The Frontier Filmmaking Seminar Online (FFSO) is an 11 week seminar using an online video classroom. You will learn to create films that communicate the gospel across cultures through video lessons and hands-on practice.
Whether you have experience making movies or have never tried writing a script, join us to grow your skills and be inspired to create stories that communicate good news.
The Frontier Filmmaking Seminar Online (FFSO) is a 9-week seminar to prepare you to serve on a cross-cultural evangelistic film set through skill building and hands-on practice. The Frontier Filmmaking Seminar is a program that has run for 14 years in eleven different countries with more than 80 students graduating from the program. The team is now hosting that training online.
Your instructors will teach practical skills and principles for effectively writing, producing, directing, editing and distributing a film. You will watch video instruction at your own pace and complete required assignments by set due dates. You will receive personalized coaching and feedback to sharpen your skills and move you towards becoming a better filmmaker.
What you will learn
You will learn camera, lighting, audio, directing, editing, scriptwriting, cross-cultural contextualization for filmmaking and more. Whether you have experience making videos or movies or have never held a camera, you will learn a lot! In addition to course materials, instructors will spend time with students reviewing projects, giving feedback, and answering questions. Join us to grow your skills and be inspired to create videos that communicate the good news across cultures.
What to expect
The course materials can be watched at your own pace, since they are mostly videos you will access online. There will be assignments and assessments designed to help you practice new skills, which are spread throughout the program.
Expect the course commitment to be between 10-12 hours each week. The amount of time it takes you to complete this coursework depends on your current skill level and comprehension. You will be given weekly deadlines to complete courses, assignments and assessments, but the pace at which you complete the coursework is up to you.
In addition, we will host a weekly online live meeting with your trainers for you to discuss coursework, ask questions, and go over assignments. Those live meetings will be scheduled at 14:00 UTC.
Join us on a film set
After successfully completing the program, you will have the option of joining us for 2-3 weeks producing a short evangelistic movie for an unreached people group. This will give you invaluable hands-on experience as you contribute to creating a movie with experienced filmmakers. If you choose to join us for a project like this, you will be responsible for additional expenses for room and board, plus travel expenses.
Class meeting times
Each week, you will have lectures and assignments that you will work through on your own time. Each week you will be expected to watch specific videos and submit assignments. A weekly live meeting with your trainers for discussion, assignment review and questions will be scheduled each Tuesday at 14:00 UTC.
Cost
The cost for the class is $250. However, many students can qualify for scholarships, depending on their location. If a scholarship is needed, you can submit this request in the Registration form. We want you to take the class and feel fully-invested to complete it.
Language requirement
The course will be run in English. The advantage of having pre-recorded lectures, though, is that you can watch them at your own pace and re-watch them as many times as you want. Although the videos are being re-created in a couple different languages now (French and Arabic), at this time you will still need to have an adequate understanding of English to follow the class. We don’t expect you to be an English expert. Filmmaking is, after all, a visual language. We are here to support your learning. We will take discussions slow and answer ongoing questions. We want every student to learn and enjoy the FFSO.
Equipment requirements
To take this seminar, you will need a computer or phone and a stable Internet connection.
For video assignments, you can use a DSLR camera or a smartphone. We will provide instruction for using both a smartphone and DSLR camera. We will work with you to help you use the equipment you own. We recommend waiting until after the class to purchase a new camera or other equipment. However, if you do not have one of the required devices (computer or phone for coursework, DSLR camera or smartphone for assignments) you will need to borrow or purchase one in order to participate in the class and complete the assignments.
We’ve made the first three courses of the Frontier Filmmaking Seminar Online (FFSO) free for anyone. Check them out below…
Here’s an example lesson from our Camera Basics course.
Courses in the FFSO
Here’s a look at all the courses offered in the FFSO. Most courses have preview lessons available in the course curriculum if you’d like to take a look. Courses are also available individually.
Cost
$250 USD
For the 11 week online lecture phase.
Scholarship
We offer scholarships to students from World B and C countries. If you are from one of these countries contact us for further information.
Payment
After receiving and reviewing your application, we will send you specific payment details and deadlines.
Options for Teams
It takes a team to make a film, so we highly encourage teams to take the FFSO together. On a team, you’ll learn more, create better looking projects, and be more sustainable after the class ends. We offer discounts for teams of three or more, so please contact us for more details. We also have an option for team members to take the course in different tracks. The “Producer Track” focuses on scriptwriting, distribution, and logistics; the “Camera Track” focuses on camera, audio, and editing. You will have several projects to complete together as a team, including the final project.
