How to Light a Scene
Lighting a Scene As a cinematographer, every time you shoot a new scene, you have to figure out how to light it. With production budgets
Learn
Filmmaking
Improve your craft with professional online filmmaking courses developed by Academy Award and Emmy-winning filmmakers
Learn
Filmmaking
Improve your craft with professional online filmmaking courses developed by Academy Award and Emmy-winning filmmakers
Learn
Filmmaking
Improve your craft with professional online filmmaking courses developed by Academy Award and Emmy-winning filmmakers
330 Lessons
From development to distribution, you will learn every aspect of the filmmaking process from working Hollywood professionals.
Leading Instructors
Learn from over 150 Hollywood filmmakers, who have been honored with over 70 Academy Award and Emmy wins or nominations.
At Your Own Pace
Engaging videos, illustrated lessons, and quizzes let you learn online anytime and anywhere you want. Learn at your own pace.
Learn Professional Filmmaking Techniques
FilmSkills has partnered with Emmy and Academy Award winning filmmakers to produce professional online filmmaking courses that combine in-depth videos based on industry best practices, constantly-updated illustrated tutorials, downloadable resources, projects, and exercises. FilmSkills delivers the content of a four-year film school for a cost less than a single semester.
Whether you want to make better independent films, TV commercials, documentaries, or industrial videos, join the inner circle of master filmmakers whose work has grossed tens of billions of dollars around the world.
325+ Comprehensive Lessons
FilmSkills lessons are packed with current, in-depth information about each topic, making it easy to learn and absorb. From detailed on-set video tutorials and illustrated guides to downloadable contracts and forms, it’s all here.
150 Hours of On-Set Video Tutorials
In-depth video tutorials shot on Hollywood sets feature Emmy and Academy Award winning and nominated filmmakers. Chapterized for easy access.
Hundreds of Illustrated Articles
Packed with behind-the-scenes photos, anecdotes, and real-world tips and techniques, beautifully-illustrated articles bring difficult concepts to life.
Projects and Exercises
Practice the skills you learn at home with hundreds of DIY projects. Whether you are working with an iPhone or Alexa, we help you become a better filmmaker.
Hundreds of Downloadable Resources
Download real documents from working TV and movie sets, plus hundreds of blank templates for use on your own productions.
Web Links
Discover the players in the industry from equipment vendors, staffing agencies, networks, studios, and production companies with our extensive list of online resources.
Learn the Entire Filmmaking Process
Click to turn the pages and discover the breadth of the FilmSkills curriculum.
"You know you're in reliable hands because the experts imparting their wisdom are actually industry professionals.
– MovieMaker Magazine
Are you an educator?
Do you teach filmmaking at a university, high school, film commission, or production company? Check out FilmSkills Academic where you can build your own fully-branded online film training program.
Used by over 125 film schools and film commissions
Learn from Industry Professionals
Your instructors have won or been nominated for over 70 Academy Awards, Emmys, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes.
This is no ordinary film school. We partnered with industry leaders whose work is seen every day in TV shows and movies, from Stranger Things to the MCU. They generously share their knowledge and experiences with you through engaging, professional online filmmaking courses, revealing techniques to enhance your skills and shave years off your career path.
From the teams behind Star Trek, Star Wars, Spiderman, Avatar, and dozens of other top productions, you will learn from the very people who define today’s television and motion picture industry.
Produced in partnership with
FREE 1-hour filmmaking course
Learn ten techniques to make your content more professional, how to accelerate your career, and how to make money in this $14 billion/year industry.
:
00
:
00
"FilmSkills as a whole is highly comprehensive. To say that Jason and his team went to great pains to build FilmSkills is a huge understatement. All of their courses are phenomenal."
– Edwin Millheim, Impulse Gamer
Discover What's New
We are constantly updating our lessons to bring you the latest techniques. FilmSkills Unlimited members receive these updates for free… for life!
Job Responsibilities of a Director
A day in the life of a movie director can vary greatly depending on the stage of production and the specific needs of the project.
How to Reduce Ambient Noise on Location
Ambient noise on location can be a major problem for film and television productions, as it can interfere with dialogue and other audio elements. Whether
How to Write Believable Dialogue
The Art of Writing Realistic Dialogue Learning how to write dialogue in a screenplay is a delicate balance of revealing a character’s personality and driving
Should I Go to Film School?
To go to film school or to not go to film school; that is the question. If you’re interested in a career in film production,
Discover What's New
We are constantly updating our lessons to bring you the latest techniques. FilmSkills Unlimited members receive these updates for free… for life!
