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23 All-New Crew Lessons
There are a lot of craftspeople on a film set, and in this all new 23-part series, leading Hollywood crews from blockbuster TV shows and movies give students an in-depth look at each major below-the-line crew position.
3 Lessons
The Producers
In this three lessons series, students learn how the business managers of a film production work. From the line producer and unit production manager to the production coordinator, students get a detailed, inside look at the duties and responsibilities of the producers.
While these lessons focus on each role, supplement this curriculum with lessons that focus on the skill sets required for the producers, including:
- Forming a Production Company
- Hiring the Crew
- Raising Money from Investors
- Tax Incentives
- Money Management
- Unions and Guilds
- Working with SAG/AFTRA
- Working with Vendors
4 Lessons
The Assistant Director Department
In this four lesson series, the Assistant Director team behind Titanic, Avatar, Stranger Things, and dozens of other Hollywood blockbusters teach students the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of the Assistant Director department, how to effectively manage the set, balancing the relationship between the director and producers, and how to get a job as an AD on a professional set.
While these lessons focus on each role, supplement this curriculum with lessons that focus on the skill sets required of the assistant directors, including:
- Breaking Down the Script
- Scheduling the Production
- Scheduling the Shooting Day
1 Lesson
The Script Supervisor
Working Hollywood script supervisors teach students the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of the script supervisor, how to interface with the director, the expectations of bridging the set to the editing room, how to effectively prep a production, and the expected deliverables when the production wraps.
To learn more about how the script supervisor manages continuity and the script notes, add the lesson, “Continuity and Script Notes.”
3 Lessons
The Camera Department
In this three lesson series, students learn the roles and responsibilities of the camera department, from the moment to get the call for the job to the time they wrap. Working Hollywood camera crews reveal best practices, expectations, and responsibilities of a professional camera crew.
While these lessons focus on each role, supplement this curriculum with lessons that focus on the skill sets required for the camera department, including:
- Introduction to Lenses
- How to Prep the Camera
- Building the Camera Package
- How to Test a Lens
- Focusing Techniques
- Lens Focal Length
- f-Stops and T-Stops
- The Camera Shutter
- Frame Rates
- How to Expose a Shot
- Depth of Field
- Neutral Density Filters
- Polarizers
3 Lessons
The Electric Department
In this three lesson series, professional Hollywood gaffers, best boy electrics, and electricians reveal the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of the electric department, how they interface with other departments on set, and how to make a living in the electric department.
While these lessons focus on each role, supplement this curriculum with lessons that focus on the skill sets required for the electric department, including:
- Electrical Safety I
- Electrical Safety II
- Reducing Light
- Tungsten Lighting
- HMI Lighting
- LED Lighting
- Kino-Flo Fluorescent Lighting
4 Lessons
The Grip Department
In this four lesson series, students learn the job responsibilities of the group department and a professional production. Experienced, professional Hollywood grips methodically reveal the expectations of the grip department, how they interact with the electric department, the working hours and wages, and on-set practices to have a successful career in the grip department.
While these lessons focus on each role, supplement this curriculum with lessons that focus on the skill sets required for the producers, including:
- Grip and Rigging Safety
- Stands
- Clamps
- Rigging
- Grip Tools
- Grip Techniques
- Reducing Light
- Shaping Light
- Reflecting Light
5 Lessons
The Art Department
In this five lesson series, professional Hollywood production designers, art directors, set decorators, and property masters teach students the hierarchy of the art department, how to achieve the desired look within the schedule and budgetary limitations, and how to effectively interact with the rest of the crew.
While these lessons focus on each role, supplement this curriculum with lessons that focus on the skill sets required for the producers, including:
- Creating the Look
- Set Design
- Set Construction
- Set Dressing
- Props
- Tour a Prop House
New Scheduling and Budgeting Lessons
In this engaging new series, students learn how to balance the business of filmmaking with the art through effectively breaking down the shooting script, developing a realistic shooting schedule, and how to develop and manage an accurate budget.

Lesson 1
Breaking Down the Script
Learn to properly break down the script, line the script, techniques for breaking down each scene, how to use scene breakdown forms, and how assistant directors and line producers should manage the breakdowns from other departments on the project.

Lesson 2
Scheduling the Production
Learn to determine the number of shooting days needed to shoot your film, how to determine the shooting order, manage day and night shoots, account for turnaround time, and the benefits of shooting consecutive shooting days.

