Can you tell a story in just a 1 minute film?
2025-08-05 19:45 - 22:15 UTC | Sutton FilmMakers Club – Parochial Rooms, 42 The Broadway, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8BL, United Kingdom
Session led by Paul Dryland

Make a a 1 minute film in an evening.

Back by popular demand, this fast-paced, creative evening will see club members split into small teams and challenged to create a compelling short film in just two hours, with a maximum running time of 60 seconds! Yes, a a 1 minute film.

This session is about thinking on your feet, making quick creative decisions, and focusing on tight, visual storytelling. You’ll need to plan fast and shoot smart to get your idea across in under a minute. Editing can be done afterwards, so the focus will be on capturing the footage within the two-hour window.

You can bring your own cameras or use club equipment. We’ll have tripods, handheld rigs and a couple of basic kits ready to go. The beauty of this challenge is how much you can achieve with limited gear and lots of imagination.

The films can be any genre or style, drama, comedy, horror, documentary or something experimental. Be bold, be creative! You can build your teams in advance, or simply come along and take pot luck on the night. We suggest thinking ahead about what you might like to shoot, so you’re not starting entirely from scratch when the clock begins.

We’ll watch the finished films together at a club night a month or two afterwards and celebrate the creativity that can come from a ticking clock and a great idea.

Whether you’re new to filmmaking or want to hone your storytelling under pressure, this is a fun and energising session where everyone can contribute. Come and test your skills – and your stopwatch!

Below is a Group Prompt & Planning Sheet for you to use

1-Minute_Film_Script_Prompt_Two_PageDownload

Sound Recording Workshop (Hands-On)
2025-08-19 19:45 - 22:15
Join us for a practical evening focused on one of the most critical (but often overlooked) elements of filmmaking – sound recording. This hands-on workshop is designed to help you get to grips with the gear we use most often on club shoots, and to build your confidence when capturing dialogue on set.

Whether you’re new to sound or looking to sharpen your skills, this is a chance to learn through doing.

What we’ll cover:

How to position a shotgun mic on a boom for clean, consistent dialogue

Tips for working with personal (lav) mics, including hiding techniques and avoiding rustle

Basic techniques for monitoring and adjusting levels on the fly

Understanding mic placement in relation to framing and movement

Working collaboratively with the camera and directing team

Common pitfalls in low-budget sound recording and how to avoid them

We’ll be working with real scenes and actors, rotating through sound roles so everyone gets hands-on experience.

Equipment focus:

This session will focus on club-owned gear, including:

Rode NTG2 shotgun mic with boom pole and shock mount

Sennheiser G3 wireless lavalier mics

Zoom audio recorders and club headphones

We’ll set up practical filming situations where you can test mic placement, record takes, and review sound quality – all with immediate feedback and support. If you’ve ever worried about background noise, inconsistent levels, or that dreaded rustle from a shirt collar, this is your chance to troubleshoot and learn the fixes in real time.

Bring your own kit too (optional)

If you have your own mics, recorders, or headphones, feel free to bring them along and compare setups.
