Welcome to Tongwen Film Academy

Where Dreams Become Cinema

The Art of Collaborative Storytelling

Film production is the ultimate symphony of creative collaboration, where dozens of specialized professionals unite to transform a written story into visual poetry. Every frame you see on screen represents the harmonious work of artists, technicians, and visionaries who understand that cinema is born from teamwork, not individual genius.

The technical complexity of modern filmmaking rivals that of launching a spacecraft—from the precise choreography of camera movements to the intricate layering of sound design, every element must be perfectly synchronized. Behind every seemingly effortless shot lies meticulous planning, cutting-edge technology, and the seamless coordination of multiple departments working as one unified creative force.

In film production, teamwork isn't just important—it's everything. The magic happens when the director's vision meets the cinematographer's artistry, when the production designer's world-building aligns with the costume designer's character insights, and when every crew member, from the script supervisor to the boom operator, contributes their expertise to serve the greater story.

Myth-Busting: Common Film Production Misconceptions

Myth: "Directors do everything alone"

Reality: Directors are collaborative leaders who work closely with department heads, relying on the expertise of dozens of specialists to bring their vision to life.

Myth: "Film production is just pointing and shooting"

Reality: Professional filmmaking involves months of pre-production planning, complex technical setups, and meticulous post-production work. Shooting is just one phase of a multi-stage process.

Myth: "Only famous people matter in film"

Reality: Every role, from the gaffer to the script supervisor, is crucial. Films succeed because of the dedication and skill of the entire crew, not just the stars in front of the camera.

About This Educational Platform

This comprehensive educational website is designed specifically for film students who want to understand the complete ecosystem of professional film production. Here, you'll discover the intricate web of roles, departments, and processes that transform creative ideas into finished films.

Navigate through our Production Stages to understand the three critical phases of filmmaking, explore our detailed Film Roles section to learn about every position from director to cable person, and follow our actual student project in the Our Movie section to see these principles applied in practice this year.

Whether you're aspiring to act, produce, or work in any of the technical departments, this platform will give you the foundational knowledge to understand how professional film productions operate and where your passion might fit within this incredible collaborative art form.

"Cinema is a matter of what's in the frame and what's out."

— Martin Scorsese

Let's build cinematic dreams together, one frame at a time.

Film Production Stages

1

Pre-production

Pre-production is the foundation of every successful film, where creative vision transforms into actionable plans. This crucial phase encompasses script development and refinement, detailed storyboarding to visualize every scene, casting the perfect actors for each role, and comprehensive technical preparations.

During this stage, the production team scouts locations, designs sets and costumes, creates shooting schedules, and establishes budgets.

Every department head collaborates to ensure that when cameras roll, everyone knows exactly what needs to be accomplished, how it will be achieved, and what resources are required.

2

Production

Production is where all the pre-production planning comes to life through the actual filming process. This intense phase involves capturing all the footage needed to tell the story, with the director guiding performances while multiple departments work simultaneously to create each shot.

The camera department frames and records the visual elements, the sound team captures dialogue and ambient audio, lighting specialists craft the mood and atmosphere, and the art department ensures every visual detail supports the story.

On-set coordination is critical, as dozens of crew members must work in perfect harmony to maximize productivity while maintaining creative quality under tight time constraints.

3

Post-production

Post-production is where the raw footage transforms into a finished film through meticulous editing, sound design, and visual enhancement. This phase begins with the editor assembling the best takes into a coherent narrative, followed by sound mixing to create the perfect audio landscape, visual effects integration to enhance or create impossible shots, and color grading to establish the final visual tone.

The composer creates the musical score, sound designers craft the sonic environment, and various specialists ensure technical standards for final delivery.

Post-production can take months or even years, as it's where the film truly comes together as a complete artistic and technical achievement ready for audiences.

Film Production Roles & Departments

Explore the comprehensive breakdown of every role involved in professional film production, organized by department. Click on any role to learn more about their specific responsibilities.

Art Department

Art Director Concept Artist Production Designer Prop Master Set Decorator Set Dresser

Music Department

Composer Music Editor

Costume and Make-up

Costume Designer Hair Stylist Make-up Artist

Lighting Department

Best Boy Cable Person Gaffer Lighting Technician

Editing Team

Colorist Editor Motion Graphics Designer Visual Effects Artist

Cast & Performance

Actor Background Actor Casting Director Precision Driver

BTS Camera Unit

BTS Director BTS Editor BTS Interviewer BTS Photographer BTS Videographer

Production Support

COVID Safety Officer Production Assistant Production Driver Production Manager Snack Distribution Manager

Film Plot

The Guru [working title]

At a prestigious international school in China, four final-year students – a farmer’s son, a competitive athlete, an aspiring singer, and a book-loving girl – are desperate to apply to universities abroad. But one thing stands in their way: the nightmare of IB documentation. Forms, spreadsheets, evaluation grids – all written in a language no one fully understands.

Their teachers, though fluent in "IB-speak," do not provide direct help – citing the importance of agency and independent problem-solving. Apparently, students must learn to figure things out on their own.

Frustrated but determined, the group hears whispers of a legendary figure – a hermit, said to possess true understanding of the IB. One of them encounters this mysterious man and receives a strange object tied to the world of IB. Could this be… the IB Guru?

