Join our 6-week free Filmmaking workshop in Chalk Farm, London, completely free of charge! Bring a shared cinematic vision to life and become a part of our vibrant community of filmmakers. Our experienced local filmmakers and film volunteers will guide you every step of the way, regardless of experience level. Let’s make movie magic together in the exciting world of Community Filmmaking – and best of all, it’s all free, no charge whatsoever!
Week 1: From initial idea to scripted Final Draft of the screenplay
Overview of the Filmmaking process. For short films, a production timeline is 6 weeks. For feature-length films, the production timeline is 6 months. The process can be broken down into similar stages as short films, but the scale and complexity of each stage will be much larger. The short and feature process is broken down into several stages, Pre-Production, Production and Post Production.
Day 1: Idea Development
This is the initial stage of brainstorming, where the story of the film are developed. This stage involves writing the screenplay and revising it until it’s ready for production.
Day 2: Script Development
We will take you through the exciting process of story development and scripting using Final Draft script writing software. You’ll learn how to brainstorm and outline ideas for the film, and then craft a compelling screenplay.
Day 3: Script Final Draft
Congrats on finishing the film script! With our guidance, we’ll help you edit until it’s ready for production. Break down/tag the script by adding notes and tags for props, locations, effects, and requirements. Script notes instruct actors/crew or remind the director, while tags label elements like props/costumes. Analyze every scene to identify necessary elements for a seamless production. Afterward, the team can plan and prep for each scene to ensure readiness for filming.
Week 2: Cine Camera, Lighting and Sound Equipment Techniques
Design shots and lighting, And choose the right camera movements to enhance the story.
Day 1: CINE CAMERA/Lighting
Master using cinema cameras, lenses, and adjusting settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Through shooting exercises, you’ll practice framing, composition, and camera movement.
Learn basic lighting techniques like three-point, natural, and available light, and use key, fill, and backlighting along with gels and colour temperature to create different moods.
Day 2: CINE CAMERA/Lighting EXPANDED
Explore creative lighting to create Rembrandt, split, short and broad lighting. How to use light modifiers such as softboxes, umbrellas, reflectors, grids, gels, and diffusers to shape and control light and add shadows.
Day 3: SOUND RECORDING
This is all about sound recording. You’ll learn how to use different microphones, boom poles, and sound recorders to capture production audio dialogue and ambient sound. How to avoid background noise, place microphones correctly, and set recording levels for crisp, clear sound.
Week 3: Film Pre-Production Planning
Is all about pre-production, where you’ll start bringing the film to life. You’ll learn how to create storyboards, design shots, and choose the right camera movements to enhance the story. We’ll help you create shot lists and schedules, scout locations, and design sets and props. Along with working with actors to help tell the film story.
Day 1: Management
Shortlist locations and learn how to scout for new ones that suit the story. Finally, get to grips with the storyboarding process to develop the narrative of the film.
Day 2: DESIGN
Unleash the Magic of Filmmaking: Transform Characters into Unforgettable Personas with the Perfect Combination of Wardrobe, Makeup, and Props! Elevate the film Scenes from Ordinary to Extraordinary, Set the Mood, and Add Depth to the Story with Clever Set Design. With the Right Elements, You Can Create a Cinematic Experience That Captivates Audiences Long After the Credits Roll!
Day 3: REHEARSE
Unleash the Power of Rehearsing: Iron Out Kinks in the Script and Bring Characters to Life. Fine-Tune Performances, Practice Camera Moves, and Perfect Blocking to Ensure Everyone Is Ready to Go and the Shoot Is Smooth. Work Closely with Actors to Extract the Best Performances, and Create Powerful Scenes That Will Captivate audiences.
Week 4: Filming The Movie
Lights, camera, action – the most exhilarating stage of filmmaking has arrived! With carefully planned shots, you’ll now work alongside talented actors to bring the story to life on the big screen. Capture every moment using top-of-the-line cinema equipment and lenses, and make sure that each performance is captured flawlessly for a cinematic journey that will leave audiences in awe.
Day 1/2/3/4/5: Filming
Lights, Camera, Action! This Stage Involves Shooting The Scenes According To The Shot List And Storyboard. The Actors After Having Meticulously Rehearsed The Script Scenes, the actors will Perform On The Film Set.
Day 6: REview Footage
Watching back what has been filmed, deciding if anything needs to be re-filmed.
That’s a Wrap!
The filming stage of the film production has been accomplished, and it’s time to move on to the post-production phases.
But it doesn’t end there – we’ll take you through the final stage of post-production, where you’ll edit the footage, add visual effects, design sound, and score music to create a truly stunning film.
Week 5/6: Post Production
This is the final stage of the process, which includes editing the footage, adding visual effects, sound design, and music.
Day 1/2/3: Film Editing
During the editing stage, you’ll use Avid Media Composer software to piece together the footage from the film, selecting the best takes and arranging the shots in the desired order. You’ll also sync sound to the footage and group clips together, organizing them by keywords and color codes for easy access. As you work, you’ll fine-tune the timing and pacing of each shot to create a cohesive narrative that builds to a climactic finale. By the end of this stage, the film will have truly come to life, ready to be shared with audiences around the world.
Day 4: Sound Mixing
In the post-production stage, the sound team takes over to add depth and character to the film’s audio. Using Avid Pro Tools software, they meticulously edit and balance the dialogue, sound effects, and music to create a rich, immersive soundscape that brings the film to life. They re-record actors’ lines as necessary, using advanced techniques to seamlessly blend the new recordings with the original dialogue. Through the use of sound effects, foley, and atmospheric noise, they create a vivid and dynamic world that immerses the audience in the story.
Day 5: MUSIC SCORING
This is the process of creating a powerful and thought-provoking soundtrack for the film. This can include composing original music or selecting existing music that fits the mood and tone of the film.
Day 6/7: VFX
Using Blackmagic Fusion VFX software to process and adding any necessary special effects to enhance the story. This can include computer-generated images, animation, and other visual effects that are added in post-production.
Day 8: Colour Grading
Unlock the Art of Colour Grading: Elevate the Film to a Professional Level with the Precision of Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Software. Harness the Power to Adjust Hue, Saturation, and Luminance to Create the Perfect Color Palette for Each Scene. Utilize Advanced Techniques such as Power Windows, Curves, and LUTs to Perfectly Craft the Mood and Emotion of the Film.
Delivery ready to Show
This is the final stage where the film is complete and ready to be shown to an audience. This can include submitting the film to film festivals, screening it for cast and crew, and uploading it to online platforms for a wider audience to view.