The Complete Micro-Budget Filmmaking Masterclass
What you'll learn
- You will acquire the building blocks and the insider knowledge of how we shot Friends, Foes & Fireworks in a single night, and what we have learned about filmmaking in our decade long careers.
- How to plan an improvised film from the very first steps such as story concept and casting, right through to how to shoot, promote and attract sales.
- How to plan, schedule and work with your cast and crew to make the shoot as efficient as possible and achieve so much in so little time.
- A unique and quick turnaround approach to filmmaking that will give you the know-how and confidence to go out and get your own film made.
Requirements
- You should be an aspiring filmmaker who wants to produce and shoot an indie film on a small budget.
- An interest in low budget filmmaking and working closely with actors to create characters.
- You should have some basic knowledge of how a film set operates or have been on a film set at least once in your life.
- Basic organizational and time management skills will be useful to you during the shoot, especially during the producing and planning stages.
- You need to have a ‘can do attitude’ and the courage to step up and do something creatively innovative.
Description
Join over 30,000 students learning from our courses!
Making a feature film does not require a script. Nor does it have to take years, months, or even weeks. Learn how to take your ideas and get your film made right now.
Do you have a feature film inside of you just dying to get out? Don't know where to start? Do you think you need millions of dollars to make a feature film? The answer is NO you don't. Would you like to learn how to make a feature film in 24 hours and actually sell it as well?
In this informative ‘how-to’ course, award-winning independent filmmaking duo, Sarah Jayne and Ivan Malekin from Nexus Production Group, take you through ten chapters, covering every step they took to plan, shoot and market their first improvised feature film Friends, Foes & Fireworks, which they shot in a single night over New Year’s Eve. This is an inside look with nothing held back, from success to mistakes and everything we learned along the way, and which we now share with you so you too can get your feature film made right now.
They DON'T teach you this in Film School!
Mike Leigh is a Palm d’Or winning director famed for his improvisational approach.
Joe Swanberg has built an 18-year career on improvisation, culminated in a series on Netflix.
Improvised filmmaking is a captivating and immersive filmmaking process known for its quick turnaround time.
So quick, in fact, you can film your idea in a single night.
And that is exactly what Ivan Malekin and Sarah Jayne did, filming their ambitious feature Friends, Foes & Fireworks, entirely improvised, in one night, on New Year’s Eve.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“In an era of superhero blockbusters and feel-good schmaltz, this is a rare, truthful film. Don’t miss it.” - Mary Costello, Audience Member, Melbourne Cinema Release.
So if you are an aspiring filmmaker who wants to not only get their films made now but sell them too, and utilize a low budget, but high production value approach - one that is unique, innovative, and proven to be successful - then this online filmmaking course is just what you need!
This course includes:
2.5 hours of talk-to-camera discussions about the entire filmmaking process - from concept to planning to film to post to distribution - divided into 10 lessons.