Lesson 3
Scheduling the Shooting Day
Learn how to schedule company moves, meal breaks, learn the productivity arc of a shooting crew, how to work with the director’s shot list, skills for managing a shoot running over schedule, how to generate a one-line schedule, and how to create call sheets.

Lesson 4
Developing the Budget
Learn to create an accurate budget, tricks to reducing the budget if you’re running over, how to plan for contingencies, how to manage crew expectations, and how to go into production knowing you’ll have the money to finish.
Learning Professional Skills to Direct Actors
All newly update lessons reveal to students how professionals direct actors on set for convincing, authentic performances.
And as with all FilmSkills Academic lessons, the new location lessons come complete with test questions, fully illustrated companion text, and downloadable contracts and forms students can use on their own productions.

Lesson 1
Analyzing Character
- What is the actor’s role in preparing a character?
- What is subtext and how can the director and actor find this inner meaning of a scene
- What is intent and how does it shape the actor’s motivations
- What is back story and how do you craft the proper history for a character?

Lesson 2
Rehearsing Actors
- How to conduct a table read
- What should happen during the first rehearsal
- What is the actor’s responsibility during rehearsals
- What is the director’s responsibility during rehearsals

Lesson 3
Rehearsal Exercises
- Tips, tricks and techniques for helping actors give you the best performance
- Advice from working Hollywood directors

Lesson 4
The Language of Directing Actors
- How to establish trust and communication with your actors
- How to know what you want
- The language of acting
- What to do when you’re not getting the performance you want on set
- The actor/director relationship
- The types of directors

Lesson 5
Directing Actors on Set
In this lesson, students learn what to say to an actor at the beginning of every scene – within 30 seconds before they call action and 30 seconds after you call cut, learn how to rehearse on set, establish strong blocking, and how to help actors balance their performance with the technicalities of film production.
The director is the only life line to the actors, and what they say can make or break an actor’s performance.
This lesson covers:
- What to say to an actor 30 seconds before you call “Action”
- What to say to an actor immediately after calling “Cut”
- The three points that lead to fail-proof direction
- How to balance performance with picture

Lesson 6
Directing Mistakes
- The most common mistakes directors make
- How to avoid and resolve these mistakes

Lesson 7
Directing Extras
In this lesson, students learn how to find extras, the right way to direct them, how to cheat them on set, liability concerns and how to avoid them, logistics on the shooting day, and the most common problems filmmakers encounter when working with extras.
- How to cast extras
- How to cheat extras to increase their numbers on screen
- Logistics the day of the shoot
- Liability issues and how to avoid them
- How to direct extras
Get Your Students Ready to Shoot on Location
We partnered with the powerhouse Location Managers from Star Trek, Mission Impossible, Transformers 2, Top Gun 2, Spiderman: Homecoming, and Grey’s Anatomy to give your students professional guidance on finding, managing, and shooting on location.
Check out a free preview of from “Working with Location Owners”
And as with all FilmSkills Academic lessons, the new location lessons come complete with test questions, fully illustrated companion text, and downloadable contracts and forms students can use on their own productions.

Lesson 1
Scouting Locations
Locations play a critical role in every film production, and in this lessons, students will learn how to properly break down the script, scout locations, work on cold scouts, how to assess the technical feasibility of a location, and it’s local industry support. (19:13)
This lesson covers:
- How to break down a script
- How to properly generate a list of locations
- How to scout locations
- Available resources to help you location scout
- How to conduct a cold scout
- How to assess the technical requirements of the location

Lesson 2
Working with Film Commissions
Each state has a film commission tasked with attracting motion picture production to that state. In this lesson, students learn the services offered by a film commission, how to use their services to find the best location for your movie, liaise with local industry, and what hidden pricing traps.(24:53)
This lesson covers:
- What a film commission does
- How to use their location libraries
- How to use their scouting services
- Limitations of a film commission’s services
- How a film commission can help you liaise with local industry and local government
- How your budget affects the services they offer
- How to find a film commission

Lesson 3
Working with Location Owners
- How to approach a location owner about using his or her property for your shoot
- How to establish your credibility
- How to speak and present your case to a location owner
- The necessary contracts and agreements to protect yourself legally
- How to conduct a walk through
- How to deal with problems if the location owner decides to pull out at the last minute
- The location release form and its importance

Lesson 4
Film Permits
(22:58)
- What are permits
- When is a permit required
- Shooting guerilla without a permit
- The difference between shooting on public and private property
- Free permits and their hidden costs
- How to use a permit on location

Lesson 5
Community Relations
- How to secure permission from the neighbors in the community in which you’re shooting
- The public impact of a film shoot
- How to work with the police
- How to shoot in a public venue
- How to deal with disruptive people when shooting in public
- The proper code of conduct for motion picture crews when shooting on location
All New On-Set Audio Lessons
Announcing a massive update to our already comprehensive on-set audio recording series. Engaging video tutorials feature Academy Award and Emmy winning filmmakers who methodically reveal industry best practices and techniques for recording high quality audio on set.

