Best Online Filmmaking Resources To Be A Better Filmmaker
Are you a filmmaker who is always on the lookout for new materials to assist you to keep up with the rigors of filmmaking? I’ve been working in the film industry for a while and have amassed a large list of the greatest resources for learning filmmaking that I thought I’d share with other filmmakers.
Having the correct filmmaking materials may make all the difference in the world, whether you’re a new filmmaker wanting to break into the profession or a seasoned pro with years of experience.
Everything I learned in the film industry was by trial and error when I first started. I’d get a pat on the back when I did well, but I’d also get kicked off the set when I didn’t. But there was no internet when I first started in the film industry, so I had to rely on books from film school and the library.
With the internet, a wealth of material is now available at a filmmaker’s fingertips, and any prospective filmmaker may obtain the information they require in no time. The filmmaking resources listed below have aided me in every aspect of the industry.
All of the departments in which I’ve worked have been covered. I hope I have the proper resource for you if you’re looking for technical filmmaking resources, resources to aid with the three key elements of film production, how to fund projects, and so on.
Here are some of the top places to learn about filmmaking. Every filmmaker should bookmark for future reference, in my opinion. Enjoy!
Note: All of the links are clickable and will take you to the appropriate websites. So there’s no need to use a browser to copy and paste.
Best Online Filmmaking Resources To Be A Better Filmmaker
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Online Film Education Resources
If you can’t afford film school, these are great filmmaking resources that I have used to improve my skills as a filmmaker.
Everything from learning how to become a better director, screenwriter, actor and so much more is offered by these great online schools.
- Masterclass – “Get inspired by classes from Ron Howard, Jodi Foster, Aaron Sorkin, and many more on mobile, desktop, Apple TV, and now Amazon Fire TV. This is one of the best resources to learn filmmaking for those looking at improving his/her filmmaking skills by the best in the industry.”
- Creative Live – “Learn online all the film industry essentials that a filmmaker needs to improve his/her skills for better filmmaking. Creative Live offers courses in most skill sets for those who want to excel in the film industry. Topics include Cinematography, Editing, Screenwriting, and so much more.”
- Future Learn – “Explore a range of filmmaking specialisms – from screenwriting to production to visual effects – with these free online courses. Learn with award-winning filmmakers, specialist organizations, and leading universities.”
- Udemy – “Filmmaking, much like films themselves, encompasses lots of subgenres. Filmmakers can be TV producers, Instagram celebrities, or arthouse directors. Each school of filmmaking has its own practices, with some common filmmaking fundamentals found throughout. Udemy has courses to help you master the whole spectrum.” Udemy offers fantastic filmmaking courses for beginners.
- Coursera – “With MasterTrack™ Certificates, portions of Master’s programs have been split into online modules, so you can earn a high-quality university-issued film career course online. Coursera offers free online filmmaking courses with certificates(additional fee for the certificate).“
Related Article: 5+ Best Udemy Cinematography Courses For Beginning Filmmakers
Youtube Tutorial Channels
When it comes to on-demand filmmaking resources I always turn to, youtube has a wealth of information that can help out an aspiring filmmaker.
Below are the following channels I would suggest subscribing to help you become a better filmmaker.
- Film Riot – “Film Riot is the best of the bunch. Serving as an on-demand film school, this series stands out as a prime example of under-the-radar geeks who carved out a DIY niche that’s both useful and entertaining”. – Wired.com
- Every Frame A Painting – “Every Frame a Painting was a series of video essays about film form, made from April 2014 to September 2016, by Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou.”
- Indie Film Hustle – “Teaching you how to hack your indie filmmaking with stuff they don’t teach you in film school. Showing you how to get your Indie Film Hustle on!” One of the best resources for film students.
Related Article: 8 Important Low Budget Filmmaking Tips For Beginners
Film Funding
Unless you have a rich relative or an open bank account like Scrooge McDuck, you will let to find ways to fund your projects.
Check out these great filmmaking resources for funding that can get you off the ground and start making your dreams a reality.
- Seed & Spark – “Seed&Spark is building a new studio model, with fair and transparent business practices. They provide every filmmaker the opportunity to create a sustainable career, no matter where they live or what they look like.”
- Kickstarter – “Kickstarter exists to help bring creative projects to life. A home for film, music, art, theater, games, comics, design, photography, and more.”
- Indiegogo – “Crowdfund innovations in tech and design before they go mainstream and support entrepreneurs that are working to bring their dreams to life.”
Want to Learn More About Filmmaking Or Photography?