Behind the Scenes videos, pictures, and scenes from the film demonstrating discussed techniques
Supplementary resources like outlines, character backgrounds, call sheets, dialogue and action beats, schedules, and character audition videos for Friends, Foes & Fireworks
Full lifetime access
Mobile access
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This course will cover:
CHAPTER 1. IDEAS & OUTLINE
In this chapter, you will learn how we found our inspiration and how you can find yours. We also take you through the first steps of building the story for the film, how we work with the actors, and how to do this without a script. Topics covered:
How we Think of Ideas
Location & Character Inspiration
Outline
Character Backgrounds
Scene Descriptions
Script vs Improvisation
CHAPTER 2. CASTING
In this chapter, you will learn how we tackled casting and what we look for in actors, how to use social media for casting calls, plus insights into the audition and selection process. Topics covered:
How We Find Actors
Our Audition Process
How We Choose Our Cast
CHAPTER 3. CREW & EQUIPMENT
In this chapter, you will learn about crewing for an improvised feature film, what equipment you will require and the crewing positions we utilized, plus other crew roles you need to consider. Topics covered:
Crew Positions We Use
Additional Crew Positions
Finding Crew
Our Equipment
CHAPTER 4. REHEARSAL
In this chapter, you will learn about the in-depth process for rehearsals we created to help everyone prepare for the shoot, all without a script. Everything from meetings with the actors, to ice-breaking games, right through to how we recreated character history to give our actors grounding and shared truths to draw upon. Topics covered:
Our Rehearsal Process
One on One Meetings
Actor on Actor Meetings
Group Meetings
Improvisation Games
Recreating History
CHAPTER 5. FINAL PREPARATION
In this chapter, you will learn how to go into an improvised shoot as prepared as possible. We will cover everything we did before shoot day to get ourselves and our cast and crew ready, which you can do too. Topics covered:
Schedule
Catering
Transportation
Locations
Dialogue & Acton Beats
Call Sheets
CHAPTER 6. THE SHOOT
In this chapter, you will learn how to take everything you have prepared and turn it into action. We talk about on set etiquette and how we worked with our cast and crew to capture the footage needed, keep the story on track and the schedule on time, and draw the best possible performance from the actors. Topics covered:
Welcoming the Team
Working Efficiently
Shot Setup
Takes
CHAPTER 7. TROUBLESHOOTING
In this chapter you will learn about a number of things that can and will go wrong when shooting any film - improvised or not - and how to work to correct these errors. Through experience and hindsight, we talk about how to avoid mistakes on set and correct those mistakes in post-production that you couldn’t avoid. Topics covered:
Coverage
Continuity
Overlapping Dialogue
Cameras in Shot
Reflections & Shadows
Security
CHAPTER 8. POST PRODUCTION
In this chapter, you will learn how to move from the shooting stage into the many phases of post-production. We will discuss all the necessary steps that need to be taken right through from editing the footage to sound design to the final touches needed to complete the film. Topics covered:
Editing
Sound Design
Visual Effects
Automatic Dialogue Replacement
Colour Grade
CHAPTER 9. MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION
In this chapter, you will learn how to distribute and sell your improvised film. We talk about the importance of marketing within the early stages, how we marketed our film, and what you can do to gain an audience for your film, and the steps you can take to sell your work. Topics include:
Website
Social Media
Poster
Distribution Streams
Sales Agents & Aggregators
Film Markets
CHAPTER 10. LEGALITIES
In this chapter, you will learn about the important legal things that you need to consider as a filmmaker. This may be the boring stuff, but not getting this down can jeopardize your shoot or even your film’s future prospects. We will take you through the basics, covering everything from the contracts and permits, right through to discussions on logos and branding, plus more. Topics include:
Contract
Deferred Payment
Clearing Music
Permits
Public Liability Insurance
Logos & Brands
People in Background
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What people are saying about our courses:
"By far, the best director and cinematography course on the Internet." - Nate Carroll
"I really enjoyed taking this class. It wasn't just that the subject was interesting to me, but the teacher also made the class intriguing. I would gladly recommend this class to anyone who would be interested." - Leah Ames
Very helpful. Adds depth to your understanding and intuitive insights which you surely had if you happened to play with video shooting and editing without doing any learning beforehand. It's enriching. The movie samples are great as the clarify the points. Love it! - Yosi Tsitsu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So what are you waiting for? Whether you are fresh out of film school, a screenwriter who wants to create his/her own content or just someone who wants to make a feature film this course is for you. Join over 25,000 students that have already taken Indie Film Hustle filmmaking and screenwriting courses.
If you've got the dream.
If you've got the drive.
If you've got the passion - but you're missing the knowledge and experience...this course will help you make your feature film into a reality.
Enroll NOW and learn how to make a low budget feature film! Let's get started!
