Filmmaking for beginners. Become a master in videography.

Master the rule of thirds to compose balanced, professional shots by aligning horizons, eyes, and key elements with grid lines and headspace.

Master depth of field by composing three layers—foreground, subject, and background—keep the subject in focus, while others blur, and use subtle camera movement for parallax.

Explore how color in cinematography uses color wheel opposites like blue and yellow to separate subjects from backgrounds, create contrast, and tell character stories through dress and lighting.

Master the 180º rule by framing two subjects from different angles using imaginary lines from a bird’s-eye view, and avoid crossing the line to prevent viewer confusion.

Master foundational cinematography by creating compelling light setups and sets, using practical and background lights to add depth and transform a white wall into a dynamic scene.

Create cinematic depth by controlling background blur with focal length, subject distance, and gradient lighting from practical lights and a blue LED panel to separate layers.

Explore what makes video cinematic, master natural light, framing, camera movement, and symmetry, and create fresh cinematic shots with the right tools.

Explore using natural light from a window, light the subject from an angle to create shadows and avoid a flat look, and adjust brightness to suit the scene.

Wrap up the shoot by editing footage to create filmic visuals. Use sunlight as the primary light source, add movement and perspective to elevate the class project.

Craft purposeful audio to tell a story alongside visuals, using ambient sounds like birds to imply environment and multi-channel setups like 5.1 or 7.1 to heighten mood and suspense.

Shape story in editing room with an intro animation, glitches, and color grading, teal and orange, green and blue, red for danger, highlighting the scientist's lost invention through editor's cuts.

Apply what you learned to create a short film scene where camera, composition, lighting, and audio tell a cohesive story for the class project.

Learn to use keyframes for simple animations in Premiere Pro, using circle effects, position, rotation, and scale with temporal interpolation, easy ease in/out, and animation curves for natural motion.

Learn to edit with music by cutting audio into parts, finding matching sections, using constant power to smooth transitions, and aligning clips on beat with markers.

Learn color correction for beginner videography using RGB curves and the three-way color corrector to adjust shadows, midtones, highlights, and selective color with masking in Lumetri Color.

Apply the demonstrated techniques to capture cinematic drone shots for your class project, then optionally edit them with music and sound effects. Reach out with any questions for further guidance.

Transform your idea and screenplay into a film through pre-production, shooting, and post-production, learning to craft shot lists, select actors, and collaborate with editors.

Master pre-production by aligning the script, casting, and shot planning through close collaboration with the screenwriter, set designer, and camera crew.

Conclude the section by sharing your film, script, or story for the class project on directing your own film. I can't wait to see them; contact me with any questions.