DAY ONE KEYNOTE
NICK BENOIT
Nick Benoit is the co-founder and creative director of Bravingbird, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing messages that matter. Bravingbird tells powerful stories with truths attached, stories rooted in the themes of the gospel and that carry messages with the power to reshape personal lives, relationships, and whole communities.
Nick's Keynote: The Crucial Carriers
Stories are powerful. That’s why many of us have given our lives to telling them —and why we find ourselves gathering to keep learning how to tell them better. But is it possible that we may sometimes ... perhaps ... every now and then ... overestimate the power of stories?
Nope. No way.
In fact, if anything, our churches and their storytellers may be doing exactly the opposite, underutilizing and devaluing one of the best means we have of communicating the gospel.
Together, we’ll be inspired to continue to tell tales and advocate for the way stories are uniquely made to carry truth. Along the way we’ll explore some of who we’re meant to be as carriers of these stories, and we may even be challenged to rethink ourselves, seeing our creative ventures not as mere hobbies, skills, or talents but as deep, meaningful, and necessary acts of obedience to our life’s greatest calling.
DAY TWO KEYNOTE
ERIC BRAMLETT
Eric Bramlett has been the creative arts director for Community Christian Church since 1996. He is responsible for overseeing large-group experiences from initial artistic vision through production at all 10 COMMUNITY locations. He also promotes creative collaboration and creates fun moments for the Exponential Conference in Orlando. Eric continues to be involved in the Chicago theatre scene, as an Artistic Advisor for Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago. He co-authored “The Big Idea” with Dave and Jon Ferguson. Eric lives in Naperville Illinois with his wife, Kristi, and they love their three children; Sadie, Dillon and Anna.
Eric's keynote: A New Day for Creatives and Technical Artists
In this keynote, Eric Bramlett shares how important it is for creatives and technical artists in the church to not just be hired guns, but rather to be developing in their relationship with Jesus alongside their congregation. Especially in the post-pandemic world of the church where digital platforms were created from scratch, sustained with adrenaline, and expected to continue indefinitely. Artists in the church must fight for community, sabbath, and regular rhythms of rest in order to not just work for the church, but to serve and be a thriving part of the church.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Does Your Livestream Need to be Live? (Pre-recording and VOD)
Through the course of 2020 many churches had to make hard shifts from live-experience paradigms to broadcast-centric strategies. During this session, we'll discuss emerging approaches to pre-recording, live streaming and video on demand.
The Crucial Step of Pre-Production
Video success or failure is usually determined before the first frame of footage is even captured. Nothing is more frustrating that trying to create a good edit only to realize you don’t have the elements you need to tell your story, especially when working under social distancing restrictions. Join us as we discover what it takes to make sure your pre-production game is strong.
Assembling an Amazing Volunteer Film Crew
Filmmaking is a collaborative process, and a film team can only be as strong as its combined experience and abilities. Strong volunteer teams make all of the difference during this season of increased content demands. Join us for a practical conversation about how team leads can build the dream volunteer film crew.
Unleashing Your Lighting Game
When it comes to getting that “feature film” look, nothing matters more than shaping and controlling the light coming into the camera. While it can seem a bit overwhelming at first, creating cinematic lighting is possible once you understand the fundamental principles. Join us for an interactive, hands-on workshop on how to get footage you'll love with better lighting.
Next-Level Cinematography
There are so many ways to use a camera in the process of filmmaking. Sometimes those decisions can powerfully forward the story, but used incorrectly they can throw the viewer completely out of the moment. Join us to learn advanced cinematography concepts like framing, lighting, movement and visual effect.
Storytelling for Film & Content Creation
Creating great film and media content is about so much more than finishing the edit. When a great project comes together there’s nothing more powerful, but when it’s a swing and a miss there are few things more frustrating. During this session we’ll talk about what it takes to create great films that build real emotional connections and move people into action.
Mixing for Immersive Audio
Sometimes the easiest solution is to just throw a music track on top of the dialog, adjust the levels and call it a night. But how do you take your audio to the next level where everything works together to give your project that life that only comes from a great mix? Join us as we discover the tools and techniques to help create a great audio master.
Creating Great Content for Video Wall Displays
LED video walls are rapidly becoming a go-to tool for creating powerful worship and ministry events. Creating content for these systems, however, often falls to the film team with little context or training. We will discuss the best ways to harness unique power animation and video production for LED walls.
Audio: The Other Half of the Equation
Great audio, music and sound effects can absolutely make or break a video project. Unfortunately, capturing great audio is often an afterthought onset. Join us to learn some tools and techniques for auditory success.
This session will be available as VOD after the live event.
Best Idea Wins: Harnessing Creative Collaboration
What’s the difference between a typical talking head project and something truly creative and effective? How do you make an ordinary film project extraordinary? Join us for this hands-on, interactive workshop all about how to take a simple request and turn it into the kind of project you’ve always dreamed of working.
