Free Online Course on Low-Budget Video Production: Visual Communication for Small Charities offered By FutureLearn

Future Learn Platform is offering a free online course on the theme of “Low-Budget Video Production: Visual Communication for Small Charities”.

Course introduction:

Small charities understand that to compete in a tough economic climate they should engage with digital media and video content. But a lack of staff, time, knowledge and resources can get in the way.

This practical video production course is designed to bridge that gap and help small charities develop the skills they need for successful video production.

You’ll gain an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of video as a medium of communication, where and how to use it to powerful effect, and how to tie it in with your charity’s overall message and ethos.

As part of the course, you’ll also have access to a well-researched collection of videos made by small charities, inspirational examples of the type of visual storytelling you could be able to achieve.

You’ll get to grips with creative thinking and visual storytelling, and work through the editorial decisions that can make your video stand out and deliver its message effectively.

You’ll also master how to make a low-budget production using the technology you have readily available such as smartphones. You’ll develop practical skills to plan and structure a low-budget video production, shoot video in several different visual styles, and tackle a basic edit.

This course is intended for:

• This course is suited to anyone planning to produce videos who works within the small charity sector such as charity staff, volunteers and service users.
• It is also useful to those with existing production and video marketing experience who would like to work within the sector, or those from larger charities interested in a fresh approach to using video as a visual storytelling tool.

Course duration:

3 hours per week for 4 weeks.

Course topics:

Week 1. Understanding the medium

• The strengths of video – powerful human stories
• Potential online and offline uses of video for small charities

Week 2. Planning a production

• Editorial decision making
• The production team and resources

Week 3. Practical production skills

• Realising a range of visual styles using your phone
• Interviewing

Week 4. Making your video count

• Editing and distribution
• Reflections

Course objectives:

By the end of this course learners will be able to:

• Explore the strengths and weaknesses of video as a medium of communication, where and how to use it to powerful effect
• Investigate how to plan and structure a low budget production with available team skills and resources
• Develop a range of practical skills in low budget production using readily available technology
• Apply creative thinking and visual storytelling skills

Course costs:

Learner can join this course for free and get access to it for 6 weeks.

Or upgrade this course for $49 and gets:

• Access to this course for as long as it’s on Future Learn.
• Access to this course’s tests as well as a print and digital Certificate of Achievement once he/she is eligible.

Or buy unlimited for $ 189.99 for one year and gets:

• Access to this course, and hundreds of other FutureLearn short courses and tests for a year.
• A printable digital Certificate of Achievement on all short courses once they are eligible.
• The freedom to keep access to any course he/she has achieved a digital Certificate of Achievement on, for as long as the course exists on Future Learn.
• The flexibility to complete own choice of short courses in learner’s own time within the year.

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