From the first pitch to the premiere, students learn every stage of filmmaking before putting their skills into practice on a professional set. They graduate with an IMDb-credited short film and genuine industry experience.
The first week is dedicated to understanding why great films work.
Students analyse acclaimed films and deconstruct the creative choices behind them—examining story, screenplay, character development, performance, visual style, production value, pacing, emotional impact and the techniques filmmakers use to engage an audience.
They explore genre, character, conflict and the essential elements that drive compelling cinematic storytelling. Once students understand what makes a story resonate, they begin the creative process of developing one of their own.
Together, we explore where great ideas come from, including:
By the end of the week, students begin developing story concepts that have the potential to become their own original film.
Great ideas only matter if students can communicate them.
This week is dedicated to one of the most important skills in life: pitching. Whether seeking funding, attracting collaborators or convincing an audience, students need to be able to confidently present an idea.
This week students learn how to:
Every student develops and delivers two pitches: one for an original film concept, and one introducing themselves.
As students share their ideas, experiences and passions, recurring themes, genres, conflicts and characters emerge. Our writing team weaves them into a professionally written short film — so by Week Six, students recognise their own thinking reflected in the script.
Using the industry book "Save The Cat!" by Blake Snyder as our blueprint, we examine what makes a story work.
We look at:
We then explore how different genres — comedy, drama, horror, action, romance — often follow similar storytelling principles.
Students learn that while every film may look different, the emotional engine underneath often follows the same fundamental rules of storytelling.
One of the biggest and most exciting weeks of the program.
Students go behind the scenes to discover what really happens on a film set and, more importantly, who makes it all happen. While most people have heard of directors, writers, producers, and actors, very few understand what these roles actually involve.
We unpack the responsibilities of every major department: Director of Photography (DOP), Assistant Director (AD), Gaffer, Grip, Sound Recordist, Production Designer, Wardrobe, Hair and Makeup, Editor, Post Producer, Sound Designer, VFX Artist, Composer, and the many types of producers.
In many ways, a film set is a microcosm of every successful business — leaders, specialists, problem-solvers, creatives, technicians, managers and collaborators all working toward a shared goal. The lessons about leadership, teamwork and collaboration stay with students long after the cameras stop rolling.
Before making a film, students first need to understand where the story will live. Every platform has its own audience, style, pace and storytelling language.
Students explore content created for:
They learn how storytelling changes depending on the platform — from pacing and structure to shot design, running time and audience expectations.
We also examine what makes Australian storytelling unique.
Where time permits, students develop and pitch the same story concept for multiple platforms, learning how professional filmmakers adapt ideas for different audiences.
This week, the official script is shared. It has been developed and polished by industry professionals using the themes, genres and ideas that surfaced during the Week Two pitches — students will see pieces of their own thinking reflected in the script.
We break the script down from three perspectives:
We invite professional actors into the class to explore directing with them.
Students learn blocking — what it is and why it matters — plus visual storytelling, tone, performance and pacing.
Most importantly, students understand that a film is created before a scene is even filmed.
With production just around the corner, this week is all about preparing to bring our films to life. We explore how sound can transform a scene — sound effects, foley, atmosphere, dialogue, sound design and music — and how each element shapes emotion and builds tension.
We then shift into full production planning: finalising shot lists, breaking down the production schedule, and walking through what a real filming day looks like from start to finish.
By the end of the session, every student knows not only what they'll be filming, but how they'll work together to make it happen.
This is where everything comes together.
Students step onto a real working film set and collaborate alongside award-winning industry professionals to bring their film to life. This isn't a simulated classroom exercise—it's a professional production, run by experienced filmmakers doing the jobs they do every day in the industry.
Every student becomes an essential member of the crew, taking on meaningful responsibilities while working with professional equipment, real production schedules, and the pace of an authentic film shoot. Our goal isn't to create the illusion of filmmaking — it's to immerse students in the real thing.
Making the film is only half the journey. Audiences need to find it. This week we explore film marketing, audience building, promotional strategy, creating a poster, creating an Electronic Press Kit (EPK), and trailer creation.
Gala. The program culminates in a Gala Screening Event — friends, family and guests attend the premiere of the completed film, experiencing the journey from idea → script → production → post → premiere.
The film is the outcome. The skills are the future.