(Virtual) - Summer 2026
Wednesdays - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
When: Wednesdays from 6:00-9:00 pm, June 3 – July 22.
Foundations of Filmmaking provides foundational knowledge about working conditions, jobs, and professional expectations in film and television. Students will learn industry-specific terminology and processes related to above- and below-the-line positions, how a creative project moves from script to screen, and how to start and build a film or television career. With an emphasis on industry standards, practices and procedures, on-set safety protocols, and the realities of the job market, students will be prepared to take further coursework in any number of more focused areas covered in this course. Want to know how a project is made from start to finish? This is the course for you.
This class is perfect for anyone with a passion for film and television who is eager to delve into the industry. Whether you are a creative enthusiast, aspiring filmmaker, or simply curious about the world of entertainment, Foundation of Filmmaking is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to embark on a rewarding career. It is an ideal starting point for individuals looking to grasp industry-specific terminology, understand the script-to-screen process, and prepare themselves for various roles within the dynamic film and television field.
Please note: students do have graded assignments, assessments, and projects and will receive a final grade in this course. Grades demonstrate a student’s ability to apply their understanding and mastery of concepts taught in this course. Trilith Institute instructors have a wealth of knowledge as they come with expertise in the film and entertainment industry
Course Note: No Prerequisite Required.
*Those receiving a grade of 80 (B) or above in the course will receive a “Certificate of Completion”. Complete 3 of the Trilith Institute’s Professional Education Courses, and you will receive “Trilith Institute Outstanding Achievement in Film Arts.” In addition, if you have completed 3 courses and our Mastering Self-Marketing workshop, you will be eligible to submit an original project for consideration for our Creative Excellence Fellowship Grant, with a potential award of up to $10,000.
Questions? Check out our FAQ page.
Ebony Blanding is a writer and director with deep Southern roots and a passion for telling the stories of Black people navigating the world and internal discoveries. She explores the complexities and possibilities of Blackness and female relationships on screen through narrative, experimental, and documentary film.
Winner of The Level Forward Impact Award at the 2022 SeriesFest, her short film “Jordan ”, received a development deal for its demonstration and commitment to creative excellence and using storytelling as a means of leveling the playing field for underrepresented people and alternatively abled voices.
Blanding has written and directed branded content for Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, documentaries for major artists, and multiple award-winning short films, including Levitate Levitate Levitate, streamed at Atlanta International Airport. Her commissioned period piece, Georgia Voting Rights, is playing in the state’s capitol.
Co-founder of art film house, House of June, Blanding has presented films at educational institutions including Spelman College, Emory University and John H. Hopkins University. Her work has screened at Atlanta Film Society, Cape Town International Film Festival, SXSW, among others.
Recipient of the 2024 Emerging Creative Residency Program Fellowship with Trilith Institute, Blanding assumes the role of the institute’s first Emerging Creative in Residence. Her upcoming project, “A Mess of Memories,” marks her directorial debut feature film and serves as Trilith Institute Productions’ inaugural major undertaking.
Additionally, her commitment to her craft has garnered her positions in esteemed fellowships, including the 2021 Blackmagic Collective Future Directors of Studio Features Fellowship, and involvement in the Atlanta Film Society’s Filmmaker-In-Residence Program from 2017 to 2019.
Website: www.ebonyblanding.com
The Trilith Institute 365 Fund supports all aspects of the 501(c)(3) organization.
$250 pays for a single episode of the Trilith Institute Talks podcast.
$500 feeds cast and crew for one Creative Excellence Fellowship Grant film
$650 provides a one-week scholarship to the Script to Screen Summer Camp
$1000 covers a Dinner With… events where students talk with industry experts over dinner
No amount is too big or small.
