Forge

the

by levelup learning x cleverdesk group

World’s first and only creative residency
bootcamp for filmmakers, screenwriters,
actors and storytellers that teaches you
how to create your very own shortfilm

32 FILMMAKERS | 12 DAYS | 1 LOCATION | ∞ LEARNING

JULY 19TH TO 26TH 2025 | SEREMBAN

Craft

Welcome to an extraordinary filmmaking
experience, presented by LevelUp Learning.
the Forge is a creative boot camp for
aspiring filmmakers, creators, and
storytellers where in 12 days we teach you
filmmaking hands-on and mentor you to
create your very own short film.

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Forge

The next edition of the Forge is set to take place in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur, or KL, located at the
confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, KL is Malaysia's
largest urban area and its cultural, commercial, and
transportation hub.


The Golden Triangle, KL's commercial district, houses the
Petronas Twin Towers and is bustling with activity. KL also
features British colonial-era landmarks like the Kuala
Lumpur Railway Station and the Sultan Abdul Samad
Building, adding to its rich historical charm. The city is a
culinary haven, with diverse dining options reflecting its
multicultural heritage, and boasts numerous modern
shopping malls.


Known as the vibrant heart of Southeast Asia, KL is no
stranger to stunning feature film shoots. Our venue in Kuala
Lumpur offers scenic indoor and outdoor shooting locations,
perfect for us to co-create your very own short film.

&

the

location

setting

Practical Experience

(8 Days On-Site Workshop)

The remaining eight days are an immersive,
real-life filmmaking experience. You will work
hands-on to shoot, edit, act, and produce your
own short film. Under the mentorship of
experienced industry professionals, you will
apply the theoretical knowledge you've
gained to practical scenarios, learning the
intricacies of filmmaking through direct
involvement.

The Forge

is divided into 2 sections

Theoretical Foundations

(4 Days Virtual Classes)


The first four days are dedicated to theoretical
learning through virtual classes. During this
time, you will dive into the background of
filmmaking, exploring essential concepts such
as scriptwriting, cinematography, sound
design, and the history of cinema. Our expert
instructors will guide you through these
foundational topics to prepare you for the
practical challenges ahead.

Online

before the

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r

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e

Learn the foundations of
storytelling and
filmmaking over 4
immersive days of online
learning at the Forge.


Here's what you'll learn and
do:

online


learning


  • •⁠ ⁠Essentials of Short Film Writing

•⁠ ⁠Exploring themes, location constraints, and

  • creative possibilities
  • •⁠ ⁠Exclusive access to LevelUp Breakthrough Filmmaker curated recordings
  • •⁠ ⁠Everything Editing & Post-production workshop
  • During these online sessions, you will finish writing
    your short film script. You’ll receive one-on-one
    feedback on your work, helping you make it right,
    with creative direction inputs and extra tips from
    our lead mentor to ensure that each participant's
    script is ready for production.

Days

at the

Day 1

Orientation and New Beginnings

Your offline experience at the Forge begins with an orientation, followed by a Meet & Greet and Ice-breaking session with your fellow filmmakers. Connect with new faces, engage in discussions, and take the first step into a collective creative journey. Do a Recce of the secret villa, where you’ll be filming your short films.

Days 4 & 5

Production

The next two days are all about filming your movie. This is when
you’ll see your written script come to life. You’ll be doing a bit of
everything — acting in others’' movies, helping shoot their scenes as
a cinematographer, and directing your own film. Don’t worry, we have
a great curation team that organizes the schedule so that everyone
can do their part without any mix-ups or overlapping.

Day 8

Showing off your work

The last day is a celebration of all your hard work. We’ll have
a screening of the films everyone has made, give out awards,
and celebrate everyone’s achievements. It’s the end of the
retreat, but it’s just the beginning of your journey in
filmmaking.

Day 2 & 3

Masterclass and Pre-Production

Experience a live masterclass where your mentors direct and edit a
scene, transforming all the theory into cinematic art. Get a firsthand
experience on a functioning film set. This day is dedicated to
scripting, storyboarding, and meticulous planning—from costumes
to camera angles—preparing you for the shooting phase.

