Sydney Content Times &  Dates Session by Session

Starts Thursday 23rd October 2025 - Phone 1800131166

1.  The Big First Night 

Thursday 23rd October 2025   6.00pm – 9.00pm

Introduction. Meet your fellow course participants. This is one of the most important factors of any course.

  • 5 Month Film School Objective – The Film Production Plan – You will make a film
  • Setting the Goal for your Film Group – 5 Months to a completed 10-minute Short Film
  • The Shots – Coverage – Shot Lists – Actor Blocking – Study Film
    Production Design – Study Film
  • How to shoot a scene (Actual demonstration of How to Shoot a Scene)

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.  Thursday Night  6th November  2025 – 6.00pm – 9.00pm  Screenplay – Story Invention Workshop

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

3.  Tuesday Night 11th November 2025 – 6.00pm – 9.00pm Story Invention Workshop 

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
 

4.  Tuesday Night 18th November 2025  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Camera Training

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. 

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.  Tuesday Night 25th November 2025  6.00pm – 9.00pm   Using Professional Location Sound Equipment and Lighting

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: Dedos
  • 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 

6.  Tuesday Night 2nd December 2025  6.00pm – 9.00pm

  • Review of Chosen Screenplay – Screenplay is chosen by a panel 
  • This will be the screenplay that we shoot and make into a 10-12 Minute Movie
  • Casting Tuition: How Casting Works out
  • 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

7.  Tuesday Night 9th December 2025  6.00pm – 9.00pm  Production Management One

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.

 

8.  Tuesday Night 16th December 2025  6.00pm – 9.00pm  Casting Night with Film Director

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. 

Holiday Break Starts Now - Back on Tuesday January 20th

9.  Tuesday Night 20th January 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm  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.  Tuesday Night 27th January 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm

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

11.  Thursday Night 29th January 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm 

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.  

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

Sessions 12, 13, 14:  Saturday  31st January 2025  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

15.  Tuesday Night 3rd February 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm  Shoot Review and Preparation for Weekend Two & Edit Session One

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, 17, 18   Saturday 7th February 2026  8.00am – 6.00pm   Shoot Day Two on Location

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.

Sessions 19, 20, 21  Sunday 8th February 2026  8.00am – 6.00pm   Shoot Day Three

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.

 

22.  Tuesday 17th February 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm  Edit Class Two: Learn How to Edit your Film

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 5 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).

 

23.  Monday 23rd February 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm   Colm O’Murchu – Business of Filmmaking

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

24.  Tuesday 3rd March 2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm  Edit Night Three: Finish the post on the film

  • 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

25.  Thursday Night 19th March 2026  7.00pm – 9.00pm  The Final Night Celebration, 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.

      • 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

AFTER THE FIVE MONTH FILM SCHOOL COMPLETES, SUPPORT STRUCTURES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  1. Indie Film Club Meetings  after 5 Month Film School to network and find new film projects
  2. Numerous Film Productions that mushroom from Indie Film Club and Graduates
  3. Personal Coaching – one on one to help you achieve your goals (Please inquire)

To Enrol and Find out Course Fees – Phone Now 1800131166 ( free call )

Testimonials and Reviews

Hariette Murphy

Testimonial Taj Graduate 5 Month Film School

Jane Robinson
Jane Robinson
I'm a newbie filmmaker and didn't know where to start so this film school was right up my alley. Great teachers, good advice and I finished the five months knowing I could make some great films and even have the confidence to do some freelance film work. Thanks so much for helping me out.. well worth the money spent!
Ryan Davis
Ryan Davis
Such a great film school. For somebody like me that had no idea where to even start or what specifically to get into this is a must go to course. The 5 months went fast but learnt so much! 5 stars from me... if your reading this review and contemplating if you should attend this course - YOU should!
Yasmine S
Yasmine S
I learnt so much on the five month film school and trust me I've been to so many courses. If you want to learn a lot in a short span of time, Australian Film Base is the place to go. The price justifies the knowledge and experience you will get once you complete this and as for me I was able to get a job in the film industry thanks to these guys.
Oliver Taremun
Oliver Taremun
Just completed the five month film school. ! I highly recommend this place, tell them Oliver sent you. 5 stars
Jaguar Magneto
Jaguar Magneto
I've taken many quick courses about filmmaking and this one is by far the best in Melbourne. Really in-depth, quality instructors that have knowledge and field experience that are down to earth and really made me feel at home (I had a lot of questions). I left the course more confident in myself to take on the film industry! Everything from lighting to camera angles.. I learnt so much!!
Francis Torres
Francis Torres
I've been keen to get into filmmaking but wasn't to sure what I really want to be. Editor? Director? or mabye grip? Well I learnt so much in 5 months and it really helped me map out my goals on the position I wanted to endeavour in in the film industry. Loved every single day here! Peace, Francis.

Testimonials Former Graduates

Vanessa Madrid - Actor

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 😁.

The Film Instructors Taught by Filmmakers for Future Filmmakers

Colm O'Murchu - Director/Producer

Colm O’Murchu is a successful Indie Filmmaker and Director of four world-wide 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 successfully and loves to help up-and-coming filmmakers make it in the film business. He teaches Screenwriting, Directing, Prouducing and the Business of Filmmaking.

David Knight Cinematographer Teacher

David 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 who works at 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.

Bonus: One on One Coaching
with Colm O'Murchu included

In this coaching mentoring session:

  • You can ask any of your questions
  • Plan your next Film Production
  • How to get work in the Film Industry
  • Plan your Film Career 
  • You will get amazing results coaching session 

Creating the Film Directors
and Producers of Tomorrow

Previous Graduates 

To Enrol and Find out Course Fees – Phone Now 1800131166 ( free call )