Making short documentaries

Please note: there will be no class on Thursday, May 14 due to Ascension Day. The final class will therefore take place on June 18.

In this course by Mani, you’ll learn how to create professional short documentaries yourself, from concept to final edit! Everyone is welcome: no prior experience or technical knowledge is required.

Each lesson begins with 15 to 30 minutes of theory on topics such as storytelling, camera techniques, and editing. After that, you’ll mostly be working hands-on. You’ll use your own footage and learn to edit on your own laptop. After this intensive course, with one three-hour lesson per week, you’ll leave with at least three self-made short videos and a certificate of participation.

Practical information & requirements:

• Bring your own laptop and camera, or film with your smartphone.

• Preferably do not film in more than 4K; minimum resolution is HD. Make sure your shutter speed can be set to 1/50, and that ISO and white balance can be adjusted manually. Your camera must be able to record in 25 frames per second (fps).

• Ensure your laptop has enough free storage space for editing your footage.

About the instructor
Mani Nickpour is a Dutch-Iranian filmmaker from Amsterdam. Born in Tehran in 1983, he started acting at a young age in films directed by his father, and later developed into a filmmaker and teacher. Since 2007, he has been teaching film techniques, editing, and storytelling, while running his own audiovisual company, HADOKEN. Check out one of the documentaries Mani has worked on below! In addition, his fascination with ancient symbolism and mythology strongly influences the narratives and visual language of his films. You can find more information about Mani and his work here.