Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Script and pre-production
3–4 weeks
Write a completed script for a short film of 5–15 minutes (approximately 5–15 pages of formatted screenplay) and complete a pre-production package covering the four essentials: locations confirmed, cast identified, shoot schedule written, and equipment list finalised. Pre-production is not optional preparation — it is the primary determinant of whether the shoot goes smoothly. Films that enter production with an incomplete pre-production package consistently run over schedule, over budget, and over the director's original vision. The script does not need to be perfect before pre-production begins, but it must be complete in the sense that every scene exists and has dialogue or action; no 'we'll improvise this bit' gaps are acceptable. Format the script using free software — WriterDuet (free tier), Celtx (free online), or plain Fountain markup in any text editor.
Proof required
Submit: (1) the completed script (PDF or link, formatted in screenplay format), and (2) the pre-production package — a document covering: locations confirmed (with permission where needed), cast list (name and role for every speaking part), a shoot schedule listing each scene, location, and cast required per day, and an equipment list. The package can be a single document or a short-form checklist.
What gets checked
- Script is complete in screenplay format — INT./EXT. scene headings, action lines, character names centred above dialogue; a prose outline or treatment is not a script; the script must have a clear beginning, middle, and end; 'we'll figure out the ending on the day' does not pass; WriterDuet and Celtx produce correctly formatted PDFs automatically
- Pre-production package covers all four essentials with specifics — 'locations TBD' does not pass for locations; 'my friend Alex as the lead' passes for cast; a shoot schedule that lists 'all scenes on Saturday' without scene numbers and estimated times does not pass; each element should be specific enough that a crew member could execute the day independently
- Script runtime is in the 5–15 minute range — one page of correctly formatted screenplay equals approximately one minute of screen time; a 3-page script targets a 3-minute film, which may not demonstrate sufficient creative and technical depth for this outcome; a 30-page script targets a 30-minute film, which is unlikely to be completable in the remaining production window
Resources
Foundation: start here · Depth: go deeper · Mastery: for the dedicated
Foundation
Depth
Mastery
Shooting complete
3–5 weeks (shooting days across weeks 4–9 of the outcome)
Complete all planned shooting days and confirm that every scene in the script has at least one usable take. 'Usable' means the take is in focus, the audio is intelligible, and the performance is acceptable — it does not mean perfect. Raw footage for every scene exists on a hard drive and has been backed up in at least two locations (hard drives fail; footage loss mid-production is among the most demoralising filmmaking experiences and is entirely preventable by backing up every night). The proof is a simple scene-by-scene coverage log noting whether each scene was covered, and a screenshot or photo from the shoot showing production in progress. Raw footage does not need to be submitted — the coverage log and a production photo are sufficient evidence.
Proof required
Submit: (1) a scene coverage log listing every scene from the script and marking it as covered (at least one usable take) or not covered (and why), and (2) a photograph from the shoot showing production in progress (camera, actors, or crew visible). If any scenes were not covered, include a brief note on how they will be handled in editing.
What gets checked
- Coverage log lists every scene from the script — a log with 'all scenes done' without per-scene notation does not pass; the list should be derivable from the script scene headings; a film with 12 scenes has 12 rows in the coverage log
- Production photo shows actual filming activity — a photo of a camera on a table or an empty location does not demonstrate the shoot happened; the photo should show a camera pointed at a subject, an actor in a setup, or crew working; the photo does not need to show everyone or all the equipment
- Uncovered scenes have a noted plan — any scene marked 'not covered' needs either a reshooting plan or an editing plan (cut the scene, replace with voiceover, condense into another scene); the log should reflect intentional decisions, not silent omissions
Resources
Foundation
Depth
Mastery
Edited and screened
14 weeks total (editing and post-production across weeks 9–14)
Complete the editing process and screen the film publicly. 'Screened' means the film has been viewed by an audience beyond the filmmaker and their immediate circle — a YouTube or Vimeo upload (even with a modest view count), a community screening, or a submission to a short film festival counts. The edit should include: picture edit (scenes assembled in order, pacing adjusted), sound design (at minimum: music or ambient sound under scenes, dialogue levels balanced), and colour treatment (even a single LUT applied consistently is a colour treatment). The film does not need to be colour-graded to a professional standard; it needs to look and sound intentional rather than raw. DaVinci Resolve (free) handles both editing and colour grading in one professional-grade tool.
Proof required
Submit: (1) a public URL to the finished film (YouTube, Vimeo, or a festival submission link), and (2) a 150+ word post-production reflection covering: what you cut from the script in editing and why, what you would shoot differently knowing what you know now, and where you plan to screen or submit the film next.
What gets checked
- Film URL is publicly accessible — a private YouTube link or a password-protected Vimeo link is not a public screening; the link must open to a film viewable by anyone who follows it; if the film has been submitted to a festival that has not yet screened it, a festival submission confirmation email serves as alternative proof
- Film has been edited to at least a rough cut quality — a raw footage assembly with no pacing adjustments, no music or ambient sound, and no colour treatment is not a complete edit; the minimum is: scenes in order, obvious bad takes removed, a music track or ambient sound underneath scenes, and consistent exposure between shots
- Post-production reflection addresses all three prompts with specificity — 'I cut a few scenes' does not pass for the first prompt; 'I cut the café scene entirely because it slowed the second act and the information in it was already established by the prior scene' is the level of specificity required; each of the three prompts must be answered in at least two substantive sentences
Resources
Foundation
Depth
Mastery