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

Starts Tuesday 18th August 2026 - Phone 1800131166

August 2026

Two People on the 4 Month Filmmaking Course
learning how to use the Camera 

1.  Week 1 – Tuesday Night  18th August  2026  6.00 pm – 9.00 pm

Camera Training 1  – Instructor 

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
  • How to use Camera Equipment – Blackmagic Camera, Lenses and Tripod
  • Prime lenses – 13mm, 28mm, 36mm, 70 mm
  • AFEW (Aperture, Focus, Exposure, White balance) Camera angles
  • 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
  • How to compose/frame your shots
  • Cinematography – 5 C’s (Camera angles, composition, cutting, continuity and close-ups)

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.

3.  Week 3 – Tuesday Night  25th August 2026  6.00 pm – 9.00pm

Location Sound:  Learning how to use Professional Sound

  • Using the Professional Sound Recorder
  • The Shotgun Microphone – The Windsock – The Foam Sock
  • The Pistol Grip – The Boom Pole
  • Wireless Transmitters and Receivers with Lapel Microphones
  • When to use the Wind Sock
  • XLR Inputs on the Camera
  • Setting the right sound levels and monitoring the sound on set
  • Recording Sound Exercises – Using Headphones:
  • How to use the Boom 

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

  • 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

RESULT: You will learn how to light a scene on a Film Set . 

 

September 2026

Writing the Screenplay- Learn to write a 10-minute screenplay

4.  Week 4 – Tuesday Night  1st September 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

  • Learn to format your screenplay
  • Using screenwriting software to professionally format a script (Free)
  • How to get ideas for a story
  • Story-generating exercises. You work with one other person in the group to generate a story using our system
  • Learn how to build dimensional Characters with our amazing system. 
  • Building conflict via our Story Shaping exercises
  • End the night with Pitch of Ideas.

RESULT:  Tonight, you will know how to format a screenplay and have created a fleshout storyline for your screenplay

5  Week 5 – Tuesday Night 8th September  2026 – 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm – Story Invention Workshop – Instructor Colm O’Murchu

  • Screenplay Structure for Feature Film Screenplays
  • The 4 Acts of a Screenplay: Examples from Famous Movies 
  • Three Cs of Screenwriting 
  • Workshop further the story with Objectives, Obstacles and Story Structure
  • Work on scene-by-scene outlines for your screenplay
  • Plot the Story Finalisation 
  • How to discipline Writing Sessions with the 25 Minute Rule 
  • Invitation to write a 10-minute screenplay over the next week. 
  • 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 10-minute screenplay.

Directing on Set – 4 Month Filmmaking Course 

6.  How a Film Director Shoots a Scene 

Tuesday 22nd September     6 pm – 9pm   

  • 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
  • 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

RESULT: You will learn how to shoot a scene in a movie. 

Homework Assignment: (Voluntary) Shoot a basic scene at home with your Smart Phone Camera (Mobile) Use at least 3 Camera Angles 

7.  Week 7 – Tuesday Night  29th September  2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm – Production Management One – Instructor Colm O’Murchu 

 Setting up the Film Shoot for The Course Film 

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
  • Location Scouting & Negotiation
  • Locations – How to lock down  locations
  • Casting Tuition: How Casting Works
  • Setting up the Casting 

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.

 

October 2026

Actual Casting on the 4 Month Filmmaking Course 

Recent Graduation Group – 4 Month Filmmaking Course

8.  Week 8 – Tuesday Night  13th October 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 20th October  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  27th  October   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.

Novemeber 2026

11.  Week 11 – Thursday Night  3rd  November  2026  6.00pm – 9.00pm

READY STEADY GO: Film Equipment Final Training Bootcamp – Instructor Scott Jacobs

  • 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 Film Shoot - on Location

Shoot Day 1

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 7th November  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  10th November 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
 

Shoot Day 2

Sessions 16 – 18  Saturday 14th November   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:

  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).

Shoot Day 3

Sessions 19 – 21  Sunday 15th November 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).

Phone information & Enrolments
Call 1800 131 166

23.  – Tuesday Night  17th November 2026  7.00pm – 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. 

Postproduction - Finishing the Film

22.  – Thursday 26th November   2026  6pm – 9pm        Sean Smith

Postproduction 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 films are edited on on DaVinci Resolve.

December 2026

24.  Tuesday  Night 8th December  2026  6.30pm – 9.30pm Sean Smith

Postproduction 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 Films are colour corrected and add sound and music to your film. 

Final Night Screening / Certificates

25. Tuesday  Night  15th December  2026  7.00pm – 9.00pm Wellington Street, Chippendale

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:

  1. Your First Film Completed as a group and ready to show people and film festivals
  2. Your first Film Director’s Credit
  3. The Film Director’s Certificate
  4. Future Plan to activate and execute your Film Career Plan and find work in the film industry
  5. You will have met 15 other people many of whom will come friends and creative collaborators
  6. Most students stay connected for years afterwards and make future films together
  7. Film Productions will  mushroom out of the course

Phone Conversation  and Find out Course Fees  

Ph:  1800 131 166 (free call)