Write & Direct: The Director's Film School

Development

A filmmaker must master the conventions of storytelling. Even if a director never writes a script themselves, they need the same deep understanding to bring one to life effectively. The director’s core responsibility is to translate a compelling story from page to screen, preserving every ounce of its magic. Every choice a director makes from development through post is about serving story. For this reason our film school begins in development with story. We want our filmmakers to have this imperative foundation before learning anything else about the craft.

It Begins With Story
The Rules of Story
The Idea
The Hero
Empathy Intentions
What Does the Hero Want?
Plot & Theme
The 3 Purposes of Plot
Studio Examples of Plot & Theme
About One Thing
Antagonist Part 1
Antagonist Part 2
Obstacles
The Obligatory Victory
Title & Logline
Characters
Character Polarization Part 1
Character Polarization Part 2
A & B Story
Story Structure
Research
The Treatment
Outline: The Cards
Outline: Main Structure Points
Setups & Payoffs
Build & Release Tension
Keep Them Guessing
Finishing Your Outline
Scenes & Scene Sequences
The 4 Purposes of a Scene
Sight & Sound
The Application
Basic Writing Rules
Fade In Beginner Tips
Final Draft Beginner Tips
Character Notes
Learn from the Pros
Feedback

Pre-Production

Everything you do in pre-production reverberates through your finished film in ways you can't fully predict. In the Write & Direct training, we use this crucial phase not only to master essential pre-production tasks but also to take our first deep dive into gear-related topics—like crop factor, camera selection, shot types, and more. Why introduce gear during pre-production? Because as solo directors wearing every hat, we need to understand and choose our equipment early. It empowers us to conduct effective tech scouts, create accurate shot lists, and handle all the other vital pre-production work long before the first day of production begins.

Preparing the Script
Locking a script in Final Draft & Fade In
Script Breakdown
Gear Intro
Aspect Ratios & Resolution
Sensor Capability
Cinema Lenses
Focal Length Basics
Crop Factor
Depth of Field
Focal Lengths Part 2
Diopters
Frame Rates
Light Meter
Exposure Layers
Tripods
Production Sound
Slate & Timecode
Monitoring
Gimbal Introduction
Media
Matte Box
Camera Selection
Cinema Camera Setup
Camera Shots & Angles
Line of Action
Coverage
Field Recorders
32-Bit Float Comparison
Location Scouts
Shot List, Story Boards & Shot Maps
Budget
Crew Positions
Props & Wardrobe
Tech Scouts
Craft Services
Casting Calls

Production

All the meticulous work from development and pre-production now explodes from the page onto the screen—ideas transforming into living, breathing footage. In the Write & Direct Production training, we plunge deep into the heart of filmmaking: mastering set operations, crafting stunning lighting, directing actors with precision, and so much more. By the time you've completed this hands-on training, you'll be fully equipped to step onto the set of your film and bring your vision to life.

Lighting: The First 3 Things
Lighting: 3 & 4 Point Lighting
C-Stands & Grip
Lighting Types & Usage
Diffusion & Control
Butterfly Setup & Usage
Lighting Example 1
Lighting Example 2
Exposure Layers Review
Using False Colors
Pocket Cinema Camera Walkthrough
Cinema Camera 6K Walkthrough
PYXIS 6K Walkthrough
Manual Slider Parts & Buid
White Balance
Production Slate
MixPre II Setup
MixPre Advanced
Zoom F3 Walkthrough
Production Sound
Daily Media & Footage
Ronin RS Pro Gimbal Setup
Ronin RS3 Pro Balance & Walkthrough
Ronin RS4 Pro Balance & Walkthrough
Pulling Focus
PortKeys LH5 Monitor
Light Meter Review
Small Spaces
Camera Framing, Angles & Movement
Additional Lighting Tips
Makeup
Working With Actors
Practical Assignment
Film Review
Set Operations

Post Production

The Write & Direct post production training is comprised of some of the most thorough, experienced backed training available! We begin with setting up media, Davinci Resolve and project settings before taking the plunge into editing, sound design, grading and VFX.

