Watch: AFI Conservatory Fellows Create 35mm Magic With the Panaflex Platinum Camera
Watch: AFI Conservatory Fellows Create 35mm Magic With the Panaflex Platinum Camera

Watch: AFI Conservatory Fellows Create 35mm Magic With the Panaflex Platinum Camera

2021-08-17
2 mins read

Have you ever wonder what it is like to be a film student at one of the top graduate film programs in the world? Panavision has published those outstanding pictures demonstrate fellows of AFI Conservatory during their 35mm essays, by shooting with the legendary Panaflex Platinum. Watch them below. 

AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen
AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen

AFI Conservatory: #1 film school in America

The AFI Conservatory is a private not-for-profit graduate film school in the Hollywood Hills district of Los Angeles. Students (called “Fellows”). The Conservatory is a program of the American Film Institute founded in 1969. In 2020, both The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap ranked AFI as the #1 film school in America. The AFI Conservatory stands out because its intensive two years program, which is emphasized on a practical and hands-on approach, forces (positively) fellows to make multiple films. Since the AFI Conservatory began in 1969, AFI alumni have received 34 Best Cinematography Oscar nominations and seven wins.

AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen
AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen

Cinematography Fellows are challenged to become adept at making fast, informed, and inspired creative decisions to harness the visceral power of visual storytelling.

AFI Conservatory

AFI disciplines and programs

AFI Conservatory is a five-term Master of Fine Arts program in six disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design, and Screenwriting. Traditionally, the Conservatory accepts 28 Fellows per year for most disciplines and 14 for the Production Design and Editing disciplines. Each discipline’s program runs two years in length.

AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen
AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen
  1. First Year: Fellows from all disciplines work on at least three digital video or high definition short films (up to 20 minutes), referred to as ‘cycle projects’. Each of these first-year projects is accomplished by Fellows with a minimum of oversight from the senior faculty.
  2. Second Year: Most Fellows work on at least one thesis short film, shot on digital video, high definition, 35mm film, or 16mm film, and develop portfolio materials (such as a reel and a feature film screenplay).
AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen
AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen

The Cinematography discipline

Encompassing training from pre-visualization to advanced image manipulation and control, Cinematography Fellows develop their storytelling skills using formats ranging from digital video to 16mm and 35mm film cameras. “Cinematography Fellows are challenged to become adept at making fast, informed, and inspired creative decisions to harness the visceral power of visual storytelling. Shooting on both digital and film, Fellows have the chance to work on 28 films a year and produce a 35mm visual essay. AFI gives them unprecedented access to lighting workshops and practical seminars taught by master-level cinematographers” as described by the AFI Conservatory.

AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen
AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen

BTS of the Cinematography Program

The superb BTS pictures that you see in the article, were published by Panavision. The pictures were captured by cinematographer Oli Cohen which was one of the AFI fellows. The pictures demonstrate six sets on six different projects from 2019 to 2021, showing AFI grads and crew members working on 35mm visual essays with the Panaflex Platinum. The pictures demonstrate the intensity of the Cinematography Program.

AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen
AFI Conservatory: Cinematography Program. Picture: Cinematographer Oli Cohen

Shooting on both digital and film, Fellows have the chance to work on 28 films a year and produce a 35mm visual essay. AFI gives them unprecedented access to lighting workshops and practical seminars taught by master-level cinematographers.

AFI Conservatory

How to apply

In case you’d like to apply to the AFI Conservatory, you can find all admissions requirements by pressing this link. The Tuition is around $65,000. Let’s know your thoughts about the AFI Conservatory. In general, is there a justification for a traditional film school these days? Feel free to throw your insights in the comments section below. 

Yossy is a filmmaker who specializes mainly in action sports cinematography. Yossy also lectures about the art of independent filmmaking in leading educational institutes, academic programs, and festivals, and his independent films have garnered international awards and recognition.
Yossy is the founder of Y.M.Cinema Magazine.

1 Comment

  1. Nothing says “filmmaking” like an actual film camera, and nothing compares to shooting in film. I hope everyone has an opportunity to experience shooting in film.

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