All current and past cinematography Jan 25.10 The course of Cinematographer Janusz Sikora in Florence, Italy was an experience I never had before. Instead of being taught by a teacher that studied at a University we were taught by a real die hard Director of Photography that saw us not just as students but as full count crew members. The studio we were working with was always available to try things out, and the crazier the ideas, the more excited Janush became. My story was set in the windy cold mountains in a tent. We took the storm machine and a tent in a white painted studio where we could simulate the cold mountains. It worked. The vision in my head had been magically created on 35mm film and was suddenly visible for others. Most directors or Cinematographers that are geniuses in their work are not able to explain what they do in order to archive what they want. That’s why we have teachers and critics to explain them. But Janusz Sikora can tell like no other what he does in order to create a special atmosphere. I put this light here because it gives an extra shadow. This is something you don’t see much and what helped me a lot by understanding the process of creating. This is the main reason why every filmmaker should consider learning with Janusz Sikora. And there was never something that was impossible to do. He was hard on the class sometime, like cooks are in the kitchen, but in this way he treated them on a professional level. Janusz was always open to our ideas and was able to make them better or to say what was wrong with them, not only as a cinematographer but also but also as a director. That was very helpful as I want to go in that direction with my filmmaking. It was a very intense course, very intense but it was unbelievable how much I learned through the experience. In addition to the technical aspect of the course there was always time to learn from Janusz from his experience, and from the problems students had with filmmaking before. How coming into the filmbussines? Dancing with light: Having the basic set up where you can dance around after had a huge impact on me as did learning how to look at light in film and how to tell more powerful stories. I left the course with a new dimension in making films. I had to change my storyboard and script but was happy to make these changes. From the intense course I made notes that I will carry with me wherever I go. I can recommend the course of Mr. Janusz Sikora dancing with the light to everyone that is not afraid to learn cinematography or directing in a different and more effective way then most of the universities and film schools. This is for you Janusz. Thank you forever. Sincerely, Rogier van Beeck Calkoen, June 10, 2008 June 9, 2008 sandeephiray@tataelxsi.co.in Sep 18, 2007 Jul 6, 2007 Jun 25, Dec2, 07
Dec 30, 2006 Dec 29, 2006 Oct 24, 2006 Sep 9, 2006 Aug 28, 06 Aug 28, 06
June 20, 2006 May 22, 2006 May 20, 2006 May 06, 2006. Chicago, Illinois Thanks Janusz, for sharing your lifelong passion for lighting and
Mar 25, 2006. Hollywood, California Janusz, Dec 26, 2005. Dominican Republic 12/12/05 Dec 26, 2005. Dominican Republic Oct 3, 2005. Los Angeles Sep 26, 2005. Tokyo, Japan University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Sep 9, 2005. Los Angeles University of Southern California (USC) Intosync Filmmakers Imdb MSN IMDB NYT USC Indietalk Price Man's world CML Spiderbites MySpace 
students...
I remember you all, and I hope we'll
keep in touch as you journey through
life with Light and Camera.
janusz
Feb 5, 10
artyomzakharenko@yahoo.com
efspoelder@gmail.com
Hello Janusz,
First of all thanks again for the workshop and your great teaching.
After having worked as a news-cameraman for three years in The Netherlands, the feeling that I wanted to learn more about lighting was getting stronger every day. Studying cinematography at a film school in Hollywood seemed like a good idea to me. The problem was that after having spend the first semester there, I still had no clue how to start lighting a simple scene. Being quite disappointed by the huge amount of money I spend on this and not feeling satisfied at all, I decided to quit the school and started looking around for other possibilities. Luckily a friend send me the link to the Light Extreme website.
Doing the 5 day workshop was definitely the best decision I made during my time in Los Angeles. Janusz helped me to approach lighting in a whole different way than I did before. He actually made me think about lighting a scene, instead of just trying what might look good on the monitor.
As Janusz said himself; he opened the doors for me and now I feel ready to fly out on my own.