Become a better filmmaker or photographer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by film masters, including Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Spike Lee, Jodie Foster, James Cameron, and more.
Related Article: 5 Best Skills Filmmakers Need To Be Successful In The Film Industry
Film / Video Jobs
Film industry resources – As filmmakers, we are trying to find out ways to break into the business.
The best way is by volunteering in any project being filmed in your area, and the other is by finding jobs available on the internet.
If you are looking for some filmmaking resources to find jobs in the film industry, here are some great sites to dive into.
- The Mandy Network – “The Mandy Network provides industry-leading tools which empower creative professionals to connect and find jobs across all sectors of Film, TV, Theatre and Commercial Production.”
- Production Weekly – “PW is the entertainment industry’s leading source for tracking upcoming film and TV production data.”
- IMDB Pro – “Manage your photos and the credits you are Known For on IMDbPro, IMDb, and Prime Video. Find industry contacts & talent representation. Stay connected with industry professionals on this great platform.”
Gear & Equipment
Having the right filmmaking gear can make all the difference in the way your films look, sound, and feels.
When it comes to shopping for filmmaking gear, these are my favorite online stores that any filmmaker should shop at.
- B&H Photo/Video – “With nearly half a million items in stock, every day, our selection is legendary and that’s made us a trusted resource for photographers, musicians, and creative professionals around the world for decades.” This is my go-to online shop for anything film-related. I love B&H Photo/Video.
- Adorama – “Adorama is the world’s only full-service destination for photo, video, and electronics. They’re more than a camera store—we offer the best selection and prices on professional photography and video gear, pro-audio, and consumer electronics such as home theaters, mobile computing, home office equipment, and more.” Another of the best filmmaking resources for online shopping for all your film equipment needs.
- Amazon.com – Amazon is a great place for finding memory cards, cleaning equipment, filters, batteries & chargers, lens accessories, and so much more. Plus, you can buy a jar of salsa and a bag of chips at the same time.
Related Article: How To Become A Film Director – 7 Tips For Success
Stock Video Footage
Film stock footage resources – Sometimes you don’t have time to get B-roll footage, and during the editing process, you need to add something to your film to keep the pace going.
Here are some great filmmaking resources I use to find incredible stock video footage that is free to use and can add so much to your film.
- Pond5 – “Search The World’s Largest HD & 4K Video Collection w/ Videos You Can’t Find Anywhere Else. Largest Video Collection. 100% Royalty-Free. Best Price Guarantee. Save With Credit Packs. Simple Licensing. Advanced Search Tools.”
- Videohive – “Discover 1307609 Stock Footage, Video Effects and After Effects Templates on VideoHive. Buy Stock Footage and Video Effects”
- Videoblocks – “Get All the Stock Videos, Backgrounds & AE Templates You Need with a Low-Cost Subscription. Plans for Any Budget. Get Studio-Quality Content for a Fraction of the Cost.”
- Videvo – 500,000+ stock footage clips, motion graphics, stock music tracks, and sound effects, all at your fingertips.
Stock Audio Footage
Film music resources – Can’t afford a music score, but want something to create more drama through music in your film project?
Here are some great filmmaking resources I use to find incredible music that is free to use and can add so much to your film.
- Premium Beat – “ Stunning Music. Simple Licenses. Browse Our Curated Royalty-Free Music Library! 100% Royalty-Free Music for Video Projects. Find Your Perfect Match in Seconds! Exclusive Music.”
- Audio Jungle – “ AudioJungle you can buy and sell royalty-free music and sound effects that are completely Podsafe for just a few dollars, which includes a Buyer Fee. The site is home to a bustling community of audio composers and producers.”
Stock Pictures, Images, Graphics
If you are using any photographs in your film, or need pictures for your marketing kit, using royalty-free pictures can save you time in dealing with the legal department.
Here are some great filmmaking resources I use to find incredible stock photos that are free to use.
- IStock photo -“Search iStock’s expansive picture library to find the perfect images for your project. Cool stock photos you won’t find anywhere else.”
- Unsplash -“The internet’s source of freely usable images. Powered by creators everywhere.”
- Pixabay -“Over 1.603377 million+ high-quality stock images and videos shared by our talented community.”
Cinematography Tools
- Camerasim – “One amateur photographer’s opinion on the industry, photographic styles, and other photographic goings-on.”
Video Editing Plugins
Film editing resources – Film Editing is where it all comes together. You can create a masterpiece with very little, or you can create a disaster with so much.
Here are some filmmaking resources I use to stay on top of my game as an editor to create something magical on the screen.
