Colm O'Murchu

1  Thursday 20th February 2025 – 6.30pm – 9.30pm  Production Design Shot Listing and Screenplay Format

• Introductions of the People on the Course and Teachers
• The Film Production and the excitement of producing and making the film.
• 5 Months From tonight to completion of the Film.
• 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
• How to become good at writing screenplays and what you have to do
• The Film Shots and what they are called – this is essential for the Film Director to understand.

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

2   Thursday 6th March 2025    6.30pm – 9.30pm  Creating the story:  

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
⇀ Plot the story-the key plot points
⇀ We demonstrate how to write a short film using the Improv Technique ⇀
⇀ Three Dimensional Character Creation
⇀ High Stakes Objectives
⇀ Adding Conflict to your story

Result: By 9.30pm we will have developed an eight to ten minute short film story.
Voluntary Homework: Write the first draft script of the story.

Over the years we have found the results of the above techniques have produced a strong short film story for emerging or beginner filmmakers.

After class drinks Social at a local venue (Allow $5 for a drink). This is voluntary and intended to help the group bond and allow you to talk film with your new team!

3 Tuesday  11th March 2025    6.30pm – 9.30pm Cameras Lights and Sound Equipment and How to Use it

 In this session everyone will be introduced to the mechanics of a film scene and film equipment. You will use the camera to shoot a scene, getting to feel how it works and what is needed for a Professional Shoot.

• ⇀ The dynamics of a scene. Shots & coverage, crew setup, the ‘Master Shot’ and directing your actors.
• ⇀ Introduction to the’calls’ of a professional film crew
• ⇀ Camera Equipment: Play with the 4K Blackmagic URSA mini Camera with Professional Rig including
• ⇀ Matte Box and A-B Hard Stop Follow Focus and lenses.
• ⇀ Lighting Equipment: Lights, Gels, Spun Reflectors and Scrims
• ⇀ Professional Sound Equipment: Lapel Microphone, Shotgun Microphone with Boom Pole and Pistol Grip
• ⇀Result: By the end of the session, you will have a foundation for using film equipment and how to use it to shoot a scene.

4 Tuesday 18th March 2025  6.30pm – 9.30pm   Camera Department Basics: 

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

⇀ Camera basics (AFEW-Aperture, Focus, Exposure, White Balance) ⇀ How to balance a Fluid Head Tripod
⇀ How to focus effectively using Focus Chart and pull focus
⇀ How to check exposure⇀ How to compose/frame your shots
⇀ Camera movement: Tilt & Pan using a tripod
⇀ Camera movement:  Handheld with a shoulder rig
⇀ When to use Prime Lenses and when to use Zoom Lens. The Session will end with Shooting an Interview with 3 different Camera Shot

5 Tuesday 25th March 6.30pm – 9.30pm  Sound Department Basics 1

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

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

6 Tuesday 1st April    6.30pm – 9.30pm   How to Light a Scene 

The Lighting Session: Learning how to use professional lighting and gaffer equipment to light your scenes.

⇀ 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, Fresnels, 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.

7  Tuesday 8th April 2025  6.30pm – 9.30pm  Casting Night:. How to Cast your Film

Tonight 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
• ⇀ 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. This is a favourite session for many students as it is the first opportunity in the course to direct actors and see the characters come to life.

8 Tuesday 15th April 2025    6.30pm – 9.30pm  Preproduction How to Prepare your Film Shoot

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.   Shoot location sourcing, selection and finalisation

⇀ Wardrobe, props and set dressing
⇀ How to prepare a schedule and a Call Sheet
⇀ Working with actors and how to provide effective direction
⇀ Confirm actors are booked for rehearsal session

9 Tuesday Night 29th November  – 6.30pm – 9.30pm  –    Directing Actors. –  The Full Breakdown   Tonight’s focus is firmly placed on working with actors.

Actor Blocking and how it will determine the shot list.

• 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 for the Short film will arrive at 7.30pm

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

10 Saturday 3rd May  2025   10am – 3pm  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. 

11 Tuesday 6th May  6.30pm – 9.30pm Final Preparation of the Film Shoot  

Final preproduction:

• ⇀ Final Shoot Preparations; How to prepare for shooting.
• ⇀ 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 rehearsal session.This session will focus on assisting the actors in their preparation for the shoot and expose you to working with actors.

12 Saturday 10th May 2025     8am – 5pm Shoot Day One on Location on the film Set 

 THE SHOOT: Day One: 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

The Film Shoot Day 1–On Location.

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

Learn to Edit on Adobe Premiere Pro

13  Tuesday 13th May 2025 6.30 pm – 9.30pm Edit Session 1

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.

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 Day One.
• Adobe Premier Pro Set up
• How to prepare your Edit
• How to sync sound
• How to watch your footage
• How to edit a scene.

14 Saturday 17th May 2025   8am – 6pm    SHOOT DAY TWO : 

On Location: Set location – TBA Teacher: Sean Smith

⇀ Your second day working as a crew member on a real film.
⇀ Crew roles continue to rotate over the 3 shooting days.

15 Sunday 18th May  2025  8am – 6pm        SHOOT DAY 3 

Today the Crew shoot visually on their own on Day 3. Your last day working as a crew member on the film. 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 and everyone is required to help make the film. Sean Smith