Documentary Fundamentals
The step-by-step roadmap from documentary idea to finished film
Plan, film and edit your first documentary on your own schedule, with the gear you already have. No film school or crew needed.
Start the course for $297One payment. Lifetime access. 30-day money-back guarantee.
“Anyone who’s interested in making documentaries should get this course.”Simon Cade, creator of the DSLRguide YouTube channel
Lifetime access. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Got a documentary idea you haven’t finished?
- The gear feels overwhelming, so you keep putting off the start.
- The footage piles up and you can’t see the story in it.
- You sit down to edit and don’t know where to begin.
You don’t need a film degree or fancy gear. You need a story you care about, a clear process and support.
What you’ll learn
A clear path from idea to finished film
- Shape your idea into a story with a simple, clear structure.
- Plan a shoot you can manage, even with no budget, no crew and limited time.
- Film with any camera or phone. No expensive kit needed.
- Interview with confidence and help people relax on camera.
- Edit step by step, from a paper edit to your final cut.
- Get your film seen, online, in your community or at festivals.
This was my first contact with documentary filmmaking. It’s one of the things that made me feel confident to take the step.
“I had been down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos and online tutorials. Sebastian’s courses helped me cut through all of the noise.”
“I now have what Seb calls a three-act structure, a treatment, and I could pitch my idea to a room of people.”
“This has been a smooth and clear step-by-step guide through making a documentary.”
“Anyone who’s interested in making documentaries should get this course.”
Hi, I’m Sebastian.
I’ve been making films since I was nine, and I’ve worked in film and TV for nearly 20 years. I directed One Breath, a documentary about a husband-and-wife freediving team, and I was second unit director on the BAFTA-nominated The Eagle Huntress.
I got stuck on One Breath for two years, so I know how it feels. I made Documentary Fundamentals to help people making their first documentary avoid the overwhelm and finish their film.
You don’t need to become a professional filmmaker. You need to know enough to make your film.
Inside the course
Five steps from idea to finished film
Seven modules and just over five hours of short video lessons. Each module ends with an assignment and a quiz, so you practise as you go.
1Find your storyTurn your idea into something you can film.
Module 1: Pre-production
- Finding an idea
- Narration style
- Balancing storytelling with truth
- Visual storytelling techniques
- Three-act structure
- Character arc
- Putting together a film crew, if you want one
- Creating a treatment
Assignment: Create a documentary treatment. Then a short quiz.
2Plan your filmWork out what you need and how you’ll shoot it.
Module 2: Producing
- Funding your project
- Creating a budget
- Putting together a schedule
- Creating a production binder
- Creating a call sheet
Assignment: Create a production binder. Then a short quiz.
3Shoot your documentaryFilm real people, interviews and the moments in between.
Module 3: Camera basics
- Camera resolution
- Frame rates
- Aspect ratio
- Picture profile
- White balance
- Depth of field and focal length
Assignment: Master your camera’s settings. Then a short quiz.
Module 4: Filmmaking techniques, part 1
- Composition
- Exposure: aperture, shutter speed, ISO and ND filters
- Camera angles
- Camera movement: handheld, tripod, slider, gimbal and drone
Assignment: Master composition. Then a short quiz.
Module 5: Filmmaking techniques, part 2
- Natural lighting
- Keeping your subject in focus
- Recording sound on location
- Preparing for interviews
- Filming an interview
Assignment: Work with natural light. Then a short quiz.
4Edit your storyTurn your footage into a film people want to watch.
Module 6: Editing your documentary
- Overview of the editing workflow
- Labelling, syncing and organising
- Transcribing your footage
- Paper edit
- Assembly edit
- Rough cut
- Fine edit
- The power of sound design
Assignment: Practise editing. Then a short quiz.
5Share your filmGet it finished and out into the world.
Module 7: Marketing
- Introduction to marketing
- Online or festival release
- Tips for social media marketing
A marketing assignment, then a short quiz.
You’ll also get a short introduction on what kit to buy, a documentary checklist, and bonus lessons on staying motivated and using AI as a filmmaker.