Thank you for the good times,
Emiel Spoelder
Nov 15, 09
tommipitta@tin.it
Florence, Italy
Janusz is one of the best teacher I’ve ever met in my life. his
workshosps are not just the opportunity to relate yourself with a
professional cinematographerher with a huge experience: Janusz knows
perfectly how to get across students the essence of his knowledge and
how to bring out of them their specific talents. And the “dancing
with lights” approach is really a great tool to interpretate light,
photography and reality. I’ll definitly recommend his workshop to
everyone is interested in cinematography and movies.
Thank you Janusz, I’m really grateful to you, and I’m so happy to be
your friend!
Tommaso Pitta
Nov 1, 2009
rogier.vbc@me.com
martina.nagel22@gmail.com
Dear Janusz
Sorry for only getting around to thanking you for the incredibly
helpful days at your personal lighting workshop. You've really changed
and inspired my thinking about light and given me so much more
confidence when it comes to lighting.
Many thanks again for your wonderful teaching. It's greatly
appreciated and has enriched me for life.
Martina
Mar 9, 2009
allorick@aol.com
My friend Janusz,
Feb, 2009
joeqnewyork@yahoo.com
Hi Janusz,
Just to let you know that I am now back in New York and took home with me valuable information about lights and lighting. I thank you very much for your passion in teaching. The workshop was all worth it. I must say that I have learned, or should I say, trained my eyes to see the world around me differently. I no longer see just "things" but rather see "reflections" of light. The world around me becomes even more beautiful. I can now light any sets, from simple to the most complex. Your basic , yet classic, approach to ligthing is timeless.
I strongly recommend this workshop. I also suggest that film students MUST and SHOULD set aside, or "debunk" all their film school lighting knowledge, such as the lighting 101 3 point lighting techniques, because its all about the gray card, the ambience and the key lights. If a student wants to learn lights, forget film schools, just attend the Dancing with Lights workshop.
Regards,
Joe M. Quintana
New YOrk Director Feb, 2009
Janusz, I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion with me. I learned more in the four hours we spent together than the entire year I spent at Film School. I also want to thank you for enduring my ignorance of light. Your passion is contagious and I will be back for more. -Daniel D.
July16, 2008
Dear Janusz,
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your workshop.
You make me feel comfortable, the first minute the workshop started and from there, I had a great experience working with a true professional passionate about his craft.
As you may have noticed, I am myself passionate about improving my skills to provide always better production value.
In 2 days, you were able to give me the key to be able to create the kind of lighting that I envision, but that I had avoided because I could not create it properly.
Now as you said, I feel that I could light anything I want it with the precision, the mood and the quality that we could find in the top Hollywood productions.
Thank you to give me that confidence.
Best Regards,
Managing Director
HD Media Group
Fax: 312-588-1579
Member of NATPE, IDA, IFP, LA Film Independent, DCS www.highdefinitionmediagroup.com
Mr. Sikora,
You Sir are without doubt, as I said earlier, the most intriguing person I have ever met. The Lecture and Workshop were very amazing in as far as seeing how lighting in the real world goes and the skill it takes to replicate it on film. There's a lot we take for granted using digital lighting these days and we fail to realize just how complex and yet simple lighting can be. Most of us have got straight into digital lighting without ever having even held stage Light.
However, far more interesting than the lecture itself, was your philosophy, your thoughts and your obvious passion for your art. And if I take anything away from your class, I will take this….. Follow the heart and not let the intellect get in the way.
Thank you, for the time you gave to a bunch of digital artists from
Regards.,
Lennard len1977@gmail.com TATA
Hello Mr Janusz!
my name is Paritosh , and i am an senior character animator with TaTa in Bombay, India. though i only deal with character animation pretty much all the time , but your class about cinematography and lighting was a wonderful experience for me, your experience speaks for itself and i was absolutely spell bound by you knowledge on the subject and your way of describing an emotion and the moment of the scene, i would love to learn more about that and specially how to 'milk a moment' so that i can apply some of that in my characters. if you can tell me some of the websites or if you have some written stuff of your own , i would be grateful if you could share that.
once again thanks a lot
paritosh kumawat paritosh@tataelxsi.co.in TATA Bombay, India
Mr. Janusz
Thank you for the Amazing Workshop
Nitai: "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supreme Soul, and He has no beginning. He is transcendental to the material modes of nature and beyond the existence of this material world. He is perceivable everywhere because He is self-effulgent, and by His self-effulgent luster the entire creation is maintained."
