Documentary as Discovery - Online Course
Learn the philosophy, ethics, and practical skills of documentary filmmaking at your own pace. By the end of the course, you would have created your own film from idea to final cut.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
People who are completely new to filmmaking.
Filmmakers who have yet to make a documentary.
Documentary makers looking to learn new techniques.
HOW THIS CRAFT CHANGES YOU
At the heart of this course is a focus on why we make documentaries. We explore the craft as a practice rooted in perspective, subjectivity, and lived experience: a way of bringing theoretical understanding into direct contact with the reality of encountering other cultures and subcultures. Documentary filmmaking is about stepping closer to the complex, often contradictory nature of the world, rather than observing it from a distance.
This style of filmmaking can be a powerful antidote to feeling disconnected or overwhelmed by what’s happening around us. It gives structure to curiosity, turns concern into action, and offers a way to engage deeply rather than numbingly scrolling our way into oblivion on our phones.
HOW THE COURSE WORKS
The course moves through clear, practical modules, guiding you step by step from idea to finished film.
We begin by helping you identify what story you want to tell and why.
From there, we move into:
Pre-production — research, story development, and planning. We will explore different documentary styles so you can decide which best suits your story.
Filming — practical techniques and learning how to stay open to the unpredictability of reality.
Editing — the Shadowgraph approach to shaping meaning, rhythm, and emotion from real-life footage.
Community & output — how to share your finished film, connect with audiences, and give your work a life beyond your hard drive.
Throughout the course, theory and practice sit side by side. You’re encouraged to get out into the world and learn by doing.
WHAT YOU’LL COME AWAY WITH
By the end of the course, you won’t just understand documentary filmmaking: you’ll have made your own film.
This programme aims to spot promising filmmakers for future Shadowgraph projects and to share the thrill and creativity of documentary filmmaking with those who have yet to experience it.