

SCHEDULE:

MAY 1 – 10: PORTLAND, ORE.

To register for Portland, contact David Lyman .

JULY 26 – AUGUST 4 (session 1): MAINE

AUGUST 6 – 15 (session 2): MAINE

To Register for Maine, contact Kerry L. Curren .