Film Making Courses

Film Making Courses – What’s Right For You?

The film industry has many specialties and selecting the right film making courses for what you want to accomplish is confusing for many students. Most students interested in working in the film industry are initially thinking about the actual film production process so film production courses will be what they're looking for.

The film production process is actually only about 5% of the work that goes on in the filmmaking. For many people who would like to work in the film industry, but may not realize that there are many well paid options that don’t involve being on a film set, courses in film may not be the right way to go.

Where Can You Find Film Making Courses?

Film making courses are offered at any number of leading universities but beware of the time and costs involved in signing up for a course of studies that will lead to a degree in film.

The top rated film schools in Los Angeles and the N.Y. film schools have a reputation based on the number of notable graduates that have become award winning filmmakers. Although many of the top film schools have exalted reputations they are also very difficult to get into, very expensive for the quality of instruction and take years to complete. Among the film school secrets overlooked by most aspiring film students is that these expensive film schools are not the only, or even the best, way to start a career in making films.

Back before inexpensive video cameras and computer editing were available it made a certain amount of sense to go to a top film school. But now many local community colleges offer film production courses using equipment that is fully the equal of any available at the top ten film schools such as a film school in Los Angeles or a New York film school.

The basic skills you need to know to make a film are not that complicated. Most of the great filmmakers in the history of Hollywood were largely or entirely self-taught. Don't assume you need to pay a fortune to know enough to work on a film set, or even to produce your own films. Many excellent online and DVD courses are available for very little money. Available books go into great detail in every area of the filmmaking process and are also very inexpensive. A number film web sites and online film schools, such as the one you are looking at now, offer a wealth of free information.

Film Making Courses For Preproduction

Long before the director shouts “action” there are many steps that happen starting with developing a story concept and writing a screenplay. Although knowledge of film production is very useful at this stage the process mostly involves mental creativity, brainstorming and writing. Being a great storyteller is probably the single most vital characteristic of great filmmakers.

Look for local classes in creative writing and screenplay writing. Being in a screenwriter's group is extremely valuable and even the most successful screenwriters are often members of such a group. A screenwriter's group consists of several writers who get together regularly, such as once a month, to read each other's work and get helpful feedback. A writer's work is very lonely and often a writer is not sure if something they have written is "working". The companionship and feedback of other writers is most valuable.

Once a screenplay has been completed to the satisfaction of the producers the next tasks involve negotiating for funding, followed by obtaining agreements with actors and the members of the creative team who will actually create the film. These steps are accomplished by producers who are business men and women knowledgeable in the entertainment industry, and lawyers who negotiate and write the various contracts.

The training for these often highly paid positions are basic business management and entertainment law.

Film Production Courses

Now everything is in place to actually film the screenplay so this is where all the actors come together with the director and other workers on the set. Most of the courses offered at film schools are film production courses designed to train in the tasks that take place on the film set.

Most film students dream of becoming famous film directors but there is actually very little demand for directors and the job can be one of the most frustrating and involve some of the longest work hours of any job in filmmaking. Be careful what you wish for. Most student who go to the expensive top film schools to get a degree in film are believing they will become film directors. The majority of them will never direct a film.

Are Top Film Schools Worth It in 2012? Surprising Film School Secrets!

Film Making Courses for Post Production

Once the film is “in the can” there are still many steps required before it will show up at your local theater or on DVDs at your store.

The raw footage needs to be edited. This involves finding the best takes and assembling and cutting them together into the best sequence for telling the story. Music and sound effects will be added and appropriate titles are also created.

A related task involves creating "trailers" used to advertise the film. Additional filmmakers may be on the set filming interviews with the cast and crew in preparation for the DVD's special features.

Editing courses are taught in many film schools but the best way to learn is probably in an apprenticeship arrangement with an experienced editor. Good editing is as much an art as it is techniques and requires many, many years of experience to get really good.

Most films created today require at lease some digital special effects. Learning to use 3D and high-end compositing software is a craft requiring years of specialized training in art schools and much practice. Because this work is so time consuming and specialized it is often performed offshore from the U.S. in countries where labor is less expensive.

When the film is completed a marketing team takes over putting together the advertising campaign that will hopefully convince people to come see the film. In actuality the process often involves test screenings at studios or at film festivals to gather audience feedback which is used to improve the film through additional editing or even refilming scenes.

Most of this work is done by business people with experience in entertainment marketing. The appropriate courses for this work are general and specialized business classes available through many schools at all levels of expense.

