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Description:

Filmmaking demands more than creativity! It demands technical skills that bring your vision- or someone else's- to life on the screen.

This semester-long course focuses on developing practical film production skills using accessible, everyday equipment. Students learn to capture clean, consistent, and editable footage with smartphones and low-cost tools while building habits that mirror real-world production environments. The course emphasizes practice and discipline, requiring students to complete weekly production deliverables that demonstrate steady progress in camera operation, lighting, sound, and on-set workflow.

Over the semester, students work toward capturing usable footage with proper framing, lighting, and audio, while also demonstrating basic set protocols. They learn how to plan and execute coverage through master shots, angles, and inserts, and produce footage that can be reliably used in post-production. The focus remains on applying foundational skills in a way that aligns with professional expectations.

The course follows a structured weekly progression. Students begin with equipment setup and basic test footage, then move into framing and shot types, camera movement, and audio fundamentals. Lighting is addressed in both daytime and low-light conditions, followed by set discipline and proper slating. Students then develop storyboards and shot lists before executing coverage with master shots and multiple angles. The final weeks focus on inserts, continuity, and completing a short scene, followed by review and refinement of their work. By the end of the semester, students will have produced a portfolio demonstrating technical growth and an understanding of core production practices.

Equipment:All students must have access to a smartphone with video capability, basic stabilization such as a tripod or handheld grip, an external microphone option, headphones for monitoring audio, a set of clip-on phone lenses, and a video-capable laptop. The total cost of required equipment is designed to remain under $100. Students are expected to bring required equipment to each class.

Workload:Students are expected to complete and upload weekly deliverables. Students should expect 1 hour of filming homework per week.

Assessments: Students will not receive a formal grade in this elective course, however, through in-class review sessions, they will receive ongoing feedback to apply to their work. Consistent effort, visible improvement, and professional conduct during filming are required throughout the course.

Certificate Option: This course is one of several a student can complete to earn a Certificate in Film Production. Students seeking recognition through the certificate must submit a substantial portion of weekly production work, demonstrate consistent participation, and present a body of work that shows clear skill progression over time.

Credit: Homeschool families may want to count this course as a partial credit in fie arts or career exploration on a homeschool transcript.