This is a detailed documentary production course designed for, and regularly delivered to, broadcasters. This course covers the whole process of documentary production, focussing on the development stages, from finding the right idea, developing and pitching it and then planning out the production.

We work through what makes long-form story telling a unique craft and skill, the importance of good structure and a well thought out treatment and how to spot a great story and turn it into a fantastic, potentially award winning documentary. Throughout this course delegates will be developing the documentary idea they bring with them.

Got a documentary idea but not sure how to: move it forwards, get some interest, get it funded, commissioned and broadcast?

This course applies to online documentaries, broadcast TV documentaries and one-off theatrical release documentaries. During the day we break down the development process, working through what’s needed to create a compelling pitch, then a fully rounded proposal, a treatment, shooting schedule, budget and sizzle teaser.

This course is generally a two day workshop taking delegates through all the detail of shooting broadcast quality video on their Android devices, iPhones or iPads. The course covers what shots you need to get, how to frame interviews, sound and lighting. We look at all the accessories currently available to make your production more professional. The delegates then edit, package and publish their finished films using a smartphone or tablet. This course has been delivered to broadcasters around the world including the BBC and various corporate clients.

A more Mac OS focussed version of this course is available.

Simply publishing video on as many platforms as possible is not the way to build a success.
This course looks at the best narrative arcs and treatments for online audiences and how they should be optimised for each platform. It busts the myths about what success looks like and identifies what the real goals you should be aiming for to build an audience that engages with you in the way that suits you.
This course covers everything from the wider overall online video strategy of your brand (something so few companies or broadcasters understand or consider), to building audience loyalty, improving your chances of appearing in their news feeds, to the more specific algorithms and analytics of each platform and how best to use them to be successful.

This course goes from the very basics of Apple’s FCP X editing software through to advanced editing functions such as Transitions, Sound Mixes, Graphics, Effects, Keying, Compositing & Animation. But the course isn’t just about button pressing, we explore the often ignored craft of ‘editing grammar’. We learn how to edit faster and more creatively by introducing discipline and sorting processes into your workflow. We look at some short cuts and practice some regular challenges that face editors on a daily basis.

This course goes from the very basics of Adobe Premier editing software through to advanced editing functions such as Transitions, Sound Mixes, Graphics, Effects, Keying, Compositing & Animation. But the course isn’t just about button pressing, we explore the often ignored craft of editing grammar. We learn how to edit faster and more creatively by introducing discipline and sorting processes into your workflow. We look at some short cuts and practice some regular challenges that face editors. We’ll also explore how Premier fits in with other software in the Adobe CC suite.

This course is a look at everything to do with 360 Immersive Reality film-making. We’ll explore the kit and what differences there are between kit costing $100 and kit costing $100,000. We’ll look at the production process, what needs to be considered and planned for. We’ll look at the story-telling and editorial implications as well as how this changes the audiences involvement with the content. We’ll also consider 360 as a way of filming ‘Shoot-First-Frame-Later’ news stories and this techniques place as a potential disrupter in journalism.

We cover: knowing your audience, knowing your message, knowing your outcome and how to connect all three in the most compelling way possible using carefully written and produced visual storytelling.

We’ll explore the importance of storytelling in corporate video creation, the definition of stories and how best to tell them. When we sell a product or message, we’ll explore what it is we’re actually selling – and work out the best way to communicate that, not only to the audience, but also with the client who is commissioning the video.

A one-day intensive course exploring the alchemy that makes videos go viral and looks at how we can apply those techniques to the films, videos and media campaigns.

We categorise types of viral video and discuss treatment styles and narrative execution. We discuss the importance of emotional engagement in the success of viral videos and how these affect the audiences likelihood to share the video. By carefully deconstructing several successful viral videos we can identify common qualities that go towards making a video or campaign more shareable and therefore more likely to go viral.

This is a 2 day course covering the whole process of producing successful and award winning corporate video. From writing, design, pitching, planning and shooting, through to production, post- production, delivery and publishing. This course will help you make industry leading corporate video and adverts.

We cover what makes content connect with audiences, how to make them want the product or love the message. We cover pitching to clients, understanding brands, designing successful campaign strategy’s and how to shoot high end, glossy, blue-chip looking video whilst avoiding the usual pit- falls and traps.

This is a 3 days course exploring storytelling techniques, filming techniques and creative narrative structures that engage and compel audiences. We’ll look at editing and how montage and juxtaposition can be played with and adapted to enhance the storytelling. We’ll look at new technologies and new working practices that will give storytellers a short cut to better engagement.

This course looks at best practice treatment and production techniques that allow content creators to engage the audience more deeply. We discuss how to get to know your audience, profile them and understand their ‘triggers’ and engagement points.

We look at how we can select stories and narratives from a campaign or media event, that ‘speak’ directly to our target audience. We explore the importance of the ‘human condition’ in a story and suggest the visuals and sequences that will have the biggest impact on an audience.

We look share ability and how the audience understanding, story and desired outcomes fit in with a bigger campaign strategy.

This is a generic two day camera training course which can be adapted and re-focussed to particular cameras (where possible). It covers both semi-automatic shooting for complete beginners, and moves up to full manual operation. The course balances technical and creative training, looking at framing and lighting as well as some editorial considerations that may effect how you shoot.

There are 3 and 5 day versions of this course. The longer versions allowing for shooting exercises to really hone the shooting and V.J. skills.