Get online training in cinematography, directing, lighting, post-production & more directly from industry-leading professionals.
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Filmmakers Academy mentors are active leaders in the film industry.
Learn about filmmaking like cinematography, directing, lighting & grip and much more from industry-leading professionals at your own pace. Skip past years of trial and error by learning how the masters work.
Access individual courses in our store or get access to the entire library for $33/mo. with All Access Membership.
Learn filmmaking online at your own pace. Skip past years of trial and error by learning how the masters work.
Access individual courses in our store or get access to the entire library for $33/mo* with All Access Membership.
My name is Jesús, I’ve been a member of the Academy for almost two years and I’m so happy with the all content (the current and the content to come!).
One of the best decisions I’ve made about cinematography education.
Here in Spain, it is very difficult to find a course or school to cover that field, and one thing you also learn in the FA is that you don’t need to be
physically in a class in California. The online education goes to another level here.
The best education in the production industry is right here.
Just jumping on here to give some love to Shane Hurlbut, ASC This group and the academy have been more valuable than my 4.5 year film degree. Best investment I’ve ever made in my craft and it keeps getting better. I saw some work the other day that I did five years ago. Let’s just say I’ve grown substantially since then.
I have been doing small-budget production for nearly 18 years. I wanted to go big. To do so I knew I needed to learn to use Professional Film equipment. But how? Get on set of a feature and learn? As a single dad with a seven-year-old, I can’t work those hours. Then I discovered Shane’s website. I’ve learned how to use film lighting like Kino-Flo, “blondes and redheads”, HMIs, and more. He demonstrated when and why to use a PAR instead of a fresnel, or when to bounce light instead of diffusing it. He showed me how to set up Distro boxes and cable. I’ve learned how to create sunlight with “the sun in a can” and why it takes five people to safely mount an 18K HMI lamp on a stand. A large light that I now use in my kit because I feel confident now to use one.
What I love about the Filmmakers Academy are the relationships you get to build with other members! One week before Christmas, an agency in Michigan with a client in Texas called and needed help, fast! I would encourage you to join today! The academy that Lydia Hurlbut and Shane Hurlbut ASC have built is more than online education. It’s also a place where you can find work and build friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime!
I think this is the best bang money can buy for ongoing education, community, tons of tools for members @shanehurlbutasc #filmmaking
Your mentoring is nothing short of gold dust – I’m knocking on the door of agency-level work; my budgets vary from $20k to $350K with a crew under me ranging from 2 – 15, and while I’ve been shooting professionally since I was 18 (for 20 years this year in fact) listening to your podcasts has instilled a sense of confidence I’ve not had before.
I believe from the bottom of my heart that if I’d had your mentoring 15 years earlier I would be leaps and bounds ahead of my current level. I have a Helium and Movi (and rent Cookes as I’m a Brit), but I started out with Sony Vx1000’s, etc., and anyone today, from all levels of skill looking for help would be well advised to follow your tutoring. The techniques you teach are skills that can be rolled back to any level of production, but lower level skills cannot be rolled forward in the same way.
Aim for the sky and bring us along with you. Don’t dumb your content down, even if it sometime scares the hell out of us at times. The foundations that you give us will last us a lifetime.
The Hurlbut Academy workshops are a fantastic support to my film students in the classes I teach on Cinematography and Lighting Design. They watch the videos before class and fill out a worksheet. Students love the practical knowledge they get from Shane! They then practice those skills using similar techniques in my classroom workshops during class sessions. They then have to go out in their teams and shoot a short scene putting into practice what they learn. I have seen an improvement of their work over the semester as they engage in some of Shane’s techniques! The Hurlbut Academy is a professionally run education site that complements the university and college classroom quite well! And you’re getting information from a member of the ASC. It’s a win-win for my students!
Hi Shane, Just got on board your website I kinda wish I discovered it sooner! I am so impressed with all time and effort you have put into each lesson, everything is so detailed and concise, great work!
I’ve spent 20 years as a DP coming up from the documentary and journalism world (CNN/Aljazeera) and then spent a year making content for United Airlines and am now an Executive Director making content for major Fortune 500 brands… I have to say what you provide here Shane is knowledge you just can’t get anywhere else. For such a low cost you get lessons that took me a lifetime to learn. It is such an amazing source of inspiration, creativity and knowledge that everyone can take and make themselves and their work so much better.
Probably the best return on investment I’ve gotten. Easily.
I’m about to head into my biggest film yet as a DP and am employing the tactics you laid out in this post. It has made me so much more confident in my communication with the director and has forced me to think critically about my framing selection. Not just what looks good but how it affects the viewer. Maybe these are things I would know intuitively but using your methods leaves little room for error. This is a really solid roadmap. Just what I needed. I also appreciate the fact that you only had 3 weeks on “Fathers and Daughters” yet you use the same tactics as you do in a 7-month production. It’s great to hear that driven home. Cheers Shane!
