HOW TO SHOOT PREMIUM DOCUMENTARIES
Documentary Cinematography Intensive
Fall 2024
with Vanessa Carr
Eight Week Intensive - Online
ENROLL NOW
Lucie M.
One of the best investments I’ve made in my creative development.
Mindy C.
The first week alone was worth the cost of admission.
Paul K.
The highlight of my year!
David Peter H.
Best course I've ever attended.
Meet your teacher
Hi, I'm Vanessa Carr
I am a documentary cinematographer specializing in cinematic vérité shooting.
Over the last 13 years, I have shot documentary features and series for every major network including Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and Showtime, and my work has screened at major festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, IDFA, and TIFF. I am a DOCNYC 40 Under 40 honoree and founding member of the Documentary Cinematographers Alliance.
In this course, I've distilled everything I've learned from thousands of hours shooting in every type of situation: inside ballet companies, jails, operating rooms, drug cartels, big warehouses and small, poorly-lit rooms, by myself and on large crews.
It's everything I wish I could have learned at the beginning that would have saved me so much time getting to where I am today.
Don’t waste any more time and energy trying to figure things out on your own!
I'm here with you every step of the way!
Learn to create beautiful images in fast-paced, real-world settings.
I completely pull back the curtain and share my step-by-step approach including:
- How to confidently set-up Netflix-level interview lighting
- Mastering natural light
- Scene coverage that editors love
- Strategies for getting hired on premium projects and commanding higher rates
- How to create a website and reel that wins jobs
- Best practices for contracts, negotiation, and networking
- Plus opportunities for personalized feedback on your own cinematography, and much more!
These are the hard-won secrets of how I built a career shooting feature documentaries and series for premium outlets like HBO, Hulu, and Netflix.
Live Classes
Eight two-hour lessons with tons of visual examples and exclusive BTS
Weekly Q&A
Get all your questions answered with "hot seats" for individualized feedback
Lifetime Access
Recordings of all sessions posted the next day. Access never expires!
By the end of this course, you'll have a clear road map to getting high paid work shooting premium documentaries features and series.
JP D.
Vanessa's advice on how to get work and networking is an absolute must.
Rachel M.
This course completely transformed my relationship to lighting.
Course Format
Live Lessons
Weekly
Wednesdays
7:00-9:00 pm EST
October 2 to November 20, 2024
Live on Zoom
- Two hours of step-by-step instruction that is concise, action-oriented, and fluff-free
- Replays posted next day
Live
Q&A
Fridays (Alternating)
12:00-2:00 pm EST
October 11 to November 22, 2024
Live on Zoom
- Ninety minutes to go deeper and ask questions
- Sit in the optional "hot seat" to get individualized feedback in a group coaching format
Guest
Lectures
Fridays (Alternating)
12:00-2:00 pm EST
October 4 to November 15, 2024
Live on Zoom
- Ninety minutes to go deeper and ask questions
- Sit in the optional "hot seat" to get individualized feedback in a group coaching format
Class Details
Module 1
April 16 & 23
7:00-9:00 pm EST
Shoot Beautiful Documentary Scenes with Confidence
- How to get cinematic scene coverage editors will love
- The mental shotlist I'm using for every vérité scene
- How to stay ahead of the action so you're not always chasing
- How to build trust, help your subjects relax, and capture intimacy
- My top stability tools and tricks for shooting handheld with ease
Module 2
April 30 & May 7
7:00-9:00pm EST
Cinematic Techniques for Premium Documentaries
- How to use natural light for highly cinematic shots in every situation
- Tools and tricks for shaping available light and using practicals
- Lenses, depth of field, and eyelines as storytelling choices
- How to pre-visualize, get ideas, create look books and mood boards
Module 3
May 14 & May 21
7:00-9:00 pm EST
Elevate Your Interview Lighting
- Lighting interviews from pre-production to day-of decisions
- Maximalist and minimalist approaches and gear
- Dealing with the dreaded white room
- How to shoot (and light) an interview as a 360-scene
- Lighting diagrams, BTS, and inspiring frames
Module 4
May 28 & June 4
7:00-9:00 pm EST
How to Get Hired for Premium Documentary Work
- My secrets for attracting the work I love
- The power of committing to a niche
- How to create a winning website and reel
- Honest talk about rates, money, and burnout
- How to maintain your passion and creativity
The results are in! Hear from past students:
Mindy C:
It's rare to find someone who is great both in their craft and at teaching it. Vanessa delivers on both fronts with skill, experience, and generosity. The first week alone was worth the cost of admission, and every week offered amazing value.
