Intro to Documentary Filmmaking
About the Course
Students will not need any supplies for this elective. It is recommended that the students have a flash drive to save their work, as well as a Adobe Creative Suite account. If they do not have an Adobe account, one will be provided for them, but we recommend using their own account so that any work is saved to their personal account.
In this elective, students step into the exciting world of documentary filmmaking, an immersive summer elective designed for young storytellers who are passionate about exploring real-world narratives. This program introduces the essentials of documentary film production, from concept development and research to shooting, interviewing, and editing.
Students will learn how to craft impactful stories by examining a wide range of documentary styles and techniques, developing the skills to capture authentic voices and visually compelling scenes. With guidance from industry professionals, students will gain hands-on experience in each stage of production, learning how to use cameras, microphones, and editing software to bring their projects to life.
By the end of the 4 weeks, students will gain not only technical skills but also a deeper understanding of documentary filmmaking as a powerful tool for social change and personal expression.
While this elective can be taken on its own, is is designed to pair perfectly with the core Summer@Cornish morning Film Intensive program.
We encourage students to enroll the morning intensive to build a strong foundation, then expand their skills and interests through these afternoon electives.
Explore the morning Film Intensive [here], or email plus@cornish.edu with any questions.
How the Summer@Cornish Program Works
Design your own schedule: full days, morning Intensive only or afternoon Electives only!
Three Ways to Participate
• Full-Day Program
• Half-Day Program
• Single Elective
Full-Day Program
• Morning Intensive: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–12 PM
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• Afternoon Electives: Monday/Wednesday/Friday) & Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM–4 PM
Half-Day Program
Students can select a combination of:
• Only morning Intensive
• Only two afternoon Electives
Residency Program (Optional Add-On)
Available to Full-Day students:
• Evening & weekend activities
• Extra studio time
• On-campus supervision and housing
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