The self-shooter's guide

As part of our Step Up strand, we're offering training to help individuals coming back into the industry after a break, moving into a new role or responsibility level, or improving skills in unscripted TV. 

A guide for novice self-shooters in factual TV to help prepare for an efficient and effective self-shooting day. Getting ready for filming days can be complex and overwhelming to begin with. But with tried and tested methods that broadcast veterans use to prepare for a shoot, you can look forward to an enjoyable day on location.

Who it's for

This course is aimed at self-shooting novices in unscripted TV who are starting to go on location to self-shoot and are responsible for making their own plans and preparations.

The majority of the Unscripted Skills Fund (USF) online short course offering is for those at early career stage and above. As a result, we generally require applicants to have at least three credits (unless working in a traditionally uncredited role). If you strongly feel you would still benefit from the training, please email USF@screenskills.com so we can assess if an exception should be made.

We are committed to ensuring all our courses are accessible to everyone. Please email the above address if you have any access requirements and we will be delighted to help.

Speaker

Dan Donnelly is a veteran self-shooting director, presenter and trainer. He spent 15 years at the BBC, working as a director, presenter and camera operator in factual formats such as observational documentary, food, consumer and current affairs. While at the BBC he began training staff in self-shooting skills. Now freelance, Dan teaches self-shooting and directing skills as well as working as a camera operator and director.

What it covers

Using clips, quizzes and demos to show how to avoid novice mistakes and get everything needed from a shooting day, the session will go over the following:

• Routine checks before you shoot.
• How to prepare yourself for the type of footage you will need to film.
• Shooting actuality and ob-doc style.
• Working from a shot-list.
• GV’s, sequences, interviews, cover shots and pieces to camera.
• Interview set-ups.
• Talking heads and working with an interviewer.
• Using battery-powered lights for interviews.
• Positioning and understanding lighting decisions.
• Kit lists and packing for location
• Q&A time

How to apply

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘apply now’ at the top of the page and follow the instructions to apply for your place: you must login or register before you are able to complete your application.

If you need additional support to complete your application or require the application form in an alternative format please contact USF@screenskills.com

Places on these free online courses are limited and applications are often highly competitive. To stand the best chance of securing a place, please be sure to consider the following:

• When asked to list your three most recent credits, please include the programme title and your job role
• When asked what you hope to gain from the course, please be concise but ensure you cover the specific elements of the topic you would like to gain knowledge of and what gaps in your skillset you believe the course may address
• A rewording of the course title or a general comment on career progression does not tell us much about how this course would benefit you

If you are no longer able to attend, we ask you to please use the 'decline ticket' function on the right hand side of the page so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.

This session is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

This course would normally cost participants to attend, but thanks to this support, we are able to offer it to you for free. If you fail to attend, we reserve the right to request reimbursement of costs, unless your place can be taken by someone else.