Course notes
A downloadable PDF full of tips and exercises to help you put theory into practice.
The award-winning filmmaker made his name with the beloved Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World's End). Follow that with Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho and you've got yourself a world-class filmmaking teacher with indie roots and Hollywood experience. From storyboarding and scriptwriting to fundraising and pitching to studios, Edgar will show you the many different approaches to filmmaking and will ultimately help you get your film made and get your film seen.
Whether you're just starting out or want some insight into that trademark kinetic style, Edgar's filmmaking class is packed with practical tools and creative inspiration. He'll take you through writing, directing, casting, location scouting, collaborating, funding, production, editing, sound design, distribution and more. Just check out the full list of lessons below for a teaser. You no longer need to fear the live set. Get tips from Edgar and you'll walk in with an auteurial swagger that the cast and crew love to see. Even if it is a little bit fake-it-till-you-make-it.
Check your inbox - your free lesson is on the way!
Please try again later
Writing to direct with filmmaker, Edgar Wright
Meet the man who became an indie legend with the Cornetto trilogy and a trademark directing style. He started out making indie movies on a Super 8 camera and directed shorts on a shoestring throughout the 80s and 90s, building up a close-knit group of collaborators including Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. As someone who’s gone from film school reject and micro budgets to Hollywood blockbusters, there’s no one better to guide you through the world of filmmaking and show you how to make your film a reality.
Meet the man who became an indie legend with a trademark directing style. He’s here to show you how to make your film a reality.
There’s so much you can learn from the classics. Delve into cinematic history with Edgar’s guidance and you’ll pick up tips for your own feature.
Edgar got rejected from film school. Twice. That didn’t stop him and nothing should stop you from starting out in the right direction…
Wise words on mental preparation, resilience, the work that lies ahead of you and how to work with your budget (not against it).
Learn about the benefits of writing your own opportunities and selling yourself as the whole package, whether solo or with a co-writer.
Discover the joys (and woes) of writing, through characters and theme, navigating writer’s block and breaking down plot with index cards.
The king of genre play celebrates the wonders of working in genre and playing with story conventions.
Smash cut to: developing your own filmmaker aesthetic through editing, sound, cinematography and performance, and understanding how it might evolve.
Edgar has storyboarded every scene since Shaun of the Dead. Learn how to visualise ideas in your head and map out where the story goes.
Hone your skills, find collaborators and make a name for yourself with short films then you’ll have a better chance funding your feature.
Learn how to construct a scene and tell a story with a little help from the town shootout in Hot Fuzz and the toilet brawl in The World’s End.
Tips for finding the right actors for your film and how to work with them in rehearsals and on set. Just in case Tom Hanks isn’t available.
Learn about stage sets versus real locations, when to use which and how to go about location scouting for that perfect setting.
Costume can make a splash even if you’re not working on a period feature. Consider colour, iconic outfits and presenting character.
Think about the camera’s relationship with other actors, the narrative, and the audience. Should it be invisible or like another character?
How to approach starting out on a production? Edgar advises starting with an ambitious scene to set the tone for the entire shoot.
How choosing the right soundtrack can transform your film. Get it cleared early and you can choreograph scenes to perfection.
Understand the difference between diegetic and non-diegetic sound, and the importance of good sound design to heighten the style of a film.
How to choreograph and execute breath-taking action scenes – from using elements of the Hong Kong Action Style to piecing it together.
The importance of finding a great production designer and keeping your aesthetic front and centre during the filmmaking process.
Weaving your film into a cohesive narrative using editing techniques like the Kuleshov effect, killing your darlings, and trial and error.
Edgar’s experience of the similarities and differences in creating content for television versus feature films.
Collaboration is key to successful filmmaking. See how an entire crew works together in the breakdown of a scene in Last Night in Soho.
How to stand out when distributing your film in a crowded arena. Know your strengths, make it pulpy and pitch to the right festivals.
Edgar answers questions from Twitter – on inspiration, working with his heroes, parody vs homage, needle drops and fighting your corner.
National Film and Television School students pose questions on redrafting scripts, action sequences, dialogue and improv.
Final thoughts on how to become a filmmaker and how you never stop being a student of the form. Fade to black.
$10 / month (billed annually)
Access every BBC Maestro course
$89
Select 1 course to own for life
A downloadable PDF full of tips and exercises to help you put theory into practice.
BBC Maestro is a subscription-based streaming platform, created to educate and inspire people to explore their creativity. Through pre-recorded lessons and detailed course notes, anyone can learn a wide range of disciplines and follow in the footsteps of experts respected all over the world.
BBC Maestro offers single course purchases or an annual subscription.
BBC Maestro is currently available in the following territories: United Kingdom, Isle of Mann, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Australia, South Africa, Canada, India, Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, UAE and USA. We are planning on launching BBC Maestro in other territories in the future. Please subscribe to our mailing list and follow our social media channels for updates.
Yes, you can buy an annual subscription to get full access to all BBC Maestro courses, lessons and course notes for one year. Find out more
Yes, all our courses have English subtitles that can be accessed by clicking the CC button on the video player. We also have downloadable PDF course notes to go with each course, which offer more detailed information and tips.
No, all our courses are self-paced and no courses will be removed from the site or ‘expire’. If you have an all-access annual subscription, you can watch any content while your subscription is valid. If you don’t have an all-access subscription, but instead have bought one or more individual courses, the purchased content is yours to keep for life, and lessons can be watched as many times as you like.
Yes, you can see a full list of our current courses here.
We offer a 30-day money back guarantee for your first all-access annual subscription, if you aren't completely satisfied with your purchase. See our terms and conditions for details, or email [email protected]
You can choose between buying a single course as a one-off purchase, or you can sign up for an annual subscription which gives you access to all BBC Maestro courses for one year.
If you buy a single course, then it’s yours for life. You can watch the course as many times as you like, whenever you like. Our single courses include downloadable course notes to complement the video lessons.
Alternatively, if you buy an annual subscription to BBC Maestro, you can access every course for one year. You can watch each course as many times as you like within the year, and you’ll also be able to download the course notes for each course.
After one year you’ll have the option to renew your subscription, or you can choose not to renew once your subscription year is over. Subscriptions are billed annually, and we offer a 30-day money back guarantee to receive a full refund if you’re unhappy with your purchase.
Subscribers will have instant access to new courses as they are released. Please note that any courses in the Upcoming Courses section may be released outside of your annual subscription period. If you have any questions about an upcoming course, please email [email protected]
You can buy a gift card for any individual course or an All Courses Pass on our gift cards page. When you buy a gift card, you can choose to send the email with the gift card PDF attached to yourself or directly to the recipient. You can also choose to specify which date you would like the gift card email to send to your recipient.
Gift cards can be redeemed on the Gift Cards page. Once the card is redeemed, if the gift is for a single course the giftee will have lifetime access to the course and be able to re-watch as many times as they like. If the gift is for an All Courses Pass, the giftee will have one year’s access to all BBC Maestro courses, and immediate access to any new courses that are released within their yearly access period – from the date that they redeem their gift code.
Please note, anyone outside of our available regions will not be able to redeem a gift card.
Check your inbox - your free lesson is on the way!
Please try again later
Writing to direct with filmmaker, Edgar Wright