Reading Time: 5 minutes

Filmmaking courses online are an affordable and flexible way to learn new skills. It’s never been easier to start your filmmaking career, and you can take these courses anywhere.

However, with so many options, which one is right for you? Below we have a list of filmmaking courses online with the highest reviews. These courses run from beginner to intermediate in a mix of popular disciplines.

Are you looking for a location for your film projects? Scouty makes it easy for you to find and book sites online. Search the online catalogue, chat with hosts and see prices upfront.

Screenwriting – Filmmaking Courses Online

1 Screenwriting Masterclass

Before you write your first screenplay, it’s important to understand script structure and storytelling. The first class on our list teaches the fundamentals of screenwriting, including finding ideas, planning your story and what to do after writing your screenplay.

The course teacher is Brian Birmingham, a professional writer with credits including Toy Story 4 and Black Panther. He teaches on Skillshare, where you can find hundreds of filmmaking courses online. You can buy courses individually or with a monthly subscription.

Filmmaking Courses Online Location Scoutying

Book filming location on Scouty

Scouty has a large shoot location database with spaces you can book in minutes. We list prices and location fitness photo shoot locations, so you know exactly what to expect from a location.

Explore locations

2 Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

If you already know the basic structure of a screenplay, you can take a more advanced course. Aaron Sorkin is one of the most successful screenwriters today, having worked on Hollywood movies such as Moneyball, The Social Network and the TV series The West Wing.

This class looks into detail character development, writing dialogue and scene structure. Masterclass has several filmmaking courses online, all taught by professionals. You can buy these classes one at a time or save by subscribing to an annual membership.

Producing – Filmmaking Courses Online

3 Introductory Producing

The film producer finds funding, hires the key creatives and organises the whole film set. This online course breaks down the job role of the producer and how they schedule a film and TV production. Many directors and also producers, so it’s an important skill to learn.

The course teacher is David Brady, who has over 30 years of experience as a producer and director. It covers everything from basic budgeting to finding locations. This course is taught on Udemy, which has hundreds of filmmaking courses online for discounted prices.

4 Film Distribution Blueprint

Before you make a film, you should have a distribution plan. This next class examines how to create, manage and sell your film online and at film markets. You will learn about marketing myths, contract agreements, sales agents and how to deliver your movie.

The course teacher is Alex Ferrari, a filmmaker who runs the popular blog Indie Film Hustle. It’s part of the indie film hustle academy with many online filmmaking courses. The benefit of online courses is that they are structured and easy to follow unlike YouTube videos.

Book filming location on Scouty

Scouty has a large shoot location database with spaces you can book in minutes. We list prices and location fitness photo shoot locations, so you know exactly what to expect from a location.

Explore locations

Directing – Filmmaking Courses Online

5 Ron Howard Teachers Directing

Many people don’t fully understand the job role or responsibilities of being a film director. This class looks at the basics, from story development to film editing. Ron Howard is an Oscar award winning director with credits such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful mind.

In this class, you will learn about the job role, blocking actors and directing crew. It also includes workshops and on set footage to help you see the director work on set. Masterclass filmmaking courses online are also taught by Martin Scorsese and Jodie Foster.

6 Directing Actors

Next, we have a course focusing solely on directing and working with actors. It looks at the whole process from casting, rehearsing, blocking and how to direct actors for every genre. What makes this course unique is that it shows you how to direct in real time.

The course teacher is Per Holmes, a teacher and director who has put together this comprehensive online guide. The course is a product of Hollywood camera work, which has a number of master courses designed around blocking, camera shots and VFX directing.

Cinematography – Filmmaking Courses Online

7 Cinematography Basics

Skillshare has many filmmaking courses online, including the basics of cinematography. This absolute beginner course teaches you the basics about the camera and lighting department. It’s a short course that shows you how to approach and film a real life scene.

The course teacher is Zak Mulligan, a cinematographer working in film and TV, including House of Cards. He has two courses, one on the basics of shot choice and another on lighting. Thousands of students have reviewed his courses as exceeding expectations.

8 The Art of Cinematography

Indie film hustle has another course called light and face the art of cinematography. It’s a more in depth online course looking at technical lighting. On set, it’s important for the director of photography to know everything about the camera and lighting department.

The course creator is Suki Medencevic, who has credits on American Horror Story and high profile documentaries. This is a technical course looking at single lighting, three point lighting, diffusion, genre lighting and ring lights, to name a few topics discussed.

Book shoot location on Scouty

Scouty has a large shoot location database with spaces you can book in minutes. We list prices and location fitness photo shoot locations, so you know exactly what to expect from a location.

Explore locations

Editing – Filmmaking Courses Online

9 Video Editing Final Cut Pro

The first step to becoming a video editor is to learn your software inside out. Screenskills has a variety of courses that teach video editing software. If you are using final cut pro, this course by YouTuber Ali Abdaal teaches the basics of editing a film or youtube video project.

In this class, you will learn about the editing process, including how to assemble footage, implement sound, music and basic colour grading. Ali also has another course on creating a successful youtube channel. The course already has 50,000 students with positive reviews.

10 Inside The Edit

Filmmaking courses online are for students at all stages in their careers. This final editing course is for people who want to learn to edit beyond the basics. The course starts with organising your footage, pacing your story and then progresses to advanced editing.

The course creator is Paddy Bird, a professional editor with credits on the world’s top broadcasters, including BBC, PBS and National Geographic. He created this course to go beyond a technical guide and to focus on the art form of editing for the screen.

Header image: Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash