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At the end of 5 Months, you will have make and create a 10 - 12 minute movie
You will have learned quickly and effectively how to Make a Film

Session 1  Saturday 23rd November 2024    10am - 1pm      Creating the story:

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

1  Saturday 23rd November 2024    10am – 1pm      Story Invention Session. Learn to write a 10 minute Screenplay 

  • Meet the 14 other people on the course 
  • We create the Story for the Film Production. 
  • The film Instructor will show you exactly how to create a story that grabs your audience.
  • Script Formatting and How to write your screenplay 
  • You will be invited to write a 10 Page Screenplay to submit for the Course Film Production 

RESULT:  By the end of the session, we will have developed an eight to ten minute short film story and learned how to format a screenplay 

Session 2  Saturday 23rd November 2024   2pm - 5pm  
Intro to Cameras Lights and Sound

2 Saturday 23rd November 2024    2pm – 5pm   Introduction to Shooting Scenes and Composition Theory 

  • You will use our professional cameras to shoot a scene, getting to feel how it works 
  • You will learn about getting great location sound. 

RESULT:  You will learn and see all of the  professional camera and location sound equipment.

Session 3  Saturday 30th November 2024   10am - 1pm  
Professional Camera Bootcamp

You will learn how to operate a Professional Camera and be part of a Camera Department, including:

  • Learn the basics of cinema cameras and working in a camera department
  • Learn cinema composition and the principles of collaboration between Directors and Directors of Photography
  • Learn how to shoot a scene and the process of shooting coverage on set

The Session will end with Shooting an Interview with 3 different Camera Shot

Session 4  Saturday 30th November 2024   2am - 5pm  
Location Sound Bootcamp - How to Set up a Casting

How to set up a Casting that attracts the best actors to our Casting Call 
  • Script Selection announced with successful screenplay chosen for the 10 Minute Film.
  •  Casting Setup – We teach by setting up a live Casting Advert on Star Now 
  •  We show you how to get the best actors into the Casting Session.
  • Casting Call is launched and very soon we will have actors applying for the casting session 
Location Sound Bootcamp 
  • Learn to use Wireless Transmitters and Receivers with Lapel Microphones
  • Learn to  Set the right sound levels and monitor  sound on set
  • Learn to use the Boompole and the ShotgunMicrophone 

Session 5 Saturday 7th December 10am - 1pm  
Lighting Bootcamp - How to Light a Scene 

Lighting a Film Set Bootcamp
Learn how to use professional lighting and gaffer equipment and light the film set. 

⇀ Basics of film lighting (3,2,1 point lighting and effects)
⇀ Lighting for exposure vs lighting for mood & effect
⇀ Using natural light
⇀ Lighting with set lights: Dedolights,  LEDs and Redheads
⇀ Using Gels& Diffusion with lights

We will experiment with lighting different scenes trying to create different looks and moods just by changing the lighting setup.

Session 6: Saturday 7th December 2024 2pm - 5pm
Casting Day:. How to Cast your Film

Tonight we have a real live Casting with real actors and pick the actors for the 10 Minute Short Film 

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
  • ⇀ You will direct the actors during their audition, assisting them to provide their best performance.

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

Holiday Break Starts Now - Back on Saturday 18th January 2025 

Session 8 - Saturday 18th January 2025  10am - 1pm  
Preproduction How to Prepare your Film Shoot

You will learn how to produce your Film.  Preproduction is is the preparation for the 3 Day Shoo.

  • Confirm Final Selection for the Actors 
  • Breakdown the screenplay and work out what Locations are needed for the shoot   
  • Schedule the Film into a 3 Day Shoot. 
  • Finding Great Shoot Locations for the Film Production 
  • Top Tips for Location Hunting 
  • Shoot Exercise 

Session 9 - Saturday 18th January 2025  2pm - 5pm
Directing Actors Session and Rehearsal

This session focus is firmly placed on working with actors. 

  • Top 10 Tips for working with actors on set.
  • How to direct Actors effectively when you are starting out.

Part Two Rehearsals with the  actual actors cast for the film. Actors arrive. 

  • Costumes for the actors finalised.
  • Rehearsals with the actors How to rehearse
  • Learn by rehearsing with the Actors
 

Session 10 Saturday 1st February 2025   10am - 1pm    
Hands On Practical Saturday

READY STEADY GO:   Film Equipment  Final Training Bootcamp 

This is a Saturday session designed to give you further practice with the camera, lighting and sound equipment
to ensure you are “set-ready” and the crew works as a well oiled machine. 

Very Fun Session and the Excitement of the Film Shoot is fast approaching.

Session 11 - Saturday 1st February 2025  2pm - 5pm
Final Preproduction for the Film Shoot

This is the Final Preparation Session for the Shoot. This is setting you up for a great 3 Day Shoot: 
  • Crew Rotations and Which Scene you are going to Direct 
  • Direct or preparation: Shot listing and story boarding
  • Director preparation: Learning your scenes, understanding the motivation of your character sand preparing to direct your actors performances
  • Preproduction: Finalising remaining details such as: Locations, Extras, Props, Wardrobe, Set dressing

Rehearsals

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

Session 12 Saturday 8th February 2025     8am – 5pm
Shoot Day One of the 12 Minute Film- On Location  

THE SHOOT: Day One: –  9 Hour Shooting Day:  8 Am – 5pm 

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/ A

Session 13 Sunday 9th February 2025     8am – 5pm
Shoot Day Two of the 12 Minute Film- On Location  

Day 2  We shoot  3 -4 more More Minutes of the  12 Minute Film 

  • Your second day working as a crew member on a real film.
  • Crew roles continue to rotate over the 3 shooting days.
  • This is an amazing and exciting way to learn Filmmaking as you really are on a Film Set shooting a Film with Real Actors
  • Everyone gets to direct a scene. 

Session 14 Monday 10th February 2025     8am – 5pm
Shoot Day Two of the 12 Minute Film- On Location  

Day 3  We shoot the final  3 -4 more More Minutes of the  12 Minute Film 

  • Your third day working as a crew member on a real film.
  • Crew roles continue to rotate over the 3 shooting days.
  • Everyone gets to direct a scene. 
  • On the Final Day, everyone is working like a professional crew. 
  • You will have learned how to produce and direct a film and you will have written a screenplay 
  • At this point of the course, you will have your first film in the can at wrap time 5pm 
  • This will feel like a major achievement. 

Session 15 Tuesday 18th February 2025   6.30pm - 9.30pm
Editing the Film 1 - Learn Postproduction

You will learn to edit and make your film into a film by actually editing the class the film.
You learn to edit the movie, on Adobe Premiere Pro or Da Vinci Resolve

We currently have a video tutorial series of 11 tutorials, only available to people on the 5 Month Filmmaking School. One must use these tutorials with the editing course lessons  and the footage from the film. This way you will edit the entire short film. Editing a short film takes time and enthusiasm to complete outside of class time.   

Therefore it is voluntary section of the course and also the edit itself is a voluntary to complete. Allow 20 – 30 voluntary hours over a month, to complete an edit outside of course time.

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. You will need a Laptop or Desktop computer with a minimum of 8GB of Ram and the Adobe Premiere Pro Software available from Adobe.

Course content for the night:

  • Review of shooting on Set 
  • How to prepare your Edit
  • How to sync sound
  • How to watch your footage
  • How to edit a scene.

The goal of the Post Production Sessions is to learn how to edit your film.

Session 16 Tuesday 25th February 2025   6.30pm - 9.30pm
Postproduction 2 - Learn to Edit your Film

Continue to learn how to cut and make your film

  • Learn today how to cut scenes for your film

  • Learn how to effectively tell your story

  • You learn by actually editing the film 

  • 3 weeks to Edit the Film. 

Session 17 Monday 3rd March 2025   6.30pm - 9 pm
Business of Filmmaking - Finding the Audience for your film

Colm O’Murchu  Film Career and Opportunity 

After your short Film is complete, how do you find the audience and how do you find work in the film business.

  • Film Festivals and your strategy for entering
  • What is the best site for Film Festivals
  • Earning money on Stock Video Sites
  • 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.

 

Session 18 Tuesday 13th March   6.30pm - 9.30pm
Postproduction 3 - Learn to Colour your Film

  • Colouring your film and making it look great
  • How to create Titles for the Film 
  • We teach via doing it on the course film. 

Session 19 Tuesday 20th March   6.30pm - 9.30pm
Postproduction 4 - Learn to do Sount Post and add Music to the Film

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 and how you can do your own sound design clean up and mix.
  • How to source music for your film and
  • how to match it to the emotion of the Film. 

Session 20 Thursday 27th March   6.30pm - 9pm
Screening of the Final Film & Certificate Presentation

 

Final Session  See the Final Film and Receive your Certificate

  • Screening of the Finished Movie 
  • Film Director Certificate Presentation 
  • Future Directions with film projects mushrooming amongst the course participants. 

The Film Instructors - Taught by Filmmakers for Future Film Directors and Producers

Sean Smith

Sean Smith is a fanatical Film Maker. His communication skills and teaching skills are of the highest calibre. He is currently in production on his own feature film. He teaches most of the course in Melbourne

Colm O'Murchu

Colm founded Australian Film Central in 1997 and has since taught emerging film makers to make professional films. Colm has guided and instructed over the years on 175 short films made With a wealth of film teaching and film making experience Colm O’Murchu is one of the very best film instructors.