Which Are The Top 23 Must-have Courses For Becoming A Filmmaker?

Are you inspired by the last movie you watched on Netflix? You have an idea, but bringing it to life doesn't seem like your cup of tea? Leave the worry because here is a list of the most popular cinematography courses. These short and best film making courses will guide you in the development and production of unforgettable films. Earning a filmmaking degree is beneficial for not only film directors or producers but also for editors, actors, casting directors, set designers, and others. One would find several roles to be performed in the film industry like a director of photography, sound technician, hair and make-up artists, location manager, stuntmen, researcher, etc. As the demand for manpower by the filmmaking industry is great and well paying, Human Resource is attracted towards it. BA or BSC in filmmaking will help you secure an internship with the most talented directors and firms. Further, a master's in filmmaking or master in cinematography ensures a high-paying job in this industry.

Top 23 must-have courses for becoming a filmmaker

(Note: All the details mentioned in the table above have been accumulated by the team at Careers360.)

1. Lynda (LinkedIn Learning)- Learning how to shoot a video at home

It is almost impossible not to find what you're looking for on LinkedIn Learning. There are over 2500 best filmmaker courses offered, but Lynda's is your best bet and one of the best film making courses. LinkedIn Learning offers a free 30-day trial for these film making courses online after registration.

• Available on: Lynda by LinkedIn

• Duration: 43 minutes

• Instructor(s): Ash Blodgett

• Cost: No charge for the first 30 days

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Video learning

• Requirements: Any camera, a tripod, and additional recording equipment are optional.

• Rating: 4.5/5

• Skills covered: Video shooting, short film making.

Also Read -

Explore Filmmaking: from Script to Screen by National Film and Television School, Beaconsfield via Futurelearn

2. Writing a Feature for Film or Television

Considered as one of the best film making courses, such film making courses online develop and strengthen your writing skills in terms of delivery, engagement, and interpretation of the story. These are an active learning film making courses online where the instructor will act as a guide and only provide feedback.

• Available on: Coursera

• Duration: A minimum of 93 hours.

• Instructor(s): Prof David Wheeler (Michigan State University)

• Cost: Free of cost along with the provision of financial aid.

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Online classroom learning

• Rating: 4.7/5

• Skills covered: Scriptwriting and creative writing.

3. Camera Control

A jump from basic phone shooting to DSLR shooting is covered under this film making certification courses. In this one of the best film making courses, you learn the foundation steps of adjusting focus, changing lighting, aperture, exposure, shutter speed, shadows, and contrast.

• Available on: Coursera

• Duration: 13 hours.

• Instructor(s): Prof Peter Glendinning and Mark Valentine Sullivan

• Cost: Registration is free of cost. The course fees can range from $40-$80 depending on the acceptance of your financial aid.

• Level: Intermediate

• Type: Video learning.

• Requirements: A Canon or Nikon DSLR, a macro lens, a tripod.

• Rating: 4.83/5

• Skills covered: lens understanding and depth of field.

Also Read - Digital Filmmaking Course in India by Pearl Academy, West Delhi Campus

4. Pixel Art for Video Games

The best online filmmaking course for video editors is offered by Michigan State University. Considered as one of the best film making courses, this provides conceptual and practical knowledge about pixel art, which can be used to make cover pages and posters aesthetic. With details on shapes and shades, you're bound to make all your creations attractive through such film making certification courses.

• Available on: Coursera.

• Duration: 9 hours.

• Instructor(s): Andrew Dennis and Ricardo Guimaraes.

• Cost: $50 (excluding taxes)

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Self-paced learning

• Requirements: Understanding and operation of Photoshop.

• Rating: 4.6/5

• Skills covered: Pixel Art environment, characters, and animation.

5. Storytelling for Social Media

Creating brand awareness is essential for generating demand. Engaging your viewers and keeping them curious is taught in this documentary filmmaking course.

• Available on: Lynda by LinkedIn

• Duration: 2 hours.

• Instructor(s): Ashley Kennedy

• Cost: Subscription fees are $25 for a month.

• Level: Beginner.

• Type: Self-paced.

• Requirements: Subscription to Adobe Spark.

• Rating: 4/5

• Skills covered: Basics of Adobe Spark and video shooting and editing.

6. Become a Cinematographer

Become a certified cinematographer with this cinematography degree. In this one of the best film making courses, you will learn the fundamental concepts of video production, storytelling, and creating magic through such film making certification courses.

• Available on: Lynda by LinkedIn

• Duration: 8 hours

• Instructor(s): Robb Garrott, Bill Dill, Eduardo Angel, and Jem Schofield.

• Cost: Included with your Lynda monthly or annual subscription.

• Level: Intermediate to Advanced

• Type: Learning Path

• Requirements: photography and videography tools with access to a video editing application.

• Rating: 4.3/5

• Skills covered: narrative filmmaking, blocking lights, shooting in public spaces, enhancing production value, and emotional depth of shots.

