Documentary Filmmaking Masterclass

How to Make A Documentary - From Start to Finish by Award Winning Netflix Director

Created byJonny Von Wallström

Last updated 7/2018

English

English [Auto],Indonesian [Auto],

What you'll learn

You will be able to make an award-winning documentary.
You will be able to raise money for your project.
You will be at a HIGHER level than you were before.
You will get UNIQUE and EXCLUSIVE information on how you can make, sell and release your film without a big crew!

Course content

5 sections • 42 lectures • 4h 48m total length

Introduction6:17
Learn how to turn a documentary idea into a finished project, from funding and storytelling to distribution and marketing, drawn from two years of documentary filmmaking on our YouTube channel.
Basic questions to see where you're at!
Building a Platform2:58

Production10:48
Preparing The Shoot9:51
To have location agreement, and personal releases cleared is super important. The same goes to having an E&O insurance. Don't be lazy on these things in the beginning of your project, do it right away. There's a risk that channels such as Netflix, HBO and other broadcasters won't take your film if you don't have those releases in place.
Make A Shot List
Dealing With Fear2:20
Film Without Film School8:18
The Importance of Story3:45
Are your characters good enough?
Gear14:46
Recording Audio4:49
Directing Subjects5:35
Interviews1:38
Directing2:30
Shooting2:16
Ask Yourself These 12 Questions Before Shooting

Distribution5:05
Explore documentary distribution across regions and platforms, from Sweden and the BBC to Hulu, noting how market size affects commissions, festival fees, and long-term audience-building through education.
Research 5 examples of GREAT release campaigns
Setting your marketing and content strategy
Festival VS Online1:35
Online audiences offer broad reach, while festivals build essential industry connections that can fund or support your project, with Kickstarter and brands like Wieden often involved.
Standing Out At A Festival4:24
Stand out at festivals by building networks, engaging media, and growing online audiences, leveraging exposure and targeted outreach to secure coverage.
How can you stand out?
Marketing Your Film5:04
Getting PR and attention
Self Distribution4:18
Make a list of festivals
Online Distribution7:16
Festival Premiere9:56
Handling negative press and feedback
The Future Of Indie Filmmaking4:47
Releasing Your Film6:41
Drive PR and influencer momentum around the film’s release with media runs and Uganda appearances. Highlight the web series and behind‑the-scenes content, last‑minute grading, and sponsorship plans while balancing growth.
Finding Your Niche5:42
Discover how to cultivate originality by balancing passion with a sustainable income, building two parallel paths, and pursuing long-term projects while maintaining a safety net.
After The Release5:34
Success?
Sustaining Yourself9:19
ENDING1:08
Learn documentary directing by curating the course and setting everything up for your current or next project, while engaging with our YouTube channel for early film insights and weekly q&a.

Requirements

You have basic or more experience in working with film/video.
You want to learn how to make a ground breaking documentary.
The course is more useful if you have an idea and know what you want to make. Even if you haven't started yet.

Description

Who is this course NOT for:

You need to have some basic filmmaking knowledge and skills. If you've never made at least a 3-5 minute story and video, this course will be too advanced for you.

Why take this course?

You won’t need a big team, budget, or a fancy diploma for my course. All you need is a story, and I’ll help you turn it into a documentary. This course is a view into my life, and how I make my documentaries. It takes you through the exact steps I took, when I made my award-winning film The Pearl of Africa and I’ll even share my personal lists of grants and festivals I applied for. It’s like a mentorship, with me, for your future film.

What you will get:

42 lectures
5-hours of educational content.
Lifetime access to our online community
Lifetime access to all assignments that will take your project to the NEXT level.
A unique insight into the life of a documentary filmmaker.
Pure and practical advice that you won't get in a film school or in a book.
ALL templates you need to make a documentary (pitch deck, budget, contracts, list of festivals and funders etc).
Personal advice from an award-winning director and producer.

Who am I to teach you?

Investing in yourself is the most important thing if you want to make a living working with a profession like this. During my 15 years as a professional filmmaker, I've invested in online courses, books, talks and workshops. There's been good ones, but also a lot of bad ones. But the education has really helped me get to where I am today.

Sign up now and don't wait! If you're not happy with the course, I'd be more than happy to refund all your money within 30 days. But I hope that doesn't happen!

See you on the other side!

Who this course is for:

A beginner, mid level or advanced filmmaker who wants to make a documentary.
A person who wants to become a professional and make a living on filmmaking.

Documentary Filmmaking Masterclass

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 9min

Chapter 2 - Pre Production11 lectures • 1hr 18min

Chapter 3 - Production11 lectures • 1hr 7min

Chapter 4 - Post Production5 lectures • 1hr 4min

Chapter 5 - Distribution13 lectures • 1hr 11min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: