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Jordan Imiola

This short course covers everything you need to know to Make Your Own Short Film.

Screenwriter, producer, and film director, Jordan Imiola has created on short film on a low or zero budget. In this course, you'll learn how to:

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This short course covers everything you need to know to Make Your Own Short Film.

Screenwriter, producer, and film director, Jordan Imiola has created on short film on a low or zero budget. In this course, you'll learn how to:

  • Develop your concept for your short film

  • Learn how to write your script.

  • Learn how to cast and find actors in your city.

  • Learn how to produce your short film and run a seamless production.

  • Edit and learn all the tips needed to set a deadline and stick to your deadlines.

  • Know what to do after you publish your short film.

Create and produce your short film as you watch this course, and please share it.

After watching this class, you'll have the tools and knowledge to write and produce a short film. After each lesson, work on your short film until it's finished and out into the world.

These lessons will go over coming up with your idea, writing your script, rewriting your script, assembling table reads with actors, casting, producing, editing, how to set up a premiere for your short film.

If you enjoyed this class, please check out my other classes and leave a review.  :) Thank you.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn to make a short film(s) from start to finish on a tow budget or no budget at all.
  • Edit and learn all the tips needed to set a deadline and stick to your deadlines.
  • Acquire the skill of how to make a short film and run a seamless production.
  • Develop your concept for a short film and learn how to write your script.
  • Learn how to cast and find actors in your city!
  • Know what a logline is and how to make on to intrigue your cast and crew
  • Master 3 act stucture and use techniques from feature films for your short films.

Syllabus

Introduction
Short Film Making with Website Resources
Preproduction and Brainstorming Your Short Film
Preproduction
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores short film filmmaking from various angles, which is standard in the industry
Teaches skills for making a short film, which helps learners pursue their creative passion
Develops skills for a novice filmmaker
Taught by Jordan Imiola, who is recognized for their work in film
Examines short filmmaking, which is highly relevant to the entertainment industry
Prerequisites are hard to find

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Reviews summary

Practical low-budget film production guide

According to learners, this course offers a practical and accessible guide to short film making on a low or zero budget. Students commend the step-by-step approach, which covers everything from concept development and scriptwriting to casting, production, and post-release strategies. Many find the instructor's personal experience and actionable advice to be incredibly valuable, making the daunting task of filmmaking feel achievable. While some more experienced students might find certain topics too basic, the course is widely praised for providing a solid foundation and the motivation to start creating their own films without extensive resources.
Instructor's direct and encouraging style motivates learners.
"The instructor's enthusiasm for independent filmmaking is contagious; it really pushed me to start my project."
"I felt the advice came from someone who truly understands the challenges of low-budget filmmaking."
"Their real-world examples and candid tips were very helpful and inspiring."
Offers a clear, sequential path from idea to final film release.
"It walks you through every stage, from writing the script to editing and even how to premiere your film."
"I found the structured approach helped me organize my thoughts and tackle each part of filmmaking systematically."
"From brainstorming to post-production, the course outlines a complete process that anyone can follow."
Provides actionable strategies for creating films with minimal resources.
"I really appreciated how it focused on making a film with no money; it made it feel possible for me."
"The advice on finding actors and managing production on a shoestring budget was incredibly useful."
"This course delivers on its promise to show you how to make a short film without a large crew or expensive equipment."
May not provide advanced technical depth for experienced filmmakers.
"While great for beginners, I already knew much of the core information, so it felt a bit too basic at times."
"I was hoping for more detailed technical lessons on cinematography or sound design, which weren't a focus here."
"If you're looking for advanced techniques, this course might only serve as a general overview, not a deep dive."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Short Film Making - Writing and Producing Short Films with these activities:
Read and review 'How to Shoot Video that Doesn't Suck'
Provide a strong foundation in writing and filmmaking techniques by reviewing a comprehensive guide to shooting professional-looking videos.
Browse courses on Writing
Show steps
  • Purchase and read 'How to Shoot Video that Doesn't Suck.'
  • Identify key concepts and techniques mentioned in the book.
  • Summarize the main principles of writing and filmmaking.
  • Reflect on how these concepts can enhance your short film production.
Practice camera framing and composition techniques
Develop a keen eye for composition and framing by practicing with different camera techniques.
Browse courses on Composition
Show steps
  • Set up a simple scene with various objects and lighting conditions.
  • Experiment with different camera angles, heights, and distances.
  • Analyze the impact of framing and composition on the visual storytelling.
  • Seek feedback on your compositions from peers or experienced filmmakers.
Create a storyboard for your short film
Translate your script into a visual representation by creating a storyboard, which will aid in planning and visualizing the film's flow.
Browse courses on Storyboarding
Show steps
  • Break down your script into individual scenes.
  • Sketch out a thumbnail for each scene, including camera angles and character positions.
  • Consider the flow and transitions between scenes.
  • Share your storyboard with others for feedback and refinement.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Begin filming and producing your short film
Put your plans into action by starting the filming and production process for your short film.
Browse courses on Production
Show steps
  • Gather your cast and crew.
  • Secure filming locations and equipment.
  • Follow your storyboard and shooting schedule.
  • Monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.
  • Maintain a positive and collaborative work environment.
Edit your short film using video editing software
Bring your short film to life by using video editing software to assemble and refine the footage.
Browse courses on Editing
Show steps
  • Import your raw footage into the editing software.
  • Trim and arrange the clips to create a coherent narrative.
  • Add transitions, effects, and music to enhance the storytelling.
  • Export the final cut of your short film.
Read and review books on editing and filmmaking
Expand your knowledge of editing techniques and filmmaking principles by reviewing reputable books on these topics.
Browse courses on Editing
Show steps
  • Research and identify highly-rated books on editing and filmmaking.
  • Purchase and read the selected books.
  • Summarize the key concepts and techniques discussed in the books.
  • Reflect on how these concepts can enhance your post-production process.
Start promoting and distributing your short film
Share your short film with the world by exploring avenues for promotion and distribution.
Browse courses on Promotion
Show steps
  • Identify potential platforms for distributing your short film.
  • Create marketing materials such as posters and trailers.
  • Reach out to film festivals and online platforms for submission.
  • Utilize social media to promote your short film.
  • Attend industry events to connect with potential distributors.