7. Become a Video Editor

Under this digital filmmaking course, you’ll become a master at using digital tools to correct, beautify, and solidify scenes or stills. Colour correction and background replacement are emphasized in this course.

• Available on: Lynda from LinkedIn

• Duration: 22 hours of training under experts

• Instructor(s): Robb Garrott, Ashley Kennedy, and late Norman Hollyn.

• Cost: Covered under annual subscription at $35/ month.

• Level: Intermediate

• Type: Learning path

• Requirements: Up-to-date versions of Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X

• Rating: 4.6/7

• Skills covered: color correction, basics of video editing and evolving, examining scripts and revisiting footage, technical aspects of editing.

8. Become a Film Producer

Through this one of the best film making courses, learn filmmaking online with this engaging course in less than a week. This course teaches you the basics of production in terms of costs, benefits, returns, and risks. Project development and management are included.

• Available on: Lynda from LinkedIn

• Duration: 18 hours of guided training

• Instructor(s): Chad Perkins, Mike Figliuolo, Robb Garrott, Richard Harrington, Rick Allen Rupert, and Rachael Longman.

• Cost: Covered under annual premium subscription at $39/month

• Level: Intermediate

• Type: Learning Path

• Requirements: market knowledge in terms of investment and interest rate and rate of inflation.

• Rating: 4.2/5

• Skills covered: decision-making strategies, pre-production planning, and execution, launching, budget estimation.

9. Crowdfunding Campaigns

Crowdfunding is the skill of convincing people to invest in your project with returns. With this cinematography degree, learn to choose the right investors and platforms, strategies to build and strengthen your firm and execute an independent crowdfunding campaign.

• Available on: Lynda

• Duration: 1 hour

• Instructor(s): Kelley Slagle

• Cost: Included under annual subscription @$40/month

• Level: Intermediate

• Type: Video learning

• Requirements: N/A

• Rating: 4/5

• Skills covered: basics and types of crowdfunding.

10. Creating a Short Film with Chad Perkins

This is the best short filmmaking course online that is presented as a compilation of 11 different sections to give you all the tools and information you need to create a short film from start to end.

• Available on: Lynda

• Duration: 4 hours for each section

• Instructor(s): Chad Perkins

• Cost: $25/ month under the basic plan.

• Level: Beginner to Advanced

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: N/A

• Rating: 4.8/5

• Skills covered: color correction, filmmaking, angles, lighting, and Premiere Pro.

11. Unleash the Power of Filmmaking

Learn film direction to engage your audience and promote your brand. Learn how to fascinate your viewers with a bachelor in filmmaking. This course highlights narrative storytelling that helps set a tone and send a message. This can be used to create awareness for social causes.

• Available on: Lynda from LinkedIn

• Duration: 1 hour

• Instructor(s): Ashley Kennedy

• Cost: Included with an annual subscription

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: Information on content marketing and social media marketing.

• Rating: 4/5

• Skills covered: the importance of social media marketing in filmmaking, content creation.

12. Make Epic Videos for the Internet

Similar to BA in filmmaking, this course trains you in creating engaging content for various social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The trainer of this course believes that filmmaking is not about expensive tools or gadgets but more about presentation and manifestation.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 2.5 hours

• Instructor(s): Gene Nagata

• Cost: ₹3,200

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Self-paced.

• Requirements: Canon, Nikon, or Sony digital camera with editing software.

• Rating: 4.8/5

• Skills covered: improvement in content quality.

13. Complete Filmmaker Guide: Become an Incredible Video Creator

You won't get a comprehensive filmmaking degree anywhere else for a price as low as this. In an attempt to bring out the best creative side of you, Mr. Melanson shares his knowledge and learning in the field of video editing. He intends to help all struggling YouTubers, filmmakers, and young directors.

• Available on: This filmmaker course is available exclusively on Udemy.

• Duration: 5 hours

• Instructor(s): Julian Melanson

• Cost: ₹490 at the discounted rate. The original price is ₹8,640.

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: average understanding of shooting and editing, a camera, and video editing software.

• Rating: 4.3/5

• Skills covered: self-discovery, clarity, progress tracking, pre-production research and development, and fundamentals of lighting, recording, and filming.

14. Filmmaking: Write, Direct and Distribute Your Feature Film

This digital filmmaking course is a guide to make a feature-length movie independently. The creator of this cinematography course is a veteran screenplay writer and has directed, produced, and edited over ten feature films.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 6.5 hours

• Instructor(s): You will be trained by Paul Bright

• Cost: ₹9,600, after discount you will be liable to pay only ₹560

• Level: Beginner to intermediate

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: a writing software, and a digital camera

• Rating: 4.6/5

• Skills covered: screenwriting, estimating budgets, money-saving, and fundraising.

15. Movies: The Art of Film

A master in filmmaking, Mr. Dale Ingham, brings you a cheat sheet of all his secret tips and tricks of filmmaking, teaching you the basics to advanced concepts, terminologies and evolution of filmmaking styles.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 3.5 hours

• Instructor(s): Dale Ingham

• Cost: ₹490 after discount. This is originally priced at ₹8,640

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Online classroom learning

• Requirements: digital camera and editing software

• Rating: 4.4/5

• Skills covered: gain an improved vocabulary of aesthetic filmmaking terms, learn about evolution in filmmaking, and learning delivery.

16. DSLR Filmmaking: From Beginner to PRO

One of the best short film making courses on Udemy is created by a host and YouTuber himself. He intends to pass his knowledge among all his followers and viewers.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 1.5 hours

• Instructor(s): Jordy Vandeput

• Cost: ₹4,400

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Self-paced learning

• Requirements: any SLR or DSLR camera with manual controls.

• Rating: 4.4/5

• Skills covered: essentials of capturing, lighting, contrast, motion photography.

17. Start Your Filmmaking Career: A Video Production Course

The creators of such film making certificate courses have come up with the promise to build your videography skills within a week. They also provide lifetime access and practice assignments at the end of each module.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 3 hours

• Instructor(s): Julian Melanson, Phil Ebiner

• Cost: ₹9,600

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: no experience or equipment is required

• Rating: 4.5/5

• Skills covered: step-by-step understanding of video making and editing, professionalism, and client building techniques.

18. GoPro Hero 8 Camera Fundamentals: From Beginner to Filmmaker

Udemy brings you a documentary filmmaking course in under an hour. Such film making certificate courses are specifically for passionate filmmakers apart from talking about slow motion shooting, using GoPro and other devices to make a fledgling career in filmmaking.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 38 minutes

• Instructor(s): Joshua McGuigan

• Cost: ₹1,200 with lifetime access to all study material

• Level: Beginner to intermediate

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: GoPro Hero 8

• Rating: 4.3/5

• Skills covered: installation and operation of GoPro, secrets tips to step up your video shooting skills, time-lapses and slow motions shooting, and transfer of data.

19. Hollywood Film School: Filmmaking & TV Directing Masterclass

If you live abroad, such film making certificate courses are courses for you. The primary goal of this film making course is to teach proper direction.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 5 hours of training and separate practice tests.

• Instructor(s): Gil Bettman

• Cost: ₹8,640

• Level: Intermediate

• Type: Video learning

• Requirements: basic knowledge of filmmaking

• Rating: 4.3/5

• Skills covered: placement and positioning of the camera, objects, and models focusing, blurring, editing, and penmanship.

Related Resources :

• 16+ Courses to Learn Documentary Filmmaking
• 16+ Courses on Film Making to become a top filmmaker

20. Better Videos Blueprint: Turn Your Ideas into Videos

Among all cinematography courses online, this one is the most unique. It doesn’t just impart knowledge for creating but also converting thoughts to motion films. The creator has worked with MNCs like Taco Bell and Red Bull.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 5 hours

• Instructor(s): Julian Melanson

• Cost: ₹8,640

• Level: Intermediate

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: laptop or desktop with a strong internet connection

• Rating:4.7/5

• Skills covered: creative, engaging, and unique-hard-to-replicate content, creating to express, optimal utilization of resources and remixing.

21. Filmmaking is a Box: Indie Feature Film Masterclass

If you’re short on funds, here is the most budget-friendly filmmaking degree for you. It is a beginner friendly online film making courses that will acquaint you with the basics of camera handling, using editing software to create high-quality visuals and the importance of lighting.

• Available on: Udemy

• Duration: 19.5 hours

• Instructor(s): IFH Courses

• Cost: ₹490

• Level: Beginner to advanced

• Type: Self-paced learning

• Requirements: digital camera, editing software, and internet connectivity.

• Rating:4/5

• Skills covered: creating BTS for viewers, essentials of lighting, recording and placing.

22. Learning DSLR Filmmaking

You've got unique content, but your shooting skills aren't parallel? Here's a short course for you that focuses on video shooting. If you have a DSLR with you and want to pursue filmmaking as a full-time career or even as a hobby, this is the ideal course that you should opt for.

• Available on: Lynda

• Duration: 70 minutes

• Instructor(s): Chad Perkins

• Cost: Included in the subscription package

• Level: Beginner to advanced

• Type: Online classroom learning

• Requirements: digital camera with manual operation.

• Rating: 4.7/5

• Skills covered: filmmaking basics, combining shades, and shooting on set.

23. The Creative Spark: Tom Durham, Indie Filmmaker

This session is from a master's in filmmaking. He started his journey as the head of the media department of his company. It is quite short and to-the-point in terms of content and ideally beginners should feel comfortable starting off to learn filmmaking through this online film making courses.

• Available on: Lynda

• Duration: 20 minutes

• Instructor(s): Tom Durham

• Cost: $40/month

• Level: Beginner

• Type: Self-paced

• Requirements: video editing software

• Rating:4.5/5

• Skills covered: basics of filmmaking and editing.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been a player in this industry since the 1990s, the above-mentioned online film making courses are bound to teach you at least one new thing. We hope you found it helpful.

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