Your Complete Filmmaking Guide

Including how to manage and fund your independent documentary film projects

What you'll learn

You will understand the fundamentals of storytelling, how to find the right story and the people to tell it, how to structure and create compelling content.

You will develop knowledge and understanding of equipment, confidence using cameras, lighting, sound, and editing software.

You will know how to plan and organise an independent film production, budgeting, scheduling, to confidently tackle the world of filmmaking on your own.

You will be able to explore different strategies for marketing and promoting your film, find and connect with distributors as well as fund your film projects.

Requirements

No previous filmmaking experience required. This is an outstanding opportunity for first-time, budding and experienced filmmakers looking at building, expanding and updating their knowledge and skills base in independent documentary filmmaking.

Description

Many aspiring independent filmmakers, beginners or experience, find themselves grappling with questions like:· Can I self-fund my films without digging into the family fund?· Do I have the ability to manage a documentary project on my own?· Where do I even start?· Can I even do this in my free time?The simple answer is ‘YES!’, you absolutely can … and you can do it on your own!With drive, motivation, willpower to see your vision come to life and the skills you learn in this course, the possibilities are almost endless. Most importantly, you don’t even need expensive gear to get started. If you have a smartphone capable of taking awesome videos, get ready to hit that record button!This 4-hour straight-to-the-point course will get you equipped with the right skills but will also inspire you to start and finish your documentary film project. It is designed to build your knowledge in independent filmmaking through:· Developing your ideas· Building a story· Giving you the tools and knowledge to project manage your film· Enhancing your awareness· Understanding your gear including technical knowledge· Looking at overall affordability and viability of your film· Setting up to film through planning and budgeting· Completing post-production including software and computers· Initial funding options to get your project off the ground· Developing your cinematography style· Creating artwork for various purposes for your film· Approaching and submitting to film festivals· Finding and dealing with distributors· Funding and planning your future projects … just to name a few.Unlock your creative potential in filmmaking and turn your dream of creating your own films into reality. This course will be your gateway to unleashing your artistic vision and providing the skills for you to grow as a filmmaker.

Overview

Lecture 1 Introduction & Course Outline

Section 1: The Story

Lecture 2 Finding a Story

Lecture 3 Understanding the flow of a story

Lecture 4 Building your story

Lecture 5 Inspirations

Section 2: Planning & Budgeting

Lecture 6 Planning overview

Lecture 7 Creating a flow chart for your story using MS Excel

Lecture 8 Creating a basic production plan in MS Excel

Lecture 9 Budgeting for your documentary film using MS Excel

Lecture 10 Scheduling your production and contacts list using MS Excel

Lecture 11 Managing your time effectively

Lecture 12 Time to get creative: creating Mood Boards using MS PowerPoint

Lecture 13 Creating a Storyboard in MS PowerPoint and shot list in MS Excel

Lecture 14 Know your location

Lecture 15 A brief look at using drones

Lecture 16 Release forms, waivers and NDA's

Section 3: The Gear

Lecture 17 Introduction to this section

Lecture 18 Overview of one of the most popular cameras used by indie filmmakers

Lecture 19 Know your gear - cameras

Lecture 20 Why I choose to work with certain cameras

Lecture 21 The technical aspects

Lecture 22 Camera image sensors

Lecture 23 Camera frame rate and shutter speed

Lecture 24 SD cards, C-Fast cards and SSD (Solid State Drives)

Lecture 25 ISO, speed boosters and lens adapters

Lecture 26 HD vs UHD

Lecture 27 Know your lenses

Lecture 28 Aperture and focal lengths (part 1)

Lecture 29 Aperture and focal lengths (part 2)

Lecture 30 ND filters and polarized filters

Lecture 31 Histograms

Lecture 32 What is chromatic aberration?

Lecture 33 Lens barrelling

Lecture 34 Know your audio gear

Lecture 35 Setting up audio for an interview

Lecture 36 Know you lighting

Lecture 37 Basic lighting set up

Lecture 38 Who or what is Kelvin?

Lecture 39 Camera IBS

Lecture 40 Know your camera stabilizers

Lecture 41 Stabilize without camera stabilization aid

Lecture 42 Know your computer

Lecture 43 My computer set up and downloading a free editing suite

Lecture 44 Post-Production (editing)

Lecture 45 Royalty free music and videos

Lecture 46 Voice overs

Lecture 47 Inventory

Lecture 48 Looking after your gear

Section 4: Initial Funding

Lecture 49 Crowd funding

Lecture 50 Distributors - proof of works

Lecture 51 Know everything and your other options for funding

Section 5: Working with Talent

Lecture 52 Talent for your documentary film

Section 6: The Art of Filming

Lecture 53 Interviews

Lecture 54 Filming conversations

Lecture 55 Run and gun

Lecture 56 B rolls and cutaways

Lecture 57 Time laps

Lecture 58 Behind the scenes

Lecture 59 Aerials

Lecture 60 Exercise

Section 7: Artwork

Lecture 61 Documentary film artwork

Section 8: Trailers, Screeners & Film Festival

Lecture 62 Trailers, screeners, and film festivals

Section 9: Working with Distributors

Lecture 63 Documentary film distributors

Section 10: Self Distribution

Lecture 64 Self distributing your documentary film

Section 11: Audience Feedback

Lecture 65 Audience feedback and further education

Section 12: Income & Planning Ahead

Lecture 66 Generating income from your documentary film and planning ahead

Lecture 67 Thank You!

Aspiring filmmakers with a passion for story telling who want to express their artistic imagination through film.,Film students who want to learn from a teacher who has current experience and knows what it's like to carve out your own independent creator space in the film industry.,Creative professionals who want to add video production to their professional offerings.,Amateur filmmakers who want to break out of the mold and start making an income from their films.,Content creators who are looking at creating cinematic style story-based content.,Anyone who wants to enjoy the pleasure of independently creating their own documentary films.