Things you never get taught in film school: coming soon in 2026

Available to all ages - inspiring filmmakers, students, hobbyists

Pre-Production - Before You Make the Film

Planning & Resources
- Budgeting, travel costs, realistic expectations
- Balancing work commitments and how long it takes to film be realistic about what you can deal with and how exhausting it can be
- Getting professional support, finding mentors, and managing help from unpaid contributors
- Dealing with disagreements and team management
- Always have your audience in mind even before you start filming — who’s going to watch it, what will resonate with them, and how you’ll reach them. This mindset should shape everything from your tone to your edit later on.
Equipment & Logistics
- Choosing the right camera setup (one vs two cameras)
- Security, insurance, and safe storage of equipment
- Planning for unforeseen issues — backup batteries, corrupted SD cards, weather changes, and travel delays can all derail a shoot if not anticipated.
- Legal issues and paperwork — collecting release forms, location permissions, and music clearances from the start will save major headaches later.

Production Insights
- Future sessions on editing, sound treatment, and filming techniques
- Developing a sound treatment — how to build your film’s emotional rhythm through sound design, music, and ambient audio.
- Having a pet in the film — tips for managing animals on set, from noise and unpredictability to legal and welfare responsibilities.
- Always have your audience in mind when editing — pacing, clarity, and tone all depend on who the film is really for.
Legal Essentials
- Contracts, agreements, copyright protection
- Release forms for contributors and interviewees — never skip these, even with friends or family.

Film Festivals & Alternatives
- How to enter film festivals
- Alternatives to festivals for independent filmmakers - self distribution
- What festivals actually look for — themes, runtime, premiere status, and tone.
- Alternative routes if you don’t get in — hosting your own screenings, touring, or releasing online.
Marketing & Promotion
- Social media strategy and how to build an audience over time.
- PR: how to get into newspapers
- Making a promotional video: reviews, Q&As, reviews
- Building your own film website
Audience & Ticket Sales
- Understanding your target audience
- Strategies to fill seats (“bums on seats”)
- Alternative ticket-selling approaches: using networks and community leaders to promote your film - using other people to buy tickets. Who’s your target audience?
- Who’s going to watch your film? Understanding demographics, cultural appeal, and emotional connection.
Alternative Platforms
- Vimeo, YouTube, Prime, IMDb, OTT services
Protecting Your Film
- Avoiding piracy and safeguarding your work

Keeping the Film Alive
- Touring (e.g. two-week runs)
- Regular screenings (e.g. monthly events)
- Shelf life and how to keep your film relevant — maintaining its visibility through anniversaries, themed events, and social causes that connect back to it.
- Unforeseen post-release issues — negative feedback, distribution hiccups, or rights disputes, and how to handle them calmly.
Screenings vs. Online Distribution
- Understanding the difference between live screenings and online release/distribution

Behind the Scenes
- Join us at events, such as the Broadway screening to see how an event is filmed - Under 18s must be accompanied be an adult
Making a showreel
Real-life examples of press coverage and festival submissions — what worked and what didn’t.
Costs — an honest look at where the money really goes: festival fees, marketing, travel, DCP creation, and time.