Career center

Learners who complete Short Film Making - Writing and Producing Short Films will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Short Film Making - Writing and Producing Short Films.
This comprehensive guide to film production covers all aspects of the filmmaking process, from pre-production to post-production. It is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the art and craft of filmmaking.
This comprehensive companion provides a multidisciplinary approach to film festivals, covering their history, theory, practice, and impact on the film industry and society.
This comprehensive handbook covers a wide range of metal casting processes, metallurgy, techniques, and design considerations. It's a valuable reference for both students and professionals, offering in-depth knowledge to deepen understanding. The second edition includes recent findings on defects and processes.
A concise and classic guide to the principles of plain English style. offers fundamental rules of usage and composition that are crucial for clear and effective writing and editing. It's a foundational text often recommended for those beginning their editing journey, providing essential prerequisite knowledge.
A comprehensive guide covering the practical aspects of copyediting for various contexts, including books and corporate materials. is often used as a textbook and provides detailed explanations of copyediting practices, making it highly relevant for those seeking to deepen their understanding of text editing. It's an excellent reference tool with exercises for practice.
A recent addition to the Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing series, this book focuses specifically on the nuances of copyediting fiction. It addresses challenges unique to novels and stories, making it an invaluable resource for fiction editors. It complements The Chicago Manual of Style with genre-specific guidance.
Part of the extensive ASM Handbook series, Volume 15 provides in-depth information on various casting processes, molten metal processing, solidification, and defects. This highly authoritative reference for professionals and researchers in metallurgy and materials science.
Explores the creative and artistic aspects of film production. It must-read for anyone who wants to understand the art of filmmaking and develop their own unique style.
Explores the concept of the auteur theory and its role in film criticism. It must-read for anyone who wants to understand the different ways of interpreting and analyzing film.
Explores the art and craft of film editing. It must-read for anyone who wants to understand the role of editing in filmmaking and develop their own unique style.
Explores the history and evolution of the Hollywood system. It must-read for anyone who wants to understand the business of filmmaking and the role of Hollywood in the film industry.
Provides a unique perspective on the filmmaking process. It must-read for anyone who wants to learn from the experiences of some of the world's most successful filmmakers.
Explores the role of sound in film. It must-read for anyone who wants to understand the importance of sound in filmmaking and develop their own unique style.
Delves into the crucial first stage of editing, focusing on the structure, content, and overall vision of a manuscript. It's particularly useful for those interested in book editing and provides in-depth knowledge beyond basic copyediting and proofreading. It valuable resource for both aspiring and experienced editors.
A highly popular and accessible book that breaks down screenplay structure into 15 key 'beats'. is particularly useful for beginners and those looking for a practical template for plotting. While some find its formulaic approach limiting for advanced writers, it excels at solidifying a basic understanding of story structure in a clear and engaging way. It's a must-read for many starting out.
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This comprehensive and in-depth book explores the principles of storytelling that underpin successful screenplays. It delves into the nature of story, character, and genre, offering a robust framework for understanding dramatic writing. While more theoretical than some other guides, it's highly respected and provides a deep understanding of the craft, suitable for undergraduate and graduate levels.
Offers practical advice and insights into the interpersonal aspects of editing, focusing on the relationship between editors and writers. It provides valuable guidance on navigating common challenges and recommended read for anyone working professionally as a text editor. It adds a crucial dimension to understanding the editor's role.
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the casting process for film, television, and theatre. It covers everything from preparing breakdowns to making casting decisions and vital tool for directors, producers, and students in drama and film schools.
Delves into the scientific and technological factors influencing casting processes, including solidification and defect control. It's a valuable resource for students and professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of casting.
Considered a foundational text in screenwriting, this book introduces the basic principles of screenplay structure, particularly the three-act structure. It's an excellent starting point for gaining a broad understanding of the craft and is often used as a textbook in introductory courses. is more valuable as foundational reading than a contemporary reference.
Written by an experienced filmmaker and festival programmer, this book provides invaluable advice on how to navigate the film festival circuit, maximize exposure, and secure distribution.
Focuses specifically on the continuous casting process, a critical industrial method for solidifying molten metal. It covers both experimental work and theoretical modeling, making it relevant for those interested in contemporary topics and advanced manufacturing processes.
Shifting to the performance aspect of 'Casting,' this book offers practical advice for actors from a casting director's perspective. It covers audition technique, online casting, and career advancement, making it essential for those in film and television programs or working professionals.