Lesson 1
The Physics of Sound
Before students can learn how to record sound, they need to understand how sound works. This lesson covers the the sound wave, how it can be measured and ultimately, how it is manipulated and captured to create emotion through story. (26:01)
This lesson covers:
- What is sound
- The sound wave
- Frequency and amplitude
- The human hear and its limitations
- Measuring loudness

Lesson 2
How Microphones Work
Microphones are incredible devices that convert sound energy into electrical energy and can do so in different ways. In this lesson, we explore how microphones capture sound, how that sound is converted into energy, and the strengths and weaknesses of each microphone type. (23:52)
This lesson covers:
- How microphones work
- How a dynamic microphone works
- How a condenser microphone works
- How a ribbon microphone works
- What is the signal-to-noise ratio
- What is sensitivity and how is it measured
- What is the maximum sound pressure level
- What is frequency response

Lesson 3
Microphone Pick-Up Patterns
- How pick-up patterns work
- Omnidirectional mics
- Cardioid mics
- Hypercardioid mics
- Shotgun mics
- Figure of 8 mics
- Multi-pattern mics
- How to choose the best pick-up pattern for your shoot

Lesson 4
Audio Pre-Production
- How to break down the script
- What to look for in each scene and how to determine the sound recording requirements
- How to conduct a location scout
- What problematic sounds to look for
- How to deal with ambient sounds and reverb on location
- How to work with a rental facility
- How to track audio equipment

Lesson 5
Lavalier Microphones
- How lavalier microphones work
- Whether to choose a transparent or a proximity lav
- The difference between wired and wireless lavaliers
- How to rig both exposed and hidden lavaliers both on set and on actors
- How to avoid common problems with fabric rubbing against the mic and which fabrics can cause interference
- Issues with wireless systems and how to avoid problems
- Issues with multipath interference and how to avoid it

Lesson 6
The Microphone Boom
- The types of boom poles available
- The types of shock mounts and how they work
- How to mount a microphone in a shock mount
- The ideal microphone pick-up pattern to use on a boom pole
- The types of wind reduction tools and how to use them including
- Wind screens
- Fuzzies
- Zeppelins and dead cats
- Techniques for monitoring audio

Lesson 7
Boom Operating Techniques
At first glance, the boom mic seems to be fairly simple and straightforward to operate. In actuality, however, it is a tricky skill that balances the ideal mic placement with the movements of the operator. In this lesson, we examine the proper technique for using a boom pole to record on-set audio.
- The various positions for a boom mic
- How to properly place the microphone
- Boom operating etiquette
- How to deal with shadows and reflections
- Communications techniques with the camera operator
- What not to do on set

Lesson 8
Location Recording Techniques
Recording location sound is a challenging process – you need to contend with wind, traffic noise, and compete against the general ambience of the location to record clean dialogue. The decisions you make on set can either make the post-production process easy or add tens of thousands of dollars to your budget trying to fix problems that could have been avoided. In this lesson, learn how to properly prepare for a shoot – the type of gear you’ll need, how to conduct a location scout, and tips for minimizing location noise. (28:17)
- How to control microphone perspective
- How to conduct a sound check and set the levels
- Techniques for monitoring audio
- How to record multiple actors
- What to do if there’s “no sound” in the scene
- The importance of room tone and how to record it
- How to fight the “fix-it-in-post” mentality

Lesson 9
Recording the Audio
Once the microphone picks-up sound, it is then encoded into either an analog or digital signal, then recorded to a device. With advancements in technology, the quality of the recorded signal can be virtually indistinguishable from the original sound. In this module, we explore how sound is recorded and encoded. (37:58)
- The difference between an analog and digital signal
- How to set proper audio levels
- What is the noise floor and how it can adversely affect your audio
- What is the sample rate and bit depth of a digital signal
- What is auto gain
- How compressors and limiters work
- What happens when audio peaks
- What is the dynamic range of the recorded sound and recording medium
- How to determine the gain structure in your audio device chain
- How bars and tone work

