AOP: FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN

A hands-on filmmaking workshop in three parts

You know what film you want to make. Learn what it will take to make it.

You can see the shots, the performances, the locations. But do you know how many days it will take to shoot? What it will cost? How much you need to raise? The earlier you understand what your creative choices mean for production, the more options you have to bring your vision to life.

I've spent 15 years producing award-winning projects, often on tight budgets. I recently wrote, directed, and produced my first short film, and I'm bringing that experience to this workshop.

We'll use one short film script by filmmaker Carla Dauden through three sessions covering script breakdown, budgeting, and a live deck building workshop to set your project up for success.

This isn't about becoming a line producer or making your ideas smaller. It's about understanding what it takes to make your film while you're still shaping it.

Whether you're developing a short you plan to crowdfund or a feature you hope to take to investors, the fundamentals are the same. 

THREE PARTS. ONE FILM. A CLEARER PATH FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN.

PARTS 1 + 2: THE SHORT FILM WORKSHOP 

In partnership with Shamel Studio

Part 1 — Think Like a Producer
December 2 · 12–2 PM PST · 2 hours

Learn to break down a short film script and understand what goes into a production schedule and budget. Then, you'll  use Shamel Studio create your own schedule and budget using a template I'll provide.

Part 2 — Budget & Plan Review
December 9 · 10 AM–12 PM PST · 2 hours

We'll come back together to review your work and compare approaches. The goal is to understand the thinking behind the plan — not to get every number perfect.

PART 3: THE PITCH DECK LAB

In partnership with ShotDeck

Build the Pitch Deck
December 9 · 2–4 PM PST · 2 hours

You know what your film looks and feels like. Now, how do you help someone else see it? In this live visual development session, we'll use ShotDeck to explore how images communicate the tone, color, lighting, framing, and world of your film. You'll learn how to translate your creative vision into a visual pitch deck that helps producers, financiers, and potential collaborators understand the film you're imagining.

Want to attend only the pitch deck session? Part 3 is also available as a standalone class for $29.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

By the end of the full workshop, you'll have:

• A short film budget template to use as a starting point for your own projects.
• Hands-on experience applying the workshop materials to your own film.
• A clearer understanding of how to break down a script, build a production schedule, and make informed budget decisions.
• The knowledge and tools to develop a visual pitch deck that communicates your film's tone, world, and creative vision.

You'll leave with a better understanding of how your creative decisions connect to the time, money, and resources it takes to make your film.

WHO SHOULD JOIN?

Writers, directors, emerging filmmakers, actors, producers, and other creatives who want to better understand what it takes to get a film made.

Whether you're developing a short you plan to crowdfund or a feature you hope to take to investors, this workshop will help you connect your creative vision with the practical realities of production.

You don't need to want to become a line producer or an AD. You don't even need to love spreadsheets. You just need to be curious about how your creative decisions translate into the real world.

THE POINT: CONNECT THE VISION TO THE REALITY

Understanding the practical side of filmmaking doesn't have to kill the magic. It can give you more ways to bring it to life.

When you understand what your story requires, you can make more informed creative choices. You can recognize the decisions that affect your budget, understand what you may need to raise, and think more clearly about how to approach production.

Sometimes you'll adapt the script. Sometimes you'll decide the project needs a bigger budget. Sometimes you'll find a different way to achieve the same creative goal.

The point is to understand your options — and to start thinking about them early enough for those options to matter.

Three sessions. One project. A clearer path from the film in your head to the film on screen.

READY TO GET STARTED? CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE

FULL WORKSHOP — $249

Early bird: $199 for the first 10 tickets!

All three live sessions, plus:

• 1 year of free ShotDeck access
• 2 free months of Shamel Studio
• 30% off a Shamel Studios monthly or annual membership

PITCH DECK LAB ONLY — $29

Just want to work on your visual pitch deck? Join Part 3 as a standalone session.

• One live 2-hour class
• 6 months of free ShotDeck access