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Nollywood & Film Production Basics

Shoot a clean 2-5 minute Nollywood short or skit on your phone — and actually earn from it.

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About this course

Learn how real Nollywood productions move from idea to finished film through the four stages — development, pre-production, production, and post — on a small budget. You will write a simple script, crew up, plan and shoot a short on a phone or DSLR (with the sound right), edit it in CapCut or DaVinci, and understand exactly how the money is made on YouTube, TikTok, cinema, and streaming.

Nollywood was built by people who learned on the job — and every film, from a cinema feature to a 60-second skit, is made through the same four stages.

What you'll learn

Course syllabus — 7 lessons

  1. Nollywood and the four stages of making a film12 min
  2. From idea to script: writing your short and breaking it down13 min
  3. Crewing up: who does what on a film set12 min
  4. Planning the shoot: schedule, locations, permissions and budget14 min
  5. Shooting well on a phone or DSLR: framing and budget lighting14 min
  6. The #1 killer: sound — and editing, colour and music15 min
  7. Directing actors, distribution and how the money is made14 min

Your project

Plan and Prove a 2-5 Minute Short or Skit

One shared document link containing: a short 2-5 minute script in proper format, a script breakdown and shot list, a one-page shooting schedule, a realistic naira budget, a short sound-and-look plan, and a working link to a shot or edited clip of at least one scene.

Certificates on Skillnaija are earned, not issued for attendance: you submit this project, it is graded against a rubric, and passing issues a certificate anyone can verify.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nollywood & Film Production Basics free?

Yes. Nollywood & Film Production Basics is completely free on Skillnaija. You need a free account to open the lessons, and there is no charge for the course, the project, or the certificate.

How long does Nollywood & Film Production Basics take to complete?

6 weeks · ~4 hrs/week. There are 7 lessons, about 2 hours of material in total. You learn at your own pace and your progress is saved.

Do I need any experience to start Nollywood & Film Production Basics?

Beginner-friendly. You can start from scratch — no prior experience is assumed.

What will I learn in Nollywood & Film Production Basics?

You will build practical skills in Understanding the four production stages, Writing a simple short script and shot list, Crewing up and assigning film roles, Planning a shoot: schedule, locations, budget, Shooting and lighting on a phone or DSLR, Recording clean sound on a budget, Editing, colour, sound mix and distribution. Every lesson is written for a Nigerian context, with examples drawn from how the work is actually done and paid for here.

Do I get a certificate for Nollywood & Film Production Basics?

Yes, but it has to be earned. You complete the course project — Plan and Prove a 2-5 Minute Short or Skit and submit it for grading. Passing the project issues a verifiable certificate; finishing the lessons alone does not.

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Ready to start Nollywood & Film Production Basics?

It's free, it's self-paced, and it ends with something you can show an employer.

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