IMPROVISDED FILMMAKING
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Weekend Intensive Workshop - Berlin
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Make Films Without a Traditional Script
Learn how to develop stories, direct actors, use locations, and capture authenticity on camera without a rigid script.
Over a full weekend, you’ll immerse yourself in a practical, experience-driven approach to improvisational filmmaking.
Read below to get fully informed and register!
WORKSHOP DETAILS
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🎬 Full Weekend Workshop – Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00
📅 Two Available Dates: May 17-18 or June 14-15
🗣️ Workshop Language: English
🎯 For actors, directors, DOPs, screenwriters, producers, film students, and film lovers who want to explore the unexpected
đź“ŤÂ Location:Â Atelier in BabelsbergerstraĂźe 40, Central Berlin
💰 Registration Fee: 275 Euros (Option to pay in two monthly installments available)
đź‘ĄÂ Maximum of 8 Participants
🔢 Ages 15 to 100 welcome
DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF IMPROVISDED FILMMAKING
BE IN THE MOMENT
EMBRACE SPONTANEITY!
Traditional filmmaking can feel rigid and over-planned.
Many filmmakers and actors struggle with overdeveloping and overthinking, trying to perfect every detail beforehand, and leaving little room for spontaneity.
Well... Some movies need to be 100% written, storyboarded and rehearsed beforehand. But not all great films come to life from strict scripts and very controlled sets.
Specially in the world of independent cinema, embracing improvisation can become an essential part of the storytelling and a much better creative process for your movie.
Instead of being confined by preconceived ideas and trying to figure out everything on isolation, you'll learn to create in the moment (without losing structure) and in direct collaboration with your crew: directors, actors, DOP's, writers...
Even on the most structured film set, unexpected changes happen, and this workshop will help you develop the flexibility to adapt and think on your feet when needed.
Improvisation not only provides a more natural and dynamic way to tell certain stories, but it also brings the joy of surprise and discovery, allowing scenes to go beyond and capturing something truly alive on screen.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU EMBRACE THE UNEXPECTED?
This workshop is about creating films in the moment. Not through chaos, but through structured improvisation.
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Improvisation doesn’t mean randomness. It requires thought, preparation, and a deep understanding of storytelling.
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This is for directors, actors, DOP's, screenwriters and students who want to develop their creative instincts and storytelling abilities in a fresh way.
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You’ll learn to work without a fixed screenplay, adapting dynamically to characters, locations, and unfolding situations.
WORKSHOP PROGRAM AND METHOD
INTRODUCTION TO IMPROVISED FILMMAKING - BERLIN
MY TEACHING METHOD
I design all my Workshops as creative experiences to be shared and enjoyed collectively by you as a participant and by me as an instructor.
To me, this is not a mere transfer of knowledge: we are equals and creative partners, and my job is to coordinate and guide a collective process.
What I offer you is my very personal view on creation, with a great focus on DIY, independent, and unconventional storytelling.
Here's what you can expect:
SATURDAY
UNDERSTANDING IMPROVISED FILMMAKING
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Why improvise? What it means for directors, actors, and the audience.
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Improvised, not random – The essential preparation behind improvisation.
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Avoiding clichés – Keeping improvised stories fresh and authentic.
IMPROVISATION AND STORYTELLING
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Finding a narrative structure within improvisation.
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Mixing scripted and improvised elements.
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Writing on the day, writing with actors.
IMPROVISATION AND THE CAMERA
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How to capture improvisation visually.
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Handheld vs. steady shots – Choosing a shooting style that fits improvisation.
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Coverage strategies – Shooting with intention.
SUNDAY
IMPROVISATION AND ACTING
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Being in the moment – Finding authenticity in performances.
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Watching, listening, reacting – How actors develop natural interactions.
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Space and movement – How physicality, spatial awareness, and movement shape performances
SHOOTING, EDITING AND SCREENING
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Final filming sessions – Applying improvisational techniques in fully realized scenes.
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Editing in improvised films – Structuring and pacing without a fixed script.
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Screening and Feedback – Watching final scenes, analyzing the creative process.
THE INSTRUCTOR
HI! I'M FLAVIO GARCĂŤA
I'm a Berlin based award-winning film director and film teacher.
I write and direct independent movies, host filmmaking workshops (since 2005), and offer online courses and mentoring programs.
MORE ABOUT MEMY STORY
I started making "movies" when I was eight years old.
This is how I did it:
I used a long sheet of paper and rolled it into an empty toilet paper carton. I drew different vignettes and scenes along the paper, then recorded the dialogue and music on a tape cassette.
To "play" the movie, I hung the "film strip" from the top of an old shoebox, where I had cut out a small frame (the screen). The audience watched from the other side as I pulled the paper down in sync with the soundtrack.
