Lighting can take an image that is flat and without style and give it depth, mood, and emotion. In this workshop you will learn the fundamentals of how light works and why you would choose one style of lighting over another. I am a firm believer in hands-on education and together as a class we will light several different scenes in the same location. You will learn through doing, by setting lights of different styles and types including HMI’s, tungsten, and RGB LED panels.

As rigging lights and handling them can be dangerous I will cover safety on set and how to handle hot lights and how to keep from overloading circuits. Please bring a pair of workman’s gloves to be able to handle hot lights.

This will be a very hands on workshop and you will be handling the lighting equipment as a team with me there to supervise. We will have a monitor on set to see how the image changes when we make adjustments to the lighting setups. While you can’t learn everything you need to know about lighting in two days, hopefully by the end of the workshop you will have enough of an understanding to ask the right questions, learn through observation, and find like minded people with whom you can practice lighting.

Master the complete documentary filmmaking process, from a simple idea to a finished film, in a supportive, collaborative environment.

1. Story Development & Finding Your Voice

• How to identify and refine a compelling story from your initial idea.
• The art of the pitch: How to articulate your core concept clearly and confidently.
• Discover your unique style by exploring different documentary genres (e.g., observational, poetic, interview-driven).
• Develop a production plan and shot list to guide your filming efficiently.

2. Professional Filming Techniques (On Any Camera or Phone)

• Cinematic Fundamentals: Master shot sizes, composition, and framing to create visually engaging scenes.
• The secret to clean, clear audio: Learn how to capture high-quality sound using the equipment you have.
• The power of B-Roll: Discover how to intentionally capture cutaways, atmospherics, and details that enrich your story.
• Conduct powerful interviews: Learn techniques to make your subjects feel comfortable and draw out authentic, emotional stories.

3. The Art of Editing & Post-Production

• A professional editing workflow: From importing and organizing your clips to building your timeline.
• Storytelling in the edit: Learn how to sequence your shots to create rhythm, emotion, and narrative flow.
• Sound design basics: Enhance your film with music, soundscapes, and basic audio mixing.
• Finishing touches: Add titles, credits, and color correction, and learn how to export your film for any platform.

4. Ethical & Impactful Storytelling

• How to approach your subject matter with respect and integrity.
• Build confidence in sharing your work and giving/receiving constructive feedback.
• Develop a critical eye for documentary filmmaking by analyzing and discussing peer work.

Day 1:

Sat. Date TBD
09:00 – 16:00

• The basics of how light works
• Differences between hard and soft light
• High key versus low key lighting
• Lighting exteriors versus interiors, day versus night
• Breaking scenes down to understand lighting choices
• Different tools used in lighting and when and how to use them
• Supervised lighting of two scenes with instruction as we light them
• Q&A

Day 2:

Sun. Date TBD
09:00 – 16:00

• Breaking down more complicated scenes
• Interview lighting set-ups
• Replicating the scenes and analyzing them
• Supervised free lighting
• Q&A

Hi, I’m Alex DePew and I will be your guide on this filmmaking adventure. I have been in the film industry for 19 years now. I got my start in my hometown of NYC, worked for a few years in New Zealand, and now have settled in Berlin, where I work as a cinematographer and gaffer on commercials, music videos, and short films.

I have also lead many filmmaking workshops. I get tons of joy when I see someone light up as they make a connections between what I am teaching and something they have seen in a movie. And when they apply that knowledge to their own film it is a thing of beauty.

Together with Klaus and Linda, I run the Berlin Film Community, a community of filmmakers and people interested in film. We host events such as the Pitch & Planning Session and Drink, Watch, Talk. We are over 16,000 people strong at the time I’m writing this and I am very proud to be a leader of this community. Helping to teach as well as connect the next wave of filmmakers with each other so they can get their first films made is a great source of joy for me.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the workshop, feel free to reach out to me at alex@berlinfilmcommunity.com.