Documentary Filmmaking Step by Step - How to get it made (Udemy.com)
From a 3-time Sundance alum, learn to make documentary films and videos from production to distribution on any budget
Created by: Adam Bhala Lough
Last updated April 2026
What you will learn
- You will learn how to make a complete documentary feature or short film, from beginning to end; conception of the idea all the way to delivery and exhibition of the final film
- Examples and insight into the filmmaking process through the unique lens of my own experience making award winning documentaries
- Secrets and "producer hacks" that I've learned along the way and that no one else will tell you
- Where I failed, so you won't make the same mistakes
- Going rates for nearly all crew positions on a documentary feature or short (low/mid/high budget rates)
- As a bonus you'll also get many free templates for you to download and use: contracts, agreements, budgets, schedules, forms
How it compares
Against the other 293 rated Udemy courses in Video Editing & Animation on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.4 out of 5higher than 40% of them
- Reviews786#50 of 294 by number of reviews
- Length4.8 hourslonger than 60% of them
- Last updatedApril 2026more recently than 82% of them
Course Description
Who am I?
I'm an internationally acclaimed 14-year vet with four documentaries currently on Netflix and three that were the #1 documentary on the iTunes charts. I've had an incredible amount of success in my career but Ihave also failed many, many times. You will learn where Ifailed along the way so you won't make the same mistakes.
I'm also a mentor at the Sundance Native labs and Latino Screenwriting labs and was a mentor at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival mentor sessions so Iknow how to teach in a concise and clear way. Why should you take this course and not another?
You will get secrets only a seasoned pro can reveal- from the beauty of not paying insane clearance fees by claiming "fair-use,"to how to get into a film festival without any connections. It's all in this 5 hour course.
Other courses give general knowledge of how to make a film from people with very little actual real world experience. This course is taught directly from my experience making eight feature length documentary films, all of which have received worldwide distribution and been translated into many languages. *Watch some of the documentary short films made by my students at youtube. com/worldcinema:
Rickshaw Girl by Muzahidul Islam Zahin, a filmmaker and activist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh Kwizera:
A Story of Hope Born from Risiliance by Sahil Laul, a filmmaker based in the USA Who this course is for:
Beginning filmmakers needing a roadmap to navigate the confusing and often mysterious job of a documentary filmmaker (what is it exactly that we do?!)Those who will benefit most from this course will be those getting ready to embark on their first or second short or feature length documentary filmVeteran documentary filmmakers who want to know my secrets, short-cuts and hacks, learned the hard way from directing 8 feature-length documentaries
Instructor Details
- 4.4 Rating
786 Reviews
Adam Bhala Lough
3-time Sundance Film Festival alum, Spirit Award nominated writer/director/producer and one of Filmmaker Magazines Top 25 Independent Filmmakers to Watch, Adam Bhala Lough has dedicated his career to telling compelling stories, collaborating with interesting people and creating authentic work. Over the past 16 years he has made 10 feature length films and documentaries while mentoring younger generations of filmmakers.
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Reviews
By Fernando Asth Oliveira on 12/20/2020
Sim! Era oque eu esperava.
By Victoria Britton on 12/6/2020
Adam Bhala did an incredible job breaking down every level of the filmmaking process in a way that anyone can understand. This course was easily worth every penny. I feel as though I've gained an in-depth knowledge of what it really takes to put together a feature, and the return on investment you can expect in this business. Adam covers all the bases from the development of an idea, all the way to distribution. My only drawback is that the course isn't live (like Zoom or GoogleMeets) and you don't interact much with other students or Adam. It's basically a series of videos with a few documents you can download and save. But I can't stress enough the value of this series! I guarantee I'll be drawing on this well of information for several months, if not years to come.
By Gillian Davis on 11/19/2020
Excellent course - jampacked with valuable information! This is a great framework to build out your filmmaking plan. I highly recommend it!
By Hien Mike on 10/27/2020
Yeah I do love listen to the real exp of yours on the set, like the idea of playing the songs of Lee Scratch Perry for him to listen and share his feeling since we gonna shoot a music documentary here too. So I think its a great way to dig into the heart and brain of the subject.
By Franklin Thompson on 10/25/2020
So far the course seems very detailed. The instructor is very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Im just getting into documentary work and the info is very helpful.
By Letchumiprabah on 9/17/2020
too much talking-no easy to follow steps shown
My search was- How to produce a DOcumentary
By Don Tepper on 9/12/2020
This course may be appropriate for someone who's making documentaries to sell to Netflix or entering (with expectations of winning) Sundance. Someone who's going to get a large infusion of cash from an investor. Someone who plans on travelling overseas with a crew. And where paying a few thousand dollars a week for just one crew member is standard. Unfortunately, that's not most of us. Plus, the presentation is a mash-up of insider terminology and a somewhat awkward presentation: lots of "ums" and "ahs," And frequent glances over to the side to check his notes. The jump cuts are awkward, and several of the segments open out of focus. Some of his advice is good, but the video is really meant for the top 1% of documentary makers.
By KC Jones on 9/3/2020
Undoubtedly, I was an aspiring screenwriter in the mid-80's but life took me elsewhere. I am about to embark on an incredible journey that I want to memorialize. I will most likely be financing it myself and looking for post-production distribution,...this course is helping me establish a foundation upon which to launch.
By Simone L Rembert on 8/25/2020
I've taken another film making course prior to this and just in this one hour I have gained information that I wasn't aware of or learned from the other course!!
By Juan on 8/22/2020
yes
By Yuri Torres on 8/22/2020
I really learned a lot from your experiences, Thanks Adam for share so much knowledge.
By Thomas Schlaflang on 8/17/2020
Cours trs complet, par un ralisateur qui fait ses preuves, parfait.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 88 / 100






