Top Online Cinematography and Filmmaking Degrees to Explore
Filmmaking is a great art form that uses powerful visuals and sounds to tell a story. To make a good movie, one must master several aspects of filmmaking, a critical one being cinematography. Several institutions provide degrees and courses to help students learn this aspect of filmmaking. If one does not have the time, they can also opt for online programs. Here are some famous institutions and their top online courses in filmmaking and cinematography.
Bachelor of Science in Digital Filmmaking
The Los Angeles Film School offers a popular Bachelor of Science in Digital Filmmaking degree that can be done online. One must invest 120 credit hours and 36 months to complete the course. Some classes in this course include:
- Cinematography
In this class, students learn about films in detail and understand the functioning of digital cameras. Knowing how to produce a scene is also essential, so this is another topic the program covers. Students learn to enhance their stories through mood, tone, setting, and good camerawork. - Visual effects
Visual effects are another crucial aspect of filmmaking. Students must learn how some scenes are edited differently to make them more appealing. Several kinds of software help incorporate special effects in the film, which one learns to use in this class. The knowledge helps one work better in the post-production stage. Some lessons include using the green screen properly and compositing. - Digital production design
Here’s another class where students learn to use editing software for filmmaking. They learn new skills with the software and apply them in the planning and pre-visualization stages of the movie production. This digital production design skill helps plan and promote digital assets in production houses.
Before signing up for this course, one should note that they must have some equipment ready. For instance, students will need a camera, audio gear, grip and lighting equipment, computer gear, and particular software. The university’s website has a detailed list of what’s required. They also have other online filmmaking programs that may be useful to many.
Online Motion Pictures & Television Degree
The School of Motion Pictures & Television at the Academy of Art University has online courses in filmmaking. One option is the Online Motion Pictures & Television degree. This degree has a custom-built, hands-on training curriculum that provides students with practical knowledge of filmmaking.
The coursework of this program includes educational videos, narrated slideshows, digital documents, live streams, and interviews with experts, which help students immensely. There is also a collaborative space where students can share ideas and receive constructive feedback on their projects and what they’re working on. Here are a few key features of this degree program:
- The course content is customized and curated in-house with the help of industry experts.
- Students must submit assignments on different subjects within a deadline. Once they have done so, they can benefit from detailed feedback sessions, which help them hone their skills.
- The lectures are available in audio and video formats, helping one learn better. Students also have access to a dedicated support system if they have questions.
- A dedicated team of experts manages the online degree program. This team invests a lot of effort into making the course user-friendly for online students.
- There is also a student-run community support group on social media. This group helps online students get answers to their queries or doubts and provides them with insights and answers.
Online Master of Arts in Entrepreneurial Producing and Innovation
This online degree program is offered by a top-rated school for filmmaking, the New York Film Academy. Those who want to make a career in cinematography can also look for other online courses at the school. The documentary filmmaking course and digital editing and filmmaking workshops are great choices.
The Entrepreneurial Producing and Innovation degree program is unique because it enables students to start their own media company. Students from around the globe can attend the classes from their respective locations, saving time and resources. The curriculum includes topics like:
- Producing essentials
- Business writing
- Entertainment law
- Curation
- Research techniques
- Marketing
Popular online courses for filmmaking
Apart from the degree programs, one can sign up for other certification courses in filmmaking and cinematography to learn more about the art form. Some popular courses include:
- Commercial Cinematography
The online platform Filmmakers Academy is entirely dedicated to the art of filmmaking. Individuals can find hundreds of courses on the website focused on cinematography, Commercial Cinematography being one of them. The platform also has courses on direction, camerawork, lighting, post-production, and other essential aspects of filmmaking. There is educational content and interactive sessions of which industry professionals are part. - Filmmaking Masterclass
The popular platform MasterClass offers workshops and courses from many prominent industry names, such as Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard, Aaron Sorkin, Werner Herzog, Jodie Foster, and Natalie Portman. Users can sign up for engaging and knowledgeable content directly from industry experts. In addition to filmmaking, masterclasses on script analysis, cinematography, editing, sound design, directing, acting, and so on are available.