Start the course for $297
You don’t just watch. You work on your film as you go.
Every template is yours to copy and fill in for your own documentary.
- Three-act structure template
- Visual storytelling workbook
- Character arc workbook
- Treatment template, with an example
- Budget template
- Schedule template
- Call sheet template
- Release form template
- Crew and subject list
- Documentary task list
- Production binder template
- Royalty-free music for your edit
Also included: the members’ community, discounts on software and music, a certificate when you finish, and lifetime access.
Everything you need to make your first documentary
Pay once or spread it over three months. No subscription. The lessons take just over five hours, and most people finish in a week to a month.
“Documentary Fundamentals is more detailed than my filmmaking degree but summed up more efficiently and taught in a more engaging way, for a fraction of the cost.”
Henry Donald, film graduateDocumentary Fundamentals
$297one payment
- A treatment for your own film, written in module one
- A production binder for your shoot, built in module two
- Seven modules of short video lessons, just over five hours in all
- An assignment and quiz in every module, so you practise as you go
- Templates, workbooks and the members’ community
- The Documentary Starter Kit, my five short videos and six tools for getting started, included
- Lifetime access, including anything I add later
Or pay in 3 monthly payments of $99
30-day money-back guarantee.
Bought the Starter Kit? Your $25 comes off this course. You’ll find your code in the last Starter Kit lesson.
Which is right for you?
Three ways to make your documentary with me.
Start
Documentary Starter Kit
$25
Five short videos and six simple tools to get you from an idea to your first filmed sequence, in an evening or over a weekend.
See the Starter KitMake the whole film
Documentary Fundamentals
$297
Seven modules from idea to finished film, with templates and an assignment in every module, at your own pace.
Includes the Starter Kit.
You’re on this pageWork with me
The Documentary Mentorship
$725 a month
Six months working one to one with me to finish your own film. By application.
Includes Fundamentals and the Starter Kit.
See the MentorshipAlready bought the Starter Kit? Your $25 comes off Fundamentals. Join the Mentorship later and the $297 you’ve paid comes off.
Questions people ask
Do I need expensive equipment?
No. You’ll need a camera to put the lessons into practice, but it doesn’t need to cost much. You could borrow a friend’s camera or use your phone for now. How you use it and the strength of your story matter most.
Do I need film school or any experience?
No. The course is built for beginners and takes you through each stage in plain language.
Why not just learn from YouTube?
YouTube gives you information, but not a process. You can watch dozens of videos about cameras and editing and still not know what to do first. This course gives you one path to follow, and every lesson builds on the last.
Who is this course for?
Anyone making their first documentary, or part-way through one and not sure how to finish it. That includes complete beginners, and photographers, journalists and videographers moving into documentary.
How long is the course?
The lessons add up to just over five hours. There’s no time limit. Most people take between a week and a month, depending on how much time they have each day.
How long do I have access?
For life. It’s one payment, and you can watch the lessons as many times as you like, including anything I add later.
Do I need to learn every skill?
No. If you love filming but producing isn’t your thing, you can bring someone in to help. I’d still suggest watching every module, because understanding each stage makes you a more confident filmmaker.
How is this different from the Starter Kit?
The Starter Kit takes you from an idea to your first filmed sequence. Documentary Fundamentals covers the whole path, from planning and filming to editing and sharing your film, and it includes the Starter Kit. If you’ve already bought the Starter Kit, your $25 comes off this course. You’ll find your code in the last Starter Kit lesson.
Do the videos have captions?
Yes. Closed captions are available on every video.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. You’ll receive a certificate when you complete the course.
What if I’d like one-to-one help?
You can work through the course on your own. If you’d like me to work with you on your film, that’s what the Documentary Mentorship is for, and the $297 you’ve paid comes off.
What if it isn’t right for me?
Email me within 30 days and I’ll refund you in full, no questions asked.
You’ve got the idea. Now make the film.
Try the course for 30 days. If it isn’t right for you, email me and I’ll refund you, no questions asked.
Start the course for $297