Home > 37ºSouth Market > Program Archive > Francis Veber 2011
Described by the New York Times as “a master of the modern French farce,” Oscar-nominated writer and director Francis Veber presents a series of lectures and master-classes. A comic master, most of Veber’s films are hits in France as well as internationally (The Dinner Game, The Valet, The Closet and La Cage Aux Folles to name a few) and he has adapted many of his hits for Hollywood – most recently The Dinner Game/ Dinner For Schmucks. Presented by Screen Australia, in association with MIFF 37ºSouth Market & Accelerator and Sue Maslin/Film Art Media, the Australian lectures and masterclasses are exclusive to Melbourne. Go to www.miff.com.au from 08 July onwards to book tickets (MIFF passes are not valid) for the public lectures (at $17 each) and In Conversation ($25).
Steve Kaplan is one of the screen industry’s most sought-after experts on comedy. In addition to having taught at the likes of UCLA, NYU and Yale, Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. He regularly serves as a consultant and script doctor to some of the biggest names in the business such as DreamWorks, Disney, HBO, Paramount and Touchstone. Presented by Screen Australia, in association with MIFF 37ºSouth Market & Accelerator, the all-day comedy intensive and subsequent three-day workshop are exclusive to Melbourne. Go to www.miff.com.au from 08 July onwards to book tickets (MIFF passes are not valid) for the Comedy Intensive Day (at $45 each – thanks to subsidy by Screen Australia).
Francis Veber Lecture
Tuesday 02 August, 10.30-12pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatre at State Library
Appealing to lovers of film comedy, film and media students, Francophiles and screen directors alike, Veber talks about his films and 40-year career in screen comedy in a lecture rich with clips, anecdotes and insights.
Mastering Comedy: Francis Veber Masterclass
In an inspiring and informative two-day event for experienced directors, Veber analyses comedy direction in depth, including character, situation, structure, casting, performance, scene coverage, editing and sound design.
DAY ONE
Wednesday 02 August, 9am-4pm
Venue: ACMI Studio 1. Selected pre-registered industry participants only.
Focus on story structure, characters and situations, development of high concept comedies and buddy movies. Questions explored include the importance of setting for comedy, whether or not comedy travels across cultures and the differences between what men and women find funny.
DAY TWO
Thursday 02 August, 9am-4pm
Focus on the director’s realisation of the cinematic vision, including what the director needs to prioritise during the demands of production and the approach to casting, performance, cinematography, scene coverage, editing and sound design.
Francis Veber en Francais
Friday 05 August, 10.30am-12 noon
Veber offre une rencontre en Français, riche de clips et d’anecdotes sur ses films, un aperçu privilégié de ses 40 ans de carrière d’auteur de comédies, Une rencontre qui plaira a tous, des amateurs de comédies aux étudiants en cinéma, communication et audiovisuel, des francophiles aux réalisateurs de film. Cette conférence en français est organisée en collaboration avec l’Alliance Française de Melbourne. Brush up on your French as Veber delivers a lecture, rich with clips, anecdotes and insights, in French about his films and 40-year career in screen comedy. Appealing to lovers of film comedy, film and media students, Francophiles and screen directors alike, this French-language lecture is delivered In cooperation with the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne.
Francis Veber in conversation with Steve Kaplan
Saturday 06 August, 10.30am – 12 noon
Venue: Stella Artois Forum Festival Lounge
A meeting of two of the great masters of screen comedy.
Steve Kaplan: Comedy Intensive
Sunday 07 August, 10.30am
Venue: The Wheeler Centre.
Kaplan gives his renewed all-day seminar on the principles of comedy screenwriting. Useful for experienced and emerging writers alike wanting to brush-up on their comedy writing skills, actors wanting to better understand comedy structure, film/media students and comedy lovers.
The Comic Premise: Screenwriting Workshop with Steve Kaplan
Monday 08 August to Wednesday 10 August
Venue: The Wheeler Centre. Selected pre-registered industry participants only.
Good comedies pull audiences into cinemas but what are the keys to writing comedy that works and why do some comedies work more successfully than others? This three-day workshop expands upon the concepts and principles introduced in the public seminar and offers guidance for each participant’s project outline.