Paul K:
I’ve been mostly self-taught and learned the hard way. If I had this kind of insight at the start of my career it would’ve helped so much. This outstanding class has been a revelation.
Lucie M:
Taking Vanessa’s class is one of the best investments I’ve made in my creative development. She understands the balance between being a professional and being a human, and is able to share her wisdom about filmmaking in ways that are liberating rather than constricting.
Dan S:
The lighting discussion was amazing. Vanessa's gear recs and recent packing list are indispensable. It's hard to get this level of detail and information out of professional DP's - because they're usually busy working! A really good stepping stone for early/mid-career DP's.
Rachel M:
The course completely transformed my relationship to lighting... and my work now is much more cinematic than before. I have gained a new confidence entering into shoots, whether it be a national soccer stadium or a tiny canoe. Taking this course at this junction in my career was one of the smartest things I could have done!
Amanda B:
Vanessa's very thorough and thoughtful notes on how to improve my shooting were clear and practical and I was able to implement them immediately.... I often find myself in the field now with Vanessa's voice in my mind as I'm filming. It was even more helpful than what I hoped for, and I'm so grateful!
And there's more!
You'll also get FREE access to our private student community for longterm support
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Documentary Cinematography Intensive
Doors are Closing:
Tuesday April 9, at 11:59 pm EST!
Money-back guarantee
Try this program for 7 days, risk-free
Join the first class and decide if it's right for you.
Both career DPs and producers/directors love this course.
This course is for you if:
- You are an early- or mid-career documentary DP
- You are a director or producer who shoots your own work
- You are a director or producer who doesn't shoot but wants new confidence, better language, and greater ease communicating with their DP
- You have basic working knowledge of camera settings (ISO, aperture, shutter)
- You're hungry for community and accountability
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can't make all the classes?
What are the prerequisites?
Is there homework?
How are the live Q&A and hot seats structured?
I'm a mid-career DP. Is this right for me?
I'm a director who shoots. Is this right for me?
I'm worried I'm not good enough to join.
Will there be future courses?
You won't find another course like this one.
Cody B:
Vanessa connects foundational concepts into much more advanced problem solving... I think for doc DPs this is some of the best information I've come by, presented by someone who has a lot of very valuable experience and isn't afraid to share the vulnerable stuff.
Lauren S:
I have been looking for a course like this for a long time, and am so glad I found it. I haven't previously seen a course on filmmaking that wasn't a beginner "how to tell a story" course. So I really appreciate that this course was made for people who already make films and want to get into DP-ing or just learning more and perfecting their craft.
Maya C:
So much of my experience filming feels like I'm navigating the freelance world mostly alone, and it's been so helpful to me to tap into Vanessa's world of experience, and others in the class as well, to get a clear, honest sense of where I'm at, and inspiration for where I can get. I really appreciate how she broke the course down into the chapters that are SO RELEVANT to my entire experience... Vanessa's teaching is incredible.
Karen R:
During this course, I was able to make improvements to my gear package to make it work better for me in vérité settings. I was able to see how a few tweaks in my approach to filming vérité can elevate my footage for a stronger visual impact. Vanessa has a wealth of experience to draw from and an openness to sharing that is incredibly refreshing and uncommon in the industry.
Real talk, my friend
It's time to level up!
Get on the fast-track to more money, better jobs, and creative freedom.
Here's what's waiting for you on the other side:
- New confidence as a documentary cinematographer
- Actionable feedback that takes you where you want to be
- A clear path to getting paid work shooting premium docs
- Community of supportive peers who are hungry for growth
Are you ready earn more doing the work you love?
Let's level up together! I am behind you every step of the way.
