Melbourne 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course
Content Times &  Dates Session by Session

1.  Opening Night – Week 1 

Thursday 26th February 2026   6.30pm – 9.30pm  

  • Introductions of the People on the Course and Teachers
  • The Film Production and the excitement of producing and making the film
  • Course Overview and Course Objective: Make a 12 – 15 Minute Film and learn filmmaking via making a film
  • The Deadline and how important the deadline is to the filmmaking process
  • How to format a script – this is an essential so as to present a professional script, when you make your own films
  • Which Software to use and how to get it for Free saving you $200

At the end of 5 Months, you will have worked on and created a 10 – 12 minute movie

2.   Creating the story:  Writing the Screenplay – Week 2

Thursday 12th March 2026    6.30pm – 9.30pm  

Story Invention Workshop. In this session we create the Story for the Film Production. The teacher will show you exactly how to create a story that grabs your audience.

  • Story Ideas Brainstorm
  • Three Dimensional Character Creation
  • Pitching your ideas
  • Narrative arcs for short films
  • Plot the story-the key plot points

RESULT: You will learn how to create and write a screenplay.

Homework (voluntary): Write the first draft  for a 10 Page Screenplay
Over the years we have found the results of the above techniques have produced a strong short film story for emerging or beginner filmmakers.

 

3.  How a Film Director Shoots a Scene – Week 3 

Tuesday 17th March 2026    6.30pm – 9.30pm   

  • Director on the Film Set  and Actor Blocking 
  • The Film Shots and what they are called –
    this is essential for the Film Director to understand
  • How does a Scene work
  • The process of planning blocking rehearsing 
  • Working with Actors 
  • Working with the Crew 
  • Camera angles and Coverage of a scene

RESULT: You will learn how to shoot a scene in a movie. 

Homework Assignment: (Voluntary) Shoot a basic scene at home with your Smart Phone Camera (Mobile) Use at least 3 Camera Angles 

4.  Camera Operations & Cinematography – Week 4 

Tuesday 24th March 2026    6.30pm – 9.30pm    

  • Camera basics (RED 8K Helium & Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K Pro)
  • How to balance a Fluid Head Tripod
  • AFEW (Aperture, Focus, Exposure, White balance) Camera angles
  • When to use Prime Lenses and when to use Zoom Lens
  • Camera movement Pulling focus
  • How to compose/frame your shots
  • Camera department roles and responsibilities
  • Cinematography – 5 C’s (Camera angles, composition, cutting, continuity and close ups)

RESULT:  You will learn how to operate a professional camera. 

Homework assignment: Cinematography assignment using composition techniques (e.g. rule of thirds or leading lines)

 

5.  How to Light a Scene  Week 5 

 Tuesday 31st March 2026    6.30pm – 9.30pm    

The Lighting Session: Learning how to use professional lighting equipment to light your scenes
We will experiment with lighting – creating different looks and moods just by changing the lighting setup

  • Cinema lighting overview
  • 3 point lighting – Basics of film lighting (3,2,1 point lighting and effects)
  • Setting up light stands, heads and power
  • Lighting for mood and atmosphere 
  • Lighting for exposure vs lighting for mood & effect – Using light modifiers
  • Using natural light
  • Lighting with set lights: Dedolights, Fresnels, LEDs and Redheads
  •  Using Gels& Diffusion with lights

RESULT: You will learn how to light a scene in a movie. 

Scripts are due to be submitted

Homework: Cinematography assignment using available light and then creating lighting (household sources)

6.  Casting Setup & Sound Department Basics 1 – Week 6 

Thursday 14th April 2026  6.30pm – 9.30pm    

6.30pm – 7.30pm: Script selection & Casting setup

  • At the start of class, the successful script will be announced. From here we will discuss the characters in the script and set up a casting call
  • How to set up a casting call
  • We show you how we get the best Actors into the Casting session

7.30pm – 9.30pm: Sound Department

The Sound Session: Learning how to use Professional Sound Equipment on location, including: ⇀ Sound basics⇀ Shotgun Microphone & Boompole

  • Wind Sock
  • Wireless Transmitters and Receivers with Lapel Microphones
  • XLR Inputs on the Camera
  • Setting the right sound levels and monitor in sound on set
  • Sound in film overview – Reference videos

The session ends with shooting a scene focusing on correctly recording sound, including static subject dialogue and moving subjects

RESULT: You will learn how to set up a casting for the film.
              You will learn how to get professional location sound on a film set. 

Homework assignment: place an ad for our film on Star Now for actors to apply and audition

7.  Shooting a scene recap & Location scouting – Week 7 

Tuesday 21st April 2026   6.30pm – 9.30pm    

  • Shooting a scene with lights, sound and camera departments
  • Capturing coverage
  • Pulling focus & using depth of field
  • Using lighting
  • Location scouting and what makes a good location for short films

 Homework assignment:  Scout for suitable locations for our film

Directing actors:

  • What does a director do
  • How to effectively direct a scene
  • How to build an effective working relationship and trust with actors
  • Practicing effective directing techniques Directing actors workshop

RESULT:  You will learn learn more about shooting a scene in a movie
and how to get locations for your film
and You will learn about directing actors in a scene. 

 

8.  Casting – How to Cast your Film – Week 8 

Tuesday 28th April 2026   6.30pm – 9.30pm

Today we have a real live Casting with real actors. You will get to:

  • Learn the process of casting actors professionally
  • Set up the Lights and Camera for casting
  • Camera operators will be rotated throughout the night
  • Actors should be scheduled for 10 minutes slots
  • 5-15 minute in person audition sessions with actors who have applied to our casting call
  • You will direct the actors during their audition, assisting them to provide their best performance
  • How to get the best out of actors during auditions
  • How to choose the best actors

RESULT: You will learn how to cast a film effectively by doing it for real for your short film

9. Preproduction – How to Prepare your Film Shoot – Week 9

Tuesday 5th May 2026    6.30pm – 9.30pm    

  • Director preparation: Learning your scenes, understanding the motivation of your character sand preparing to direct your actors performance  
  • Working with actors and how to provide effective direction            

Tonight you will learn all about preproduction for a film shoot and locking in the final logistical and production elements to ensure a successful shoot.   

  • Documentation –  schedule, call sheets, talent release docs
  • Production design props and set dressing, props
  • Wardrobe
  • How to prepare a schedule and a Call Sheet
  • Confirm actors are booked for rehearsal session

RESULT: You will learn again this week about directing actors on set. You will know what to do when on set directing your actors

You will learn all about the preproduction preparation for your film shoot. 

10.  Practical Saturday – Ready Steady Go:  – Week 10
Film Equipment – Final Training Bootcamp 

Saturday 9th May 2026   10.00am – 3.00pm     

  • This is a Saturday session designed to give you further practice with the camera, lighting and sound equipment – an intensive recap session
  • To ensure you are “set-ready” and the crew works as a well oiled machine
  •  All the elements of being on set without the actors
  • Focus on getting hands on with the technical side of filmmaking in preparation for the shoot
RESULT: You will today get totally read for the film shoot.

11.  Final Preparation of the Film Shoot  – Week 11 

Tuesday 12th May 2025   6.30pm – 9.30pm    

  • Final Shoot Preparations – Finalising remaining details as follows:
  • Location confirmation 
  • Schedule Confirmation 
  • Call Sheets 
  •  Extras
  • Props
  • Wardrobe
  • Set dressing       
Homework assignment: any remaining production elements to be completed and sourced
 

Rehearsals
In addition to preparing the shoot, we will invite the core cast (actors) to attend a rehearsal session. This session will focus on assisting the actors in their preparation for the shoot and expose you to working with actors.

RESULT: You will learn how to rehearse actors for the film shoot. 

12 The Three-Day Film Shoot – On Real Location Learn how to shoot a Movie by doing it for real

Sessions 12 – 14

Shoot Day One on Location on the film Set 

Saturday 16th May 2026    8.00am – 5.00pm 

 The Shoot:  9 Hour Shooting Day: 

Film Shoots are on Location: Locations can be a shop or hotel or park or any variable of a film location. This is a very exciting day where one is on a real shoot and real film.

Today you will work as a crew member. Every person revolves through the crew roles over the 3 shooting days.

