Directing your first factual filming day

As part of our Step Up strand, we're offering training to help individuals coming back into the industry after a break, moving into a new role or responsibility level, or improving skills in unscripted TV. 

A guide for novice or soon-to-be directors in factual TV to help prepare for an efficient and effective filming day. Getting ready for filming days can be complex and overwhelming to begin with. But with tried and tested methods that broadcast veterans use to prepare for a shoot, you can look forward to an enjoyable day on location.

Who it's for

For researchers, APs or self-shooters in unscripted factual TV who want to become responsible for directing their own pieces and taking charge of the day’s filming.

The majority of the Unscripted Skills Fund (USF) online short course offering is for those at early career stage and above. As a result, we generally require applicants to have at least three credits (unless working in a traditionally uncredited role). If you strongly feel you would still benefit from the training, please email USF@screenskills.com so we can assess if an exception should be made.

We are committed to ensuring all our courses are accessible to everyone. This course is designed to be as interactive as possible.

Please email the above address if you have any access requirements and we will be delighted to help, be that clarifying the form such interaction is likely to take or discussing reasonable adjustments.

What it covers

• Planning the day - Breaking down your project into easy-to-deal-with chunks. 
• Schedules - Ensuring you have enough time to film at each location, and how to avoid barriers to filming.
• Planning what to film - How to decide the footage you will need, and what you won’t need.
• Cover Shots - Shots to cover action and content for different genres including observational documentary.
• Shot-lists - Making a concise, easy-to-follow plan to take on the shoot.
• Interviews - Typical television set-ups and question technique for different types of interview.
• Putting together all you need to take on location - Making sure you have everything at hand to help your day go smoothly.
• Problem Solving - How to deal with common problems which arise on location.

Speaker:
Dan Donnelly is a veteran self-shooting director, presenter and trainer. He spent 15 years at the BBC, working as a director, presenter and camera operator in factual formats such as observational documentary, food, consumer and current affairs. While at the BBC he began training staff in self-shooting skills. Now freelance, Dan teaches self-shooting and directing skills as well as working as a camera operator and director.