Making a Short Film: Start to Finish

Course details

Learn how to make your own short film. Explore the basic elements of screenwriting, production, and directing. This comprehensive beginner’s course is for anyone who has good ideas that they want to share with the world. Writer, director, and producer Avi Glijansky teaches the theory, skills, and core craft of visual storytelling for the big screen. Learn how to write your scripts; manage cameras, lighting, and sound; and work with actors. Plus, find out how to plan your production and keep your set running smoothly.

Topics include:
- Writing your script
- Analyzing the script
- Shot composition
- Lighting your shoot
- Budgeting and scheduling
- Working with actors
- Running your shoot

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Create your own short film

1. Script

02 - Where to look for ideas
03 - Is your idea a story
04 - Character
05 - Mapping the script structure
06 - From skeleton to outline
07 - Screenplay format
08 - Writing the screenplay
09 - Rewriting and revisions
10 - Preparing the rest of your production

2. Camera, Lighting, and Sound

11 - Script analysis and breakdown
12 - Understanding visual storytelling
13 - Part 1 - Shots and shot composition
14 - Part 2 - Elements of shot composition
15 - Camera movement
16 - Part 1 - Shots working together
17 - Part 2 - Audience emotion
18 - Lighting
19 - Sound
20 - Production design, costumes, hair and makeup

3. Preparing Your Production

21 - How to approach prepping your production
22 - Creative challenges
23 - Technical challenges
24 - Producer s challenges
25 - Take a list of you
26 - Budgeting
27 - Scheduling
28 - Assembling your crew
29 - Locations

4. Working with Actors and Preproduction

30 - Casting
31 - The producing side of casting
32 - Rehearsals
33 - Working with actors on set

5. Production

34 - A typical day on set
35 - Coverage
36 - Make the pages
37 - Communication efficiency
38 - Common logistical issues
39 - Planning for post-production