And Happy Filmmaking!

Some excellent Film Making Courses

There are a lot of way to learn about filmmaking. If there aren't any good, cheap classes available in your area here are some excellent, comprehensive resources you can get. Product Reviews Disclosure: I am an affiliate for some products I recommend and may receive some compensation if you buy them through my links. Regardless, I only recommend products I have personally reviewed and/or own and believe them to be worthy of your consideration. Film School Secrets Reviewed - As Good As The Buzz? Film School Secrets is a web based set of lessons in filmmaking that at long last exposes how little value there is to a film school degree. There has been a lot of talk and blogging about this course that you may have seen. Numerous film school grads are emerging and saying "About time someone spoke the truth!" This is the course that was produced by a former NYU film school teacher and other film school graduates and successful, working filmmakers that at long last blows the lid off of the two big film school secrets: even the topmost rated film schools will do little to get you a liveable job in filmmaking, and what little education you will get is outrageously pricey. If you have ever considered applying to a top film school you need to first find out about the online film training that is creating all the buzz while it is still open to new students. Film School Secrets is presently available for a low price but has already seen one increment and will soon be increased again. Despite its still modest price don't think this is a light, ineffectual course like many others. This is filled with the solid insider secrets you need to finally start a real career. The core of the course is an eight module set consisting of hours of video education: Module 1: How the film industry really works and why even top film school grads are considered a joke by most employed filmmakers and film studios. With the proper strategy you can get your career started now and be taken seriously for a lot less time and money than attending to film school. Module 2: How to get onto film sets and be paid to learn. The only way to learn how to make films is by working side-by-side with people who are making films. Nothing you could be told at film school substitutes for the real experience of helping to make a feature film. Module 3: Learn all the filmmaking proficiency you need to know to get started. Most employed filmmakers will tell you it only takes a few hours to pick up the underlying techniques. Lighting, sound, and camera operation just aren't that complicated. Module 4: Essentials of a great screenplay. How to tell stories that people will pay to see. How to locate experienced pros who will help you fine-tune your script to perfection. Module 5: How to cheaply employ experts to handle the things you haven't learned so far. Making a film requires more than one person and here's how to tie in with top pros who will help you for a lot less than the cost of film school, or even for FREE if you know how to ask. Module 6: Shoot your film locally like the big studios are doing. Being in Hollywood is actually a disadvantage if you want to make a movie. Shooting where you live can lower your costs to practically nothing. Module 7: How to successfully create your own film even if you've never done it before, have no equipment and barely know what you're doing. Module 8: Marketing and distributing your film by utilizing the hottest methods of digital and online distribution. An important part of Film School Secrets is Seth Hymes' hilarious exposé book, Film Fooled, which takes you course by course through his real experience at NYU film school, one of the top ten film schools in the world. Nothing will convince you of the uselessness of film school quite like getting to read the often childish course of study taught by bumbling teachers with almost no filmmaking experience. Seth also gives you access to the NYU Production Handbook which NYU claims is worth the cost of their tuition all by itself. I was so impressed by this course that I decided to include my 350 page Filmmaking Reference e-book that sells for more than the current cost of Film School Secrets by itself if you order now. That's how important I think it is for you to try this course before you waste time on an expensive film school. But there's more: The course includes interviews with highly paid filmmakers sharing all the secrets of exactly how they got in to exciting jobs in the film industry. These are your treasure map to your success, too. Included is the priceless permission to contact and ask questions of the course authors at no extra expense. Pros and cons of Film School Secrets vs. a top film school Pros: The only filmmaking course that teaches the actual techniques for getting onto professional sets and creating a career in filmmaking. The lessons will save you many thousands in tuition and years of wasted time getting you into filmmaking so long as you take action. Far less expensive Have the knowledge you need to break in after just days Cons: The course doesn't try to teach you every detail about movie making. You will need to continue learning as you work your way up the ladder. The materials are presented in online videos while some may prefer all the materials to be in a published manual. However the videos are very clear and easy to follow. Family and friends will finally take you seriously when your name is up in lights By the time you finish this lessons you will understand why film school is the last thing you need to become a filmmaker, and know secret real-world strategies for getting started, plus you will have contact with experts who can help you along the way. There is no risk as there is a complete, no questions asked, money-back guarantee for 60-days.The cost has gone up recently and will soon go up again. Don't just sit there. Be Outstanding! Click on this link to discover all about Film School Secrets. Info Info The Filmmaker's Basic Library has all the top-rated filmmaking resources.