Post Production Basics
Resolve Project Settings & Preferences
Backup & Restore
The Media Page
The Cut Page
The Edit Page
The Fusion Page
Mapping the Keyboard
Camera & Sound Sync
Add & Remove Clips in Resolve
The Trim Tool
Basic Sound Design
Music Acquisition
Cutting a Scene
Titles & FX
Render Cache & Optimized Media
Codecs
Proxy Files
Delivery Page
Timeline Delivery (Leader & Tone)

Editing

Editors are the ultimate storytellers—the unsung architects who sculpt raw footage into cinematic magic. It's the editing room where your vision truly takes it's final shape. The Write & Direct Editing course builds directly on what you've learned in development dives into the essential secrets of the cutting room. You'll gain critical insights and techniques every director needs to protect and elevate their story.

The Craft of Editing
Types of Cuts
Cutting Scenes
Shaping a Performance
Sound & Music
Test Screenings
Things You Must Remember
Picture Lock

Post Sound

Over 90% of what audiences hear in a finished film isn't captured on set—it's meticulously crafted in post-production. While production sound focuses primarily on clean dialogue, the magic of everything else—atmosphere, effects, music, and emotion—falls to us in sound design. In the Write & Direct Post Sound course, you'll master the art of dialogue editing first, then build an immersive soundscape that breathes life into your story. Finally, we'll guide you through creating a professional mix with perfect loudness levels tailored to your delivery platform. By the end, you'll transform silent footage into a sonic masterpiece that captivates viewers and elevates your film to the next level.

Hardware
Fairlight Page
Fairlight Timeline
Dialogue 1
Dialogue 2
Dialogue 3
Dialogue 4
Dialogue 5
Dialogue 6
Dialogue 7
Foley & Sound FX
Sound Libraries
Custom Sound Library
Music
Example Scene
Intro to Mixing
LUFS and True Peak
Mixing Dialogue
Mixing Music & FX
Mix Busses
Loudness
Real World & YouTube Mix
Insight 2

Color & VFX

In the grading room you take the flat, raw footage from your cinema camera and breathe a creative soul into it—crafting a distinctive look that deeply serves the story you're telling. With modern tools in DaVinci Resolve unlocking near-limitless possibilities, color becomes your most powerful storytelling ally: evoking mood, guiding emotion, and immersing audiences in your world. In the Write & Direct Color Grading course, you'll master far more than the basics. We'll guide you through properly setting up a professional grading environment, then dive into wielding primaries, harnessing the HDR palette, reading scopes with precision, and exploring advanced techniques that elevate your visuals to cinematic excellence. By the end, you'll transform footage and feel empowered for your next film!

Intro to Color
Prepping Your Room
Grading Hardware Intro
Setup UltraStudio Monitor 3G
Monitor Calibration
The Color Page
Primaries
Scopes
Node Tree
Gallery Stills
Exposure
Balance
Monodes
Contrast
Log Wheels
HDR Palette
Power Windows
Magic Mask
Dehancer
The Fusion Page
Basic VFX Terms
Adding Assets
Tracking VFX Shots

Marketing

In today’s filmmaking landscape, mastering the craft is only half the battle—modern filmmakers must also become savvy marketers, relentlessly promoting themselves and their work in a crowded digital world. That means harnessing powerful tools like film festivals, IMDb optimization, professional websites, sales funnels, email lists, social media strategies, and beyond to build a loyal audience and open real career doors. And just as you’d expect from Write & Direct, our Marketing course takes you all the way from concept to execution—equipping you with proven, modern skills to get your name, your films, and your unique voice out there while you continue honing your craft as a filmmaker.

Distribution Intro
Film Freeway
Submit to IMDb
Branding
What is DNS?
Websites & WordPress
Setup Web Server
Create Website
Setup YouTube Channel
Configure CRM
Mail Automation
List Building
United States | ©2025 Write & Direct
United States |
English (US) |
$ (USD)
©2025 Write & Direct