The Complete Filmmaking Course

Ages: 18+
Term: Autumn
Length: 13 weeks

Overview

This extended, hands-on filmmaking course is ideal for anyone looking to gain the essential skills needed to take a film project from initial idea to finished screen work.

To book your place today, simply click Book Now to be taken to AUB's secure online store, where you can complete your booking. You can also sign up to our newsletter for short course updates.

Course information

Designed for aspiring filmmakers with little or no previous experience, the course offers a comprehensive, practical introduction to the creative, technical and collaborative processes behind making short films.

Delivered part-time across 11 Monday evening sessions and two full Saturday shoot days (45 taught hours in total), the course allows you to immerse yourself in the full filmmaking process while balancing other commitments. You’ll explore writing, directing, shooting, producing and editing, alongside the many supporting elements that bring a film together.

You’ll be taught by Arts University Bournemouth specialist film tutors Celeste Joy-Engel (writer and director) and Tereza Tzelepaki (producer and film editor), who bring professional and academic industry experience to every session. Under their guidance, you’ll develop skills across story development, scriptwriting, planning, shot-lists, storyboarding, directing, lighting, camera work, health and safety, and non-linear editing using Adobe Premiere Pro.

Each Monday session introduces structured workshops that guide you through every stage of short film production, from concept to final cut. Working in groups from the outset, you’ll develop original story ideas, support one another in practical production roles and gain experience across the full range of filmmaking disciplines through talks, demonstrations, practical workshops and dedicated editing sessions.

As your confidence grows, you’ll take part in two full Saturday campus shoots with an actor (the first Saturday will be a practice shoot), where you’ll collaboratively film your own original short films using professional equipment. You’ll then individually edit your own unique cuts, developing an understanding of pacing, continuity, cutting styles, sound, music and the language of film editing.

Throughout the course, you’ll explore film genres through screenings and analysis of short films, alongside insights from your tutors’ professional practice. You’ll be introduced to working with actors, directing techniques and visual storytelling, and benefit from access to AUB’s specialist filmmaking resources, equipment and performers.

This fully comprehensive course provides a strong foundation for anyone looking to take their first serious steps into filmmaking, whether for creative exploration, further study or future professional pathways.

Exploration of film genres and short film analysis
Introduction to scriptwriting and story development
Storyboarding and visualisation
Understanding key production roles
Directing and writing a brief
An introduction to cinematography
Working with actors
Production organisation and planning
Induction to professional filming equipment
Health and safety and risk assessment on location
Camera, lighting and sound recording techniques
Non-linear film editing techniques
Final film review and feedback

At the end of the course you'll:

Informal assessment will take place through group discussion, classroom activities, and questions and answers sessions as guided by your tutors.
At the end of the course, you'll have a clear overview of the industry, its expectations and how to progress within it, along with the necessary understanding to start filmmaking in earnest.
A series of completed film edits to add to your personal portfolio.

You can request a certificate to confirm your achievements, providing you've a 100% attendance record. To request a certificate please get in touch with us at academy@aub.ac.uk and confirm your name and the title of course you've completed

Will I be assessed?

No, there's no formal assessment. As the course progresses your tutor will measure your overall performance and offer essential guidance and feedback, so you know how you're getting on.

What you need to know

Autumn term 2026

Monday 5 October – 23 November 2026 (8 Mondays, 18.00–21.00)
Saturday 28 November 2026 (test film shoot, 09.00–16.00)
Saturday 12 December 2026 (film shoot, 09.00–16.00)

Continuation in Spring term 2027

Monday 11, 18 and 25 January 2027 (3 Mondays, 18.00–21.00)

Age

Suitable for adults aged 18+.

Level

Beginners or anyone with some experience who want to refresh or develop their skills further.

Experience or qualifications required

None – this is an introductory course. We have no formal academic entry requirements for our short courses.

If you'd like to discuss if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us: academy@aub.ac.uk or 01202 363222.

£529

Any additional costs

You’ll need to provide your own 64 GB USB flash drive. This’ll incur an additional cost if you need to purchase one for the course. Refer to the 'What to bring to class' section below for full details.

Any additional materials and resources will be provided by AUB and is included in your course fee.

Notebook and pens/pencils to take notes
USB flash drive (at least 64 GB)

A student stands painting two cherries in a sketch book.

Suggested Suppliers

Information about resourcing specialist materials/consumables that you may need to bring these with you

A flower and a pair of sunglasses rest on a pair of boxes. A stiletto heel shoe and a handbag are sitting in front of another box. The other stiletto heel shoe is on top of one of the boxes.

AUB Academy FAQs – Evening and Weekend and Saturday Art School

If you have any questions about our Evening and Saturday Short Courses, you may find the answers in here.

A person leans in and looks closely at a big display board with assorted pieces of graphic design work.

AUB Academy booking T&Cs

Please read our Terms and Conditions carefully before booking onto our Evening and Weekend courses.

Meet your tutors

Woman with short curly dark hair wearing red lipstick and white top with red floral embroidered neckline against light blue background

Celeste Joy Engel

Celeste Engel studied Theatre and Drama at Australia’s La Trobe University before embarking on a career in the Melbourne Fringe theatre...

Woman with blonde hair and pink lipstick wearing black polka dot top and heart pendant necklace in bathroom with white tiles.

Tereza Tzelepaki

FAD and IFD Technician Demonstrator

Book your place today

Book now

Filmmaking gallery

Darius Shu stands on a bridge with a film crew, peers through and holds a camera, filming on the set of Secret Child

Group of people in a park. One of them is crouched down by a film camera.

A film crew gathers on a beach and shoots a scene with an actor in costume walking along a shoreline.

A person in a face mask looks down at a film camera; another person holds a film clapper board in front of it.

Two actors lit by a spotlight. A person standing to the left holds a clapper board out in front of them.

A film camera directed at a vintage car with two people, one outside the car, the other inside. A green screen is on the background.

A woman sitting at a dinner table, viewed through a film camera monitor.

A group of people standing in a corridor around a big film camera.

Person in a corridor sitting behind a film camera looking up towards a monitor. Other people are standing behind them.

Close-up of a person operating a camera attached to a rig on their shoulder.

Beyond the course

This could just be the start of your creative journey! After this course, you could further your film skills with another short course or look to the future and explore our creative qualifications that can prepare you to further your current career, enable you to retrain to an alternative career path or prepare you for future creative arts studies.