Here are the details:
We can offer a Substantial Discount on the Course Fee if
- Enrolment is this week
- Do Not worry about paying a big deposit as $200 will hold the place while you work out finances
- You need to phone 1800131166 or Fill in Form
- Substantial Discount is offered over the phone.
- You can phone during business hours or fill in the Form requesting a phone call.
PHONE 1800131166
FIND OUT DISCOUNT or FILL IN FORM
Melbourne Content Times & Dates Session by Session - Starts Thursday 2nd October 2025 6.30pm
Starts Thursday 2nd October 2025 - Wednesday 18th February 2026 Phone 1800131166
1 Opening Night
Thursday 2nd October 2025 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
“The best education in film is to make one.” – Stanley Kubrick
You will make and work on a film on the 5 Month Film School
2 Creating the story: Writing the Screenplay
Thursday 16th October 2025 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
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
Tuesday 21st October 2025 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
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
Tuesday 28th October 2025 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)
Homework assignment: Cinematography assignment using composition techniques (e.g. rule of thirds or leading lines)
The Camera we use Red Epic 8K
Films shot on this camera include Transformers Series:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Also The Great Gatsby, and Australia
5 How to Light a Scene
Tuesday 4th November 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
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
Thursday 6th November 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
Homework assignment: place an ad for our film on Star Now for actors to apply and audition
7 Shooting a scene recap & Location scouting
Tuesday 11th November 2025 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
8 Casting How to Cast your Film
Tuesday 18th November 2025 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
Tuesday 25th November 2025 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
10 Practical Saturday Ready Steady Go: Film Equipment Final Training Bootcamp
Saturday 29th November 2025 10am – 3pm
- 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
11 Final Preparation of the Film Shoot
Tuesday 2nd December 6.30pm – 9.30pm
- Final Shoot Preparations. Finalising remaining details as follows
- Location confirmation
- Schedule Confirmation
- Call Sheets
- Extras
- Props
- Wardrobe
- Set dressing
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.
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 6th December 2025 8am – 5pm
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:
- Director
- DOP
- Focus Puller
- Clapper
- Sound Recordist
- Boom
- Gaffer
- Grip
- Continuity
- Production Runner
15 Watching Rushes – Prepare to Edit
Tuesday 9th December 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 13th December 2025 8am – 5pm
- 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
Session 19 – 21
Shoot Day 3 on Location – Working as Film Director and a crew member on the film set.
Sunday 14th December 2025 8am – 5pm
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
Sessions 22 – 24
Post Production Saturday Editing the Film
Saturday 31st January 2026 9am – 6pm 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
26 Business of Filmmaking Colm O’Murchu
Tuesday 3rd February 7pm – 9pm
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
25 Colour Grading and Grading the Film
Tuesday 10th February 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
27 Wednesday Night 18th February 2026
7pm – 9pm 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
After the 5 Month Film School Completes
At the end of 5 Months, you will have worked on and created a 10 – 12 minute movie
We teach you, step by step, the process of scripting shooting casting and crewing and directing a 12 minute short film.
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- You will also learn to edit and colour, source your music and finish your film professionally.
- You will learn the technical side of filmmaking, how to operate cameras and record professional location sound.
- You will know exactly what to do, to make your own personal film professionally, that will attract film festivals and will make you into a Film Director and Producer
- You will have ongoing support from Australian Film Central with after film course support, gear supply and shoot help and work opportunities.
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AFTER THE FIVE MONTH FILM SCHOOL COMPLETES, SUPPORT STRUCTURES ARE AS FOLLOWS
- Indie Film Club Meetings after 5 Month Film School to network and find new film projects
- Numerous Film Productions that mushroom from Indie Film Club and Graduates.
- Personal Coaching – one on one to help you achieve your goals. ( Please inquire)
Find out Substantial Discount Now — Phone Now 1800131166 ( free call )
Testimonials and Reviews
Testimonial Taj Graduate 5 Month Film School
Former Graduates Reviews
Absolutely loved the 5 month Short Film School. You learnt everything you need to be able to create your very own film! I went on to produce my very own short film 😁.
Here are the details again:
We can offer a Substantial Discount on the Course Fee if
- Enrolment is this week
- Do Not worry about paying a big deposit as $200 will hold the place while you work out finances
- You need to phone 1800131166 or Fill in Form
- Substantial Discount is offered over the phone.
- You can phone during business hours or fill in the Form requesting a phone call.