Days 6 & 7

Post Production

Now, take all the footage you’ve shot and start putting it together. These two days are for post-production—choosing the best takes, arranging them to tell your story, editing, dubbing and adding music and special effects to make everything look and sound great.

F

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Each day at 'The Forge' is not just about learning filmmaking; it's about experiencing it, living it. From the first clapboard snap to the final cut, you're not just making films; you're making memories.







Features

Benefits

  • Equipment
  • and Resources
  • Access Top-Tier
  • Every Aspect of
  • Film Production
  • Deep Dive into

Direct involvement in the

  • Complete
  • Filmmaking
  • Process
  • Exclusive, Intimate and
  • Collaborative
  • Filmmaking
  • Produced and
  • Screened
  • Get your Short Film
  • Recieve your
  • Certificate of
  • Completion
  • The LevelUp
  • Community
  • Access to
  • Exclusive Access to our
  • Masterclass
  • Shoots

and


LevelUp Learning is transforming online education by enabling anyone in India to learn from the very best.

Over the last 2 years, we have cultivated a community of

42,000+ learners through our courses. Additionally, our online presence has grown impressively, with about 150k+ members.


Clever Desk is a training and development company founded in 2023.

Our mission is to unlock creativity, inspire innovative thinking, and empower
people to become catalysts of change through transformative learning. Our
programs are carefully crafted, combining cutting-edge knowledge, experiential
learning, and wisdom from years of collective experience to meet the unique
needs of our clients, whether they are professionals looking to advance their
careers or individuals seeking personal growth and development.

the Forge Malaysia is now HRDF Approved! This means if you are a registered
company you can claim 100% of the program fee in accordance to your HRDF
guidelines and limits.

THE FORGE MALAYSIA IS NOW HRD CORP CLAIMABLE!







How does

the Forge

help your company?


In today's world content, due to the ever-evolving attention span, trends show that there will be an increasing demand for producing high-quality original content.


The Forge more than just being an intense Filmmaking program is a learning experience for creators to gain hands-on experience in key content creation skills across the spectrum like scripting, pre production, cinematography, direction and editing.


This program will help your production marketing team gain real world experience and skills to help create the kind of content that will help you grow organically and drive business.


And they'll learn to create cinematic videos that will take your content to a whole new level, all this from practicing Filmmakers who are working in the industry.


Additionally, to help grow our people we have partnered with the HRDF to make it 100% claimable for corporates!

Ambassador

Masterclass

Venkat Prabhu

SCREENWRITER | DIRECTOR

Venkat Prabhu is a prominent Indian film director, producer, and
screenwriter, primarily known for his work in the Tamil cinema industry. He
made his directorial debut with the 2007 film "Chennai 28", which gained
critical acclaim. Since then, he has directed several successful films,
including "Mankatha", "Goa", "Mass", "Maanaadu". His upcoming directorial
is with Vijay titled "The Greatest of All Time" slated to release in September
2024. He is often credited with bringing a unique style of storytelling and
comedic sense. He uses a blend of commercial and artistic elements in his
films, which has earned him a strong following among movie enthusiasts.

JK Wicky

Andrew Boey



  • Andrew Boey, also known as Moey Sau Chung, is the
    founder and Director of Beyond Photography
    Academy, a globally popular digital photography
    academy.


  • With a teaching approach that uniquely combines
    science, mathematics, and humor, he has personally
    trained over 20,000 students worldwide, making his
    photography syllabus highly sought-after.


  • Boey is an accomplished commercial photographer
    specializing in product and portrait photography,
    working with top brands like PETRONAS, Maxis, and
    Tag Heuer.


  • His expertise extends beyond photography to roles
    as a film director, TV host, and cinematographer,
    with appearances in productions lik    e "Global
    Malaysia" and the action film "Dampak."


  • As a certified trainer, Boey’s academy has trained
    over 300,000 students, including employees from
    major corporations, positioning Beyond Photography
    Academy as a leader in creative education.
  • JK Wicky is a distinguished film director
    celebrated in Asian cinema, known for creating
    films that resonate deeply with cultural
    authenticity and universal themes.


  • His work has earned international attention,
    with several of his     films showcased at
    prominent film festivals and receiving critical
    acclaim.


