Overview

In this course, you’ll learn how to craft a professional and compelling Film Proposal that can help bring your film ideas to life. Taught by filmmaker Olaf De Fleur, who has successfully financed twelve feature films using these methods. This course breaks the proposal process into six essential steps: *creating a logline, * writing a synopsis, * developing a treatment, * crafting your author and visual statements, * defining your audience and marketing approach. By the end of this course, you will be able to clearly summarize your story, develop your characters and plot points, articulate your unique creative vision, and present a polished proposal ready to pitch to investors. Each lesson includes a practical task that allows you to apply these concepts immediately, giving you hands-on experience in creating your own proposal. This course is ideal for aspiring filmmakers, writers, or creative producers who want to secure funding for their projects. To succeed, learners should have a basic understanding of storytelling and a clear film idea they want to develop. Completing this class will equip you with a professional framework to communicate your story effectively and confidently to potential investors. Instructor bio: Olaf de Fleur is an award-winning filmmaker from Iceland with over 20 years of experience and twelve feature films to his name. He has worked with acclaimed actors such as Florence Pugh (Little Women), Jonathan Pryce (Brazil), and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad). Passionate about teaching the fundamentals of visual storytelling, Olaf helps learners build confidence and develop their creative voice. Alongside directing and writing, he teaches at film schools, speaks publicly, and offers creative coaching — always aiming to make filmmaking approachable, inspiring, and practical.

Syllabus

Getting Started with Your Pitch Deck

This module introduces you to the foundations of a successful pitch deck. You’ll discover what the course project entails, learn how to articulate your film idea through a compelling logline, and understand the role a pitch deck plays in attracting financiers. By the end, you’ll be prepared to begin assembling the essential pieces of your proposal.

Crafting the Core Narrative

In this module, you’ll learn how to transform your logline into structured narrative components. From long and short synopses to a polished film treatment, you’ll develop materials that showcase your story’s potential. You’ll also gain insights from the instructor’s personal experiences with proposals to better navigate industry expectations.

Defining Creative Vision and Market Potential

A strong pitch deck not only tells a story but also demonstrates why your film matters. This module helps you articulate your creative identity, define your film’s genre, and illustrate its unique visual approach. You’ll also learn how to identify your audience and present clear marketing strategies that make your project commercially viable.

Assembling and Presenting the Pitch Deck

The final module brings everything together. You’ll recap the essential elements, assemble your pitch deck into a polished presentation, and reflect on how each piece contributes to the overall package. By the end, you’ll have a professional-quality document ready to share with potential financiers.