To make one movie, I needed a full week of work.
On Fridays, I invited my neighbors to the premiere and charged them 25 cents for a ticket.
And why did I charge my little friends?
Well... so I could buy what I needed to make the next movie: paper, pencils, and tape cassettes.
I remember those days a lot, because they defined so much of who I am today as a film director, and how I feel about the filmmaking process:
- The love and need for storytelling.
- Working independently and finding my own ways to produce films, which, honestly, it's the only way I know how to create.
- Working directly for an audience and creating a film experience meant to be shared and enjoyed together.
- And finally, doing all of this in a way that is economically sustainable, where the art itself supports the next film and makes a creative life possible.
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WHY DO I TEACH?
Teaching filmmaking has been a part of my professional life since the very beginning. My first job after film school was teaching, back in 2005.
Since then, I have always alternated producing my own movies and organizing film workshops.
Both areas are deeply connected for me and just feel natural: they both involve sharing ideas, inspiring others, and working together to create something beautiful.
If I'm working on a film, the process of discovery and learning from it is something I have always felt the need to share. And at the same time, teaching others has inspired and helped me a lot.
It’s all about staying open and connected to the creative process.
To be very honest: teaching is also the main source of my income now and how I make a living. But I promise you:Â my motivation is not just economical.
IÂ teach because I truly love to do it: the shared experience, the connection, and the joy.
Alongside my self-organized workshops, I have been invited to lead workshops at various film schools and festivals, including MIZ-Babelsberg, filmArche Berlin, Master-LAV, Documenta Madrid, and several others.
MY VALUES AS A FILM DIRECTOR AND TEACHER
I support authenticity and real connection.
You won’t see external ads here, and I’m not sponsored by any brand. Everything on this site is created by me and offered directly to you, my audience and students.
The internet is a wild and confusing place, and it’s easy to get lost, whether as an audience member or as a creator like me.
If you’re reading this, it’s either because you’re interested in my movies or in my workshops and online courses.
So, look… I don’t consider myself a filmmaking guru or some kind of influencer. That’s not where my focus is, and honestly, I’m pretty skeptical about social media, especially certain aspects of it.
I do use social media (we seem to have no choice nowadays), but if you really want to keep up with what I do, whether it’s my film projects, filmmaking workshops, or online courses, the best way is right here.
You can visit this site, read my blog, send me an email, or sign up for my newsletter.
That way, we can communicate directly and build a community, without intermediaries.
My main goal on this website is simple: to create and produce my films, to share, and, of course, to make a living by offering my experience as a film teacher and mentor.
And I want to do all of it as independently as possible, building a direct relationship with my supporters and my students.
WATCH TWO OF MY IMPROVISED MOVIES
These are two movies where we used improvisation.
No budget. Small formats. Minimal crew. We make the location part of the storytelling. Unconventional fiction.
Please, do me a favor, and watch them full screen. Click on the Quality button and select 1080p minimum.
"Inter-face" and "Paths"
Best Actress (Esther Rivas), 9th Ibero-American Short Film Competition - VersiĂłn Espanola, 2009
Best Actress, Movil Film Fest, 2009
Best Movie, Movil Film Fest, 2009
Best Mobile Movie, Inter-face, Barcelona Visual Sound, 2009
ADDED BENEFITS
I'm committed to ensuring that my workshops are more than just isolated events.
To enrich your learning experience and make it more meaningful, I provide the following benefits to all my students.
Exclusive Members Community
- A dedicated space for us to connect and collaborate.
- Share everything from script drafts to rough edits, seeking feedback or offering your insights.
- Not a Facebook group but a self-hosted, distraction-free zone designed for focused interaction.
- Opt-out any time.
Pre and Post Workshop Assignments
- Engage with assignments before and after the workshop.
- Exercise your creativity and prepare for what's ahead.
- I'll review your submissions.
- Participation in this is optional and can be done at your convenience.
SECURE YOUR SPOT NOW
Limited spots available – max 8 students per workshop!
WORKSHOP REGISTRATION
One-time payment
275 €
Two monthly payments
137.5 €
Pay 137.5 € today and the remaining 137.5 € will be charged automatically in 30 days
May 17–18, 2025 (Saturday–Sunday) June 14–15, 2025 (Saturday–Sunday)CANCELLATION POLICY
You can cancel up to 14 days before the start of the workshop for a full refund. Please understand that refunds won't be possible for later cancellations.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need a camera or any filmmaking equipment to join?
Is previous experience required?
How can I know more about the instructor?
Do you have another question?
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Never hesitase to reach out if you have a comment, inquiry or question about this workshop.
Email:
Phone/WhatsApp:
+49 1525 946 76 20