Documentary Filmmaking from Scratch
A course by JRVISUALSFilmmakers
A course by JRVISUALS, Filmmakers
Learn how to develop an audiovisual piece from the initial idea to the post-production process and visually communicate your story
Film has the power to transport you to another world. Discover how to create your own cinematic world alongside filmmakers Jose Prada and Rene Strgar. In this course, get a closer look at the audiovisual industry and learn how to make your ideas into a cinematographic reality.
Discover documentary filmmaking by getting a complete walkthrough of the process. Jose and Rene teach you how to explore an idea, materialize it through film, and finalize it though post-production.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 14 downloads
Equipment and Basics
5 minutes, 25 seconds
A Quick Guide to Understanding Light
7 minutes, 44 seconds
The Interview
10 minutes, 31 seconds
The B-Roll or Inserts
2 minutes, 38 seconds
How to Approach the Editing
4 minutes, 13 seconds
The Principles of Editing
20 minutes, 36 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin by getting to know Jose and Rene. Hear their unique stories about how they each began working in the film industry. They explain how they founded JRVisuals in London before sharing the films and series that inspire them most.
Get an overview of filmmaking. Jose and Rene discuss how filmmaking has evolved in the age of the internet, and cover the phases, structure, and narrative units of a film. Learn about documentaries as a genre and see the different cinematographic elements that set it apart.
Next, Jose and Rene go through everything to take into account before the shooting. Discover the creative process behind choosing and exploring the subject of your film. Get familiar with what to consider when location scouting in terms of lighting, sound, logistics, and other technical aspects. Then, put everything on paper and start defining the film you want to make.
Get a walkthrough of the production stage by understanding the components of a lens and seeing what equipment is needed. Then, Jose and Rene cover the fundamentals of lighting. Go over camera settings to adjust exposure, ISO, intensity, and more. Hear Jose and Rene’s tips and tricks for having the perfect interview and how to implement b-rolls, or inserts, to complement your documentary.
Dive into the post-production phase and bring everything together. Learn the principles of editing by seeing how to organize your footage, mix sound, and color grade. Once you’ve finalized your documentary, see how to export your work into different formats and share it with the world.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Make a documentary or short film of your choice from start to finish.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in making films or learning how to work with film equipment.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is necessary.
To take this course, you need a camera; it could be a professional one or a smartphone. You also need access to a computer with video editing software like Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve. Jose and Rene give you a list of other (inexpensive but efficient) equipment they work with like tripods, microphones, light stands, and more.
Reviews
- eudespokou_onairPLUS1 month ago
Je trouve ce cours très interessant. Dès l'entame, le duo des formateurs vous entraînent passionnément dans leur univers créatif tout en stimulant le tien!
- 2 months ago
Amazing course. I learned on the basics of documentary filmmaking how
- 5 months ago
Utile per capire come organizzare le idee per pianificare una video intervista.
- 7 months ago
These guys are great. I learned so much. They cover all the basics and they know just how to keep you engaged. I truly recommend this course to anyone interested in learning the basics of film making and editing.
- 8 months ago
Super cours, très instructif et bien structuré.
Together, they have worked with industry giants like L’Oréal, Red Bull, Zara, NHS, Fourpure Brewing Co., Sambrook’s Brewery, Tefal, Eating Europe, Italcrem coffee, and Neverland Festival among others. They are also recipients of numerous awards like Nespresso Talents Spain (2017 & 2019) and Official Selection from Cinema Shots (2020).
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Us
- Influences
- U2
Introduction to Filmmaking
- Filmmaking in the Internet Era
- Basic Concepts to Get Started
- The Short Documentary and the Portrait Genre
- U3
Before the Shooting
- Choosing the Topic and Working with the Subject
- Location Scouting
- Putting Everything onto Paper
- U4
The Shooting
- Equipment and Basics
- A Quick Guide to Understanding Light
- Camera Settings
- The Interview
- The B-Roll or Inserts
- U5
Post-production: Putting It All Together
- How to Approach the Editing
- The Principles of Editing
- The Editing Process
- Exporting Your Masterpiece
- Ryan
- FP
Final project
- Documentary Filmmaking from Scratch
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and guides you through fundamental concepts in organizing, shooting, and editing video projects from scratch.
You need a camera or smartphone for filming, a computer, and editing software like DaVinci Resolve (free version works). Basic audio equipment and minimal lighting gear are recommended but not required.
You’ll learn organized project setup, shooting techniques, editing interviews and B-roll, audio mixing, color grading, creating titles, exporting for web, and storytelling strategies for documentaries and branded content.
You’ll learn to create clear folder structures, use naming conventions, and set up project files to keep footage, audio, graphics, and exports organized for easy access and collaboration.
Yes, the course includes step-by-step tutorials on importing footage, trimming clips, syncing audio, adding B-roll, color grading, creating titles, and exporting videos using DaVinci Resolve.
The course teaches best practices for organizing project files and using dedicated folders, making it simple to back up all essential assets and easily revisit projects in the future.
Yes, you’ll learn how to cut interview footage for natural rhythm, use B-roll to cover jump cuts, and sync audio using waveforms for seamless storytelling.