How to Light a Scene
Lighting a Scene As a cinematographer, every time you shoot a new scene, you have to figure out how to light it. With production budgets
Job Responsibilities of a Director
A day in the life of a movie director can vary greatly depending on the stage of production and the specific needs of the project.
How to Reduce Ambient Noise on Location
Ambient noise on location can be a major problem for film and television productions, as it can interfere with dialogue and other audio elements. Whether
How to Write Believable Dialogue
The Art of Writing Realistic Dialogue Learning how to write dialogue in a screenplay is a delicate balance of revealing a character’s personality and driving
Should I Go to Film School?
To go to film school or to not go to film school; that is the question. If you’re interested in a career in film production,
Meet a few of your 150 instructors
These are no ordinary online filmmaking courses. You will learn from the best of the best. Our instructors have been honored with over 70 Academy Award and Emmy wins and nominations. No film school on Earth has this caliber of instructors.
Rob directed "The X-Files" movie, numerous episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and was the Executive Producer of ABC's hit drama, "Castle."
Rob BowmanDirector, Producer 
Josh is the producer of "Avatar," the X-Men movies, "Logan," "Real Steel," and, as James Cameron's 1st AD, ran the sets of "Titanic," "Avatar," and dozens of other Hollywood blockbusters.
Josh McLaglenProducer, 1st Assistant Director 
Two-time Emmy winning director, Mary Lou has helmed episodes for dozens of prime time shows, including "NCIS: New Orleans," "The Quad," "Hart of Dixie," "The Game," "Monk," and "The Hughleys."
Mary Lou BelliTelevision Director 
As an Academy-Award winning cinematographer and two-time Emmy nominee, David has worked on "American Gods," "Breaking Bad," "X-Men," Hollow Man," and is the technical chair of the ASC.
David Stump, ASCCinematographer 
Alexa is the former Vice President of Development at Sony Pictures Animation and Vice President of Production at New Regency Productions.
Alexa AminStudio Executive 
Jeff was the Head of Worldwide Distribution and Online for LucasFilm, overseeing the release of the Star Wars prequels.
Jeff UlinStudio Executive 
Cristen ran productions for Steven Spielberg's "Catch Me if You Can," and "Charlie Wilson's War," Academy-Award winning, "American Beauty," and over a dozen other blockbusters.
Cristen Carr StrubbeUnit Production Manager 
Two-time Emmy winner, Steve is the Executive Producer on "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Hot in Cleveland," "'Til Death," and "School of Rock," and produced the Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee, "An Unreasonable Man."
Steve SkrovanExecutive Producer 
Anne Marie served as COO of Morgan Freeman's production company, Revelations Entertainment, and is the producer of Oscar nominated "Fried Green Tomatoes."
Anne Marie GillenProducer 
Previous
Next
I can't begin to tell you how much your lessons are helping me. I'm probably the brokest indie filmmaker on the face of the Earth, but your lessons have shown me that even with a limited budget, you can get great results by adhering to the basics of filmmaking. Thanks for all that you do.
Wow, this is an excellent demonstration of how topics like this should be taught. Felt like I was there and no detail was left out. Kudos. Truly makes your entire course well worth the price.
I should've skipped film school and just taken FilmSkills. Would've saved tons of time and tons of money.
I learned more from watching this than any other video I've seen. They should do this at film school.
There's something incredibly approachable about Jason's on-screen delivery. The content is top notch, and every single video I've seen here has been a goldmine of info and production value.
Fantastic! Finally, real info from a professional.
Really appreciated the details. This wasn't about a name brand type of light or piece of equipment but meat and potatoes filmmaking. Much appreciated.
Thanks a lot for creating this content. I signed up for FilmSkills Unlimited. Absolutely valuable course. I would go this far and say that this is the best online course on the topic. The catalog is broad and given the range of subject covered, the value is unbelievable. Highly recommended.
Finally, someone who tells the basics, but effective techniques in a simple way and not even losing the detail of the things. Good job, keep it up!
Man, you are seriously helpful. and seem like a super nice dude! Love your passion for light! All the best brother x
WOW! One of the best tutorials and breakdowns I've seen! Thank you so much for this!
😘😘😘😘🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍 Thank you sir for your wonderful efforts. Its almost great practical and theoretical for us. Its more than you get in film schools.
Previous
Next
Are you ready to get started?
Check out our flexible professional online filmmaking courses designed for every interest level and budget.