Online Film School
Online Film School is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to learn the basics of film making. As a film maker, you have numerous education options: four-year accredited film programs, two-year film specialty schools, short film courses and seminars in your area, website film schools, dvd and downloadable film courses, internet sites such FilmProposals and books.
Given the film making school choices and various costs, here we focus on online film schools, dvd and downloadable film courses.
With an online film school, you can start learning immediately from anywhere in the world. If you plan to attend a top film school, a small investment in an online course will advance you ahead of your classmates and ensure your larger investment is more worthwhile.
Dov S-S Simens and Hollywood Film Institute
The Hollywood Film Institute offers several versions of film making schools. The Two-Day Weekend Film School, At Home DVD School and Streaming Online Film School. Each covers the same 16 hours of material and costs $395.
Two-day Weekend Film School ($395)
- Divided into "Four Years" of film education with each morning and afternoon of the weekend representing your Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, & Senior year's worth of film making. Courses are usually held in NY and LA.
- Day 1 (AM)- Write, Direct, Shoot and Edit
- Day 1 (PM) - Shoot Your Movie - Production and Post Production
- Day 2 (AM) - Sell Your Movie - Market and Distribute
- Day 2 (PM) - Dealmaking and Profits
Dov's prior Film School Grads include Quentin Tarantino ("Reservoir Dogs," "Kill Bill"), Chris Nolan (Director of "Batman Begins," "Memento"), Guy Ritchie ("Snatch," "Revolver"), Will Smith, Kirk Jones (Director of "Waking Ned Devine," "Nanny McPhee"), Paul Brooks (Producer of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," "White Noise"), the makers of "The Blair Witch Project," "The Matrix" trilogy.
Two-Day Film School DVD Course ($395)
Includes 16 1-hour DVD Filmmaking lessons, exactly like the "2-Day Film School." The lessons take you from idea to script to shoot to answer print to distribution deal as you make and sell your first independent feature film. The set also includes a 375 page Filmmaker's Workbook, Producer's Diploma, and Graduation Certificate.
The Weekend, DVD and Streaming Online Film School cover:
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For additional information, read Dov Simens' 18-minute FREE online film school or more about Streaming Film School.
Lights Online Film Making School ($299)
This online film school takes a slightly different approach in that they offer an estimated 16 week (1-4 month) project-based course. You pursue the online film school at your own pace, while making your film project.
While there is a curriculum, the course is largely project based which means you choose the areas that interest you most and gear each one of your projects towards your individual interests within film.
As Lights Online Film School is project based, students are required to create their own scripts, short movies, music videos (based on music and footage we provide) and learn to implement visually stunning cinematic elements into their productions.
To enroll in the course, you need a camera with video or film capabilities and a computer, with video editing software. All lessons are accessed online in the student HUB, the community to download lecture notes, watch instruction videos and submit your assignments for review and critique in our student community.
Additional Online Film Schools and Courses
- New York Film Acadamy Online Film Courses
- New York Video School
- Film School Direct (Note - there is no Contact Us button on this site. This makes us a little nervous. Read the free lessons, but we recommend you hold off on buying)
- Free Film Articles and Courses
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Learn how to write a business plan, the definition of a business plan and creative ways to finance your film. Pair this Manual with our Financial Template and Business Plan Template for the ultimate Movie Making package.
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Business Plan Template for Independent Film
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