Let's get practical about getting it made.

Whatever your passion — writing, directing, or producing — we've got workshops to help you excel.

These events are open to Film Independent members as well as non-members, with pricing discounts given to members.

For our current schedule of classes and events, click here.

Master Workshops
Master your skills with hands-on workshops brought to you year-round. Workshops include Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting, Production Sound, Panavision Tour, Lighting, Music Licensing, Post-production sound, new technologies, and much more. Final Cut Pro and Avid Workshops are offered monthly.

Screenwriter Program
Three courses a year (10 weeks), three different levels:

Introduction to Screenwriting (Fall) - Through short exercises and in-class commentary, you'll learn the basic process of writing, how to develop ideas and experiences into a story, and how to craft the treatment for a screenplay.

Intermediate Screenwriting (Winter) - Ready to turn your treatment or outline into a feature-length script? You'll familiarize yourself with fundamental narrative structures and gain a further understanding of the writing process by developing the first draft of your screenplay. The course provides specific feedback and advice.

Advanced Screenwriting (Spring-Summer) - Now turn your solid draft of a feature length screenplay into a polished final draft. Through the rewriting process, you'll learn how to receive and give notes; how to filter through and incorporate notes into an existing script; and how to keep true to your vision as changes are made.

Editing Course (Fall)
If you want to learn about editing principles, techniques, and aesthetics as they relate to storytelling, this is your course. It offers a thorough understanding of editing as a powerful tool to advance story development and communicate emotions and ideas. Classes encompass lectures on the variety of editing styles, techniques, and principles; screening of edited and unedited clips of film scenes and sequences; and discussions.

Writing Coverage for Film (Winter)
Everyone's a critic. This course teaches you how to effectively read and assess the strengths and weaknesses in a screenplay. It provides the tools to apply the reader's assessments to coverage format, writing detailed feedback and constructive criticism.

Acting Techniques: Understanding the Actor's Process (Spring)
If you're a director, writer, or producer who wants to nurture superior performance from your talent, this course encourages a deeper understanding of the actor's craft and psychology. Through scene study, improvisation exercises and script analysis, we de-mystify the actor's craft and develop techniques invaluable to directors and writers in their own work. Producers will learn how to better communicate with both actors and directors at all stages of a film production.

Documentary Seminar (Spring)
Over a period of six weeks this seminar covers topics that range from the historical, conceptual, and aesthetic aspects, to the more practical issues such as legal considerations, financing, and distribution of documentary films. Sessions include lectures, guest speaker presentations, screening of documentary works, and class discussion.

Festival Orientations
A total of eight Festival Orientations are offered during the year. These are designed to provide an understanding of the dynamics of each Festival or Market, and give you helpful information on how to navigate a particular festival—whether or not you're attending with a film. These Festival Orientations are a great way of finding the inner workings of festivals and markets, as well as for understanding the impact of festivals, publicists, producer's reps, sales agents, and distribution companies on your career. The annual Festival Orientation schedule is as follows:
AUGUST: Toronto Film Festival, Sundance Submissions Orientation
SEPTEMBER: IFP Market
OCTOBER: AFM
DECEMBER: Sundance Film Festival
JANUARY-FEB: European film festivals and markets
MARCH: Cannes Film Festival
MAY: Los Angeles Film Festival

Filmmaker Labs
Where tomorrow's talent is made.
Our intensive, hands-on talent development programs turn today's aspiring students into the writers, directors, and producers of the future. Each year, Film Independent helps budding talent hone their skills, develop current projects, and meet film professionals who can help advance their careers. The Labs are open to seasoned filmmakers as well beginners. Click here to learn all about the Labs.