  • Wicky is recognized for his unique narrative
    style, blending emotional depth with
    cinematic techniques to explore complex
    human relationships and societal issues.


  • As a multifaceted filmmaker, he has taken on
    various roles in the filmmaking process,
    demonstrating his versatility and expertise in
    the art of cinema.


  • Through his films, Wicky has contributed
    significantly to the representation of South
    Asian stories, expanding the reach and visibility
    of Asian cinema in global media.

Raja Mukhriz

  • Raja Mukhriz is a celebrated Malaysian
    filmmaker, recognized for his compelling
    visual storytelling and contributions to the
    Malaysian film industry.


  • His work showcases a blend of traditional and
    contemporary themes, bringing a fresh
    perspective to Malaysian cinema.


  • Known for his artistic cinematography, Mukhriz
    has a talent for creating visually captivating
    scenes that enhance the narrative depth of his
    films.


  • He has directed multiple acclaimed projects
    that have earned him respect and recognition
    both locally and internationally.


  • Mukhriz is an influential figure in Southeast
    Asian cinema, helping to elevate Malaysian
    stories on the global stage and inspiring new
    filmmakers with his unique approach to
    storytelling.

Ambassadors

Meet Your

  • Worked as a Co-director and Associate
    director in several Tamil feature films
    like Maara, and Sorgavaasal.


  • Directed and Edited commercials for
    Anirudh Ravichander’s brand Piece of
    Rock and Hukum Tour.


  • Freelance Editing and Photography
    work including artists like Shraddha
    Srinath.


Ranjini Ramesh

DIRECTOR | EDITOR | PHOTOGRAPHER

Rahul Srinivas

ENTREPRENEUR | DIRECTOR | CREATOR | STORYTELLER

  • Runs India's largest and fastest-growing filmmaking community.


  • Founder of LevelUp Learning, an online educational platform.


  • Directed and produced the masterclasses of Karthik Subbaraj, G Venket Ram, Anthony Gonsalvez, DRK Kiran and Ravi Basrur.


  • Maestro of Modern Storytelling and Entrepreneurship


  • Lead Director of Photography for Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale, produced by Netflix
  • Assistant Cinematographer in Vakeel Saab, Super Deluxe, 2.0, Sita Raman assisting Legendary DOPs like P.S.Vinod, And Nirav Shah
  • Mentored 1000+ students online and offline on Cinematography and Production

Sharanya Chander

DoP | Creative Director

Your Mentors

  • Has 3+ years of experience in Post Production & Videography.


  • Senior Video Editor at LevelUp Learning.


  • Former Post Production Lead at Fully Filmy.


  • Has worked in several curated projects for FujiFilms.


  • Post-production, Motion Graphics and Animation mentor.


Indirakumar

EDITOR | CINEMATOGRAPHER | PHOTOGRAPHER

  • Former Creative Director and Content
    Manager at ZEE 5 Tamil for multiple
    web series & Executive Producer for
    May6 Entertainment, Showrunner for
    their projects with MX Player.


  • Youngest Contestant in Naalaya
    Iyakkunar Season 3: Made 6 short films
    in 2016, one of them hit 1M views.


  • Freelance Writing and Direction for
    Music Videos,
  • 30+ Ads including Zomato, CRED and
    Think Music

Prashanth G

WRITER | CREATIVE DIRECTOR | PRODUCER

  • Writer since 2015, covering cinema, TV,
    relationships, culture, and history.
  • Has worked with The New Indian Express,
    Vikatan, News Today and more print and
    digital platforms.
  • Collaborates with Production houses like
    Vivekananda Pictures, Estrella Stories,
    Happy High Pictures and many more.
  • He does Workshops, Guest lectures,
    Podcast shows, Script Consulting and Script
    Doctoring.
  • Has trained over 800 aspiring writers across
    the country.
  • Founder of Thiraikkadhaippoma, a
    podcasting show that also houses a writers'
    room that scripts movies and TV shows.


Santhosh Mathevan

WRITER | SCRIPT DOCTOR | CRITIC

Venue Partner

Forge

the

by levelup learning

in association with

www.forgebylevelup.com

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