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MasterClass Filmmaking Courses
Study filmmaking and screenwriting, and learn how to make movies with the best online MasterClass filmmaking courses by the best filmmakers of all time.
All art is communication! The artist creates their vision through an artistic outlet and filmmaking is one such outlet. Movies encompass individual motion pictures, filmmaking as an art form, and the motion picture industry.
Movies are cultural artifacts created by specific cultures, which reflect those cultures, and, in turn, affect them. That’s why filmmaking is an important art form, a source of popular entertainment, and a powerful method for educating people.
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Should You Join Film Schools to Learn Filmmaking?
Motion picture production involves recording images with cameras or creating images using animation techniques or special effects. Film Schools are educational institutions that teach techniques necessary for entering the film industry.
From their beginnings in the early 1970s, film schools have now grown to a great extent with an increasing number of schools as well as courses. The best film schools provide bachelor’s, doctoral degree, and certificate programs, along with hands-on practical knowledge of professional filmmaking and production techniques.
The areas of specialization include producing, directing, sound and production design, cinematography, screenwriting, editing, and acting for film, and filmmaking. Before the internet, these top film universities used to be the best, and sometimes the only, option for those who wanted to learn filmmaking and start a career in the film industry.
Traditionally, film schools are classified into three types – independent, industry, and experimental. Independent film schools tend to focus on the fundamentals of filmmaking and provide better choices for those students who want to raise funds outside of the Hollywood system.
In the industry film schools, the training helps filmmaking students cope with the standards and structure of the Hollywood film industry. Experimental film schools focus on teaching the art of filmmaking and encourage students to explore their individual creativity and experimental potential in order to produce unique representations of their ideas.
Film schools vary from university departments to degree-specific schools and online film classes. They can either be private or public. As the government does not offer any loans and grants for film students, the cost of learning how to make films is high in private institutions.
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Study Filmmaking with Online Filmmaking Courses from MasterClass
If you’re looking for affordable film schools, your best option is to study filmmaking with the world-class online filmmaking courses from Masterclass.
You’ll get access to film directing courses and more from some of the best directors of all time at a much lower cost than joining an expensive film academy.
You’ll also be inspired by the work of female film directors with these online film classes by famous female directors and female filmmakers.
With some of the best Hollywood directors, famous Hollywood actors, and movie composers teaching their own MasterClass on filmmaking, directing, acting, and movie scores, it is now one of the best film schools in the world.
Here are some of the best online filmmaking courses available on Masterclass:
#1. James Cameron MasterClass on Filmmaking
Titanic director, James Cameron, is one of the best directors of all time. He has helmed some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, including The Terminator, Titanic, and Avatar, and is currently making Avatar 2.
In James Cameron’s MasterClass, this Academy Award-winning director discusses his process for the first time in his 40-year career and reveals his method for making epic movies on any budget.
In his Filmmaking Masterclass, James Cameron explains how he develops concepts, plots, and characters using technology, and creates worlds on any budget through behind-the-scenes analyses.
In this MasterClass, James Cameron teaches you the ins and outs of the movie industry. Examine the creativity and invention that go into crafting legendary movies with this famous movie director.
#2. Martin Scorsese MasterClass on Filmmaking
Martin Scorsese created his first storyboard when he was eight years old. He is now one of the greatest directors of all time.
Some of Martin Scorsese’s best movies, such as Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, have helped define cinema history.
In his Filmmaking MasterClass, you’ll learn how Martin Scorsese films are made and seen, as the Academy Award winner dissects and breaks them down.
He shares his method in his first-ever Online Filmmaking Class, covering everything from storytelling to editing to working with actors in Martin Scorsese movies.
Learn the craft of filmmaking as directed by Martin Scorsese from the director of Goodfellas, The Departed, and The Wolf of Wall Street.
#3. David Lynch MasterClass on Creativity & Film
David Lynch, an avant-garde character in cinema, made art-house movies accessible to a wider audience. Mulholland Drive‘s Oscar-nominated director is now sharing his multidisciplinary creative process with students.
In this Masterclass, David Lynch imparts his unique method for transforming visionary ideas into films and other artistic mediums. Find out how he generates concepts, turns them into a tale, and goes beyond conventional storytelling.
In David Lynch’s MasterClass, you’ll embrace the creative life and discover how to push the limits of your own personal expression in any media.
#4. Jodie Foster Masterclass on Filmmaking
Go behind the scenes and discover how to tell your story with two-time Oscar winner, Jodie Foster, the star of Silence of the Lambs, and the director of Little Man Tate.
In her first online filmmaking MasterClass, Jodie Foster will teach you how to realize your vision and bring your vision to life.
Jodie Foster’s MasterClass will teach you how to translate stories from the page to the screen with emotion and assurance as she discusses her experience on both sides of the camera.
She will walk you through the entire filmmaking process, from storyboarding to casting and camera coverage in this MasterClass by one of the few women film directors in Hollywood.
#5. Spike Lee MasterClass on Filmmaking
In this Masterclass, Spike Lee, the Academy Award-winning director, shares his methods for producing, scripting, and directing films.
