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Short course

Film Direction Online Short Course

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<p>Film Direction Online Short Course | Online</p><p>Image: UAL Shows, 2026, Screen Show, London College of Communication, UAL | Photograph: Mitsi Moulson</p>
Learn how to direct engaging short films and short course content. Develop your ideas and storytelling approach. Gain practical tools to fuel your creativity.
Next start months
January 2027
April 2027
Tutor(s)
Alex Browning
Price
From £740.00

Course description

Course overview

This Film Direction Online Short Course explores how to direct engaging short films and short form content such as commercials, music videos, fashion films and branded content.

During the course, you’ll explore practical real-world tools to sharpen your directing skills. You’ll work on developing your ideas and storytelling approach, creating your vision and style, designing your look and feel, directing actors and talent, working with cameras and crew, and expanding your network. The tutor will work with you to support in developing your storytelling style.

Students will use examples from a catalogue of short films, fashion film and commercials to discover how to find solutions to the challenges that may arise when directing films. The course offers an interactive and supportive environment to allow for creativity. Students benefit from industry sessions for aspiring directors on climbing the ladder, funding, and tips to navigate the industry in general.

Who this course is for

This course is aimed at aspiring directors, filmmakers, creatives and those looking to move to directing from another field.

It is also an excellent fit for students who are new to the creative sector or who aspire to work in it and want to learn more about what a director does and the process of making short films and short form content.

Level of experience: beginners and intermediate (those with some experience)

Key information

Topics covered

  • Creating your vision
  • Directing actors and talent
  • Look and feel: moodboards and treatments
  • Breaking down a script or brief
  • Cameras, shots and style including working with your Director of Photography (DoP)
Learning outcomes

  • Gain a clearer approach on how to make short films and short form content from an ideas perspective
  • Gain practical tools for a director
  • Explore identity as a director and storyteller - looking at the creative process within short form
  • Learn about the different types of directing styles and how to include this in the creative process
  • Sharpen projects, ideas and ability to analyse short films
  • Understand directing and filmmaking principles through analysis of short films including genre
  • Understand how to find collaborators such as producers and raise funding
  • Receive a digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials


Recommended materials:

  • Laptop / computer
  • Notebook and pen
  • Mobile phone with camera

Tutor

Alex Browning

Alex Browning is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and television director. He's directed over eighty episodes of scripted television for the likes of BBC, ITV and Channel 4, and been named on the Broadcast Hotshot list for directors.

Alex's award-winning short film catalogue includes 'Daylight Rules', a Sci-Fi drama starring T'Nia Miller (Marvel's VisionQuest) and David Ajala (Star Trek: Discovery), was commissioned by SKY and BFI, has recently been developed into a feature length film. As well as scripted television and short films, Alex’s work as a director spans hundreds of commercials, branded content, and fashion films. He has spent several years as a creative lead and director for retail fashion brands, tourism boards and global tech firms. Prior to that, he worked as a producer in agency production on global advertising campaigns and continues to advise brands and agencies as a creative consultant.

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