The Chopping Block Logo

BOOTCAMP MODULES

Professional Training

Master film making

Our bootcamp modules are designed to take you from beginner to confident creator. Each module focuses on a specific skill set, with hands-on projects and personalised instruction in small groups of just 4 students. Every module includes a PDF booklet and a follow-up 1-hour private surgery session.

You'll also gain access to our private Discord community — a space for regular group surgery sessions, sharing your work, and getting help with any challenges on your projects.

📅 View Calendar & Book Your Dates

Check availability and secure your spot on a bootcamp or surgery session.

Flagship Course

Module 1: DaVinci 101

Your filmmaking journey starts here. Module 1 introduces you to DaVinci Resolve — the industry-standard editing and colour grading software used by professional filmmakers around the world.

This is also for people working in Adobe Premiere who wish to move over to Davinci or for creatives who need to get up and running quick with edit tools.

What you'll learn:

  • Navigating the DaVinci Resolve interface
  • Importing and organising your footage
  • Basic editing techniques: cuts, trims, and timeline management
  • Colour correction fundamentals
  • Exporting your finished film

No prior experience required. By the end, you'll have the skills and confidence to edit your own films from start to finish.

Duration 6 hours
Format Online Class
Group Size Max 4
Level Beginner–Intermediate
Includes PDF booklet
+ 1 hour private online surgery
Price £250

Core Course

Module 2: Intro to Edit Theory

This introduces you to the basic concepts of editing and how to take control of your material. From Soviet montage to AI, editing has not changed. The basic principles have remained the same. It is all about solving puzzles and manipulating minds to tell a story.

What you'll learn:

  • The key Soviet principles of Montage and how to apply them
  • Preparing for a shoot - organisation and naming files
  • Editing on a shoot and shooting for an edit
  • Working with different cameras and formats
  • Metadata, transcriptions and paper edits

This module is designed for filmmakers who want to get a holistic grasp of editing principles. You will know the basics of Davinci Resolve or have completed our Module 1.

Duration 6 hours
Format Online class
Level Intermediate
Includes PDF booklet
+ 1 hour private online surgery
Price £250

Specialized Course

Module 3: DaVinci and VFX

Understanding how to incorporate VFX into an edit pipeline. Whether you are a regular user of Davinci or Premiere who would like to know more about some useful VFX tricks to make your project look better.

What you'll learn:

  • Photoshop for VFX
  • VFX Pipeline and Fusion integration
  • 2D Compositing in Fusion
  • Dirt removal, tracking and stabilisation in Fusion
  • Introduction to AI VFX Integration (ComfyUI, Runway, LTX)

This module is designed for regular users of Davinci or Premiere who would like to know more about some useful VFX tricks to make your project look better.

Duration 6 hours
Format Online class
Level Advanced
Includes PDF booklet
+ 1 hour private online surgery
Price £250

Professional Program

Module 4: Pitching your project!

We all have ideas, but we need to show others and convince them to work with us. This is a one day overview of the process of pitching to producers, TV networks, films labs and investors.

What you'll learn:

  • The development process and strategy
  • How to prepare an idea for pitching
  • Who to pitch to? Know your target audiences
  • How to make a deck
  • How to make a sizzle reel

This module is designed for intermediate filmmakers who are moving into long form projects, or experienced filmmakers looking to brush up on pitching techniques.

Duration 3 hours
Format Online class
Level Intermediate
Includes PDF booklet
+ 1 hour private online surgery
Price £150

Professional Program

Module 5: AI Integration in filmmaking

AI is a very divisive topic in the film making arena. We all have visions of cats playing banjos and Will Smith eating spaghetti, but new tools can help your workflow in all areas from production management, research, editing and VFX production. Learn what is "AI" and how to choose which tools could be useful to you, the cost implications and ethical approaches to our digital environment.

What you'll learn:

  • What are LLMs, Datasets, APIs and the language of AI
  • AI as a research and organising tool.
  • AI and basic vibe coding with Claude Code.
  • The ethics of AI - a debate.
  • AI costs and budgeting for AI.

This module is designed for all filmmakers looking to understand the basics of this new digital arena.

Duration 3 hours
Format Online class
Level Intermediate
Includes PDF booklet
+ 1 hour private online surgery
Price £150

Social Proof

What People Say...

þolinmóður og uppfullur af fróðleik - patient and full of knowledge
— Dogg Mósesdóttir
kvikmyndaleikstjóri - Film Director, Reykjavik
Nikolai er reynslumikill og hæfileikaríkur kvikmyndagerðarmaður og einn sá þekkingamesti sem ég veit um, þegar að kemur að kvikmyndum, kvikmyndatöku og eftirvinnslu. Sem kennari er hann þolinmóður og uppfullur af fróðleik og tæknikunnáttu og getur svarað öllum ómögulegum og mögulegum spurningum þegar að kemur að Davinci. Ég mæli 100% með honum fyrir fólk sem er að feta sín fyrstu skref í bransanum eða vill bæta við sig þekkingu.

Nikolai is an experienced and talented filmmaker and one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to film, filming and post-production. As a teacher, he is patient and full of knowledge and technical skills and can answer all impossible and possible questions when it comes to Davinci. I 100% recommend him to people who are taking their first steps in the industry or want to add to their knowledge.

very thorough and patient
— Kate Kotcheff
Filmmaker, London
"Nikolai is a very thorough and patient editing teacher, and because he knows so much about all aspects of filmmaking, he can suggest ways to edit that will suit the style of the piece you are editing. Can't recommend him highly enough.."
Worth Every Penny
— Haukur
Film director
The small group size meant personalized attention. I could look my enemy in the eye.
Fast-Tracked My Career
— Luca
Filmmaker
I landed my first editing gig in Sudan after completing the course. The skills were immediately applicable.
Best Investment in My Craft
— Jamal
Editor
The private surgery session was invaluable for solving specific problems I was facing. I now have three ears and noone will speak to me.
Supportive & Engaging
— Rowenna Harrison
Independent Jewellery Designer, Margate
Nikolai showed me how to get up & running on Davinci quickly. I’m not a film maker, but need to edit videos for my Jewellery brand. I don’t relish learning new tech programmes, and never would have attempted this on my own, but with his expert guidance it became less daunting. I have had a few follow up sessions to learn how to do more with it, and he always helps me achieve what I need, at my own pace. I still have lots to learn, but it’s reassuring to know he is there to help me with it along the way.