Filmmaking: Directing 1

Develop your film directing skills with hands-on projects by combining actor direction, visual storytelling, and practical problem-solving.

Over four weeks, you’ll gain foundational directing skills that help bring a story to life—from breaking down a script and guiding an actor’s performance to choosing the right camera angle or lighting setup. Through shooting hands-on projects, you'll explore what it means to plan, shape, and execute a scene, developing a visual style that reflects your point of view. 

Each week focuses on a different stage of the directing process: planning, working with actors, designing a scene visually, and putting it all together in a final short project. Along the way, you’ll learn how to block scenes for emotional impact, communicate clearly with collaborators, and adjust on the fly when things don’t go according to plan. You’ll also study how professional directors use shots, costumes, and props to tell stories—and begin building your own visual language. 

By the end of the course, you’ll have directed a handful of short scenes and received personalized feedback on your work. Whether you're hoping to pursue film, theatre, or online content creation, this course equips you with the tools and confidence to take your ideas from concept to screen.

What you will learn:

✔ Break down a script and translate it into visual and performance choices
✔ Direct actors using clear communication and an understanding of character motivation
✔ Plan and film scenes using intentional blocking, lighting, and shot selection
✔ Create a short directed scene that reflects your personal style and growth as a storyteller