Sydney 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course
starts Thursday 19th March 6pm - Close to Full
Course Fees Below and Enrolment Process

Dealing with Destiny – one of our films 

Testimonials and Reviews

Learn Filmmaking without going Expensive Film School

✅ Learn to Direct, Produce, and Edit a film in just 4 months

✅ Course sessions on Tuesday nights and some Saturdays

✅  You can keep your day job while going to film school

✅ Work on a real film production shot on location

✅ You will both make and crew on an actual shoot.

✅ Discover how to build a career in the film industry including ways to earn money from filmmaking

✅ Train with professional film equipment — fully supplied

✅ Master casting and directing actors on set

✅ Learn how to write a professional screenplay

✅ Learn to produce and properly prepare your shoot

Learn to Edit and colour grade your film using DaVinci Resolve

Source the best music and sound design for your film

✅ Receive high-standard, quality filmmaking training
Delivered through our 4 Month Film School

✅ Learn from a filmmaking course  with 28 years of filmmaking teaching experience

Make new friends and future creative collaborators

Graduate with your Film Director’s Certificate on the final night

Tuesday Nights 
Some Saturdays

Phone Conversation Required - Close to Full
2 Places Left

Australian Film Central  
Info Phone 1800131166           Email  
enquiry@australianfilmcentral.com    

Check Course Fees and Payment Plans

Option 1 - Pay x 2

$ 2995
  • $ 1195 Deposit
  • $1800 Paid Frist night of the Course
  • AfterPay Available for $1195 Payment
  • Go to Checkout Page with Click Here Button
  • You Invest $2995
STANDARD

Option 2 - Payment plans

$ 659 x 5
  • $659 Deposit on Place Offer
  • $ 659 One Mont later
  • $ 659 x 3 More Monthly Payments
  • Total 5 Monthly Payments of $659
  • $ 300 More than Option One
Payment Plan

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

1.  Week 1 – Thursday Night  19th March 2026 – 6.00pm – 9.00pm –  ScreenplayStory Invention Workshop – Instructor  Colm O’Murchu

In this session, we create the Story for the Film Production. We show you exactly how to create a story that grabs the audience.

 Learn How to write a great story & screenplay

  • How to get ideas for a story
  • Story generating exercises
  • Working from character
  • Building conflict
  • Using scene outlines
  • Working in pairs to come up with a short film concept

RESULT:  TONIGHT you will know how to format a screenplay and have created a synopsis for your short film story.

2.  Week 2 – Tuesday Night   24th March  2026 – 6.00pm – 9.00pm – Story Invention Workshop – Instructor Colm O’Murchu 

Scene outline exercise – writing a scene

  • Formatting your script – using Writer Duet free software to professionally format a script
  • Pitch Night: Pitch your idea for your story
  • Workshop further the story with Objectives, Obstacles and Story Structure
  • Voluntary Homework: Write the First Draft of the Screenplay and Submit
RESULT:  You will have a scene-by-scene breakdown of your 10 minute screenplay and be ready to write the screenplay.

3.  Week 3 – Tuesday Night  31st March 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Camera Training – Instructor David Knight 

How to use professional Cameras 

You will learn how to operate a Professional Camera and shoot a scene.

  • All Professional Film Equipment will be on site, and you will work with it
  • Tour of Camera Equipment and Lenses and Tripod
  • Black Magic Camera and Lenses and Tripod
  • Prime lenses – 13mm, 28mm, 36mm, 70 mm
  • How to balance a Fluid Head Tripod
  • How to focus effectively using a Focus Chart
  • How to get the best F Stop
  • How to frame a shot beautifully
  • How to pan and tilt

The Session will end with shooting a scene with 3 different Camera Shots: Camera Exercise One

RESULT:   You will know how to use a professional camera and the lenses.

April 2026

5.  Week 5 – Thursday Night  9th April 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm  – Using Professional Location Sound Equipment and Lighting – Instructor David Knight 

Location Sound

  • Using the Professional Sound Recorder
  • The Shotgun Microphone – The Windsock – The Foam Sock
  • The Pistol Grip – The Boom Pole
  • Wireless Transmitters and Receivers – Lapel Microphones
  • Setting the right sound levels – How to record top class Professional Sound

Lighting and Gaffer Equipment

  • The Film Lights:
  • LED Lights x 3 – Amazing Lights and how they work
  • Gels – Spun – Reflectors
  • How to do three-point lighting on a film set
  • Shoot a Scene from a Hollywood screenplay 

RESULT:  You will know how to light a film set and use professional sound equipment.