Who this course is for:
- Indie Filmmakers
- Content Creators
- Screenwriters
- Film Students
- Anyone interested in making a feature film
Course content
- Preview02:15
Instructors
![IFH Courses](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=avatar}
- 4.3 Instructor Rating
- 4,692 Reviews
- 55,383 Students
- 26 Courses
IFH Courses is a creator, publisher and distributor of high-quality online courses covering all avenues of the filmmaking, screenwriting, post-production, and social media/marketing crafts. Think of it as the ultimate online film school. We bring together industry-leading experts from all disciplines so you can learn from the best. Filmmakers, Screenwriters & Content Creators are our passion!
Our expert instructors will teach you skills that will have an immediate positive impact on your career or business.
You'll find his approach to our courses a bit raw and real. That's because I care about my students, fellow artists, and filmmakers. He has seen and personally made many missteps over the years and he wants to help you avoid making the same costly mistakes. The industry is abusive to the newcomer and he hopes Indie Film Hustle can help you navigate the shark-infested waters of the film industry.
We also are the founder of Bulletproof Screenwriting, Filmtrepreneur, IFH Academy, and Indie Film Hustle TV, the world's first streaming service dedicated to filmmakers, screenwriters, and content creators. Think Netflix for Filmmakers.
- 4.2 Instructor Rating
- 35 Reviews
- 1,446 Students
- 3 Courses
Nexus Production Group has been making innovative and original film content since 2007. Now based in Malta and led by directors Ivan Malekin and Sarah Jayne Portelli, with close collaborators in Melbourne and New York, Nexus is driven by a passion to create compelling, character-driven stories, for both traditional cinema and online viewing.
Ivan and SJ predominantly focus on producing improvised films in the micro-budget sphere, while also delivering educational workshops for a wide range of platforms and institutions – such as IFH Academy, Cine Circle, Udemy, Skillshare, and multiple Universities – both live and online. Their courses revolve around implementing improvisation techniques and the importance of micro-budget filmmaking, topics that are pertinent to the difficult distribution climate accompanying modern filmmaking.
In 2016 Nexus produced the short film and awareness project Daughter, addressing victim-blaming and gendered violence, and starring Katherine Langford. The film has won multiple awards at festivals around the world and continues to be used as an educational tool in schools throughout Australia, Malta, and the UK.
Ivan and SJ co-produced and co-directed the ambitious improvised feature Friends, Foes & Fireworks in one night over New Year's Eve in 2017, which went onto a brief cinema release in Melbourne, won Best Drama at Oz International Film Festival, and is available to stream on various platforms and on DVD throughout North America.
In 2017 they also settled in Malta and embarked on another ambitious improvised feature titled In Corpore, filming in Melbourne, Malta, New York and Berlin. Tackling the dynamics of relationships and the need to follow one’s own desires from a female perspective, In Corpore is a sex-positive and sensual dive into the grey areas of modern coupledom. The film was released on Australian cinema on demand platform Lido At Home in late 2020, followed by a worldwide release through Vimeo On Demand as well as Amazon Prime in US and UK.
Throughout 2019 Ivan & SJ filmed and released seven episodes of burgeoning web series Life Improvised for their website and YouTube channel. In the same year, they won a grant from the Arts Council Malta to attend a Character Based Improvisation (CBI) workshop with coach and mentor Robert Marchand in Basel, Switzerland, further extending their improvised filmmaking repertoire.
As the world shut down in 2020, the duo continued to produce content, producing and directing their third improvised feature, Machination, a psychological drama / horror about an anxious woman struggling to cope in isolation as a pandemic sweeps the world. In the same year, they would also produce their first feature documentary, Cats of Malta. Both films are due for release in 2021.
The directors plan to return home to Australia by Christmas 2021, taking Nexus Production Group back to where it began. However, before they leave Malta, Ivan and SJ are planning to shoot another feature film called Imbedo as a love letter and a temporary goodbye to the island.
Inspired by life and the complexities of being human, Ivan and SJ continue to create work they are proud to share and work that provokes discussion. They strive to pass on their experience and knowledge to fellow filmmakers and help foster a sustainable independent film industry, living up to the connection in the name Nexus.