How is a cinematic image created? How does an idea from a screenplay transform into a visual language that stays with the audience?
As part of the 13th Star Film Fest, we are bringing a special masterclass dedicated to the art of cinematography – “The Cinematography Process – From Script to Final Frame”, led by renowned Croatian cinematographer and camera operator Davor Bjelanović.
This masterclass will provide participants with a unique insight into the complete creative and technical process of a cinematographer’s work on feature films and television series – from the initial script analysis, development of the visual concept and preparation for filming, to lighting design, camera work, and the final look of the frame.
Through a series of practical examples and professional production experiences, participants will have the opportunity to learn how a film’s visual identity is created, how the camera becomes a storytelling tool, and how a cinematographer collaborates with the director and the entire film crew in shaping a unique cinematic vision.
Special focus will be placed on:
– visual storytelling and the development of cinematic language
– shaping light in service of emotion and dramaturgy
– choosing cameras, lenses, and camera movement
– differences between working on feature films and television series
– overcoming production challenges and creating a high-end visual aesthetic under different conditions
Through case study examples from professional productions, Davor Bjelanović will bring audiences closer to the decisions behind cinematic frames – from the first idea to the final image on screen.
Participation in the masterclass is free of charge; please register your attendance by filling out the online application form.
About the Masterclass Instructor
Davor Bjelanović is a Croatian cinematographer and camera operator from Sisak with more than twenty years of experience in film, television, and commercial production. He graduated in Film and TV Cinematography from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb.
As a cinematographer, he has worked on feature films “260 Days”, “The Match”, “The Conversation”, and “Ufuraj se i pukni”, as well as television series “Kumovi”, “Na granici”, and “U dobru i zlu”. As a camera operator and Steadicam operator, he has collaborated on numerous Croatian and international productions, including “Svemu dođe kraj”, “The Sixth Bus”, “The White Crow”, “Mayday”, “Nestali”, and many others.
For his work, he has been nominated twice for the Nikola Tanhofer Award, the highest professional recognition of the Croatian Society of Cinematographers, for the films “The Conversation” and “260 Days”.
Join us and discover what happens behind the camera – where technology meets creativity, and every frame becomes part of a larger cinematic story.