She’s Gotta Have It, Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed 1986 feature debut, wasn’t merely directed by him. In order to have his movie made, he also served as the director, writer, star, truck driver, location scout, electrician, and chef.
The genius behind Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and 25th Hour shares his rigorous approach to filmmaking in his first-ever online directing class.
In Spike Lee’s MasterClass, you’ll learn how to write, produce yourself, interact with performers, and create films that push boundaries with one of the most famous directors in Hollywood.
#6. Werner Herzog Filmmaking MasterClass
Werner Herzog, a famed filmmaker, made his first film at 19 after stealing a camera. After 70 films and 50 awards, he is now a feature and documentary filmmaking instructor.
In this MasterClass, Werner Herzog demonstrates his demanding method of documentary and feature filmmaking over the course of six hours of video instruction.
In Werner Herzog’s film class, you’ll study documentary interview techniques, self-financing, storytelling, cinematography, location scouting, and how to bring your ideas to life. You’ll produce uncompromising films towards the end.
#7. The Duffer Brothers MasterClass on Making an Original TV Series
Renowned showrunners, Matt and Ross Duffer, first developed their fright-inducing techniques with Wayward Pines and their first thriller, Hidden, before they turned our world upside down with the monster hit, Stranger Things.
In this MasterClass on Developing an Original TV Series, Matt and Ross Duffer explain how they planned the entire Stranger Things series and how you can develop your own idea.
In the Duffer Brothers MasterClass, you’ll learn their secret formula for creating a monster hit, with compelling narrative arcs, enduring characters — like Eleven or Jim Hopper — and developing your raw ideas into a pitch for the next big thing.
#8. Top Hollywood Director, Ron Howard’s MasterClass on Directing
Learn directing, editing, and storytelling in exclusive video lessons in this MasterClass by Ron Howard, one of the top Hollywood directors.
Ron Howard completed his first film in 15 days with a budget of $300,000. He’s now one of the best directors in Hollywood, and his films have grossed over $1.8 billion, to date.
In his MasterClass in Directing, the Oscar-winning director of Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind decodes his craft like never before through 32 lessons and on-set workshops.
In Ron Howard’s MasterClass, you’ll learn how to evaluate ideas, work with actors, block scenes, and bring your vision to the screen, whether it’s a laptop or an IMAX theater.
#9. Mira Nair MasterClass on Independent Filmmaking
Oscar-nominated director, Mira Nair, is driven by rejection and struggles to bring gritty stories to the big screen. She tackles directing with “the heart of a poet and the hide of an elephant.”
In Golden Lion-winning director, Mira Nair’s MasterClass, you’ll learn how to make a huge impression on a limited budget in film production, obtain the best performances from actors and non-actors, and safeguard your creative vision so you can tell the tale that can only come from you.
In her MasterClass, Mira Nair, The Academy Award-nominated filmmaker shares her techniques for casting potent performances, making the most of budgets, and bringing real tales to life.
#10. Ken Burns MasterClass on Documentary Filmmaking
Since its 2017 debut, Ken Burns’s The Vietnam War has enthralled over 39 million viewers by painting an intimate and revealing portrait of history.
In this online documentary filmmaking class, learn how Ken captivates audiences with his ability to distill vast research and complex truths into compelling narratives.
In Ken Burn’s MasterClass, the 5-time Emmy Award winner teaches how he navigates research and uses audio and visual storytelling methods to bring history to life.
From the first treatment to the final edit, he teaches his documentary filmmaking techniques that “wake the dead” to bring their stories to life.
#11. Natalie Portman MasterClass on Acting
Natalie Portman began professionally acting at the age of 12 and won an Oscar before the age of 30. She uses personal techniques as a self-taught actor to create compelling, complex characters.
This first-ever MasterClass with Natalie Portman demonstrates how empathy is at the heart of every great performance, how to incorporate real-life details into every role, and how to develop your own creative process.
In this Natalie Portman Acting MasterClass, she shares the techniques at the heart of her acting process and teaches you how to tackle your next role and how to prepare for your breakthrough performance.
#12. Samuel L. Jackson MasterClass on Acting
As a kid, Samuel L. Jackson stuttered so badly that he stopped talking for almost a year. Today he’s one of the world’s most successful actors, with roles in over 100 films, including Pulp Fiction and The Avengers.
In his online acting class, the Oscar-nominated star teaches you how to elevate your acting, learn to master auditions, analyze scripts, and find the truth in every role you play.
In this Samuel L. Jackson MasterClass, you’ll learn how one of the most successful actors of our generation created memorable characters, powerful performances, and a long-lasting career.
#13. Helen Mirren MasterClass on Acting
Helen Mirren has won many honors for her strong and versatile performances, including four Emmy Awards, an Academy Award in 2007 for her work in The Queen, a Tony Award in 2015 for her work in The Audience, and the Academy Award.
Now, the Academy Award-winning actress, who has worked on stage, screen, and on television, offers her first-ever online acting workshop in which she teaches the methods she has picked up along the way.
In her MasterClass, Helen Mirren, the Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony, and Emmy winner explains her method for acting on stage and on television in 28 classes.