Revolving Crew roles you will take on:

  1. Director
  2. DOP
  3. Focus Puller
  4. Clapper
  5. Sound Recordist
  6. Boom
  7. Gaffer
  8. Grip
  9. Continuity
  10. Production Runner

RESULT: You will have 9 hours shooting on the Film Set for real and will shoot 3 minutes of the movie 

15.  Watching Rushes – Prepare to Edit  – Week 12 

Tuesday 19th May 2026  6.30pm – 9.30pm    

  • Review of shooting Day One – Preview Shoot Days 2 & 3 
  • Watch the rushes from day one shooting – How to watch your footage
  • Preparing for post-production
  • Which software to use – Revealed on the course
  • The amazing free software that will edit and colour your film and do the sound post (Revealed on the course)
  • How to sync sound and get your footage ready to edit

Sessions 16 – 18  

Shoot Day Two: On Location: Shooting with Actors

Saturday 23rd May 2026  8.00am – 5.00pm  

  • This is the real deal where you are on set shooting a movie 
  • Your second day working as a crew member on a real film
  • Crew roles continue to rotate over the 3 shooting days

RESULT: You will have 9 hours shooting on the Film Set for real and will shoot 3 more minutes of the movie (6 minutes total )

Session 19 – 21  

Shoot Day 3 on Location – Working as Film Director and a crew member on the film set

Sunday 24th May  2025   8.00am – 5.00pm   

Crew roles continue to rotate for the final shoot day, but the crew will be running this shoot almost completely solo. This is 100% hands-on practical.  This is the real deal where you are on set shooting a movie

  • Your third day working as a crew member on a real film
  • Crew roles continue to rotate over the 3 shooting days
RESULT: You will have 9 hours shooting on the Film Set for real and will shoot 4 more minutes of the movie (10 minutes total  shot of the film)

Sessions 22 – 24  

Post Production Saturday – Editing the Film – Week 14 

Saturday 6th June 2026    9.00am – 6.00pm Post-Production Day 

You will learn to edit and make your film into a film by actually editing in class the film. You learn to edit the movie on Adobe Premiere Pro

Please note that editing is a great skill to learn and there is so much work in the film and video business for talented editors. It also pays well.

Course content for the night:

  • How to edit a scene
  • Learn today how to cut scenes for your film
  • Learn how to effectively tell your story

RESULT: You will learn how to edit your film  on Da Vinci Resolve and will be invited to do an edit of the film.

26.  Business of Filmmaking – Colm O’Murchu  – Week 15

Tuesday 16th June  2026  7.00pm – 9.00pm

After your short Film is complete, how do you find the audience?

  • Film Festivals and your strategy for entering
  • What is the best site for Film Festivals
  • Where is the work in the film industry
  • Your plan for getting work in the film industry
  • Film Markets and how feature films are sold and make money

RESULT: You will learn how to enter your film into a Film Festival and how films are sold in the film market. 

25.  Colour Grading and Grading the Film – Week 16

Tuesday 23rd June 2026    6.30pm – 9.30pm    

  • Colouring your film and making it look great
  • Grading your film to have colour consistency
  • Titles and Credits

Sound Post:

  • Sound Post and Music mix Session – this is what makes the difference between a good film and a great film and will make the difference between success and not succeeding
  • On this session you learn about the importance of Sound
  • Music for your film and how to get the best music easily and cheaply

RESULT: You will learn how to colour correct your film and add sound and music to your film. 

27.  Tuesday 30th June 2026   7pm – 9pm  –  Week 17 

The Final Night Certificates and Screening of the Film   Screening of the complete finished film and Certificates and Indie Film Club

  • Future Opportunities
  • Screening of the Finished Completed Film
  • 5 Month Film Making Certificate Presentation
  • Photos of group
  • Social Mixer and Celebration

RESULT: You will get your Film Directors Certificate tonight and your first FILM DIRECTORS CREDIT on the finished film. 

Achievements and Benefits after
completion of the Course

Imagine that on the last night of the 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course, the following has happened. 

  1. Your First Film Completed as  a group  and ready to show people and film festivals

  2. Your first Film Directors Credit

  3. The Film Directors Certificate

  4. Future Plan to activate and execute your Film Career Plan and find work in the film industry

  5. You will have met 15 other people  that many of them will come friends and creative collaborators

  6. Most students stay connected for years afterwards  and make future films together.”

  7. Film Productions will  mushroom out of the course

Phone Conversation  and Find out Course Fees  

Ph1800131166 ( free call )