Digital Filmmaking Introduction Short Course

Dynamic and highly practical, our Digital Filmmaking short course provides a comprehensive overview of filmmaking, from direction, through to camera, production and editing.

Led by an award-winning film director, producer and screenwriter, you will be carefully guided through the processes of making a short film – from pre-production, through to post-production. You’ll develop a good understanding of the creative interconnection between the writing, shooting and editing stages and how to work with rapidly emerging digital technologies.

Our Digital Filmmaking course is taught over eight weekly evening sessions in a hybrid format with initial directing and screenwriting sessions taught online followed by camera and editing classes at City’s main campus in central London.

The course also includes each student having access to a camera each for their weekend shoot and individual editing stations at the University.

Who is it for?

This part-time Digital Filmmaking course is ideal if you have a personal or professional interest in filmmaking. You may be looking to build a career in film or wish to gain skills to create your own short videos to high standard.

Timetable

This course takes place once a week at 18.30 for eight weeks, plus one weekend of shooting.

City Short Courses follow the academic year, delivering courses over three terms. These include:

• Autumn 

• Spring - January (timetable TBC)
• Summer - April (timetable TBC)

Benefits

• Learn best practice through all elements of creating your own short film
• Taught by an acclaimed filmmaker at our central London campus
• Awarded a City, University of London certificate

Our Digital Filmmaking course focuses on the pre-production, production and post-production stages of digital filmmaking; and how they relate to one another creatively and practically.

You’ll develop your own film projects - building an understanding of the creative use of sound, camera and post-production techniques.

You’ll become skilled in visual storytelling - using the camera as a storytelling tool- and practice writing a pre-visualised scene.

During the weekend shoot, you will direct the scene that you have prepared in class. You will work alongside other students, taking on roles in camera and sound for each other’s scenes. Important topics, such as blocking action and maximising use of location, will be addressed.

In the final creative stage, you will learn how editing further develops a story through pace and point of view.

Weekly breakdown

Week 1: Directing - writing a brief

Week 2: Directing

Week 3: Cinematography

Week 4: Production

Shoot Weekend: (camera provided: JVC GY-HM650E ProHD)

Week 5: Editing

Week 6: Editing

Week 7: Editing

Week 8: Editing and final review.

While there is no official assessment, you will gain most from the course through commitment to participation in class.

The short courses at City are not accredited, but you will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate if you attend at least 70 percent of the classes.

You need to be computer literate. Although not compulsory, a basic understanding through experience of filmmaking processes or related disciplines would be useful.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.