If you’ve been using your time to brush up on the extensive documentary box sets available, you might have wondered how you might create your own. Or perhaps you have been holding an idea to your chest for some time, and are looking for a nudge in the right direction.

In this insightful workshop, award-winning filmmaker Laurence Topham will introduce you to the fundamentals of documentary storytelling and video journalism, and then offer unmissable detailed insights into how to see your ideas through from concept through to filming and beyond.

You will receive a detailed breakdown of the key ingredients that blend together to create a compelling documentary, inspired by lessons from the Guardian’s impactful video journalism.

This detailed weekend workshop for beginners also presents the opportunity to put your questions to a leading figure in the field, in real-time. If a nudge is what you’ve been waiting for, this is it.

Course content

Day 1 – Planning for the unknown

Stress testing the format: does your story or idea have the right ingredients to make a compelling documentary?
Archive to actuality: understanding the genre of documentary you want to make.
Who is your intended audience and why that matters in the digital age.
Characters, journeys and high stakes: how to develop your narrative and plan for the unknown.

Day 2 – Shoot and Cut

An introduction to the grammar of documentary filmmaking – composition, timing, sequence building, audio and structure.
Breaking down a pivotal scene shot-for-shot and learning how to shoot for the edit.
How camera technology should serve the storytelling – and not the other way around – no matter how big or small your budget is.
Embracing the unknown and learning how to be responsive during the course of making your film.
Documentary debrief: how to learn from your mistakes

This course is for…

Aspiring filmmakers who want to understand how to approach a documentary project
Anyone with an idea for a film who need guidance on taking the next steps to making it a reality
Early career filmmakers who are looking for advice on the production process from development to shooting

Tutor Profile

Laurence Topham is an award-winning filmmaker, with over 15 years of experience in documentary production and digital storytelling. Since joining the Guardian in 2008, Laurence has filmed, produced and edited documentaries and digital content all around the world – from Antarctica to the Arctic, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, Russia and all across North America. His work has been selected by major international film festivals such as Tribeca, AFI Docs, Doc Edge and Sheffield Doc/Fest. He currently serves as an executive producer across a wide range of Guardian documentaries, investigations and special projects.

Course Details

Dates: Saturday 25 March-Sunday 26 March 2023
Times: 2pm-5pm (GMT/BST)

A catch up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two weeks.

This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

2pm GMT | 3pm CEST | 7am PDT | 10am EDT

You will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours and 30 minutes before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you do not receive the access link.

We aim to make Guardian Masterclasses accessible to all. If you require any adjustments to enable your participation in this course, please get in touch with us at masterclasses@theguardian.com.

This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform Zoom, please refer to their privacy policy and terms and conditions before purchasing a ticket to the class.

Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.

Documentary filmmaking: A beginner’s bootcamp with Laurence Topham