Underdog Film Fest 2025 - Workshops

Underdog Film Fest presents these groundbreaking, foundational film workshops by award-winning film practitioners.

Craft of Storytelling

With acclaimed filmmaker Ashlee Jensen

Ashlee combines writing, acting, and directing experience to guide participants with authentic and personal storytelling. And coupling that with the thoughtful use of language and location, she’ll teach participants to create compelling films with little to no budget.

Location: Kingston Butter Factory Boardroom, Level 2

Date: 2 August 2025

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Cost: $15 for a full-day intensive, including one-on-one and group feedback

What to bring: Any scripts or story ideas in development, plus a pen, paper, and/or computer. Most importantly, bring a willingness to receive industry insights and feedback.

Limited to only 6 spots for personalised feedback – secure your place now!

Effective Storytelling Through Action

With award-winning Logan filmmaker Gabriel Blase

Award-winning Logan filmmaker, Gabriel Blase’s ‘Effective Storytelling Through Action’ workshops will teach skills for every stage of a participant’s film projects – from writing, choreographing and directing action for film – to build and maintain audience suspense.

Location: Kingston Butter Factory Mezzanine, Level 2

Date: 23 August 2025

Workshop 1: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Topic: Effective Storytelling Through Action: Pre-Production masterclass

This workshop guides filmmakers through pre-production strategies that use mood, terrain, and character movement to write compelling action, map sequences, and maximise available resources. Participants will learn how to choreograph tension with technique, pacing, and safety in mind—preparing mentally and practically for suspenseful, yet believable action scenes.

Workshop 2: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Topic: Effective Storytelling Through Action: Post-Production masterclass

In the post-production phase of the Effective Storytelling through Action workshop, filmmakers learn how to safely direct actors through fight scenes by building trust, embracing collaboration, and tailoring action to individual strengths. The workshop also explores how to shoot high-quality action with a lean team—focusing on adaptive choreography, strategic angles, and shooting with the edit in mind.

Followed by a Q&A session to unpick and apply any of the concepts to your stories.

Cost: $10 per workshop

What to bring: Pre-prepared ideas not required! You’ll be working from the ground up. Bring a pen, paper for notes, and a willingness to learn.

Limited to 20 spots per workshop – don’t miss out!

Meet your tutors

WHO IS ASHLEE JENSEN?

Over the last decade, Ashlee has worked across a range of productions and media, including short films, episodic YouTube, music videos and feature films. Most recently, Ashlee directed the harrowing short film “7 Times” based on a true story of a woman’s decision to leave her abusive husband. The film was met with unwavering acclaim on the international festival circuit, receiving 11 awards. It is now being developed into a feature, with Ashlee attached to direct. Ashlee brings a combination of skills and experience to guide participants with industry knowledge and tools they can implement straight away.

WHO IS GABRIEL BLASE?

Having trained at SAFDi, The Actor’s Conservatory, Griffith University and the Gold Coast Stunt Academy – Gabriel is a two-time award-winning independent filmmaker from Logan. He brings 17 years’ experience directing film and stage fights to these workshops, for which he has won multiple awards in Brisbane and Sydney. 

The Underdog Film Fest is proudly supported by Screen Queensland and the Logan City Council.

This project is supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Logan City Council to support arts and culture in regional Queensland.