DFA course is going live on the 20th May 2021 🎉
INTRO
WHAT'S THIS COURSE ALL ABOUT?
Make your documentary from start to finish whether it's a short, feature film or series
Build your connections, crew and confidence through our online community
Master storytelling with our full module on how to tell compelling stories
Achieve more with less using agile kit, small crews and smart
digital workflows
Advance your skills and day rate so you can earn a living making films you love
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Learn at your own pace with lifetime membership so you can keep coming back
LEARN HOW TO MAKE DOCUMENTARIES
Meet your mentor
Created by filmmaker Sebastian Solberg, DFA combines everything Seb has learned over the last ten years of his career with extensive additional research into the latest digital technology and documentary techniques.
WHAT'S INSIDE
THE FULL CURRICULUM
MODULE 1
STORYTELLING
> Intro To Storytelling
> Finding Your Idea
> Choosing Your Narration Style
> Visual Storytelling Techniques
> Character Arc
> Three Act Structure
> Balancing Storytelling With Truth
> Writing Interview Questions
> Quiz: Story
MODULE 2
PRODUCING
> Intro To Producing
> How To Put Together A Film Crew
> How To Create A Treatment
> How To Put Together A Schedule
> How To Create A Budget
> How To Fund Your Project
> How To Create A Production Binder
> How To Create A Call Sheet
> Quiz: Producing
MODULE 3
CAMERA BASICS
> Intro To Camera Basics
> Camera Resolution
> Frame Rates
> Aspect Ratio
> Picture Style
> White Balance
> Exposure
> Depth Of Field & Focal Length
> Quiz: Camera Basics
MODULE 4
DIRECTING & FILMING
> Intro To Filming
> Composition
> Camera Angles
> Camera Movement
> Cinematic Gimbal Movements
> Essential Drone Movements
> Cinematic Slider Movements
> How To Film Slow Motion
> How To Film An Interview
> Keeping Your Subject In Focus
> Shooting Timelapses
> Natural Lighting
> How To Record Sound On Location
> Quiz: Directing & Filming
MODULE 5
EDITING
> Intro To Editing
> Overview Of Editing Workflow
> Labeling, Syncing & Organising
> Transcribing Your Footage
> Paper Edit
> Assembly Edit
> Rough Cut
> Fine Cut
> The Power of Sound Design
> Colour Grading
> Quiz: Editing
MODULE 6
MARKETING
> Intro To Marketing
> Online Vs Festival Film Release
> Tips To Successful Social Media Marketing
> Quiz: Marketing
MODULE 7
BUSINESS
> Intro To Business
> How To Make A Living As A Filmmaker
> Embrace Failure
> My Favourite Business Books
> Mental Health & Motivation
> Quiz: Business
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS
Save money on filmmaking software, gear and music as a DFA student.
Live session with Zoom
We have regular zoom sessions with DFA students. This is an opportunity to get your questions answered, share a bit about your documentary project and for students to get to know one another.
Chat with mentors in private FB Group
You can chat with the DFA mentors, ask questions and share behind the scenes from your projects. Mentors will also share BTS from their own documentary projects to help inspire you on your filmmaking journey.
Written critique on Vimeo
You can upload your documentary project onto Vimeo and share it with the DFA students to get feedback and see how you can improve your documentary while you're editing it.
Assets can be downloaded using Google Drive
We use Google drive to store all our filmmaking assets, such as filmmaking templates, footage and presets for you to use to help make your documentary.
STAY ENGAGED WHILE YOU LEARN
Interact with a set of tools that will help you stay engaged and keep in contact with your mentors and fellow students.
Jump-start Your Documentary Project
Angharad George-Carey
Beginner filmmaker
“I genuinely can not tell you how much DFA has lifted my confidence. Thank you Seb, this course has just been incredible and I can not recommend it enough!"
Henry Donald
Film Graduate
“More detail than my film degree, summed up better, taught in a more engaging way, for a fraction of the cost. The story section gave me so many light bulb moments of things I hadn't grasped at uni."
Erin Wallace
Content producer
"Learning from Seb's experience and feedback is worth more than any price tag. I can relate it to my work, take on more responsibility, and grow in an industry I'm truly passionate about."
WHAT DO OUR MEMBERS SAY?
Join a Supportive Community
We have a private DFA Facebook group where you can engage with other students and ask any questions you might have throughout the making of your documentary and beyond.
Do I need expensive equipment?
No. Don't worry, you don’t need lots of expensive filmmaking gear to learn the skills taught in the course. But to put them into action, you will need a camera. It doesn’t need to cost you lots of money, you could borrow a friend's DSLR or even just use a smartphone for now. Whatever you go for, it's how you use it and the quality of your story that matters most.
Do I need to learn every skillset?
The course teaches you every stage of filmmaking, but you don't need to master every skillset. If you love storytelling and producing, say, but filming isn’t your thing, you can bring a videographer on board. And our online community will help you do that. We suggest you do all the modules though, as the more you understand each stage, the more confident you’ll be - and the better your film will be too.
How long can I access the content?
For life! You buy the course with one upfront payment and it's a lifetime membership, which means you can access all the current and future content for life. Your membership will never expire. This means you're free to go at your own pace, watch the videos as many times as you like, and revisit modules whenever you need a refresher.
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Make your dream documentary