FILMMAKING: Make a Short!
Age group: Teens/Seniors (Grades 7-12)
Class Size: 12 max
Across two intensive days, students will collaborate in teams to develop, shoot, direct and edit an original short film inspired by a creative brief revealed at the beginning of the workshop. Designed to ignite imagination and push students beyond obvious ideas, this experience challenges young filmmakers to think boldly, embrace creative risk and bring their stories to life through cinematic language.
Led by writer, director and actor Taylor Ferguson, students will explore the full creative filmmaking process — from brainstorming concepts and developing performances through to camera work, directing, visual storytelling and editing. Working within the framework of the brief, they’ll learn how professional filmmakers solve creative problems, collaborate under pressure and transform ideas into compelling stories for the screen.
Throughout the workshop, students will experiment with tone, pacing, shot composition and emotional storytelling while gaining insight into how film language shapes audience experience. Fast-paced, collaborative and industry-inspired, this workshop is designed for young creatives who are excited by storytelling, filmmaking and the process of creating original work from the ground up.
Teacher: Taylor Ferguson
Taylor Ferguson is a writer, director and actor, starring in productions including CLICKBAIT, FIRES, and GLITCH.
Taylor’s first short film which she wrote and directed, TOUGH, premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival 2021 and subsequently screened at Sydney Film Festival 2021, San Francisco International Film Festival 2022 and FlickerFest International Film Festival 2022. Taylor won the Rouben Mamoulian Award for Best Director at Sydney Film Festival, Best Director at Flickerfest International Film Festival, Best Female Director at Cannes Indie Shorts Awards, Best First Time Filmmaker Short at Hollywood Shortsfest, and Silver at Cannes Young Lions – all in 2022.
Taylor also had her television debut, directing three episodes of the STAN series YEAR OF for Roadshow Rough Diamond.
In 2023, she directed episode 4 of Kindling Pictures new drama series FAKE for Paramount+, starring Asher Keddie and David Wenham. Asher Keddie is Executive Producing alongside Imogen Banks and Emelyne Palmer.
Taylor is also an acclaimed commercial director with Good Oil Films. She was awarded Emerging Director of the year for the AWARD Awards in 2023 and nominated for the 2022 Australian Director’s Guild Award for Best Music Video.
On her development slate, Taylor is currently writing her debut feature film LIPPY PALM along with an original television series she has created SICK S**T with Kindling Pictures. Taylor has contributed in various writers’ rooms for Matchbox Pictures, Roadshow Rough Diamond, Kindling Pictures and Wildflower Films.
Dates: 29 & 30 June (2-day workshop)
Time: 10am-4pm both days
Age Group: Teens/Seniors (Grades 7-12)
Cost: $350 (incl GST)
What to bring: Please bring some lunch, snacks and a water bottle.