On November 5th, Kat Montagu, Head of Film, Television, and Game Writing at Vancouver Film School (VFS) and Co-Head of the Film Production Department, was invited to Jilin Animation Institute (JAI) for an academic exchange.

With her extensive industry experience and profound expertise, Kat Montagu delivered an engaging lecture titled "How to Write and Produce an Outstanding Low-Budget Short Film" to the faculty and students of the School of Film. The lecture delved into the creative and production processes of low-budget short films. Following the lecture, she participated in a roundtable discussion with JAI faculty on "The Advantages and Characteristics of North American Undergraduate Film and Television Education."

 

1. A Strong Narrative: The Heart of Film Creation

Kat Montagu emphasized the critical role of storytelling in filmmaking. She explained that a compelling story is key to a film’s success and shared insights on drawing inspiration from everyday life to craft universal and captivating narratives. By analyzing case studies, she demonstrated how to skillfully introduce conflicts and twists into scripts to enhance audience engagement and emotional resonance. Montagu described storytelling as an art that blends personal experiences, imagination, dreams, and reality to create narratives that are both deep and impactful.

2. Creative Lighting and Professional Editing: The Winning Formula

Montagu shared practical low-budget filmmaking techniques, particularly the effective use of natural light as a free yet versatile resource. She encouraged students to explore various lighting setups to achieve diverse visual effects in a single scene.

Discussing editing, she highlighted its essential role in maintaining narrative continuity and enhancing storytelling. Editing, as she explained, shapes a film’s rhythm, mood, and coherence. Montagu advised students to study editing styles by analyzing great works and identifying the techniques that make them unique.

She also encouraged students to harness their creativity and maximize available resources, emphasizing that even smartphones and compact cameras can achieve cinematic results.

3. Interactive Q&A: Unlocking Creative Inspiration

In the Q&A session, students actively engaged with Montagu, seeking solutions to challenges in short film production. She offered detailed and practical guidance, addressing common issues such as overcoming creative blocks.

To tackle writer’s block, Montagu suggested collaborating with peers to generate fresh ideas. She also recommended working on multiple projects simultaneously, allowing creators to switch focus when encountering obstacles.

When asked how to reduce excessive dialogue in scripts, Montagu shared techniques for enhancing cinematic quality, including noting spontaneous dialogue ideas and role-playing as characters to develop authentic interactions. She emphasized that great screenwriters often have the ability to embody their characters and draw inspiration from real-life scenarios to make dialogue more natural and engaging.

Roundtable Forum: Insights into North American Film Education

During the roundtable discussion, Montagu shared insights into VFS’s strengths, including its faculty expertise, diverse curriculum, and outstanding teaching resources. JAI faculty members discussed topics such as guiding students in collaborative projects, integrating AI into film education, balancing creative writing with market demands, and showcasing student individuality on campus.

This open exchange of ideas fostered meaningful dialogue and provided valuable insights into innovative educational practices.

 

Kat Montagu’s lecture and discussions offered JAI’s faculty and students practical insights and inspiration, while also sparking critical reflections among educators. This academic exchange not only enriched participants’ professional development but also strengthened international collaboration and provided valuable benchmarks for JAI’s film education advancement.

In the future, Jilin Animation Institute aims to continue facilitating global academic exchanges and collaborations, integrating the strengths of North American undergraduate film education with local contexts and institutional characteristics. These efforts will foster innovative, globally-minded talents in the field of filmmaking.