IMZ Academy Workshop 2026: LIVE MULTI-CAMERA DIRECTING OF OPERA PERFORMANCES

The IMZ Academy Workshop 2026 will offer directors, filmmakers and members of digital and production teams in opera houses, broadcast media and performing arts organisations or venues a chance to master advanced directing skills in opera.

The partnership with the Royal College of Music in London offers participants the opportunity to work in one of the world’s best and most forward-looking conservatoires. Participants will hone their skills by each camera directing a section of a new opera, part of a programme of five new works, written and performed by RCM students in the Britten theatre. The course will be led by an internationally experienced faculty of directors and TV professionals. Participants will work with the RCM media team using their state-of-the-art equipment and control room.

This course is dedicated to: 

• directors who have never worked in classical music or filmed an opera and who wish to develop these skills  

• directors with some experience working with musicians or orchestras who would like to strengthen their expertise through formal training  

• single-camera directors / filmmakers seeking to develop multi-camera skills with a specific focus on classical music  

• members of digital teams in opera houses or other music organisations looking to build a solid foundation in these skills  

• members of digital or production teams in broadcast media aiming to broaden their professional skill set 

The course aims to:  

• outline best practices in visualising, scripting and directing opera and music theatre with a multi-camera set-up using both manned and remote-control cameras  

• analyse the skill set of a director and effective gallery technique  

• explain how to camera script, covering the grammar as well as the musical and dramatic foundations of scripting; including how to script and direct from a musical score, the framing of shots, the development of sequences, dramatic and musical narrative, and the placement of cameras  

• collaborate with a stage director and the wider creative team  

• describe commonly used camera types and lenses  

• offer hands-on scripting and directing experience  

• provide guidance and critique on the scripting and directing set tasks