Week 1: Building the Foundation

Before you shoot anything, you need a clear creative vision and a realistic plan. This week gives you the tools to align your artistic goals with your resources — so your short film is both authentic to you and actually makeable. You'll walk away with:

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• A clarified purpose for making your short: whether it's a calling card, a proof of concept, or a way to grow as a filmmaker

• A better understanding of what kind of story you want to tell and why — and how that defines your genre, tone, and trajectory

• A comprehensive sense of scope (we’ll screen a few short films we love that were made on vastly different budgets, so that you have a clear frame of reference for your own project)

• An overview of the most expensive and time-consuming elements of filmmaking, which will help you to right-size your project from the get-go to fit your time, money, and goals

• A basic timeline for making a short film – AKA a preview of all the steps to come!

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Week 2: The Logistics That Make It Possible

This week is all about the practical backbone of filmmaking — the hiring protocols, numbers, forms, and fine print that make your shoot possible. You'll learn how to budget wisely, protect your production, and navigate the unsexy-but-essential systems every working filmmaker has to master. You'll walk away with:

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• A roadmap for hiring your team, including a breakdown of all the different crew positions and varying crew sizes you can have

• A full rundown of what everything actually costs on a low-budget short film and tools to craft a budget that reflects both your creative vision and your actual resources

• A guide to all the different ways you can fund your film, with tips for crowdfunding, fiscal sponsorship, grant applications, private fundraising, and building a successful pitch

• A foundational understanding of short-term production insurance, permits, and union rules 

• Detailed templates for different ​​tiers of budgets as well as referrals for our favorite insurance companies, rental houses, etc.

Week 3: Pre-Production Deep Dive

You’ve got your script, your team, and your rough budget — now it’s time to bring your vision into focus. This week is all about the prep you need to do before arriving on set, including your collaboration with key department heads and making all the creative decisions that shape what ends up on screen. You'll walk away with: 

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• The basic visual vocabulary you'll need to communicate with your DP and craft a shot list for your film – and an overview of the different kinds of shots, lenses, aspect ratios, camera set-ups and more that you might discuss!

• Tips for collaborating with your DP, production designer, and HMU to build your film’s world

• Resources for creating storyboards and culling visual references to guide your team

• A clear understanding of how to break down your script and determine exactly you’ll need to rent, borrow, build, or source before you head into production – from gear to costumes, props, set dec, and more

• We’ll have a DP guest speaker join us this week!

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Week 4: Production Day & Problem-Solving

The big day is here — and we’re walking through every hour of it. You’ll learn exactly what to expect on set and what your team will expect from you, as well as strategies for adapting to chaos and keeping your shoot running smoothly even when things go off-script (which they will!). You'll walk away with:

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• A full understanding of how a shoot day works, from call time to wrap

• A comprehensive guide to all the lingo you might hear on set, so that you know what’s what when someone goes “10-1” or your DP wants to “shoot on sticks”

• Detailed templates for call sheets, shooting schedules, and one-liners

• Tips for collaborating with actors, giving notes, and keeping morale high for everyone on set

• Guidance for dealing with surprises and obstacles, including broken gear, forgotten items, weather mishaps, and more

• Clear expectations for your role as director and/or producer on set — and how to not burn out!

• We’ll have a 1st AD guest speaker join us this week!

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Week 5: Post-Production Without Panic

Once you wrap, the work has only just begun! This week breaks down the full post-production pipeline and teaches you how to hire, communicate with, and collaborate with editors, sound designers, colorists, and composers — even if you’ve never done it before. You'll walk away with:

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• A clear understanding of post workflow from syncing footage to final delivery

• Templates for organizing notes rounds and setting deadlines with your post team

• A strategy for managing your budget and creative goals through editing, color, and sound

• Tips for giving effective feedback and getting the best out of your collaborators during the post process

• We’ll have both a film composer and an editor join us as guest speakers this week!

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Week 6: Distribution & Your Film’s Afterlife

Your film is done — now what? This week helps you identify the right festivals, platforms, and paths for you, so that your short reaches the right audience and satisfies the goals that you set in week 1. You'll walk away with:

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• A festival submission strategy based on your goals, genre, audience, and budget

• An understanding of online distribution platforms like Short of the Week, Vimeo Staff Picks, Omeleto, and more

• Tips for building buzz, community, and career momentum through your film’s release 

• The confidence to decide what success looks like for you on this creative journey — and how to chase it with clarity

• We’ll have a director guest speaker join us this week to share tips on successfully navigating the festival circuit!