Outstanding! My lighting game has gotten much better with your help. I was able to knock one out of the park 2 weeks ago on a commerical. And tomorrow I am being asked to a meeting to see how the same production company can get me more of the work that I am looking for. I have been in the game for a long time, I switched positions a while back so the lighting is what I have been studying for the last 2 years. Thanks, Shane! and your team!
Shooting my first big commercial tomorrow (for Pepsi/Buffalo Bills). Tech scout today. I would not be here without you. Thank you Shane Hurlbut ASC, Lydia Hurlbut and team! So many lessons brought me here, giving me the knowledge and confidence to level up. Can’t thank you enough. From pre-production planning to analyze scripts/storyboards to managing the relationship with the director to planning the schedule with the 1st AD around sun directions, all skills I learned or honed in my studies. Never would have thought I’d be so passionate and involved in the greater cinematography industry years ago when I started filming wildlife for Nat Geo, especially the leadership aspects of working on bigger sets.
My name is Jesús, I’ve been a member of the Academy for almost two years and I’m so happy with the all content (the current and the content to come!).
One of the best decisions I’ve made about cinematography education.
Here in Spain, it is very difficult to find a course or school to cover that field, and one thing you also learn in the FA is that you don’t need to be
physically in a class in California. The online education goes to another level here.
The best education in the production industry is right here.
Just jumping on here to give some love to Shane Hurlbut, ASC This group and the academy have been more valuable than my 4.5 year film degree. Best investment I’ve ever made in my craft and it keeps getting better. I saw some work the other day that I did five years ago. Let’s just say I’ve grown substantially since then.
I have been doing small-budget production for nearly 18 years. I wanted to go big. To do so I knew I needed to learn to use Professional Film equipment. But how? Get on set of a feature and learn? As a single dad with a seven-year-old, I can’t work those hours. Then I discovered Shane’s website. I’ve learned how to use film lighting like Kino-Flo, “blondes and redheads”, HMIs, and more. He demonstrated when and why to use a PAR instead of a fresnel, or when to bounce light instead of diffusing it. He showed me how to set up Distro boxes and cable. I’ve learned how to create sunlight with “the sun in a can” and why it takes five people to safely mount an 18K HMI lamp on a stand. A large light that I now use in my kit because I feel confident now to use one.
What I love about the Filmmakers Academy are the relationships you get to build with other members! One week before Christmas, an agency in Michigan with a client in Texas called and needed help, fast! I would encourage you to join today! The academy that Lydia Hurlbut and Shane Hurlbut ASC have built is more than online education. It’s also a place where you can find work and build friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime!
I think this is the best bang money can buy for ongoing education, community, tons of tools for members @shanehurlbutasc #filmmaking
Your mentoring is nothing short of gold dust – I’m knocking on the door of agency-level work; my budgets vary from $20k to $350K with a crew under me ranging from 2 – 15, and while I’ve been shooting professionally since I was 18 (for 20 years this year in fact) listening to your podcasts has instilled a sense of confidence I’ve not had before.
I believe from the bottom of my heart that if I’d had your mentoring 15 years earlier I would be leaps and bounds ahead of my current level. I have a Helium and Movi (and rent Cookes as I’m a Brit), but I started out with Sony Vx1000’s, etc., and anyone today, from all levels of skill looking for help would be well advised to follow your tutoring. The techniques you teach are skills that can be rolled back to any level of production, but lower level skills cannot be rolled forward in the same way.
Aim for the sky and bring us along with you. Don’t dumb your content down, even if it sometime scares the hell out of us at times. The foundations that you give us will last us a lifetime.
The Hurlbut Academy workshops are a fantastic support to my film students in the classes I teach on Cinematography and Lighting Design. They watch the videos before class and fill out a worksheet. Students love the practical knowledge they get from Shane! They then practice those skills using similar techniques in my classroom workshops during class sessions. They then have to go out in their teams and shoot a short scene putting into practice what they learn. I have seen an improvement of their work over the semester as they engage in some of Shane’s techniques! The Hurlbut Academy is a professionally run education site that complements the university and college classroom quite well! And you’re getting information from a member of the ASC. It’s a win-win for my students!
Hi Shane, Just got on board your website I kinda wish I discovered it sooner! I am so impressed with all time and effort you have put into each lesson, everything is so detailed and concise, great work!
I’ve spent 20 years as a DP coming up from the documentary and journalism world (CNN/Aljazeera) and then spent a year making content for United Airlines and am now an Executive Director making content for major Fortune 500 brands… I have to say what you provide here Shane is knowledge you just can’t get anywhere else. For such a low cost you get lessons that took me a lifetime to learn. It is such an amazing source of inspiration, creativity and knowledge that everyone can take and make themselves and their work so much better.
