Nostos Directing Lab
August 25th — September 7th, 2026
Rob Spera’s ten-day workshop, The Spoken and Unspoken Languages of Film Directing, explores the cornerstone maxims from his book, Film/TV Director’s Field Manual.
Through practical, hands-on directing exercises, illustrations, demonstrations, video clips, and lectures, Mr. Spera offers directors a unique technique that empowers actors to deliver multidimensional film performances without restricting actors’ instincts or stifling their spontaneity.
Meet your mentor
Rob Spera
Renowned AFI Professor and Successful Director, Rob’s unique and proven curriculum distills the art, craft, and process of visual storytelling into easily accessible practical tools that can be employed immediately.
Rob’s teaching philosophy is borne out of his extensive background in film, television, and theater as well as 20 years of teaching directing fellows at the American Film Institute Conservatory, the #1 film school in the world.
His students regularly collect top honors at Festivals worldwide as well as awards and nominations from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
WEEK #1
Week One examines the Unspoken Language of Film Directing used to inform performances through subtext in staging, blocking, and visual storytelling.
DAY ONE
Explore Maxims #16 – #19 in Film/TV Field Director’s Manual by Rob Spera
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Lecture and Illustration: The Unspoken Language of Film Directing.
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Physical Demonstration: Informing Performance through blocking and staging.
Review Syllabus and Assignments:
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Assign Camera Exercise #1: “Designing The Frame” Instructions: See Page #167 of Film/TV Director’s Field Manual DUE DAY TWO
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Assign FINAL Camera Exercise “The Single Continuous Shot” Instructions: See Page #177 Film/TV Director’s Field Manual DUE DAY TEN
DAY TWO
Review Camera Exercise #1 “Designing the Frame” as it relates to Maxims #16-#19
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Introduce “Staging the Visual Story” Exercise #1 “The Bare Necessities”, Instructions: See Page #178 of Film/TV Director’s Field Manual DUE DAY THREE
DAY THREE
Review Assignment #2 “The Bare Necessities”
Lecture, Illustration, and Demonstration:
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Point of View in Visual Storytelling
DAY FOUR
Lecture and Illustration: “From the Script to the Screen”, preparing the shooting script.
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Analysis and Breakdown of original scripted material from selected professional work that Mr. Spera revised into shooting scripts.
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Screening of those professional clips.
DAY FIVE
Lecture, Illustration, and Demonstration:
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“Graphic Components of Visual Storytelling: Deep Space, Flat Space and Limited Space”
Review and Wrap Week One.
WEEK #2
The Spoken Language of Film Directing, Directing the Actor
DAY SIX
Explore Maxims #32 - #38 in Film/TV Director’s Field Manual by Rob Spera
Lecture, Illustration, and Demonstration:
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The Spoken Language of Film Directing
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Objectives, Obstacles, and Actions
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Introduce “Staging the Visual Story “Exercise #2: Instructions Page #179 “Bare Necessities Plus”
DAY SEVEN
In-Class Review and Critique of Staging the Visual Story Exercise #2
Lecture and Demonstration: “The Scene as a Single Human Transaction.”
In-Class Exercise #1: Scene Breakdown and Analysis
DAY EIGHT
Lecture, Demonstration, and Illustration: “Designing the Shot List”
In-Class Exercise #2 Shot Breakdown
Assign Shot List Assignment #1: “Designing the Shot List”
DAY NINE
In-Class Review and Critique Shot List Assignment #1 “Designing the Shot List”
DAY TEN
In-class review of FINAL Camera Assignment #2, “The Single Continuous Shot”
Review and Wrap Week Two