Lesson 10
Audio Configurations
Audio can be recorded many ways – directly into the camera, through a mixer, and/or to a separate recording device. In this module, you will learn common techniques for recording sound, how to manage line/mic level inputs, work with dumb and smart slates, and work with timecode. (20:00)
- The differences between single and dual system recording
- Recording configuration techniques
- How to work with Line/Mic level inputs
- Working with dumb and smart slates
- Working with Timecode

Lesson 11
Cables and Adapters
It’s so easy to focus on the specifications and quality of both the microphone and the recording device that you forget about the cables that connect them. Cables, although seemingly the least interesting equipment can make or break your shoot. In this module, we’re going to look at the types of cables, and connectors, when to use them, and how to care for them. (21:16)
- The various cable types
- The difference between male and female connections
- Adapters and which ones to use
- How to adapt cables for DSLR cameras
- Cable care
- How to work with breakaways
All New Directing Lessons
We are proud to announce the all new Directors Craft lessons. Designed to help students understand the director’s role in visual storytelling, the seven updated lessons combine interviews with Hollywood directors, on-set tutorials, and methodical step-by-step approach to the director’s process.
Lesson 1
A Director's Prep -Beginning a Project
In this lesson, students learn how to begin a new production as a director, how to break down the script for theme, character, and plot, set-up the workspace, and identify the tone of the story. Working Hollywood directors reveal their process of preparing for the first day on set.
This lesson covers:
- How to set up your workspace
- How to read a script for the first time
- How to perform a director’s breakdown
- How to break down the script for story
- How to break down the script for character
- How to find the tone of the story

Lesson 2
Basic Coverage
Students learn the basic template for shooting the action in a scene – the master shot, individual coverage, inserts and cat-in-the-window shots. Then professional filmmakers reveal techniques to vary shot size to increase coverage, how to break the coverage template, plan for the edit, and ensure you get the coverage you need. (21:43)
This lesson covers:
- How to prepare for the edit when determining coverage
- How to frame and shoot a master shot
- How to approach close-ups
- Working with insert shots
- Shooting cat-in-the-window shots

Lesson 3
Advanced Coverage
- How to vary your coverage beyond the typical master/coverage model
- How to properly shoot a oner
- How to determine the opening visual of a scene
- How to determine the proper pacing and rhythm
- How to mind the transitions from one scene to the next to keep up the pacing of the story
- How to work within the restrictions of the schedule and budget

Lesson 4
Blocking Actors on Set
- How to determine why the actor moves
- How to determine where the actor moves
- How to determine when the actor moves
- How to determine how the actor moves
- Macroblocking vs. microblocking
- How to block depth in the frame
- How to use floor plans
Lesson 5
Storyboards and Pre-Visualization
- What are storyboards
- How to work with a storyboard artist
- How to draw effective storyboards
- How to use pre-visualization software
- When to use animatics
- How animatics and storyboards can be used in the editing room
Lesson 6
Creating a Shotlist
- What is a shot list?
- How are the elements that make up a shot list?
- How the crew uses the shot list when scheduling and budget the production

Lesson 7
Continuity and Script Notes
On-Set Lighting Demos
Emmy-winning cinematographer Jason Tomaric goes on set to block, light, and shoot 8 sample scenes, methodically walking students through every step of how to achieve professional cinematic results. Whereas previous FilmSkills lessons focus on the tools, this series applies that knowledge to practical, real-world settings. In this comprehensive series, students learn a variety of skills and techniques.
- How to choose the lens, plan the camera movement, and set the frame
- How to identify exposure and color problems
- How to gel windows to balance brightness of sunlight with production lights
- How to effectively use white balance and color temperatures to achieve the desired color palette
- How to shoot a night scene while producing a clean, solid image
- How to use a waveform monitor and false color
- How to use a light meter to determine contrast

Interior Counter Top - Daytime
Students learn how to address exposure issues when shooting on location with windows, how to gel windows, balance exposure, and create natural, motivated lighting.

Kitchen Table - Nighttime
Students learn how to shoot dialogue scene between two people at night, on location. Covering both his and her shots, this tutorial guides students through the blocking, composition, and lighting decisions behind creating a cinematic night scene.

Interior Bathroom - Daytime
Shooting in a small, confined space like a bathroom creates a range of production challenges, which we systematically address in this engaging tutorial. From a simple bathroom to a dramatic shot, students learn how to achieve the desired look on set.