- Final Cut Pro – “Final Cut Pro is a series of non-linear video editing software programs first developed by Macromedia Inc. and later Apple Inc. The most recent version, Final Cut Pro X 10.4.8, runs on Intel-based Mac computers powered by macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or later.
- Red Giant – At Red Giant, we create video effects, motion graphics tools, and VFX software to enrich the community of filmmakers and motion designers.
- Pixel Film Studios – Plugins for Final Cut Pro X. 1000’s of effects, transitions, themes, and text presets for Final Cut Pro X.”
- Adobe Premiere Pro – “Premiere Pro is the industry-leading video editing software for film, TV, and the web. Creative tools, integration with other apps and services, and the power of Adobe Sensei help you craft footage into polished films and videos. With Premiere Rush you can create and edit new projects from any device.
- FCP effects – “Download some of our easy-to-use plugins right now. You’ll edit faster and better. Bundle & Save. Work smarter, not harder.”
Related Article: Smartphone Filmmaking 101:Ultimate Guide To Mobile Filmmaking
Business Documents Legal/Contracts/Call Sheets
Business Documents Legal/Contracts/Call Sheets are something that many filmmakers forget during the pre-production process.
But, they are extremely valuable and something that filmmakers should prepare for before the first day of shooting.
Here are some great filmmaking resources below to help you with paperwork.
- Docusign – “DocuSign Professional email recipients an electronically signed document requesting a review of a document after it is uploaded.”
- Studio Binder – “ Designed for filmmakers, photographers, and new media houses, it is a cloud-based solution that helps manage photo, video, film, and TV production processes in one place. A management platform for production companies, agencies & freelance creatives with features for shooting”
- Legal Zoom – “LegalZoom is an online legal technology company that helps its customers create legal documents without necessarily having to hire a lawyer. Available documents include wills and living trusts, business formation documents, copyright registrations, and trademark applications.”
- Thinkcrew – “Think Crew – Useful tools for professional crews.”
Video Hosting
If you are applying to film festivals after you have created your film project, you will need to find a place to host your videos that can be password protected for only jurors to see.
Below are two filmmaking resources I use to host my films while I apply to film festivals like FilmFreeway.
Graphic Design -Online
Film production resources – When you are in the process of creating marketing tools for a completed film project, you want to create something that will stand out from the crowd.
Below are some great filmmaking resources that will help you in creating a great electronic press kit when you are submitting it to film festivals.
- Canva -“Create beautiful designs with your team. Use Canva’s drag-and-drop feature and layouts to design, share and print business cards, logos,”
- Pixelmator Pro -“Pixelmator for Mac is a powerful, fast, and easy-to-use image editor. It lets you enhance and touch up photos, sketch, draw and paint, add text and shapes, apply dazzling effects, and more.”
- PixlrX -“You’ll find a Pixlr image editor just for you! … Perfect for quick, playful photo edits. One-click to add artistic effects to photos.”
Video Editing Training
Film editing resources – Film Editing is where it all comes together. You can create a masterpiece with very little, or you can create a disaster with so much.
Here are some filmmaking resources I use to stay on top of my game as an editor to create something magical on the screen.
- Larry Jordan -“Larry Jordan is an Apple-Certified Trainer in Digital Media, specializing in DVD Studio Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Motion.”
- Inside the edit -“Inside The Edit is here for just one reason… to transform you into a powerful creative editor. We are not interested in teaching you software, codecs, or anything technical. We’re interested in teaching you the art of editing. How do we want to make our audiences feel? How do we construct a dramatic narrative? How do with build stunning visual cutting patterns? These are the questions a creative editor asks and these are the concepts we teach you at Inside The Edit.”
- Udemy – “All Video Editing courses Whether you want to learn how to use software like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, and PowerDirector, or are simply looking for new techniques for filming and editing footage from a variety of different camera types, Udemy has a course to help you achieve your goals.”
Related Article: 5+ Best Tips To Make Your Smartphone Cinematography More Cinematic
Sound Design Training
Did you hear that? Was that supposed to be in the movie? You never want the audience to be distracted by the simplest thing like outside noise that isn’t part of the film.
I have had this in the past, where I was shooting a period piece near an airport, and planes weren’t invented yet in the film.
Here are some great filmmaking resources that I use to clean up sound during the final edit to avoid audience distraction.
- Udemy -“SOUND for Film and Television. Free Download Udemy SOUND for Film and Television. With the help of this course, you can A 2-1/2-hour, entertaining, funny, and immersive romp into what you need to know to start getting great sound.”
- Designing sound – “DesigningSound.org is a resource dedicated to the art and technique of sound design, intending to share information and knowledge for free and without advertising.”
