Lana - Film & cinema tutor - San Francisco

1^st lesson free

Lana

Rate $55
Response 1h

$55/h

1^st lesson free

Film & Cinema
Production
Scriptwriting for Film
Audiovisual Media
Scriptwriting for Television

A filmmaker and creative producer with international experience in narrative and documentary storytelling

Film & Cinema
Production
Scriptwriting for Film
Audiovisual Media
Scriptwriting for Television

Lesson location

- online
- at your home or a public place : will travel up to 20 mi. from San Francisco

About Lana

A filmmaker and creative producer with international experience in narrative and documentary storytelling. Her project Quiet War (a feature documentary movie) was selected for Cannes’ Marché du Film, Berlinale EFM. With roots in TV production (The Voice of the Country) and a background in cultural journalism, she brings a strong editorial eye and passion for impactful stories across media.

About the lesson

My approach to filmmaking is rooted in one core belief: every film begins with a story. Before touching a camera, before thinking about lenses or editing software, you need to know what you're trying to say and why. That's where we start.

As someone with experience developing and pitching feature documentaries at international forums — including the Berlinale European Film Market and Kino Pavasaris in Vilnius — I bring real, working industry experience into every lesson. I don't teach theory in a vacuum; I teach from the trenches.

My style is a genuine mix: part hands-on workshop, part conceptual deep-dive, part mentorship conversation. Every student is different, so I adapt. Some sessions feel like a masterclass, others like a collaborative script consultation — and that's intentional.

Teaching Methods & Techniques
I work primarily on story structure, screenwriting, and script development. My sessions draw on both classical narrative frameworks (three-act structure, the hero's journey, dramatic tension) and the specific demands of documentary storytelling, where the "script" is built around real life, real people, and real uncertainty.

Techniques I use regularly:
Story mapping — we break down your idea into its core dramatic question, characters, and arc before writing a single line
Script feedback sessions — line-by-line or structural analysis of your existing drafts, with clear, actionable notes
Reference film analysis — we watch and dissect scenes from relevant films to understand why they work
Pitching practice — I help you articulate your project so you can present it confidently to producers, festivals, or funders

A Typical Lesson
A session usually opens with a brief check-in on where you are in your project or learning journey. From there, we move into focused work — whether that's developing your logline, untangling a structural problem in your script, or building out a character arc. I give direct, honest feedback (the kind you'd get in a professional development room), and we always close with clear next steps so you leave knowing exactly what to work on before the next session.
Sessions are entirely adapted to your project and your pace. No two are the same.

What Sets Me Apart
I'm not just a teacher — I'm an active filmmaker currently developing projects on the international circuit. My feature documentary QUIET WAR has been selected for art residency in Sweden, pitched at the Berlinale, and received awards at Kino Pavasaris 2024, including a Marché du Film / Producers Network invitation. I've worked on VR documentary and narrative fiction development too.

This means when I sit down with you, I'm sharing knowledge I'm still applying myself, right now. I understand what festivals look for, how development rooms work, and what it takes to turn a raw idea into a project that gets selected, funded, and made.
I also work in any language level and any equipment context — whether you're writing on your phone or developing a feature for international co-production, the story fundamentals are the same, and that's what I focus on.

Who These Lessons Are For

My lessons are open to a wide range of students:
Complete beginners who have a story inside them and don't know where to start
Hobbyists and enthusiasts who want to make more intentional, meaningful films
Film students who need support beyond what their program offers — especially on development and script craft
Aspiring professionals preparing to pitch projects, apply to residencies, or enter the documentary and fiction development world

No specific equipment is required. What you need is a story you care about — and the willingness to work on it seriously.

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

5h: $275
10h: $550

free lessons

This first lesson offered with Lana will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

online

$55/h

A filmmaker and creative producer with international experience in narrative and documentary storytelling

Lesson location

About Lana

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

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A filmmaker and creative producer with international experience in narrative and documentary storytelling

Lesson location

About Lana

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

Other tutors in Film & Cinema

Max

Clark

Andrea

Brandon

Gabrielle

Natalia

Yana

Miles

Tahir

Laith

Ivan

Natasha

Nick

Sara

Levi

Bob

Cemil

Katrina

Lu

Jerome

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All languages in which the lesson is available

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