Course Syllabus
Diploma in Film Making & Media Production (Intermediate)
Duration: 6 Months
Level: Intermediate
Structure: 5 Units | Theory + Practical
Training Method: Theory + Demonstration + Hands-on Practice + Production Projects
Unit 1: Advanced Storytelling, Scriptwriting & Pre-Production
Theory
- Fundamentals of visual storytelling
- Story development and concept building
- Three-act story structure
- Character development and character arcs
- Scene construction
- Screenplay formatting
- Dialogue writing and scene development
- Visual storytelling techniques
- Storyboarding and shot planning
- Production breakdown
- Location, props and costume planning
- Production scheduling and budgeting
- Copyright and basic production ethics
Practical
- Developing an original film concept
- Writing a short-film synopsis
- Developing characters
- Writing a screenplay
- Creating scene breakdowns
- Preparing a storyboard
- Creating a detailed shot list
- Location scouting
- Preparing a production schedule
- Preparing a basic production budget
- Conducting a script-reading session
- Preparing a complete pre-production file
Unit 2: Cinematography, Camera & Advanced Lighting
Theory
- Principles of cinematography
- Camera systems and lens types
- Focal length and perspective
- Exposure triangle
- ISO, shutter speed and aperture
- Focus and depth of field
- Composition and visual balance
- Camera angles and movements
- Lens selection for storytelling
- Natural and artificial lighting
- Three-point lighting
- High-key and low-key lighting
- Colour temperature and white balance
- Cinematic lighting techniques
- Visual continuity
Practical
- Manual camera setup
- Exposure control
- Focus and depth-of-field exercises
- Lens comparison
- Composition exercises
- Camera movement practice
- Handheld and stabilized shooting
- Three-point lighting setup
- Low-key lighting setup
- High-key lighting setup
- Day-for-night/basic creative lighting exercise
- Creating a cinematic visual sequence
- Shooting a scene using planned cinematography
Unit 3: Direction, Acting & Professional Film Production
Theory
- Role and responsibilities of a film director
- Director's vision and visual planning
- Working with actors
- Casting fundamentals
- Character interpretation
- Blocking and staging
- Shot composition for performance
- Scene coverage
- Continuity management
- Working with cinematographers and crew
- Production coordination
- On-set discipline and safety
- Problem-solving during production
- Professional film-set workflow
Practical
- Script analysis from a director's perspective
- Preparing a director's breakdown
- Actor casting exercise
- Conducting rehearsals
- Blocking actors for a scene
- Directing dialogue scenes
- Directing emotional performances
- Planning master shots and coverage
- Maintaining continuity
- Coordinating camera, sound and lighting teams
- Managing a small film set
- Directing a complete short scene
Unit 4: Professional Sound, Editing & Post-Production
Theory
- Fundamentals of production sound
- Microphones and recording systems
- Dialogue recording
- Ambient and location sound
- Sound monitoring and levels
- Introduction to post-production workflow
- Non-linear video editing
- Continuity editing
- Pacing and rhythm
- Audio synchronization
- Sound design fundamentals
- Music and sound effects
- Colour correction and grading basics
- Titles and graphics
- Export formats and delivery standards
Practical
- Location sound recording
- Dialogue recording with different microphones
- Recording room tone and ambience
- Organizing production media
- Creating an editing project
- Syncing video and audio
- Rough-cut editing
- Fine-cut editing
- Continuity correction
- Basic sound mixing
- Adding music and sound effects
- Basic colour correction
- Creating titles and credits
- Exporting a professional final video
Unit 5: Advanced Media Production & Final Film Project
Theory
- Digital media production concepts
- Short-film production workflow
- Documentary production basics
- Interview and talking-head production
- Promotional and corporate video concepts
- Social media video production
- Multi-camera production basics
- Production management
- Budgeting and resource planning
- Distribution and digital publishing
- Film portfolio and showreel development
- Basic film marketing and promotion
- Copyright and content ownership
- Professional career opportunities
Practical
- Planning a short-film project
- Developing a production proposal
- Preparing a detailed production budget
- Creating a shooting schedule
- Producing an interview video
- Producing a short promotional video
- Shooting a documentary-style sequence
- Multi-camera shooting exercise
- Managing production equipment
- Coordinating a complete production team
- Editing and finishing the final project
- Creating a professional showreel
- Presenting the completed film project
6-Month Course Progression
Month 1 – Story & Pre-Production
Unit 1: Advanced Storytelling, Scriptwriting & Pre-Production
- Story development
- Character creation
- Screenplay writing
- Storyboarding
- Shot lists
- Location scouting
- Budgeting
- Scheduling
Project: Develop a complete short-film pre-production package.
Month 2 – Cinematography & Lighting
Unit 2: Cinematography, Camera & Advanced Lighting
- Camera operation
- Lenses
- Exposure
- Focus
- Composition
- Camera movement
- Cinematic lighting
- Visual storytelling
Project: Shoot a professionally planned visual sequence.
Month 3 – Direction & Production
Unit 3: Direction, Acting & Professional Film Production
- Direction
- Casting
- Rehearsals
- Actor blocking
- Scene coverage
- Continuity
- Crew coordination
- On-set management
Project: Direct and shoot a complete short scene.
Month 4 – Sound & Editing
Unit 4: Professional Sound, Editing & Post-Production
- Production sound
- Dialogue recording
- Video editing
- Continuity editing
- Sound design
- Music and effects
- Colour correction
- Titles and credits
Project: Edit a complete scene with synchronized sound and basic colour correction.
Month 5 – Media Production
Unit 5: Advanced Media Production & Final Film Project
Students work on:
- Short-film production
- Documentary-style video
- Interview production
- Promotional video
- Social media content
- Multi-camera exercises
- Production management
Project: Produce multiple short-form media projects.
Month 6 – Final Film Production & Portfolio
Pre-Production
- Finalize film concept
- Complete screenplay
- Storyboard and shot list
- Cast and crew
- Location planning
- Production schedule
- Equipment planning
Production
- Camera setup
- Lighting setup
- Sound recording
- Directing
- Actor management
- Scene coverage
- Continuity management
- Data/media management
Post-Production
- Media organization
- Rough cut
- Fine cut
- Sound editing
- Music and effects
- Colour correction
- Titles and credits
- Final export
Portfolio
- Short film
- Documentary/interview project
- Promotional video
- Showreel
- Production photographs
- Selected project breakdowns
Final Assessment
Theory Examination
Assessment covers:
- Storytelling and screenplay
- Cinematography
- Camera and lenses
- Lighting
- Direction
- Sound
- Editing
- Production management
- Digital media
Practical Examination
Students demonstrate:
- Camera operation
- Cinematic framing
- Manual exposure and focus
- Lighting setup
- Sound recording
- Directing a scene
- Video editing
- Sound synchronization
- Colour correction
- Final video export
Final Project
Students produce a 5–10 minute short film or documentary-style production, completing the full professional workflow:
Concept → Screenplay → Storyboard → Pre-Production → Casting → Shooting → Direction → Sound → Editing → Colour → Titles → Final Export → Screening & Portfolio Presentation.
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