Sandeep S Hiray
TATA
Mr Janusz
This is Suresh we have enjoyed a lot with u class and we have learn so many things that we have seen but don't know how to play with them. We have lot many things about light before coming here we just think the lighting is very simple to understand but after the class we understand we have lot many things to know about the light. Anyway once again from all of us were very thankful for the class.
K.Suresh sureshkmaya@gmail.com TATA Bombay India
Apr 2008
Hello my friend Janusz,
I want to thank you for the wonderful two days at your workshop. In the
very first few minutes of day one, I knew right away- this was going to be
a tremendous, hands-on session. And it was! Your personable approach,
knowledge (and a lot of patience!) made it a very rewarding and important
learning experience for me.
Eager to utilize everything I learned during the two-day seminar, I'm
already implementing many of these fabulous techniques. But the most
interesting phenomenon of all, is I am now looking a everything
differently. I'm seeing light in an entirely new way. I thank you for
that.
When's the next session and what do you suggest for me? (I'd love to do
Italy- perhaps next year)
All the best and many thanks to you.
Steve steve@hackervideo.com <steve@hackervideo.com>
May 2008
I learned right away that what I have been doing until now has been adequate. That is no longer acceptable. Shot again today utilizing some of your techniques. Another time I'd love to learn product shot lighting after all.
sent via BlackBerry
Production Companies of Steven Hacker
steve@hackervideo.com
Feb 2008
Dear Janusz,
Attending your course in Firenze was one of the most valuable exrerienses in my life! As I was new in this field, you,in your special way,made me overcame my insecurness, believe in my abilities and participate the class as equal to the other students.I earned so much... Thank you for your kindness and patience! Those are two very importaint elements for a teacher sould start with,in my opinion.I hope I' ll have the chance to came to another workshop that you'll organize in the future!Thanks for everything...,
Love,
Eleanna. eleannamagina@yahoo.gr
Nov 17, 2007
Individual Cinematography Workshop
Hi Janusz
Wanted to thank you for everything that i learnt from you about lighting. The best part of the workshop was to know how to observe, learn and implement from real life situations. The simplicity of lighting "complicated looks" was stunning. Thank you for everything. rajiv.mathrani@gmail.com
Rajiv (Bombay, India)
Dear Janusz,
I wanted to thank you for your, 'Dramatic Lighting For Video', workshop. As an ENG news photographer, I am often confronted with extremely challenging lighting conditions. Your step by step instruction has given me a new confidence in taking on these challenging environments. Your passion as a lighting craftsman has been an inspiration to me.
Sincerely,
Frank Alli
Photogfox@earthlink.net
Film Look Workshop
Hey Janusz,
I just got back from a shoot. I'm delighted to say it was the best lighting I've ever done -- all thanks to the day I spent with you. The idea of creating ambience first and divorcing myself from a monitor was all it took to give me the freedom I needed.
Thanks again.
Sondra Martin sondra@wofentertainment.com
Look Workshop
Janusz,
Thanks for Sunday. It was a real eye opener. I've got 2 days of shooting next week -- I'll see what I can come up with!
Best wishes, Sondra 07sondra@wofentertainment.comFilm
Hi Janusz,
I just wanted to say thank you for this past weekend. I truly enjoyed myself and learned much more than I expected to and I really left feeling more confident than when I came. I hope to come back very soon to learn more and juzst to talk.
Julie jbelfoure@gmail.com
Hi Janusz, I want to say thank you.. I learnt a lot from you and I think
often to that wonderful workshop in Florence!!!
