Video Production (Self-Paced)

Module 1 · Story, Pre-Production & Releases

• Story and message: hooks, narrative arc, and message-first planning, working from a finished script (documentary, commercial, or short narrative scene).
• Breakdown: break the script into scenes, locations, cast, and gear needs.
• Shot lists and storyboards: plan coverage shot by shot, using AI to draft shot lists and real storyboard frames.
• Releases and rights: talent and location release forms, where you can legally shoot, and music-licensing and copyright basics.

Module 2 · Casting

• Finding actors: friends, classmates, Backstage, Actors Access, Craigslist, Facebook groups, and local theater programs looking for reel material.
• Auditions and self-tapes: running simple in-person auditions or reviewing recorded submissions, and what to look for beyond line delivery.
• Directing in the room: giving adjustments, reading adaptability, and keeping the environment relaxed.
• Chemistry and callbacks: imagining actors together, pairing them in callbacks, and communicating your vision once the cast is set.
• Releases and agreements: standard talent releases, union vs. non-union considerations, and what actors and crew expect before they step on set.

Module 3 · Location Scouting

• Finding spaces: starting with what you already have, plus platforms like Peerspace and outreach to local businesses for off-hours access.
• Sound assessment: listening for traffic, HVAC, appliances, and background noise that competes with dialogue.
• Light, power, space, and consistency: evaluating and controlling existing light, outlet access, room for camera and crew, and locking access for the full shoot.
• Releases and permits: location release forms, permit requirements, noise ordinances, and liability basics.

Module 4 · Budgeting

• Food and crew: why feeding people matters, and how to think about compensating collaborators — in cash, food, or portfolio credit.
• Equipment costs: buying, borrowing, or renting — factored into your plan before it becomes a surprise expense.
• Location, transportation, and delivery: free spaces vs. hourly rentals, travel costs, storage and backup, and delivery from hard drives to streaming platforms.
• Financing a project: self-funding, crowdfunding, investor pitches, production loans, and grants.

Module 5 · The Phone as a Pro Camera

• Manual control, one app in depth: shutter, ISO, aperture equivalents, frame rate, and white balance in the free Blackmagic Camera app.
• ND filters, the 180° shutter rule, and Log: holding cinematic motion blur in daylight, and shooting flat/Log for more control in post.
• Lensing and movement: focal length, depth of field, and steady, intentional moves — handheld, on a fluid-head tripod, and with a gimbal.
• Setup, rigging, and reliability: the mic/light/ND kit on a phone cage, managing storage, battery, and heat on a long shoot — and the craft you'll add on a bigger camera.

Module 6 · Composition & Coverage

• Composition: rule of thirds, leading lines, headroom, and frame balance.
• Shot sizes and angles: wides, mediums, close-ups, cutaways, height, Dutch, and POV.
• Coverage and continuity: shooting enough angles, holding the 180-degree line, and capturing the b-roll that lets a scene cut together without gaps.

Module 7 · Lighting Fundamentals

• How light behaves: the inverse square law, hard vs. soft light, modifiers, and light sources from LED to practicals.
• Three-point lighting: key, fill, and back light, and how each shapes the subject.
• Natural and available light: mixing window and practical light with your kit, plus simple modifiers and bounce.
• Mood and problem-solving: shaping shadows, controlling contrast and color temperature, exposure tools, and fixing color casts.