Overview
Learn the fundamentals of audiovisual storytelling, pre-production, working with actors and post-production in this 4-week filmmaking course, designed for budding writers, directors, cinematographers and editors.
You’ll begin by writing, developing and pitching a short film concept. After that, you'll solidify your filmmaking skills by creating an initial one-minute film to a brief. Then return to the pitch-winning short films, using your new skills and understanding to produce them. You’ll work collaboratively to shoot, edit and screen the films, and experience a range of other roles as you crew on the films of your peers.
With access to professional film facilities, editing suites and a wide selection of equipment and props, you'll immerse yourself in hands-on filmmaking from day one. Our classes will give you the foundational skills and knowledge to bring productions to life, as well as valuable first-hand practice and peer exchange.
Our expert and industry-experienced tutors will guide you through the basics, from storytelling to working with gear and a film set, and from collaborating with a crew to developing your vision. You will come out of the four weeks with an essential understanding of filmmaking, at least two short films with your name in the credits and, most importantly, the fuel to forward your creative journey.
Course structure
Topics covered
The course content will focus on the following subject areas:
- Developing a story into a finished short film.
- Operating a range of equipment including cameras, lighting and sound.
- Collaborating with filmmaking peers, actors and musicians.
- Script writing.
- Working to briefs.
- Organising your film set and scheduling shoots.
- Mise-en-scène.
- Directing actors.
- Editing (organising your timeline, cutting, storytelling and colour grading).
- Finalising a project through post-production.
- Giving and receiving feedback.
Weekly breakdown
Week 1 – Foundational filmmaking skills and pitching scripts
Project: Develop and pitch your scripts and make your first one-minute film in groups.
- Introduction to equipment.
- First brief and one-minute film.
- Writing a script to a brief.
- Pitching skills, including the structure of a pitch and speaking in front of an audience.
- Operating cameras and recording – best practices and techniques.
- Basics of communicating with and directing actors.
- Editing (organising a timeline, cutting, storytelling and packaging).
- Feedback on the one-minute film production and process.
Week 2 – Making each frame count
Project: Develop your craft skills in preparation for Week 3.
- Finalising the main script.
- Forming a crew.
- Production.
- Learning the filmmaking skills necessary to complete your project (camera, directing, directing actors, production).
- Working in teams and effective division of roles.
- Making test recordings for sound.
- Feedback on the final script.
Week 3 – Shooting week (Production)
Project: In your crew and with your chosen script, capture all the footage you need.
- Set visits.
- Shooting your film.
- Directing workshops and the language of film.
- Production-supporting workshops.
- Feedback on the set.
Week 4 – Post-production
Project: Finalise your short film, working on sound, editing and organising potential re-shoots.
- Basic sound design and mixing, including recording dialogue and atmospheric sound.
- Key editing skills to tell a story, set pace, define narrative and balance material.
- Colour grading.
- Wrapping up a project.
- Screenings and feedback on the final film.
Skills gained
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Apply the basics of visual storytelling through short films.
- Write and pitch a short film.
- Collaborate and communicate with other filmmakers and actors.
- Know the basics of camera operation and use it creatively as a filmmaking tool.
- Solve a range of filmmaking problems.
- Apply a foundational understanding of mise-en-scène to your projects.
- Work independently and within a team.
- Prepare and organise shoots.
- Set shot sizes and types and create basic compositions.
- Use three-point lighting and set light quality and temperature.
- Record and edit sound.
- Organise a timeline, do basic editing and prepare project files for export.
- Understand basic components of a camera.
- Give and receive constructive feedback.
Progression
Whether you want to spend four weeks developing foundational skills in filmmaking and connecting with like-minded individuals, or you’re preparing to advance to one of our longer HE Certificate, BA or MA programmes and need practical experience, this short course will equip you with the tools, knowledge and community with which to take those initial steps.
The course will also provide you with key insights into working within and alongside a crew that are essential in the film industry. You will develop and receive feedback on projects that will help you take initial steps into roles including: scriptwriter, editor, director, director of photography, camera assistant, producer, assistant director and sound operator/editor.
“I had little to no experience, and now I can understand the fundamental skills of operating a camera, editing, and everything in between.”
– Filmmaking Short Course alumni
Your technological playground
Get hands-on access to professional facilities and tons of bookable gear.
Tutors
Our tutors are industry-acclaimed experts in their field, with a passion for passing on their knowledge to others. Here are some of the tutors that will be supporting you throughout your learning process.
An international creative community
Essential information
Tuition fees
Enrolment fee*: €495
Course fee: €1,755
Total: €2,250
Early Bird Discount: Enrol in a Summer Short Course before the end of February 2025 and receive a discount of €150 off the tuition fee.
Multi Course Discount: Enrol in both a Summer Short Course and a degree course with us in the same year, and receive a discount of €500 off the total tuition fee.
*Enrolment fee is non-refundable.
Timetable and class size
We can’t provide an exact timetable until we know how many students will attend the course. However, you will have an average of 16 hours per week of workshops. Alongside this, you will have some technical inductions and timetabled opportunities for collaboration with students from other programmes.
Our campus facilities are open for the students to use beyond the timetabled workshop hours. The film studio, classrooms, digital workstations, editing suites and Co-labs are bookable from 10:00 until 19:45 during the Short Course term. Each student has 3 hours per week of bookable time, as well as ad-hoc bookings depending on availability of the facilities.
You can expect to be in a class of 12 to 16 students.
Entry requirements
The most important prerequisite for attending any course at Catalyst is that you must be passionate about building and developing your skills as a filmmaker.
Our short courses are designed to be accessible to anyone so we do not require any level of academic certification to apply. To qualify, you should usually be aged 18 or over. If you're coming from outside the EU, a holiday/travel visa will usually suffice.
For more information, please contact a member of the team. We love to chat! Please reach out to us at admissions@catalyst-berlin.com or call us at +49 30 2900 9052.
Application deadlines
Once a course is full, we will no longer accept more applications, so applying as soon as possible increases your chances of getting a place. The official deadline for applying to a Short Course is Friday 23 May 2025.
Open days, Q&As & taster workshops
Get a feel for Catalyst and our courses at a range of both online and in-person events. Join us at a Virtual Open Day or an Open Day at our campus in Berlin, check out our facilities with a campus tour, join an Admissions Q&A, or try a taster workshop.
Primer Workshop – Access to Higher Education
Designed for those wishing to join our main programmes, but lacking the formal education requirements to apply through standard entry.
These free workshops run at the same time as your short course programme and cover writing skills, reading, structuring arguments, debate and understanding context.
They utilise task and project-based learning methodology to ensure that you’re prepared and ready for our longer HE Certificate or BA programmes.
Student work
Here’s a glimpse of just some of the short films created by our previous students during this course.