Course

Introduction to Film Making with Unreal Engine

Time limit: 3 days

Spots remaining: 15

£150 Enrol

Full course description

Course Introduction • Filmmaking in Unreal

Turn Unreal Engine into a Working Film Set

This course introduces learners to cinematic storytelling with Unreal Engine — treating it not as a “game tool,” but as a virtual film studio where sets, cameras, lighting, and atmosphere all live in real time.

Instead of following a rigid button-by-button tutorial, learners work in a studio-style environment that mirrors how modern filmmakers and virtual production teams experiment, block scenes, adjust lighting, and shape mood on the fly.

By the end of the course, each participant completes a 30-second cinematic short film built entirely inside Unreal Engine — a tightly crafted micro-story that proves they can design, shoot, and deliver a visual narrative with virtual cameras, lighting, and environment.

Learning Experience: From First Shot to Finished Short

Learners move through a guided cinematic workflow: from visual research and mood exploration into virtual set building, camera blocking, and final 30-second edit — all inside Unreal Engine.

1

Cinematic Foundations

Learners explore framing, composition, pacing, and mood using film references and short clips — then translate those ideas into a simple Unreal Engine project set up for film.

2

Virtual Set & Lighting

Using marketplace/Fab assets, learners assemble a focused cinematic environment, then sculpt light, atmosphere, and color to support the tone of their 30-second story.

3

Camera & Sequencer

Learners block out their story using Cine Camera Actors and Sequencer — designing shots, cuts, and camera moves that carry the viewer through the scene.

4

Polish & Export

In the final step, learners refine timing, tweak lighting and grading, add simple sound if desired, and render a finished 30-second film clip ready for portfolio or review.

The course runs as a hands-on studio with continuous instructor support, peer feedback sessions, and space to experiment, fail fast, and iterate toward a stronger cinematic story.

Learning Journey: Four Constructivist Pillars

The course is built around four core pillars — each one helping learners construct their own understanding of filmmaking in Unreal, step by step, as they build their 30-second story.

1

See Like a Cinematographer

Learners analyse reference shots and short sequences, unpacking how light, lens, and movement shape emotion. They pick a simple story beat that they want to tell visually in 30 seconds.

2

Shape the World Around the Story

Inside Unreal, imagination becomes architecture. Learners assemble a tight, story-ready environment — placing props, adjusting scale, and sculpting atmosphere to support their chosen narrative beat.

3

Craft the Shot, Not Just the Scene

Learners use Cine Cameras and Sequencer to design shot flow — building a beginning–middle–end through angles, moves, and cuts that guide the audience’s eye and rhythm through the 30-second film.

4

Reflect, Refine, and Render

Through feedback loops and quick iteration, learners tweak timing, lighting, and framing before rendering their 30-second short film. Reflection and revision are built into the process, not tacked on at the end.

Final Output & Portfolio Package

The course is anchored around a single, concrete outcome: a 30-second cinematic short film built inside Unreal Engine, supported by a small set of production artefacts that help learners speak about their process like emerging filmmakers.

Core Film Deliverable

  • Rendered 30-second cinematic sequence (MP4/MOV).
  • Clear visual beginning–middle–end, readable without dialogue.
  • Story-driven lighting, camera work, and pacing.

Supporting Artefacts

  • 3–5 hero frames exported from Unreal.
  • A simple shot list or beat sheet for the 30 seconds.
  • A compact moodboard or look reference.
  • One-sentence logline summarising the micro-story.

Together, these pieces form a small but powerful portfolio kit — evidence that learners can conceive, design, and deliver a finished cinematic moment using Unreal Engine as their film set, camera crew, and grading suite.