Introduction to Digital Video

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This Introduction to Digital Video short course is a fun, hands-on introduction to using digital video cameras and editing for beginners. You will get a better understanding of how to give a polish to your family films or take the first steps into a new career. Areas covered include an introduction to the digital camera, automatic and manual settings, basic shot types and using a tripod and microphone. You will undertake practice shoots as a group before transferring the video to a computer for a basic introduction to video editing.

A taster course, no experience required! All Equipment is provided for this course. Filmmaking is a group activity. (11 hours teaching)

Film Oxford also currently offers another introductory production course: 3 Day Video Production Course (15 hours teaching)

Tutor – Iona Fabian
Iona Fabian has over 20 years of experience working in the media industry. After three years working on all stages of production for a Corporate Video Company, she decided to go freelance and has worked on a wide range of projects, Producing, Directing, Camera Operating, Sound Recording, Editing, Animating and Creating Motion Graphics and Special Effects. Iona has experience of Lo-Budget filmmaking through to Broadcast production and of working with professionals and beginners. She is currently enjoying working with DSLR cameras and developing ‘filmic’ looks in Post-production. Clients include ITV, Ugandan Television, The Royal College of Surgeons, Butterworth-Heinemann, Mercruiser, and she has worked with Tom Hollander, Griff Rhys-Jones and Newton Faulkner.
Iona has worked in training and education throughout this time, training professionals and beginners in many different contexts. She was very involved with the Creative Partnership Scheme working in schools, has been involved with several Firstlight Projects and teaches at Film Oxford, as well as individual professional training.

Covid-19: Safety is our number one priority. This course will follow these social distancing rules: Each person will stay two metres apart. Shared equipment sanitised between users. Learners are expected to bring their own face covering to wear (or be provided with a disposable one). Staff will wear face coverings. The training is held in a large, well-ventilated room. Hand sanitiser, wipes and gloves will be available.

Topics covered on the Introduction to Digital Video course:

• Introduction to the camera and tripod
• Camera controls; automatic versus manual
• Shot types and camera movements
• Shoot exercise (in-camera edit)
• Focus, iris and white balance
• Getting the most from sound
• Interview exercise
• The concept of the storyboard
• Introduction to editing software
• Importing video shot the previous day
• Basic editing
• Two-hour shooting exercise: you will storyboard, shoot, and edit a very short film
• Recap and feedback

Early booking discount & Concessions

Early Booking – Book early to get 10% reduction on the full price course fee. See the date at top right of this page (usually two weeks before the course start date, but may vary).

Concessions – UK based Students, NHS workers and people on some means-tested benefits. Evidence is required, such as student card, NHS staff card or benefit letter.

Means tested benefits – JSA, Income Support; Working Tax Credit (not child tax credit); Council Tax Benefit (not student/single person/reduction due to disability); Housing Benefit; Pension Credit (guarantee); Unwaged Dependent of these benefits & Universal Credit.

All Film Oxford courses are subsidised by Oxfordshire Adult Learning 

This is one of our adult training courses so please note that participants need to be 18 years and above, for information about all of our youth activities see Youth page