Documentary as Discovery Course + Mentorship Package
Learn the philosophy, ethics, and practical skills of documentary filmmaking at your own pace, with personalised one-to-one video calls with me, Ross Domoney, guiding you through the process. By the end of the course, you will have created your own film from idea to final cut.
Please note: Before booking this mentorship package, I ask that you schedule a free 15-minute call with me. We only take on a limited number of students for this personalised guidance, so this helps ensure the course and mentorship are the right fit for you. Click here to book your call.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
People who are serious about making their first documentary.
Filmmakers who have a story they are passionate about telling.
Creatives who want step-by-step guidance while developing, filming, and completing their own film.
Documentary makers looking to deepen their skills and receive direct feedback from an experienced filmmaker.
Those who want a structured, supported path from idea to finished film, rather than learning completely on their own.
This mentorship package is designed for those who want hands-on guidance and critical feedback as they move through the filmmaking process.
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 — 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.
The mentorship element creates space for reflection, dialogue, and accountability — helping you navigate uncertainty and develop confidence in your own voice as a filmmaker.
HOW THE COURSE WORKS
The course moves through clear, practical modules, guiding you step by step from idea to finished film.
Alongside the full online course, this package includes three one-to-one video mentorship sessions, spaced across key stages of your creative journey. These sessions are designed to support you as you develop your idea, begin filming, and shape your final edit.
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 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 — with mentorship providing guidance, feedback, and perspective when you need it most.
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, shaped through both independent exploration and personalised mentorship.
This programme is designed to support emerging filmmakers, identify voices for future Shadowgraph projects, and share the creative, political, and human power of documentary filmmaking with those ready to engage deeply with the world around them.