Defining Your Voice as a Director
Session: May 2026
About this Live Online Course
How do you know the difference between a Tarantino and an Emerald Fennell film? What’s different about the styles of Wes Anderson and Chloé Zhao? You might call a filmmaker’s visual language and point of view their “cinematic voice” and it may take years to refine.
In this intermediate live online course, you will expand your working knowledge of narrative and visual storytelling, analyze notable global directors, and look within to find what your true artistic voice is as a director. With an experienced independent filmmaker as your guide, you will gain the tools you need to start developing your voice and visual style as a filmmaker.
What you bring to the course:
- a general understanding of filmmaking terminology.
- an interest in building a career as a director.
What you’ll get from the course:
- A breakdown of notable directors’ artistic voice
- A deeper understanding of how visual language can translate to an audience
- An understanding of the various shot sizes, styles and perspectives
- How to approach designing a frame and placing the camera
- An approach to utilizing sound and music to refine your voice
- Tips on collaborating with your team that will support your voice
- A pathway to discover your own point of view as an artist
1-on-1 Session: During the course term, you will have the opportunity to purchase a 45-minute, 1-on-1 meeting with your instructor to receive additional personalized guidance.
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available and are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Those who apply earlier will have a greater chance of getting support. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the course registration form.
Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Accommodations and services are designed to meet the needs of each participant. Please email us at accessibility@sundance.org to arrange for services.
Live Online CourseScholarships
Sundance Collab offers a limited number of full and partial need-based scholarships for individuals who need assistance.
Due to limited scholarship funds available, we prioritize one course scholarship per participant in a 12-month period. Scholarship applications are available up to one week before the registration deadline and do not stack with discounts or promotions, including early registration.
Outline
Topics covered include:
- What is “voice”?
- Understanding cinematic language
- Finding what moves you
- Crafting your director’s statement
Topics covered include:
- In-depth analysis of several notable directors and their work
- Group discussion
Topics covered include:
- Narrative structure in relation to POV
- Research and film references: duplication vs. incorporation
- Bringing your voice to each project
- Pitching yourself
- The director’s ethical responsibility on screen
Topics covered include:
- Working with actors
- Performance through realism, stylized precision
- Refining performance in the edit
- Utilizing the directors’ toolkit as a means of communication
- Visual references and lookbooks
- Creative harmony during every phase of production
Topics covered include:
- Visual storytelling
- Shot selection, aspect ratio, color
- Moving the image
- Using sound to amplify story
- How music can define the director’s voice
Topics covered include:
- Factors that go into defining one’s artistic voice
- Reflecting on your existing work
- Using lookbooks to pitch your voice
- Leaving room for your voice to grow
- Next Steps
Team
Lindsay MacKay
Instructor
Lindsay MacKay is a Writer/Director whose debut feature film Wet Bum, about a self-conscious 14-year-old girl searching for a place to belong, premiered at The Toronto International Film Festival. Wet Bum was named a Top 10 Finalist in the prestigious Zoetrope Screenwriting Competition. It went on to be nominated for CSA, CSC, and CCE Awards, was nominated for Best First Feature and Best Lead Actress by the Vancouver Film Critics, and won best debut at Alkino Film Festival in Poland as well as Best Film by the international jury at CinéJeune de Aisne in France. Her sophomore feature, a musical drama, The Swearing Jar, starring Adelaide Clemens, Douglas Smith, Patrick J. Adams, and Kathleen Turner made its premiere at TIFF 2022 and was nominated for 3 CSAs in 2023 taking home Best Original Song.
Lindsay is a graduate of the Directing program at the AFI Conservatory, where she was granted the distinguished Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow and Richard P. Rogers Spirit of Excellence Awards for her thesis film Clear Blue, which also won the esteemed College Television Award (the Student Emmy). Her work has screened at festivals worldwide including TIFF, SXSW, AFI Fest and Camerimage. Her TV directing credits include the award-winning digital series Running with Violet and two seasons of Ghost BFF for KindaTV and Babe Nation. She is currently developing her feature Mersea, which participated in TIFF writer’s lab, Frontieres Forum and Berlin Co-Pro market.