Lecture series: The art of cinema

Join film critic CJ Johnson for three lectures that unpack the art of cinema and the fundamental disciplines of directing, screenwriting and acting. You won't look at movies the same way again! 

Johnson is a film critic and commentator with ABC Radio, president of the Film Critics Circle of Australia, head lecturer in screen storytelling and cinema studies at Sydney Film School and a voting member of the Golden Globes. 

The art of the director:

What exactly does the director do? This lecture provides a step-by-step guide through the entire directorial process, from initial script meetings to final sound mixes. 

The art of the screenwriter:

We see films on the screen, but what do they look like on the page, and why? This lecture examines the unique artistic demands of telling stories cinematically. 

The art of the actor:

How much of a movie star’s power comes from sheer charisma versus technique? Can you compare Charlie Chaplin to Robert De Niro or Greta Garbo to Meryl Streep? This lecture traces the evolution of screen acting alongside changes in cinematic storytelling and technology. 

Saturdays 10-24 August: 2pm

Per lecture member $35 | non-member $45 | student $20

Series subscription member $130 | non-member $170 | student $50

This lecture series is a reprise of the popular series he presented at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in April 2022.