#14. Steve Martin MasterClass on Comedy
One of Steve Martin’s first gigs was at the drive-in movies. When the audience liked a joke, they honked. In his MasterClass, Steve Martin shares insights from performing for cars and humans over a 50-year career spanning sold-out arenas and blockbuster films.
In this comedy class, Steve Martin teaches you everything from finding your comedic voice to nailing your act. Learn how to find your voice, gather material, develop an act, and take your comedy writing to the next level.
#15. Judd Apatow MasterClass on Comedy
When he was 15, Judd Apatow began washing dishes at a comedy club to see the performers. He is now known for his comedic brilliance in films such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Bridesmaids, and Freaks and Geeks.
In his first-ever online comedy class, Judd Apatow teaches you how to develop hilarious plots, write outstanding stand-up, and direct comedic movies.
In Judd Apatow’s MasterClass, you’ll learn humor writing, directing, producing, and performing comedy for film and television.
#16. Nancy Cartwright’s Voice Acting MasterClass
Nancy Cartwright is the longtime voice of Bart Simpson on the animated television series, The Simpsons, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance and an Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in the Field of Animation
The Emmy winner has voiced some of the most recognizable animated characters on screen for almost 40 years, and in her voice acting MasterClass she takes you into the recording booth to teach you the craft of voice acting.
In Nancy Cartwright’s MasterClass, the legendary voice actor reveals her creative process for giving life to animated characters with emotion, imagination, and humor. You’ll learn how to build characters, get performance advice, and launch your own voice acting career.
#17. Danny Elfman MasterClass on Music for Film
Danny Elfman’s songs are unique, enduring, and exuberantly odd, from The Simpsons theme to the soundtracks for Tim Burton’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
In his MasterClass, Danny Elfman, four-time Oscar nominee and founder of Oingo Boingo explains his unusual (and unfettered) creative process and method for using sound to enhance a narrative.
In this MasterClass on music for film, you’ll enter Danny’s studio to discover his methods for using music to enhance a narrative and evoke strong feelings.
#18. Hans Zimmer MasterClass on Film Scoring
The first movie Hans Zimmer saw was when he was twelve years old. Since then, he has composed the music for over 150 movies, including The Dark Knight, The Lion King, and Inception.
In this film scoring MasterClass, the self-taught Academy Award winner demonstrates how to conjure sounds out of nothing, craft captivating character themes, and score a movie without ever having seen it.
In 31 unique video sessions, Hans Zimmer’s MasterClass teaches you how to tell a story with music, from collaborating to scoring. By the end, you’ll have everything you require to begin scoring motion pictures.
#19. Shonda Rhimes MasterClass on Writing For Television
Shonda Rhimes had to restart her pitch for Grey’s Anatomy – twice – because she was so nervous. She has since written and produced some of television’s biggest blockbusters, including Bridgerton.
In her MasterClass, Shonda Rhimes shares with you her playbook for writing and producing successful television in over 6 hours of video tutorials, and provides you with her original pilot scripts, pitch notes, and series bibles.
This Shonda Rhimes Screenwriting MasterClass will teach you how to develop captivating characters, and a pilot, and pitch your idea, so you can stand out in the writers’ room.
#20. Aaron Sorkin MasterClass on Screenwriting
Aaron Sorkin composed the initial draft of his first film on cocktail napkins. Jack Nicholson starred in the film adaptation of those napkins, A Few Good Men.
In this MasterClass, Aaron Sorkin, the writer of The West Wing and The Social Network, who won an Oscar for each film, is now your screenplay instructor.
In his screenwriting course, you’ll discover his guidelines for effective storytelling, dialog, character development, and what makes a script actually sell.
By the end of Aaron Sorkin’s MasterClass, you’ll learn the craft of screenwriting for movies and television and be able to develop screenplays that engage your audience.
#21. LeVar Burton Masterclass on the Power of Storytelling
LeVar Burton has made a lasting impression on our culture through his memorable performances in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Roots, as well as his 23 years as the presenter of Reading Rainbow.
In his storytelling MasterClass, the Emmy, Grammy, and Peabody Award winner is now revealing his storytelling methodology so you can establish a genuine connection with any audience.
LeVar Burton’s MasterClass demonstrates his methods for narrating stories that are more engaging and real, so you can become a more compelling and effective storyteller, learn how to identify your intention, use your voice, and draw from your experiences.
Filmmaking is not only an interesting, enjoyable, and fulfilling career but very lucrative as well. But, realizing the big Hollywood dream entails hard work, commitment, skill, the right attitude, and guts.
While it is true that you’re not fully in control of your fate, the initial steps toward being a successful filmmaker depend on you. So wouldn’t you want to learn at one of the top film schools in the world?
Choosing the best film school where you can learn from the top directors in Hollywood is usually the best option for those just starting out in the film industry.
So, if you love making movies and want to explore all aspects of filmmaking, you can learn all these crafts – from screenwriting to film acting and directing – in MasterClass at a low cost.
Whether you want to make independent films or become one of the top film directors in the world, get immediate access to these MasterClass filmmaking courses for beginners and start learning how to make movies today!
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