Team Collaboration
For your film production to be successful, you need to have a team that is on the same page as you. But what happens if you can’t schedule a time for all to meet in person?
These filmmaking resources below in terms of team collaboration can help in maintaining communication from miles away.
- Slack -“Slack is essentially a chat room for your whole company, designed to replace email as your primary method of communication and sharing. Its workspaces allow you to organize communications by channels for group discussions and allow for private messages to share information, files, and more all in one place.”
- Skype -“Stay in touch! Free online calls, messaging, affordable international calling to mobiles or landlines, and Skype for Business for effective”
- GotoMeeting – “Online meeting and web conferencing tool that enables businesses to collaborate with customers, clients, or colleagues via the Internet in real-time.”
Writing & Note Taking
Independent filmmaking resources – Who uses a pen and paper anymore?
If you are a filmmaker that is always on the go and needs an app that can help you with taking down important notes throughout the day, these filmmaking resources can help.
- Evernote – “Our note-taking app helps you capture and prioritize ideas, projects, and to-do lists, so nothing falls through the cracks.”
- Scrivener -“Scrivener provides a management system for documents, notes, and metadata. This allows the user to organize notes, concepts, research, and whole documents for easy access and reference.”
Filmmaker Networking
To get work, you have to network! As a filmmaker, you should always be on the lookout for opportunities to meet new friends and colleagues that share the same interests as you.
The following filmmaking resources below are great sites to help you network with other film industry professionals all looking for new opportunities.
- Stage 32 – “Stage 32 is the world’s largest social network and educational hub for film, television & theater creatives. Connect instantly with 500000 global members”
- Meetup – “ Find Meetups so you can do more of what matters to you. Or create your own group and meet people near you who share your interests.” I used Meetup groups to establish myself in the film community in Vancouver. If it wasn’t for meetup, I wouldn’t have had the career I have had so far in the film industry.
Screen Writing
Film script resources – It all starts with an idea, and then you need a great screenwriting tool to make a great screenplay.
Below is some great filmmaking resources that will help you create the best screenplay possible.
- Final draft -“Final Draft is a screenwriting software for writing and formatting screenplays.”
- Writerduet-“WriterDuet is designed to make your screenwriting process more enjoyable, intuitive, and most importantly, effective.”
- Celtx -“Designed as a complete pre-production/scriptwriting tool, this software allows users to create industry-standard scripts. Additional features include project management, episodic series construction, and other production-related task planning.”
Related Article: 5 Great Reasons Why It’s Never Too Late For A Film Career
Time Management Apps
Time management is everything to a filmmaker. It can keep production running smoothly, or derail the project entirely.
Below are the following filmmaking resources I use to maintain my time management when I am in the process of producing multiple projects at the same time.
- Remember The Milk — “Remember The Milk is the popular to-do list that’s everywhere you are: from your phone to the web, to your Google apps and more. Used by millions worldwide.”
- Focus Booster – “focus booster is a step above your average Pomodoro timer, it also allows you to record all your sessions and track your productivity. Get more done today.”
- Toggl – “Always getting distracted? Use Toggl as your productivity tool. A simple time tracker with powerful reports and it works across all your devices.”
Outsourcing Work
Sometimes you don’t have the time yourself to do certain things regarding your film project.
That’s why I sometimes outsource my work like editing, visual effects, or even marketing materials. These filmmaking resources below are great for those who don’t have the time to get things done in a timely matter.
- Upwork – “Upwork, is a global freelancing platform where businesses and independent professionals connect and collaborate remotely.”
- Fivver – “Fiverr is an online marketplace for freelance services. The company provides a platform for freelancers to offer services to customers worldwide.”
- Freelancer – “Find & hire top freelancers, web developers & designers inexpensively. World’s largest marketplace of 41m. Getting started is free. Receive quotes in seconds.”
Invoicing / Accounting
If you are the person in charge of budgeting, making sure bills are being paid, and everything accounting-related then you need these great filmmaking resources to keep track of spending.
- Freshbooks – “The best cloud-based small business accounting software. Send invoices, track time, manage receipts, expenses, and accept credit cards.”
- Wave – “Free invoicing & accounting software with credit card processing & payroll services.”
- Quickbooks – “Discover QuickBooks accounting software, the perfect cloud accounting solution for small businesses and self-employed people. Learn more.”
Related Article: Step-By-Step Beginners Guide for Starting a Film Production Company
Project Management
One of the important Film making resources that any filmmaker needs is great project management.
