The Ultimate Guide to Online Cinematography Courses
Many people dream of entering the entertainment industry but don’t have a solid plan for doing so. As with most careers, working in film or television begins with understanding what role you’re aiming for and learning the skills necessary to perform that function.
One of the most important roles in film and television is that of the cinematographer, who is in charge of the visual style of a production. Here’s what you need to know about finding educational opportunities in cinematography, as well as why online cinematography courses might be a good idea for you.
What is cinematography?
In filmmaking, cinematography is broadly understood as the art of creating a cohesive visual style for a film, television show, or video project. This includes all elements that contribute to the look of the final work—lighting, framing, camera angles and movements, etc.
A cinematographer, who may also go by the title of Director of Photography, is the person in charge of coordinating these elements to help the director realize their artistic vision; as well as working closely with the director, they generally supervise the lighting and camera crews.
Because of the sheer scope of responsibility and skills, cinematography is a field that can take many years of professional training and experience to become expert in. It’s advisable to begin a career in cinematography with a professional course to learn the basics of the subject.
How online cinematography courses work
An online cinematography course is much the same as an in-person course; the purpose of the class is to cover all the fundamental aspects of a cinematographer’s job so that students who take the course have a solid foundation on which to build their careers. These courses will typically cover such topics as:
An overview of the terms and lingo typically used in cinematography and general filmmaking
Choosing and defining a visual style for a project
Creating a shot list
Establishing camera setups for multiple cameras and angles in a scene
Determining the best lighting for a scene
Location analysis and assessment
These courses often include short films and other hands-on projects to give students practical experience with implementing the skills they learn. They might also provide opportunities to work on student films or take up internships with established cinematographers in the industry.
The Cinematography Fundamentals course from NYU Tisch is a self-guided three-month online course created by the distinguished faculty at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. It is asynchronous, meaning that students are free to engage with the material at their own pace without needing to meet a live class schedule.
The course includes five modules
Composition
Storyboarding and Pre-Production
Lighting
Camera Movement
Audio and Video Editing
These modules are instructed by recordings from NYU faculty members such as Tony Jannelli, a cinematographer with credits in a range of feature films including Philadelphia, Silence of the Lambs, Big, Independence Day, and more, and Shivani Khattar, an award-winning independent filmmaker whose work has been featured at festivals including Cannes and SXSW.
Cinematography Fundamentals runs over three months, and has a flexible enrollment schedule. A new cohort begins each month, and students can enroll right up to the day before the beginning of the program. The course comprises 19 video lectures, two self-prep exercises, and briefing for a final showreel project, which is reviewed in writing by an NYU Tisch instructor. Upon completion, students will earn a digital achievement badge which can be linked to resumes, portfolios, or social media accounts to offer higher credibility for future employment.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some more frequently asked questions about online cinematography classes.
Can I learn cinematography online?
Cinematography, while requiring physical experience on the part of the student, can be learned from high-quality online courses with reputable instructors. Some students may even find online courses to be preferable to in-person courses for financial and logistical reasons.
How do you become a certified cinematographer?
While there are no universal requirements for cinematography qualifications in the entertainment industry, most production leaders will expect their candidates for the job to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field (film studies, liberal arts, etc.) or the equivalent level of experience.
Having a certification in cinematography from an accredited university or other institution can also add plenty of credibility to your resume, especially if you have a portfolio that demonstrates the skills learned during that course.
Do cinematographers get paid well?
Estimates from employment experts say that a cinematographer can expect to make roughly $60,000 per year on average, with starting pay in the field closer to $41,000.
Are cinematographers in demand?
Cinematography is a quickly growing industry according to experts, who note that the field is expected to expand by about 11% in the next few years, especially as independent filmmaking endeavors get more popular.
What are the benefits of taking an online cinematography class versus an in-person class?
An online course with an asynchronous schedule allows students to learn at their own pace and accommodates a wider range of learning styles and schedules (such as those of busy parents or working students) than in-person classes. It’s also more convenient for those who lack reliable transportation or who live far away from institutions that offer the courses they’re looking to study, for whom a commute would be practically impossible.
Conclusion
Online cinematography courses can offer you a unique opportunity to expand your skills and build your cinematography portfolio on your own time, in your own way. It’s an adaptable experience that may suit your learning style better than an in-person course without losing any of the quality of education.
If you’re interested in online cinematography courses, the Cinematography Fundamentals course from NYU Tisch might be the perfect starting point for your education.
You can learn more on the Smashcut page for the course.