Probably the best return on investment I’ve gotten. Easily.
I’m about to head into my biggest film yet as a DP and am employing the tactics you laid out in this post. It has made me so much more confident in my communication with the director and has forced me to think critically about my framing selection. Not just what looks good but how it affects the viewer. Maybe these are things I would know intuitively but using your methods leaves little room for error. This is a really solid roadmap. Just what I needed. I also appreciate the fact that you only had 3 weeks on “Fathers and Daughters” yet you use the same tactics as you do in a 7-month production. It’s great to hear that driven home. Cheers Shane!
Outstanding! My lighting game has gotten much better with your help. I was able to knock one out of the park 2 weeks ago on a commerical. And tomorrow I am being asked to a meeting to see how the same production company can get me more of the work that I am looking for. I have been in the game for a long time, I switched positions a while back so the lighting is what I have been studying for the last 2 years. Thanks, Shane! and your team!
Shooting my first big commercial tomorrow (for Pepsi/Buffalo Bills). Tech scout today. I would not be here without you. Thank you Shane Hurlbut ASC, Lydia Hurlbut and team! So many lessons brought me here, giving me the knowledge and confidence to level up. Can’t thank you enough. From pre-production planning to analyze scripts/storyboards to managing the relationship with the director to planning the schedule with the 1st AD around sun directions, all skills I learned or honed in my studies. Never would have thought I’d be so passionate and involved in the greater cinematography industry years ago when I started filming wildlife for Nat Geo, especially the leadership aspects of working on bigger sets.
Stream our content at any time no matter if you’re in the throes of production or learning on your schedule.
Each of our mentors are active leaders in the film industry who
work on projects such as commercials, features, and documentaries
and share their knowledge and insight from years of experience.
Gain access to our extensive library of more than 55+ courses
and 800+ hours of lessons, including access to schematics,
PDFs, our career pathway features, and more!
You have a unique journey. With Career Pathways, you have a blueprint for all the courses and lessons you need to succeed in your preferred subject like Cinematography, Directing, Camera Assisting, Lighting Technician, etc…
Part of jumping ahead of the competition in your career involves networking. Meet like-minded creatives at Filmmakers Academy and gain access to our private Facebook group today to meet and refer crew members. Advance in your skills together!
Each of our mentors are active leaders in the film industry who work on projects such as commercials, features, and documentaries and share their knowledge and insight from years of experience.
Gain access to our extensive library of more than 55+ courses and 800+ hours of lessons, including access to schematics, PDFs, our career pathway features, and more!
You have a unique journey. With Career Pathways, you have a blueprint for all the courses and lessons you need to succeed in your preferred subject like Cinematography, Directing, Camera Assisting, Lighting Technician, etc…
Part of jumping ahead of the competition in your career involves networking. Meet like-minded creatives at Filmmakers Academy and gain access to our private Facebook group today to meet and refer crew members. Advance in your skills together!
” The platform will allow artisans and filmmakers to unlock a whole new realm of educational possibilities for creatives.”
– Jazz Tangcay
“I’m not sure about the rest of you, but this is the type of educational hub that I’ve been waiting for since the day I first picked up a camera.”
” Fantastic, what an absolute wealth of knowledge – learned a lot!”
If you’re not yet ready to become a member, we also offer two other ways to enjoy our filmmaking educational content.
Get access to all of our content during your free trial.
Only interested in taking one specific course, we offer the option to access it individually.
What is Filmmakers Academy?
Filmmakers Academy is a versatile, premium online filmmaking platform that unlocks a whole new realm of educational possibilities for creatives. We teach you what you don’t learn in film school and blend that with on-set Hollywood training into one unique educational experience for both professionals and aspiring visual creatives.
What’s included in a Filmmakers Academy membership?
Filmmakers Academy offers two membership tiers: Annual All Access and Monthly All Access.
All Access includes unlimited access to all of our regularly updated courses and lessons as well as entry to our Private Facebook Group for Global Referrals + Collaboration, access to PDF resources, and our Career Paths feature that includes Cinematography, Directing, Lighting, G&E, Camera Assisting, Post-Production, and more!
Both memberships include the same features and access and only differ by mode of payment. An annual All Access membership is the best value paid one time per year. The monthly All Access membership consists of a recurring monthly payment.
What filmmaking topics does Filmmakers Academy provide?
Filmmakers Academy offers an impressive range of topics that include Cinematography, Directing, Lighting, Grip and Electric, Color Correction, Post Production, and more!
Can I watch videos on my phone or tablet without using an app?
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