Filmmaking Hangout 2 Februar Today’s session was a wide-ranging but very aligned conversation about finding and trusting your filmmaking voice—not just conceptually, but practically. Key themes: - The importance of articulating a clear vision/mission for your work as a creative compass - How naming your style can feel emotional, grounding, and clarifying—and why that’s a good sign - Genre as a tool: using horror, fantasy, comedy, sci-fi, and whimsy to talk about heavy subjects without flattening them into “issue films” - Why comparison (Nolan, Beyoncé, etc.) is a trap—and how specificity is what actually creates originality - How lighting, exposure, and color already tell story before plot ever does - Editing realities: choosing tools that help you finish projects (CapCut vs. DaVinci), not tools that slow you down - Practical workflows for phone filmmaking, file transfer, compression, and cutting long footage - Why “find your voice” work is foundational—it affects both personal films and client work - Why finishing one project matters more than using the “right” software - Structuring the classroom around two main goals:(1) making your first film and (2) getting your first clients

@Njabulo Mpungose is creating a short doc exploring how media consumption evolved from DVDs/CDs to streaming platforms. The key insight? It's not just about technology—it's about the experience. Going from hunting through video rental stores to instantly streaming everything has fundamentally changed how we consume cinema. Key Feedback for Creators: - Start small, but let projects grow gradually (not zero to 100) - Create dialogue between interviews rather than linear talking heads - B-roll/location footage brings cinematic depth—show don't just tell - Transcribe your interviews and mark themes to identify your core narrative Equipment Reality Check: - You don't need the most expensive gear to start - A phone + gimbal can be surprisingly effective for run-and-gun shooting - Understand your camera's limitations (lens focal lengths matter!) - Invest in gear you actually know how to use Passion Projects vs Client Work: - Passion projects take longer—that's okay, you're building skills - Client work has different energy and faster timelines - The sweet spot? Align client projects with your genuine interests The next Call is taking place Monday, February 2nd @ 5pm - 6:30pm

It will be so great to finalize @Bridget OSullivan project on a filmmaker friend, @Njabulo Mpungose Film on the Evolution of the DVD Medium and i also hope to see @Eric Young ´s latest film in progress Who else wants to learn how to make DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILMS from scratch ? Join today at 17:00 Berlin Time

We are in the Final steps of crafting the amazing Films by @Bridget OSullivan @Eric Young and @Njabulo Mpungose ! This is going to be SO helpful for anybody wanting to learn how to make a Short Film from Scratch - with the Gear you have. EVERYBODY is invited. It is free to Join. Lets make movies together! Join today 17:00 Berlin time More in the calender

here is the Screenshot we just discussed, video will follow in a bit