Having a team understand the duties that need to be performed during any stage of production is key. Below are some great tools I use to keep my team notified in real time.
- Trello -“Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great mobile apps. It’s free. Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the minute details.
- Basecamp – “Basecamp is a real-time communication tool that helps teams stay on the same page; it’s less for traditional project management tasks (e.g., resource planning and long-term scheduling).”
Website Hosting
Do you want to build a website to show off your project and create interest that can turn your project into a viral hit?
Below are some great hosting sites needed to create a great blog for your film projects.
- Siteground -“Our web hosting services are crafted for top speed, unmatched security, 24/7 fast and expert support. Trusted by more than 2000000 domains!”
- Bluehost -“Bluehost is one of the largest website hosting providers and powers millions of websites. Learn more about our secure and reliable hosting services today!”
- Name cheap -“Namecheap offers cheap domain names with the most reliable service.”
- Weebly -“Create a free website or blog in minutes by using a simple drag-and-drop interface. No ads. One of Time’s 50 best websites of the year.”
Creating A Website
Now that you have set up your hosting site, it’s time to build your website. Here are some great blogging resources that can get your film site up and running with ease.
- WordPress – “Create a free website or build a blog with ease on WordPress.com. Dozens of free, customizable, mobile-ready designs and themes. Free hosting and support.”
- Themeforest – “Discover 1000s of premium WordPress themes & website templates, including multipurpose and responsive Bootstrap templates, email templates & HTML.”
- Squarespace – “Squarespace provides software as a service for website building and hosting. Its customers use pre-built website templates and drag and drop elements to create webpages.”
- Clickfunnels – “ClickFunnels Gives You EVERYTHING You Need To Market, Sell, and Deliver Your Products and Services Online! Without having to hire or rely on a tech team!”
Related Article: 5 Awesome Tips For Acting And Directing At The Same Time
Business Cards & Swag
Out at a networking event and need business cards to hand out to potential funders? What about promotional items like pens, coffee tumblers, or t-shirts to market your film?
Then you should check out these great promotional item resources to get your brand out in the market.
- Vistaprint – “Vistaprint empowers small businesses like yours to market themselves effectively. Design and order custom printed marketing materials, signage, and so much more.”
- Moo – “MOO makes great design and print for customers worldwide. Design and print marketing materials, signage, and so much more.”
Online Storage / Document Sharing
When it comes to storage you can never have enough of it.
With the important media files from your daily film shoots, or easy to gather documents throughout the shoot, you need sources that can help you get information fast and easy.
Here are some great filmmaking resources for online storage.
- Google Drive – ” Google Drive allows users to store files on their servers, synchronize files across devices, and share files.”
- Dropbox – ” Dropbox is a file hosting service that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud, and client software.”
- Mozy – “Mozy was an online backup service for both Windows and macOS users.”
- Google Docs – “More than letters and words. Google Docs brings your documents to life with smart editing and styling tools to help you easily format text and paragraphs.”
- PBWorks – “PBworks lets your team capture knowledge, share files, and manage projects. It tracks every change, and automatically notifies you and your team to keep on top of projects.”
Online Payments
If you are looking for ways for investors to donate to your film production, but they want to send money via credit card, then you need an online merchant platform to accept the money.
Below are some great merchant processing companies that can help you in your funding quests.
Surveys
When you are trying to get feedback from a particular film shoot that you are doing, sending out a feedback form is extremely valuable for the success of your film.
Here is a great filmmaking resource to make sure that your film project is going in the direction it needs to go.
- Survey Monkey – “Use SurveyMonkey to drive your business forward by using our free online survey tool to capture the voices and opinions of the people who matter most to you.”
Optin forms
Do you want your audience to return to your website for exciting updates on the film?
Then you need a subscriber tool for your website to collect the e-mail addresses of your audience to make sure they are in the know.
- Optinmonster – “Powerful lead generation software that converts abandoning visitors into subscribers with our dynamic marketing tools and Exit Intent® technology.”
- Leadpages – “Generate leads and increase revenue using the industry-leading landing page creator with an accompanying suite of lead generation and opt-in tools.”
Summary
As you can see, considerable filmmaking resources are required to become a successful filmmaker in the film industry. The successful production of a film necessitates a large number of moving elements.
I hope that these fantastic filmmaking tools that I use on a daily basis will assist you in becoming the filmmaker you aspire to be.
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About the author: Trent (IMDB | Youtube) has spent 10+ years working on an assortment of film and television projects. He writes about his experiences to help (and amuse) others. If he’s not working, he’s either traveling, reading or writing about travel/film, or planning travel/film projects.