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FilmSkool — a free film school

How to Make a Short Film with No Money - Full Masterclass

A long-form masterclass covering writing, casting, shooting and finishing a short with no money — the writing sections focus specifically on shaping a script around what you can actually access: one location, a tiny cast, no permits. Best for writer-directors planning to shoot their own script.

Simon Horrocks · 45 min · Beginner · DIR · Directing · 2022

What you take away

Write the constraint into the premise itself so the no-budget approach reads as a style choice, not a compromise.

Watch it

Filed under

Made for almost nothing

Oscar winners for directing

Books on directing

Kit for this lesson

Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX — The S5 II with raw out and ProRes internal
Sony a7 IV — The all-round full-frame hybrid
Canon EOS R6 Mark II — The affordable full-frame RF hybrid
Nikon Z6 III — Partially stacked sensor, N-RAW internal
Rode Boompole Pro — Carbon fibre, internal cable
Rode VideoMic NTG — On-camera shotgun that doubles as a USB mic

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