Written by an experienced casting director, this book provides insider tips and practical guidance for actors navigating the audition process in film and television. It's a valuable resource for actors seeking to improve their casting success.
Presents a comprehensive 22-step process for developing a story, focusing on underlying patterns and techniques used by master storytellers. It goes beyond basic structure to explore genre, moral arguments, and character transformation, offering a detailed approach for deepening one's craft.
This practical guide to film production provides step-by-step instructions on how to make a film. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn the basics of filmmaking or improve their skills.
Explores the complex relationship between film festivals and the concept of authorship, examining how festivals shape the perception and reception of filmmakers' work.
This monograph provides a concise account of the engineering, process, and product technology of continuous casting specifically for steel. It's suitable for university students and professionals in the steel industry.
Based on Joseph Campbell's work on mythology, this book explores common archetypes and the hero's journey structure as applied to screenwriting. It provides a deeper understanding of character arcs and thematic development, offering a valuable lens for analyzing and constructing compelling narratives. This widely recommended book for understanding underlying story patterns.
An official training workbook for Adobe Premiere Pro, a widely used video editing software. provides hands-on, project-based lessons that are excellent for learning the practical skills of video editing. It's a useful reference for mastering a specific editing tool.
While not solely about casting, this book is crucial for understanding the director's perspective in working with actors, which directly impacts casting decisions. It's highly relevant for those in film and television production programs.
Provides a practical and business-oriented approach to screenwriting, focusing on crafting stories that have market potential. Hauge's expertise as a story consultant makes thvaluable resource for understanding the commercial aspects of scriptwriting and how to structure a story to appeal to industry professionals.
A beginner-friendly introduction to the fundamentals of copyediting and proofreading. is suitable for those new to text editing and provides a good starting point for understanding basic concepts and techniques. It's a helpful resource for gaining foundational knowledge.
Focuses specifically on the challenging task of writing a television pilot script. It breaks down the essential elements of a successful pilot, including establishing characters, premise, and tone, and navigating the specific requirements of the pilot format.
Provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of film festivals, examining their contribution to local economies and their role in tourism, job creation, and investment.
A practical guide specifically for aspiring television writers, covering the unique structure, formatting, and collaborative process of writing for TV. It includes exercises and insights from experienced TV writers, making it a useful resource for those targeting a career in television.
Focusing on ceramics, this book provides a detailed guide to mold making and slip casting techniques. It's highly practical with numerous illustrations and projects, making it excellent for those interested in the artistic and craft aspects of casting. It serves as a solid introduction and a useful reference.
While not solely focused on editing, this book covers the essential principles and techniques of audio production and postproduction, including editing. It provides a foundational understanding of working with sound, which is relevant for those interested in audio editing for various media.
Examines the economic and industrial dimensions of film festivals, exploring their role in financing, distribution, and marketing of films.
Focuses on the process of self-editing, offering strategies and techniques for writers to improve their own work. It provides editors with insight into the self-editing challenges writers face and can inform their approach to collaborating with authors.
This textbook offers a broad overview of writing for various media, including television, radio, and emerging digital platforms. It covers different formats and considerations for each medium, providing a good introduction to the wider landscape of scriptwriting beyond feature films. It is commonly used as a textbook.
Reflecting the broader scope of scriptwriting today, this book explores the unique demands and creative opportunities of writing for animated series, comic books, and video games. It delves into format, structure, and collaboration within these specific industries, making it relevant to contemporary topics in scriptwriting.
With a focus on ceramics, this manual provides a detailed methodology for mold making and slip casting. It's a practical guide with step-by-step projects and insights from industry specialists, suitable for students and studio potters.
Specifically addresses the lost-wax casting method, covering various approaches to this traditional technique. It's a good resource for those focusing on or interested in this particular casting process, especially in art or jewelry making.
Offers a step-by-step guide to the essentials of writing for film, drawing on the author's extensive experience. It's written in an accessible manner and includes practical tasks, making it particularly suitable for those new to scriptwriting and looking for a user-friendly introduction.
Analyzing a wide range of narratives from ancient myths to modern blockbusters, Yorke argues for a five-act structure as a fundamental pattern in storytelling. provides a compelling alternative or complement to the traditional three-act structure, deepening one's understanding of narrative architecture.
Based on Hunter's popular UCLA screenwriting course, this book offers a practical and encouraging guide to writing a screenplay. It emphasizes discipline and the importance of finding your unique voice, providing a structured approach suitable for students and those seeking a classroom-like experience. It can serve as a useful textbook.

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