Sydney 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course
Content Times & Dates Session by Session
Starts Thursday 6th March 2026 - Phone 1800131166
March 2026
1. Week 1 – Opening Night – Colm O’Murchu
Thursday Night 5th March 2026 6.00pm – 9.00pm
- 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 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
RESULT: At the end of 4 Months, you will have worked on and created a 10 minute movie
TONIGHT you will meet your fellow creative collaborators (16 People Maximum) Future Friends and fellow filmmakers.
2. Week 2 – Thursday Night 19th March 2026 – 6.00 pm – 9.00pm – Screenplay – Story 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.
3. Week 3 – 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
April 2026
4. Week 4 – Tuesday Night 31st March 2026 6.00pm – 9.00pm –
Camera Training – Instructor Scott Jacobs
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.
5 Week 5 – Tuesday Night 14th April 2026 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm –
Camera Training – Instructor Scott Jacobs
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.
6. Week 6 – Tuesday Night 21st April 2026 6.00pm – 9.00pm – Production Management One – Instructor Colm O’Murchu
Preparation Film Proudction 1 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
- The Shoot Schedule – The Script shall be broken down and set into 3 Shooting Days
- Locations – How to lock down final locations. Setting up a Casting using Star Now – placing an ad for your film Casting
- Location Scouting & Negotiation
- Casting: Book the Actors for Casting Night
RESULT: You will learn how to set up an Audition Casting for the film.
7. Week 7 – Tuesday Night 28th April 2026 6.00pm – 9.00pm –
Using Professional Location Sound Equipment and Lighting – Instructor Scott Jacobs
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..
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 Scott Jacobs
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 Scott Jacobs
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:
- Director
- DOP
- Focus Puller
- Clapper
- Sound Recordist
- Boom Swinger
- Gaffer
- Grips
- Continuity
- 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 Scott Jacobs
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 Scott Jacobs
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:
- Director
- DOP
- Focus Puller
- Clapper
- Sound Recordist
- Boom Swinger
- Gaffer
- Grips
- Continuity
- 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 Scott Jacobs
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
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
- 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
Imagine that on the last night of the 4 Month Future Filmmakers Course, the following has happened:
- Your First Film Completed as a group and ready to show people and film festivals
- Your first Film Director’s Credit
- The Film Director’s Certificate
- Future Plan to activate and execute your Film Career Plan and find work in the film industry
- You will have met 15 other people many of whom will come friends and creative collaborators
- Most students stay connected for years afterwards and make future films together
- Film Productions will mushroom out of the course
Phone Conversation and Find out Course Fees
Ph: 1800 131 166 (free call)
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 - 2 Places Left
Phone 1800 131 166 Now to Learn More
Close to Full - Limited Places Left - Hurry
Australian Film Central ABN 13 257 135 442
Email enquiry@australianfilmcentral.com