NFTS Cymru Wales: Doc Filming with a Smartphone (via Zoom)

Delivered via Zoom, in partnership with NFTS Leeds and NFTS Scotland

The best camera is the one you have with you at the time - and for most of us that's our phone. In this three-hour course, documentary director Nick O'Dwyer teaches you how to maximise your smartphone's potential as a filmmaking tool. This is a really useful skill for anyone needing to shoot a taster tape, create content for social media, record interviews or  generally make their own stylish films without hiring in expensive kit.

The course will cover: 
•    how to maximise the smartphone’s capabilities – and work round its limitations
•    how to capture steady, correctly exposed pictures 
•    how to record and monitor good location sound 
•    the best additional devices to use 
•    using downloadable apps to give you more control over the camera
•    the basics of composition and framing 
•    how to achieve a more ‘cinematic’ look 

Once you know the strengths and weaknesses of your smartphone and you've learned to work with those, you'll be able to film perfectly composed, technically accomplished images in full HD or 4K. You can actually achieve pretty startling results.

About the tutor: Nick O’Dwyer has worked as a documentary director and executive producer for 28 years, making some of the most memorable and controversial films of that period. 
Nick learned his filming skills working with highly skilled DoPs, went on to shoot many of his own broadcast films and for the past five years has been enjoying filming on a range of cameras including smartphones. 

The course will be split into 3 x 1hr sessions to ensure plenty of opportunities for Q&A and breaks in between.