Get Inspired by everything
The hardest step in any stage of filmmaking is to just get started. Thats why I decided to give away the idea generator hundreds of my students have used for their first film!
You Can Write!
Writing your film can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out my screenwriting tutorial where I write a short film in real time and show you the final film. It doesn’t have to be perfect to start, it just has to be started. Let’s get writing!
You Can Edit!
Making a film is hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Enjoy the ride and just get started! Check out the many free program tutorials including Davinci Resolve, Premiere Pro and More. Have a program you’d like to learn, reach out and I’ll put together a tutorial!
you have enough
Filming can sound tough at first, but with the right resources you can make it happen with less than you might have originally imagined. Filmmaking is inherently collaborative and your resourcefulness can make or break the film.
What Filmmakers Are saying
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Hayden P
Mr. White's class was truly eye-opening, not just as a creative but as a person.
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Saul S
When the world around us is moving so quickly, it's sometimes hard to find my place in it, but your channel keeps me motivated.
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Ava E
I’ve had many teachers, but Mr. White was the only one who taught me about film by teaching me about life.
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Lennon W
You have shown me how amazing it is to make movies, and through that shown me who I am.
REady To Create?
You can always do more with less, and this is why I have put together the downloads available below. If you are looking to bring a longer form project to life and you want to work together, click LEARN MORE to see if a creative project mentorship if right for you. Best of luck on your project, and I hope you share it with me when you are finished!
Free Film Project Development Template
Over the last several years, I've crafted this project development template with help of hundreds of filmmakers, just like yourself.
This worksheet is designed to help you:
Work through creative roadblocks
Clarify your story and intentions
Identify the resources you already have available
Build projects around your real-world limitations
Generate multiple ideas before committing to one
Develop films that are achievable with your current skills, time, and budget
The goal isn't to help you make the perfect film.
The goal is to help you make a film.
Whether you're creating your first short film, developing a feature, planning a documentary, or simply trying to get unstuck, this template will walk you through the same process I've used in classrooms, workshops, and one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Download it for free, print it out, make notes in the margins, and adapt it to your own creative process.
If it helps you finish a project, I'd love to hear about it. Best of luck out there!
The Film Around You is a practical filmmaking ebook designed to help students and independent filmmakers plan, shoot, and finish their first short film or feature film—without waiting for better gear, more money, or the “perfect” idea.
Inside, you’ll find the same filmmaking templates, shot lists, checklists, and creative exercises used with new filmmakers to move from idea to completed project. This toolkit helps you overcome creative blocks, organize your ideas, and turn what you already have—locations, people, and resources—into a finished film.
Whether you’re making your first short film, developing an indie feature, or just trying to finally complete a project you’ve been putting off, this ebook gives you a clear, step-by-step system to take your film from concept to export.
You don’t need more gear. You don’t need permission.
You already have everything you need—this helps you use it.