6.  Week 6 – Tuesday Night  14th April 2026  6.00pm –  9.00pm – Screenplay & Casting – Instructor Colm O’Murchu

  • Review of Chosen Screenplay – Screenplay is chosen by a panel 
  • This will be the screenplay that we shoot and make into a 10 Minute Movie
  • Casting Tuition: How Casting Works
  • Setting up a Casting using Star Now – placing an ad for your film Casting 
  • How to Direct the Visual Shot listing and Blocking – A Director’s Skill
  • Production Design and the Film Director

RESULT:   You will learn how to set up an Audition Casting for the film. Also, you will know the Film Shots and Production Design. 

7.  Week 7 – Tuesday Night  21st April 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Production Management One – Instructor Colm O’Murchu 

Prepare the Movie Shoot 

As we are getting close to the shoot, the focus is now on how to produce the 10-minute film by producing it.

Producer Preparation:

  • Casting: Book the Actors for Casting Night 
  • The Shoot Schedule – The Script shall be broken down and set into 3 Shooting Days
  • Locations – How to lock down final locations
  • Location Scouting & Negotiation

The Trial Shoot 8.30pm – 9.30pm: To go through the shoot organisation, we will shoot a one-page scene from a Hollywood Movie with two actors on site. This will be a fun exercise that will prepare you for the 3 days of shooting.

RESULT:   You will know how to pre-produce the film and have a mini shoot on set.

 

May 2026

8.  Week 8 – Tuesday Night  5th May 2026   6.00pm – 9.00pm – Casting Night with Film Director – Instructor Colm O’Murchu 

Casting Night – Real Live Auditions with Real Actors – Fun

  • Work on the Casting of Actors
  • Set up the Lights and Camera and operate them
  • Use the Lapel Microphone on the actors auditioning
  • Every 10 minutes an actor is scheduled for the casting
  • Course participants get to direct the actors in the casting
  • Approximately 25 actors will attend

You will learn an invaluable skill.  You will know how to cast a film effectively by doing it for real. This is a favourite session, as one learns how to pick the best actors from the audition.

RESULT:  You will direct actors in the casting and know how to cast a film. Full live Casting tonight.

9.  Week 9 – Tuesday Night  12th May 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Directing Actors – The Full Breakdown – Instructor Colm O’Murchu

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

RESULT:   You will know how to rehearse actors before a film shoot and how to direct actors on set. 

10.  Week 10 – Tuesday Night  19th May 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Instructor JT Schepp Experienced Production Manager 

Shoot Preparations:  
All Final Preparations for the Shoot

Tonight you will complete all the final preparations and the preproduction for the movie that you will shoot.

  • Final Schedule organised
  • Final checklist for the following – Locations – Crew – Production Design
  • Equipment Set Up
  • The Essential Crew – Itemised Director, DOP, Focus Puller, Clapper, Sound Recordist, Boom Swinger, Gaffer x 2, Grips, Continuity, Production Co-ordinator
  • Rotations for the Shoot organised

RESULT:   You will finalise preparations for the film shoot.

11.  Week 11 – Thursday Night  21st May 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Instructor David Knight 

READY STEADY GO: Film Equipment Final Training Bootcamp

  • Call Sheets and how they are prepared

Final Bootcamp Practice with the camera, lighting, and sound equipment to ensure you are “set-ready” and the crew works as a well-oiled machine before the shoot.  

RESULT:   This is a final training session with film equipment before the shoot starts. 

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

Sessions 12 – 14:  Saturday 23rd May 2026  8.00am – 6.00pm  On Location: Shoot Day One

You will direct a scene and you will work as a crew member on a real film with real actors on real locations. Every person revolves through the 10 Person Crew roles over the three shooting days. A designated time is allotted for each crew role. This will be from the film script you developed and the actors you cast. 

Director & Crew Roles for the Film Shoot that you will do:

  1. Director
  2. DOP
  3. Focus Puller
  4. Clapper
  5. Sound Recordist
  6. Boom Swinger
  7. Gaffer
  8. Grips
  9. Continuity
  10. Make Up

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

15.  Week 12 – Tuesday Night  26th May 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Shoot Review and Preparation for Weekend Two & Edit Session One – Instructor David Knight

First Hour 

  • Review of shooting Day One
  • Prepare Shoot Day 2 & 3

Hour Two and Three 

  • DaVinci Resolve Set up Preparation for Start of Postproduction 
  • How to Data Manage your Footage 
  • How to sync your audio and video 
  • Prepare to edit
  • Watch Rushes
 

Sessions 16 – 18  Saturday 30th May 2026  8.00am – 6.00pm  Shoot Day Two on Location – Instructor David Knight

Today you will work as a crew member, as a Director and as a DOP on a real film. Every person revolves through the 10 Person Crew roles over the three shooting days. A designated time is allotted for each crew role. This is 100% hands-on practical.

