Cinematic Documentary Filmmaking: Shoot, Edit, Launch
A course by Chloe WhiteDocumentary Filmmaker and Director
A course by Chloe White, Documentary Filmmaker and Director
Learn how to make a documentary by creating a short film on a subject of your choice, from the initial research to the post-production process
_“I’m drawn to smaller stories that are told in a beautiful, intimate way. Mostly focused on the female experience and people living in the margins of society.” _
Chloe White, is a documentary filmmaker and director of the production company, Whalebone Films. Her work has gone on to receive international acclaim, from Camden to Buenos Aires. She also produces content for clients such as the BBC, the Guardian and Topic.
In this online course, you’ll learn the entire process of documentary filmmaking, from the initial research and planning to the filming and editing. By the end of this creative journey, you’ll be able to share your personal vision of the world through your camera and onto the big screen.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 24 downloads
What Is a Cinematic Documentary?
4 minutes, 54 seconds
The Production Processes
19 minutes, 14 seconds
Developing the Idea
19 minutes, 4 seconds
Visualising the Film
15 minutes, 13 seconds
Writing a Proposal
6 minutes, 7 seconds
Technical Considerations
14 minutes, 17 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know Chloe White. She shares her experience as a filmmaker and director, as well as her influences and inspirations.
Get a deeper understanding of what cinematic documentary is, and what goes into making one. Learn how to choose a subject, conduct research, develop characters, find equipment, and establish a schedule, and budget.
Chloe guides you through looking for inspiration, choosing your core idea, and researching it. Next, see how to plan your production calendar and write your proposal.
Once you’ve taken care of logistics, it’s time to start shooting! Discover interview techniques and how to film observationally. Learn to edit and shape your footage into the seamless documentary.
Wrap up the course by seeing how to distribute and promote your film effectively, and how to secure funding.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a 3-5–minute film on a subject of your choice.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in the world of cinema, and wants to create their very own short film from scratch.
Requirements and materials
Students should be familiar with using a camera. Basic editing skills are useful, but not necessary.
To take this course, you need something to film with, and access to video editing software like Premiere.
Reviews
- 2 months ago
The course gave me several insights; the information is presented clearly and without excess. Chloe shares not only her knowledge but also her sensitive way of looking at the world.
- 2 months ago
This is really interesting course with a lot of useful and practical info from a real proffessional, I'm glad that I've purchased it. It really helps me in understanding production of documentary films. Thank you!
- brianna_7PLUS3 months ago
This is a great course for beginners. It covered everything I wanted to know. I especially appreciate that the instructor shared opportunities for funding and distribution. Sometimes creatives gatekeep that information, but she was so generous with her experience and knowledge. I also thought her films were beautiful and can't wait to see what she makes next!
- 4 months ago
O curso superou todas as minhas expectativas. O grande diferencial é a abordagem 360º: não ficamos presos apenas à técnica de captação, mas mergulhamos fundo na estruturação narrativa e, principalmente, nas estratégias de promoção e festivais, que muitas vezes são negligenciadas. Saio com uma visão muito mais estratégica sobre como viabilizar e dar visibilidade a um projeto documental.
- 5 months ago
Es valiosos ver el flujo de trabajo de una profesional. Muy recomendado.
Her clients and partners include the Guardian, Topic, Al Jazeera, Nowness, BBC, Channel 4, Oxfam, Save the Children and the BFI. She has had films screen at festivals internationally including at Camden International Film Festival, Open City, and Sheffield Doc Fest and is a winner of the prestigious Macdowell fellowship.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
The Cinematic Documentary
- What Is a Cinematic Documentary?
- The Production Processes
- U3
Project Development
- Developing the Idea
- Visualising the Film
- Writing a Proposal
- U4
The Shoot and the Edit
- Technical Considerations
- Prepping the Shoot
- The Shoot 1
- The Shoot 2
- Editing the Footage 1
- Editing the Footage 2
- Editing the Footage 3
- Editing the Footage 4
- Editing the Footage 5
- U5
The Documentary Industry
- Distribution and Promotion
- Pitching and Funding
- FP
Final project
- Cinematic Documentary Filmmaking: Shoot, Edit, Launch
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
This course is designed for intermediate filmmakers with some prior experience in filmmaking or visual storytelling. Beginners may find certain concepts challenging but can benefit if they possess basic film production knowledge.
You’ll need access to a camera (DSLR, Super 8, or similar), audio recording gear, editing software, and basic accessories like tripods and stabilizers. The course also covers choosing suitable equipment for different documentary styles.
You will learn pre-production planning, pitching ideas, building trust with contributors, shooting techniques, sound design, editing workflows, and strategies for distribution and promotion of documentary films.
Yes, the course explores observational and verite documentary styles, including techniques for shooting documentaries that rely on visual storytelling and character scenes instead of formal interviews.
The course details brainstorming, research, character selection, scheduling, budgeting, proposal writing, and ethical considerations for gaining access and consent from subjects during pre-production.
Yes, you’ll learn how to write compelling proposals, create loglines, outline narrative structures, and pitch documentary ideas to potential funders and commissioners.
The course covers how to balance personal creative projects with client assignments, offering strategies for sustaining a documentary filmmaking career both artistically and financially.