I just want to say that It's not easy to find a great teacher and a "gorgeous soul"
like you! You taught me how to use light but at the same time you taught me to see
the light in everything it is around me.. and this is special and unique! Someone
said "everything is illuminated" and this is what I feel when I think to your
teaching..
I hope to keep in touch and to hear from you soon.. happy new year and take care of
you!!
Romy. carraro.romina@gmail.com
Individual Workshop
I am a photographer/editor for Univision Network in Los Angeles
Califoria. I had the pleasure of taking Janusz's "film look lighting for tv"
workshop this past december 11th. 2006.This workshop change my way of looking at
light. I used to light the interviews all the same way, it was a cookie cutter look,
now I use lighting as a paintbrush and in doing so I can help enhance the mood that
the interview will convey.
I strongly recommend this workshop.
Thank you Janusz !!!!!
MailFromAddress - https://www.dslextreme.com/webmail2/src/webmail.php?compose=1&send_to=toneill%40univision.net
WebAddress - http://www.univision.net/corp/en/utg.jsp
I recently came off taking private lessons with the man, and in all honesty, I got more then I thought I would. From
the beginning, Janusz just got right down to it and I sincerely appreciated his no-nonsense approach into teaching me the ways of light and camera. Any question I had (and I had MANY), Janusz answered with patience and detail even when my
questions were sometimes repetitive. Aperture is not as hard as I thought, nor as challenging. He told me from the beginning that I could do what I told him I wanted to do, and for me just coming from so many people saying JUSTIN DONT TRY, I appreciated that he said I could do it. And I dont doubt that I can NOW after those lessons. So thank you Janusz. I will definitely be keeping in touch and bothering you with more questions, so let's see if I can get that something out of the stone.
THANKS! justin earlyrendition@gmail.com
Dear Janusz,
Im Marco Danziger and have attended the four week course in Florence this summer. Thanks to your precious help. After the course I have definitively removed any doubts about my future ambitions, and will pursuit a career in movie making also (if not mainly) because of your enthusiasm and passion which are absolutely inspiring and impossible not to share. I will now start attending media school here in Italy, and do as many hands on camera workshops around the world as possible, and Im also really eager to start shooting stuff by my own. The amazing feeling which surrounded all the work me and my friends did in Florence comes often back to my mind, which is when I understand that this inner pulse and urge to express myself through cinema is that one path I have to chose to live such feelings again. Hope to hear from you soon
Marco ncglom@tin.it
Comments - Janusz! I miss learning from you so much. I cannot fully express the
extent of my nostalgia for Italy at this moment. I wish to stay in touch with you,
and study with you in the near future. Thank you so much for your dedication to film
and thank you for all the amazing help you gave me on my films. Hope all is well,
and stay in touch! ciao~
Madeline madeberhard@yahoo.com Comments - hello Janusz i just wanted to thank you for the 35 mm workshop is good to
know that the art stil lives in the soul of people and to find someone who
apreciates soul and art as you, i learned a lot from you and i hope to keep in
contact
thanks for the spiritual lessons you gave me
beatmelendez@yahoo.com.mx
madeberhard@yahoo.com
Comments - Janusz! I miss learning from you so much. I cannot fully express the
extent of my nostalgia for Italy at this moment. I wish to stay in touch with you,
and study with you in the near future. Thank you so much for your dedication to film
and thank you for all the amazing help you gave me on my films. Hope all is well,
and stay in touch! ciao~ Madeline
Comments - Hi Janusz, always your answers are very kind.
Anyway today I enroled for digital filmaking , and I decided
it expecially because you will be the teacher.
See you soon . Salvo
rocco_salvatore1@hotmail.it
Comments - Last week was amazing! I learned so much on the cinematographer job. I'm from Switzerland and for me, learning how to use a 35mm camera in Hollywood sounds like a dream. And I just lived my dream a few days ago with you Janusz. So, I just wanted to say thank you very much to share your knowledge and the passion you have for cameras and lights. Take care. Marc http://www.flickr.com/photos/mppfilms
Comments - Janusz, I want to say thank you. I respect you as a teacher, an artist
and a human being. What I learned this past week was invaluable. I see the
importance of creating mood with light. I found a new appreciation for the art of
cinematography and look at it not as a technical science anymore, but more of a way
to paint with light and camera movement. I look forward to keeping in touch with
you. I wish you all the best.
Ajani Fida
ajanifida@yahoo.com
exposures' ability to render the full emotional palette.
Your lighting theories and methods were by far more advanced than I'd expected from cinematography workshop.
brucelangston@lycos.com
The Cinematography class at Columbia College is one of the best classes I have ever
taken. As a student, I can tell that you are very passionate about the work you do.
Although my primary emphasis is directing I will always have an understanding and
appreciation for light. You taught me how to use light in such a way that it
creates beauty and magic. Thank you.
Rocco Rodriguez, Columbia College 2006
Dear Janusz,
FLorence was one of the best things that happened in this year of difficulty
to me. Having you as a professor was the other. I greatly appreciated your teachings
and hope to keep in contact with you. Please send me your e mail.
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Ellen Perez
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=777954
This was an awesome class! Janusz has been in the industry for over 20 years. He teaches workshops at UCLA, USC, and in othe parts of the world. Check out his webiste at http://www.lightextreme.com/ You will learn so much in this class about lighting and composition and how to become a great filmmaker and have a lot of fun too. I highly reccomend it.
Dear Janusz,
I greatly appreciated your teachings
and hope to keep in contact with you. Please send me your e mail.
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Ellen Perez
Rembrand , Caravaggio, Vermeer paintings as well as with excellent examples from your personal portofolio. I was very interested in all the technical details of the lecture about exposure and grey scale, but the most fascinating part was to explore the vital role of light in setting up the emotional tone and the feeling of a scene. Goodluck with everything Janusz and I look forward to see you !
University of Southern California (USC)
Professor Janusz, after being in your class I can honestly say I will never look at light the same way again. I respect you and admire as a teacher, an artist, and a true Renaissance man. Being in your class I have learned the value of submerging myself in Art, Music, Photography, History, many interesting areas to advance my vision. Thank you for being the intellectual and technical force pushing me to better and learn more. For this I am forever indebted to you. Hopefully one day I will be able to "make people panic" in my own way. I can't say it enough, Thank you.
Katherine Campbell
Janusz I really appreciate all of the
help you have given me from the first moment I sat in your class at the
beginning of the year to these emails. I feel I have a direct channel to the
deity of light. I apologize in advance, but I am sure I will continue to tax
you with many more questions and philosophical ranting in years to come.
Dziekuje Janusz! film@naoworks.com
www.cammotion.net
Prof Janusz,
.... I learned a lot from your class. I was quiet, but this was my first film class ever. I absorbed it like a sponge. The dissection of the SILENCE OF THE LAMBS scene gave me chills. It opened my eyes to things that I had never noticed before. I am very much into horror, and that is one of my favorite films. I have seen it at least couple of dozen times without seeing any of the things that you pointed out. It only took a few seconds before I started seeing them too, and that was specially exciting. The technical stuff was great. I will be going a lot of lighting set-ups long after the class ends.
The best classes are the ones that go beyond the technical/instructional data, and actually teach you how to think and see things that you never knew existed. This was one such class.
Thanks for a great class. I will take some more next semester. I hope they turn out to be as beneficial as this one was for me.
David Covarrubias
Janusz Sikora is the greatest teacher i have ever had! not only does he
teach you everything he knows about meaningful lighting and filmaking but he is extremely inspirational. "dancing with light" is the only way
to go. sarkis0710@hotmail.com
Prof Janusz:
I just want to say thank you again, for everything. The teachers in a class
of this nature are the people who really make the class worth while- who
make you actually want to work your ass off and produce something good.
I think most will agree that it was probably the best thing that happened to us as students. Thanks for taking the time with everything and really treating us like filmmakers
and not just as students.
sara
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