Educational Videos

If you own a smartphone, you’ve got a sophisticated, easy-to-use video camera right in the palm of your hand, but you’ve likely only scratched the surface of what you can do with this powerful pocket-size tool. Award-winning documentary filmmaker and educator Ben Willis explains how to get the most out of your smartphone as a video camera, including best practices to capture high-quality footage

Conducting a good interview and capturing it on film or video requires preparation and know-how. Learn the fundamentals of filming an interview, Including how to prepare, testing your equipment in advance, best ways to set up in the physical space, and techniques for putting your interview subjects at ease.

Learn multiple techniques for production when it comes to filming b-roll on location, such as utilizing different frame speeds, reliable approaches to camera stabilization, and other tips to make you a better camera operator. You’ll also gain an understanding of post-production techniques, how to use your b-roll effectively, and a few editing tips and tricks to improve the look of your final film.

Knowing how to edit—including what tools are available to you—is critical to producing a polished, powerful film. Learn the basics of video editing from award-winning documentary filmmaker Joe Aidonidis. You’ll learn about file storage and basic editing techniques, and you’ll get a general overview of editing tools. These principles will be useful to anyone using any kind of editing software.

Documentary films have become a powerful and increasingly popular medium for telling stories. In this workshop, filmmaker and activist iin Purwanti explains how to assess whether a story is worth telling in film and explores the many approaches you can take to tell it.

The human brain is hardwired for narrative; we think in stories, remember in stories, and turn just about everything we experience into a story. Film and television producer Dominique Lasseur, cofounder of the Civic Life Project, explains how to create a short film with big impact by starting with a broad issue—such as climate change—and telling a story that will resonate with your audience.

Filmmakers often focus on the visual aspects of a film while overlooking sound. In this workshop, filmmaker and educator Dien Vo covers a number of practical principles for beginners working with sound in film, useful tools in post-production, and the role of hearing during recording and editing.

Finishing a film can be the most difficult part of the filmmaking process. In this workshop, filmmaker and educator Dien Vo explains how to ensure you have enough material to complete a compelling film. You’ll learn how to plan ahead to make sure you’ve got all the elements you need, so you don’t find yourself missing something important as you finish your film in post-production.