Unlocking the Power of Color Grading
When it comes to church filmmaking there's never enough time on set. How do you rescue and restore footage that's just visually out of balance and take it to that next visual level? During this break-out, we’ll explore the world of color correction and grading, and how to make it work for you on every project.
This session will be available as VOD after the live event.
Editing Your Projects for Story and Impact
It's often been said that films are written three times: once in pre-production, again on set, and then a third time in the edit bay. In this session we will explore how the editing process can serve to focus, refine and multiply the impact and effectiveness of your video project.
This session will be available as VOD after the live event.
Creating A Solid Rig for Your Film Team
Church film teams today are expected to create many different types of media projects. Finding the right camera and gear for your individual film or video team can make all the difference. Join us as we discuss different types of digital cinema gear and technologies to learn which ones are right for you.
Next Steps as a Film Director
Part visionary, part leader, part artist and part cheerleader, the role of a film director is one of the most unique challenges in the world of production. Join us as we discuss what it takes to be a great film director and set your cast and crew up for success.
"Reaching People Where They Are” The Future of of Streaming, IMag and Filmmaking
"Covid has had a tremendous effect on the amount of people attending services. Even before the pandemic, attendance had dropped to an average of 47% for all houses of religion. Today it is more important than ever to reach your congregation where they are,
and this discussion will be about some of the tools and techniques that my team have found effective to approach your audience in the medium that they are accustomed to, with content and production value that will maintain their
attention while creating an environment to deliver your message.
Building Out a Great Studio Space for Your Film Ministry
As churches grow their film ministry's capacity and impact, setting up a space dedicated to created media content becomes more important than ever. Join us as we learn the process of setting up a productive video studio in your church.
Church Filmcraft Festival
Join us as we review and discuss selected submissions to the Filmcraft Festival. This session will wrap with the Church Filmcraft Festival Award winners.
Live Camera Shading for Next-Level Broadcast
Post-production work on color correcting and grading is important, especially when you can do post-work, but shading video feeds live and in the moment while streaming or recording is game changing. Utilizing software and hardware based options for real time shading to make your broadcast cameras look their absolute best, and your subjects too, is such a crucial last step for your broadcast. Ranging from correcting skin tones to helping create an atmosphere in worship, live shading lets your cameras show you what they're really made of. We'll talk about the tools needs, how to use them and what to look for when doing live broadcast shading.
Crafting Effective Sermon Bumpers for Worship
One of the most important functions a church film team can fulfill is to provide powerful bumper videos that complement and enhance teachings series and special events. Join us as we explore the best ways to develop and execute bumper videos that clearly and effectively communicate the heart and themes of your next series.
Maximizing Your Reach - Filmmaking in the Online Digital World
2020 completely shifted the importance of church video production and propelled it to the primary way to share the gospel. This workshop will help you think though your video content to maximize the growth, impact and reach online. Who this is for:
This workshop is best for content decision makers, lead filmmakers and producers.
Camera and Switcher Setup for Your Best Live Stream
Vision and preparation for your livestream is a no-brainer, right? Planning down to where your cameras will be set up and how, say stationary, on a dolly or on a gimbal, and the prepping for their angles...maybe? Setting up your switcher for the most efficient yet team friendly design and process..maybe not. Thinking about and planning ahead when setting up for your livestream has huge impacts on both your end product and your team. We'll discuss all of the options and layouts of your camera and switcher to set you and your team up for success with your live stream every time.
Table Top Discussions
Join other creatives to collaborate and discuss Women in Tech, Creative Pastors Roundtable, and how to Bridge the Communication gap. Rotate through the different topics/tables to join in on one or more of these intimate conversations.
Quick Start Guide to Unreal Engine
In this session we'll go over how to create a bumper or title sequence in an all-virtual environment using Unreal Engine. It may sound impossible, but we'll import free photorealistic 3D assets, create virtual cameras and lenses, and animate a little bit of camera motion. In the course of this 45 minute session we'll demonstrate the basics of setting up a completely CG shot in a photorealistic environment. We'll go over how you can apply this technology to bumpers, shorts and even still graphics. What's more, we'll accomplish all this using affordable equipment.
Hands-on Virtual Production Demo with Unreal Engine
Visit the show floor for a hands-on demonstration of a virtual production camera rig. We'll mount VR trackers to the camera for real-time motion tracking. The demo will feature a live-composited green screen to show off this technology in real time. This project is an example of an indie level VP rig and can demonstrate what is possible for small crews wanting to get into virtual production. This demonstration is a look into the future of visual effects as graphics become fused with production.
General Daily Schdule
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
10:15 AM
10:45 AM
11:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
2:15 PM
3:00 PM
3:45 PM
4:30 PM
Badge pickup/Technology Showcase
Keynote/Time of Worship
Break/Collaboration/Technology Showcase
Breakout Sessions
Product Demos/Technology Showcase
Collaboration Lunch
Breakout Sessions
Break/Collaboration/Technology Showcase
Breakout Sessions
Break/Collaboration/Technology Showcase
Church Filmcraft Festival (day 1) / Wrap Up & Door Prizes (day 2)
* Session topics and schdule subject to change.