Interior Bedroom - Daytime
Students learn how to create a sculpted light in a bedroom interior during the day. In this lesson, students learn how to balance exposure between the subject and outside sunlight, all while creating a cinematic look.

Living Room - Morning
In this on-location tutorial, students learn how to create a morning light on a nighttime set. From working with haze and creating volumetric light, students learn to block and light for a cinematic look.

Kitchen Table - Daytime
One of the most common scenes in a student production is the interior dialogue scene. Students learn how to address exposure issues when shooting on location with windows, how to gel windows, balance exposure, and create natural, motivated lighting.

Bedroom Dialogue - Nighttime
In this tutorial, students learn to shoot a realistic night scene that achieves the desired emotional tone, all while producing a clean, noise-free image.

Living Room - Nighttime
In this lesson, students learn how to light and shoot a scene with practical light fixtures, how to enhance the light so it is motivated, and how to bring the outside into the latitude of the camera
Brand New Core Lighting Curriculum
Announcing all new lighting lessons, which visually guide students through lighting tools and techniques. We partnered with LEDGO to produce an intensive, on-set series that demonstrates key lighting tools in visually-engaging video tutorials.

Lesson 1
Techniques to Reduce Light
- Working with wire scrims
- Working with dimmers
- Remotable Wi-Fi dimming options
- Solids, cutters, and floppies
- Creating negative fill
- Lensers and Courtesies
- Protecting fabric scrims
- Scrim and C-stand rigging safety
- Neutral Density gel on windows

Lesson 2
How to Create Soft Light
- How to control the size of a light source
- Using Fresnels to craft the spread of light
- Controlling wraparound
- Working with diffusion on barn doors
- Working with soft boxes and Chimeras
- Skinning 4x4s
- Working with 6×6 overheads
- How to control spill from soft light sources
- Real world demo

Lesson 3
Techniques to Shape Light
- The power of shadows
- Creating internal vs external shadows
- Benefits and drawbacks of bard doors
- Working with black wrap
- Egg crates and louvres
- Flags and solids
- Creating gobos
- Working with a cucoloris and brancholoris
- Building duvatyne skirts

Lesson 4
Working with Reflected and Bounced Light
- Factoring in the Inverse Square Law
- Foam core and bead board
- Collapsable reflectors
- Shiny boards
- Physics of reflected light
- Bouncing light off ceiling
- Working with overheads
- Shaping hair lights
- Working with mirrors

Lesson 5
Color Temperatures and White Balance
- Defining how a camrea sees white
- The Kelvin scale – origins and how it’s used
- How the imaging sensor sees color
- Measuring light sources with a spectrometer
- White balancing techniques
- How to cheat white balance

Lesson 6
Working with Mixed Light
- How to use gels to color correct light sources
- Light loss calculations through gels
- Working with LEDs
- Working with sunlight
- How to gel windows

Lesson 7
How to Light and Shoot Green Screen
- When to choose green or blue
- Differences between chromakey and digital blue/green
- Shooting in a studio vs on location
- How to light green screen (space lights, cyc lights, LED, Kino-Flo, book lights)
- How the bit depth and compression affect a key
- Capturing in LOG vs REC709
- How to expose actors
- How to reduce spill and create a cleaner key
All New Grip and Rigging Lessons
Many of you have contacted us requesting more grip and rigging lessons. Since these are difficult practices to teach online, we partnered with Matthews Studio Equipment to produce an extensive series on grip gear and rigging techniques. Students are introduced to each piece of grip equipment – from stands and clamps to complex rigs – how to properly rig them, and on-set safety protocols.

Lesson 1
Grip and Rigging: Clamps
We unload the grip truck for students and show them how to use common clamps used on film sets, including mafers, cardellinis, C-clamps, furniture clamps, playtpus clamps, scissor clamps, gaffer grip, and how to use each clamp safety.

Lesson 2
Grip and Rigging: Rigging Hardware and Techniques
Students learn how to safely use grid and pipe clamps, lollipops, offset arms, wall plates, double and triple headers, grip heads, wall spreaders, Mattpoles, putty knife, and chain vice grips.

Lesson 3
Grip and Rigging: Stands
From baby and combo stands, to hi-his and low boys, students learn how to safety use industry-standard stands on set.

Lesson 4
Grip and Rigging: C-Stands
Students learn how to properly use a variety of C-stands, including turtle base, spring loaded, as well as rigging options for grip heads and arms.
Lesson 5
Grip and Rigging: Grip Support
Students learn how to properly use sandbags, apple boxes, taco carts, and furni pads on set.