Director & Crew Roles for the Film Shoot that you will do:

  1. Director
  2. DOP
  3. Focus Puller
  4. Clapper
  5. Sound Recordist
  6. Boom Swinger
  7. Gaffer
  8. Grips
  9. Continuity
  10. Make up.

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).

Sessions 19 – 21  Sunday 31st May 2026  8.00am – 6.00pm  Shoot Day Three – Instructor David Knight 

The Film Shoot on location

Today the Crew shoot on their own. You will work as a crew member on a real film. Every person revolves through the 10 Person Crew roles over the three shooting days. A designated time is allotted for each crew role. This is 100% hands-on practical.

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).

June 2026

22.  Week 14 – Thursday Night  11th June 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm  Edit Class Two: Learn How to Edit your Film – Instructor David Knight

You learn to edit the movie on DaVinci Resolve. We currently have a video tutorial series of 11 tutorials, only available to people on the 4 Month Filmmaking Course.

Editing a short film takes time and enthusiasm to complete outside of class time. Therefore, it is a voluntary section of the course and also the edit itself is voluntary to complete. 

Allow 20 – 30 voluntary hours over a month to complete an edit outside of course time.

The Three-Week challenge:   Edit the entire Short Film 12 minutes long (Voluntary).

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

23.  Week 15 – Tuesday Night  16th June 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Business of Filmmaking  – Instructor Colm O’Murchu

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

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

24.  Week 16  Tuesday Night  23rd June 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Edit Night Three: Finish the post on the film – Instructor David Knight

  • Colouring the film to make the film look great
  • Music and how to use Stock Sites to source your music
  • Adding music to your film
  • Credits and Titles
  • Preparing for Sound Mix
  • Exporting your final Film
  • Sound Post and Music

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

25.  Week 17  Tuesday Night  30th June 2026  7.00pm – 9.00pm – The Final Night Celebration, Certificates and Screening of the Film – Instructor Colm O’Murchu

Screening of the complete finished film and Certificates and Indie Film Club

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

RESULT: You will get your Film Director’s Certificate tonight and your first FILM DIRECTOR’S CREDIT on the finished film. 

What you Achieve

What you Achieve on the 4 Month Film Course 

Your first short film is completed
Created together as a group — ready to show friends, family, and film festivals.

You have earned your first Film Director credit
A real, tangible achievement you can carry forward into your career.

You now have a clear Future Film Career Plan
With practical next steps to activate your path and begin finding work in the film industry.

You have met 15 like-minded filmmakers
Many becoming close friends, collaborators, and part of your creative community.

New student film productions continue after the course
Because filmmaking doesn’t stop at graduation — it accelerates.

You graduate with your Film Director Certificate
A powerful symbol of what you have achieved in just four months.

The 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course  is a transformative course that fast-tracks you to becoming a Filmmaker and gives you a clear plan on how to execute a filmmaking career. 

Quality Short Films made by Beginners on the 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course

We teach you the Whole Filmmaking Process from Screenplay to Finished Film + You Make a Film

  1. Screenwriting – How to Write a Screenplay.

  2. Casting – How to Cast a Movie

  3. Technical Training  Camera Lights and Sound Training

  4. Preproduction and Producing
     
     
  5. Shooting a 12 minute Movie ( Actual Real Shoot)

  6. Postproduction Editing the film  Colour Grading, 
    Sound & Music – Finished Film

  7. Getting Work in the Film industry

  8. Planning your Film Career

  9. Film Directors Certificate

  10. Plus Make a Film on the 5 Month Film School

  11. Best Quality Student Films 

Tabernacle 101 - Feature Film made by us: Australian Film Central
Maximum Production Value - We teach you this

The Film Instructors: Taught by Filmmakers for Future Filmmakers

Colm O’Murchu is a successful Indie Filmmaker and Director of four worldwide successfully released feature films The Elixir, The Makeover, Dealing with Destiny, and Tabernacle 101.

He created and has run Australian Film Central since 1997 and helped filmmakers produce hundreds of short films. At this point 157 Short Films have been made on the Filmmaking Courses.

 His mission is to help up and coming and emerging Filmmakers make their films successful and loves to help up-and-coming filmmakers make it in the film business.

David Knight has built a remarkable professional career spanning over 30 years.David is a proud graduate in Cinematography from the prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS). David now works as a Director of Photography on multiple films in Australia.

David is a dedicated and passionate teacher works a the world-renowned National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and at Australian Film Central (AFC). He teaches, lighting, cinematography, editing, colour grading, sound recording, and film production management.

Sydney 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course
starts Thursday 19th March 6pm - Close to Full

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Phone Conversation Required - Close to Full
2 Places Left

Australian Film Central  
Info Phone 1800131166           Email  
enquiry@australianfilmcentral.com