The Best Way To Learn How To Make A Film – Is To Make A Film

A hands-on filmmaking workshop where participants create a complete short film from idea to final cut, guided by an Oscar-winning filmmaker.

Introduction:

Short films can change everything. In this workshop, Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Desmond Roe takes participants through the exact process that shaped his own career. Rather than focusing on theory, this session is built around action. The philosophy is simple: the best way to learn filmmaking is by making a film. Together, participants will create a complete short film, moving from idea to final delivery through hands-on collaboration.

Drawing inspiration from Stanley Kubrick’s belief that filmmaking is learned through practice, this workshop is designed to immerse participants in the full creative process, learning by doing rather than watching from the sidelines.

Description:

This intensive workshop, over two days, guides participants through the three essential stages of filmmaking: pre-production, production, and post-production. Each stage is experienced in real time, allowing participants to understand how decisions made early on shape the final outcome.

The session begins with pre-production, where the group develops an idea and turns it into a script. This stage focuses on concept development, storytelling fundamentals, and practical planning. Writing is treated as the first true version of the film, and participants will explore techniques to overcome creative challenges and prepare effectively for the shoot.

Production follows with a live filming session at a nearby location using two actors. Participants will experience the realities of working on set, including time pressure, decision-making, and adapting creative vision to real-world conditions.

Post-production completes the process, where the footage is edited into a finished film. Drawing on Martin’s background as an editor, the workshop explores editing fundamentals, pacing, music, and sound design, showing how the story is shaped one final time.

The workshop concludes with a group viewing and discussion of the finished film, focusing on strengths, weaknesses, and the importance of honest self-critique as a tool for growth.

Modules:

Module 1: Pre-Production
Developing an idea for a short film using workshop resources and writing the script. Focuses on storytelling, structure, and planning. Approximate duration: 1 hour.

Module 2: Production
Filming on location. Covers directing, camera choices, and working under time pressure. Approximate duration: 2 hours.

Module 3: Post-Production
Editing the footage into a complete short film. Explores editing decisions, rhythm, music, and sound design to shape the final story. (Day 2 – 3 hours)

What Should Students Bring?

• Laptops
• Video cameras if available
• Phones with good cameras
• Selfie sticks or similar accessories
• Editing software if familiar

Most importantly, participants should bring ideas, energy, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace experimentation.

Closing notes:

This workshop is designed for those who want to understand filmmaking by experiencing it fully. By the end of the session, participants will have created a finished short film and gained first-hand insight into the creative, technical, and collaborative realities of making cinema.