What Is a Short Film Workshop? A Guide to Shooting a Film as a Team
What a short film workshop is and what a company team needs to shoot one: the steps from script to screening, group size, timing and what affects the cost.
A short film workshop is a hands-on creative activity in which participants, in small crews, write a script for a film lasting a few minutes, share the roles, shoot it and finally watch it together. In the company version the aim is less about learning cinema and more about the team producing a shared piece of work in a short time.
We run this format as the Videostar Film Workshop: teams pick a genre such as a news bulletin, a commercial, an entertainment or sports show or a music video, put on their costumes and go out to shoot. The video follows the day from the opening in a hotel ballroom to the shooting set in the garden.
How does a short film workshop work?
- Opening and teams: a short briefing in the main hall, participants split into teams and film genres are handed out.
- Script: each team works out the story, characters and shooting plan in its own room or at its own table.
- Costumes and props: characters are dressed from a selection of wigs, hats, glasses and costumes.
- Shooting: teams film their scenes with a tripod and camera in different corners of the venue.
- Editing: our crew edits the footage quickly.
- Screening and awards: the films are watched together, the jury scores them and the Videostar awards find their owners.
What do you need to shoot a short film?
Before expensive equipment, a short film needs a clear idea. In our set-up every team has the following:
- A one-sentence story: what the film is about should fit in a single sentence.
- A simple shot list: which scene goes where, who plays whom, how many shots.
- A steady image: a tripod removes shaky footage.
- Clean sound: stay close to the camera or use a microphone in dialogue scenes.
- Costumes and props: they explain a character in seconds, and half the laughs come from them.
- Editing: a short, punchy cut always plays better than a long take.
How many people, how long, and what affects the cost?
The workshop is planned for groups of 20 to 200 and typically lasts 120 to 180 minutes, with shooting, editing and the awards screening in one programme. A hotel ballroom, office, meeting room or outdoor space can all be a film set. The cost is shaped mainly by the number of teams, the size of the shooting and editing crew, the city and venue, tailoring the genres to company messages and the delivery format of the films. We can also design a version supported by AI tools, and there is a stop-motion option for teams who prefer to work at the table rather than on set. If you are weighing up which workshop suits your team, see our guide to choosing a workshop.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like to shoot your team's first film together, contact us.
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