The four set out to find him.
They eventually track him down in a forest, attend his cryptic outdoor “lessons,” and become his eager followers. He even begins speaking publicly about the secrets of IB, drawing growing crowds.

But one day, a rival school’s minivan suddenly screeches to a halt – the Guru is grabbed and kidnapped. The captors tie him to a chair and begin "torturing" him: deleting IB files from his laptop, corrupting spreadsheets, even installing Linux (which, of course, doesn’t support ManageBac).

The Guru resists – until he finally breaks. He confesses that he is not a true master, but a fraud who simply repeated knowledge passed down by someone else: a mysterious child genius known only as… The IB Kid.

Determined to uncover the truth, the students examine an old photo, spot a familiar object, and realize:
the IB Kid is a quiet little girl in their own school.
When they confront her, she smiles and says calmly,
"Yes. But you had to find me yourselves. That’s how we build agency."

Unlike the others, though, she then provides real help.
She teaches them to decode the IB language and shows them how to truly understand the system.
At last, the students begin to master what once felt impossible.

Eventually, we see our heroes in joyful, clumsy, funny moments on different university campuses around the world – confident, transformed, and ready for anything.

The End.

Share Your Ideas

Your director, Mr. Chris, truly values your creativity! If you have ideas for dramatic moments, funny scenes, or exciting twists, feel free to share them. Your ideas can help shape our film and make it even more unique and fun for everyone!

Movie Script

[under development]

Script Development

The complete script, including scene breakdowns and character dialogue, will be available here as soon as it's done.

Storyboards

Pre-visualization of our film through storyboard sequences.

Visual Planning

Our storyboard artists are creating detailed visual guides for every scene. These boards will show camera angles, character positioning, and key visual elements that will guide our production process.

Shotlists

Comprehensive technical breakdown of every shot planned for production.

Technical Planning

Detailed shotlists - including shot descriptions, subjects of shots, camera specifications, location and timing for each planned shot - will be documented here for our production team's reference.

Shooting Information

Production schedules, call sheets, and logistics information for our film shoot.

Production Logistics

Shooting schedules, location details, equipment lists, and crew call times will be organized here to ensure smooth production operations for all team members.

Questions & Answers

Common questions about our film production roles and processes.

How do I choose which film role is right for me?

Consider your interests, skills, and personality. Technical roles require attention to detail, creative roles need artistic vision, and leadership roles demand strong communication skills. Feel free to browse the Film Roles section, where you can explore learning materials for each role and discover what fits you best.

I've checked a ton of film roles, but I'm still uncertain about what to choose.
Can the teacher help?

The teacher not only can help — he absolutely will! If you're unsure about which film role to choose,
Mr. Chris will personally assign you to a task, carefully considering your talents and personality to make sure you find the best fit.

I'd like to do more than one thing during this filmmaking project.
Can I work in multiple departments?

Absolutely! Working in multiple departments — or taking on several roles within the same department — is not only allowed, but strongly recommended and encouraged. In our situation, where we don’t have 1,000 people to make a film but maybe just 50, stepping into multiple roles is almost a necessity. Your extra contributions will help push our film toward success. Plus, all the knowledge and experience you gain will make you even more valuable and support your opportunities in the future.

Can I take on a role together with my classmate, or does each role have to be filled by only one person?

Collaboration is highly encouraged! The teacher is happy if you learn and work together on the same role. However, please keep in mind that you might also be assigned additional roles at the same time, since our team is limited in size.

I chose a filmmaking role I love. So that means I’ll definitely get that role, right?

While the teacher will absolutely do his best to let you work in the role you love most, our team size is limited. This means you might be assigned to a different role than the one you first chose, or you might need to take on additional roles beyond your original choice. We can’t have everyone as a Hair Stylist while there’s nobody to hold the camera. :)

I like watching you guys make a movie, but I'd rather just stand on the sidelines
and not get in your way. Is that okay?

This filmmaking project is an official part of your drama curriculum this year, and just like in any class, active participation is expected from every student. If you can’t decide on a role for yourself, don’t worry — your teacher will help you find a suitable one that matches your skills and personality.

How can we shoot a full movie in our limited time frame, like 80 minutes per week?

I have some bad news: you're right. We can’t. Yes, there will be lucky days when we can record scenes relatively quickly, but sometimes we’ll need several hours in a row to shoot properly. So, dear students, we can only make this happen and finish our movie successfully if we’re willing to go the extra mile together. Are you up for it? :)

There is a shooting scheduled for today, but I don't feel like participating.
Is that okay?

Each filmmaking role comes with real responsibility. If one person is missing — or even if they show up without the needed equipment — it can stop the entire shoot and waste everyone’s time and effort. It is important not to let your team down. Once you commit to or are assigned to a role, your classmates and the whole production rely on you to be there and be prepared. Being part of a film team means showing up for each other, even on days when it feels tough.

Student Gallery

Showcase of student work, behind-the-scenes photos, and project highlights.

Production Photos

Behind-the-scenes photography from our student productions

Student Films

Completed student projects and work-in-progress reels

Achievements

Student awards, festival selections, and recognitions