Screenwriting and Digital Film Production

I have developed an intense interest in documentaries over the past couple of years, and I'm looking for online courses or certificates in screenwriting, digital video production, etc. The courses should cover everything from finding funding for producing a film to marketing, to producing it to marketing and distributing the film. I'm not looking to change careers and I'm not necessarily looking for a degree program, but I have a couple of ideas for documentaries that I am interested in producing myself. I have a journalism background and a creative streak, so I think this is something I would really enjoy doing. This would be as much for my own personal enjoyment as it would be in possibly creating a side business for myself. I have seen posts here for MFA programs in screenwriting, but I don't need to go through a masters program. I just want the practical know-how. There is a community college in my area that teaches film production, but I can't attend B&M courses due to work, my current studies, etc. This would be a project I would work on in the future.

Any ideas?

 

try here:

SCAD

 

SCAD has no online film programs.

 

SCAD has lots of classes but you would have to check to see which fit your needs.

But since you didn't like my first shot (sniff, sniff) how about:

Academy of Art

 

i doubt if you would ever get to learn anything substantial through a course in filming than a practical experience. To my knowledge should you hire a DVCAM and have artistical angles taken and made as a short film edited by your own hands through Avid or Adobe Premier and once thats done and you have a good footage, try sending them to film festivals across the world. If some of them screen your short film, then it would get you right up there for you could get your local media cover the event or other promotions that can logically be thought over than what a course can suggest. Commonsense and practical wisdom are killer weapons than official education in such fields of study where you use your creativity, marketing brains and luck instead of theoritical knowledge and an outdated course that would tell you on the nuances of a Kubrick film or Citizen Kane or a Tarkowsky directed film displaying a Stanislavsky's method acting. Just my 2 cents. (Plus you could spend money on your project and send them to film festivals and other promo instead of spending them on film institutes who feather touch some stuff.

 

Specifically, what I'm looking for are courses on formatting and writing scripts, producing, shooting, etc. I'm not necessarily looking for something in "film studies", but rather courses which teach the nuts-and-bolts of shooting a film.

By the way, I have located a couple of web sites which seems to have what I'm looking for, and the cost is reasonable.

http://filmschoolonline.com

http://lightsfilmschool.com

http://www.writingclasses.com

 

Thanks for the homework - my 14 year old son has made a couple of short videos and is looking for some online training. These look good (and fit the low cost requirement).

Shawn

 

Smart choice for a ready reckoner. Thanks buddy, I have made a couple of short films too and it will serve me handy.

 

I also found free screenwriting software.