Our Favorite Black Friday Deals
There’s no better time in the year to score big on huge savings than Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday (which has expanded into an entire week!). Like a good filmmaker, you’ve waited all year for this moment, so now you can get what you need for a fraction of the cost. That’s why we at Filmmakers Academy listed our favorite 2021 Black Friday deals!
We’ve aggregated some of the best deals for filmmakers across the entire industry, so you don’t have to search endlessly for hours on end. That way, you can pick and choose the best gear and equipment to add to your package. Take a gander below!
BEST FOR CAMERA-OWNER OPERATORS
Tiffen Filters
This Black Friday, our favorite camera filters brand is offering various discounts in its store that range from filtration to DOMKE bags and Davis & Sanford tripods.
Here are the best deals in their store.
Consumer Filters – 20% off
Whether you’re looking for Neutral Density, Glimmerglass, Black Pro-Mist, or any other kind of consumer filter, they’re available for 20% off in the Tiffen store.
- Brand: Tiffen Filters
- Type: Screw-In & Drone Filters
- Price: $8-600
Use Promo Code: PRE20
Select MPTV Filters – 10% off
Soften highlights and lower contrast while creating the World’s greatest images with Tiffen Filters from Black Pro-Mist to Glimmerglass and beyond.
- Brand: Tiffen Filters
- Type: Motion Picture & Television Filter
- Price: $124-1.7K
Use Promo Code: PRE10
Domke Bags & Accessories – 15% off
Take your gear home for the holidays while keeping your gear safe and organized with a new DOMKE bag. Tiffen Filters is offering 15% off DOMKE bags and accessories, plus 20% off select bags (as marked on product pages).
Use Promo Code: PRE15
Marked Down Bags & Accessories:
- Domke Color Coded Protective Wrap
- Filmguard XRay Guard Bag
- Domke 1” Web Strap without Swivel Quick Release
- Domke 1” Web Strap with Swivel Quick Release
- 4-compartment camera insert
Davis & Sanford Tripods – 15% off
Everyone needs a solid, reliable base on which to place their camera. Luckily, there are select photo and video tripods that are available for 15% off in the store.
Use Promo Code: PRE15
Davis & Sanford Pocket Tripod
The Davis & Sanford Pocket Tripod is portable and lightweight that works well for mounting mirrorless or small DSLR cameras and your phone.
- Phone mount included
- Accepts phone/case up to 3.5 inches
- 2.2 lbs weight capacity
Use Promo Code: POCKET20
BLUESHAPE BATTERIES
Blueshape currently unleashed deals that start on November 26th and are available until the end of 2021. If you need the power that can withstand the elements, Blueshape unveiled amazing deals for both Gold Mount and V-Mount chargers! You can get two of the following batteries for an impressive discount.
FIND YOUR LOCAL BLUESHAPE DEALER.
BLUESHAPE 140WH mini
Get 2 batteries for $844 (a savings of $150!) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
Combination 2 Batteries and Charger
- BG140HD (2)
- Advanced Two-Place CGTR2P Gold-Mount Charger
Available for $1,361 (a $230 savings!) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
- BV140HD (2)
- Advanced Two-Place CVTR2P V-Mount Charger
Available for $1,361 (a $230 savings!) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
- BG190HDplus (2)
- Advanced CGTR2 Gold-Mount Charger
Available for $1,899 (a $292 savings) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
- BG190HDplus (2)
- Advanced CGTR2 Gold-Mount Charger
- 14V 190HD+ has 193 Wh capacity
- Delivers up to 20 Amps
Available for $1,899 (a savings of $292) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
- BV190HDplus (2)
- Advanced CVTR2 V-Mount Charger
- 14V 190HD+ has 193 Wh capacity
- Delivers up to 20 Amps
Available for $1,899 (a savings of $292) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
- BG290HDplus (2)
- Advanced CGTR2 Gold-Mount Charger
- 14V 290HD+ has 290 Wh capacity
- Delivers up to 20 Amps
Available for $2,147 (a savings of $364) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
- BV290HDplus (2)
- Advanced CGTR2 V-Mount Charger
- 14V 290HD+ has 290 Wh capacity
- Delivers up to 20 Amps
Available for $2,147 (a savings of $364) from an authorized BLUESHAPE Dealer.
Insta360
Insta360 is one of our favorite tools for pre-production. You can use it to scout locations without needing a large group of people with you. That means department heads can review the footage to plan shots, get measurements, and look at locations virtually any time they want.
Insta360 is currently offering up to 50% off of their products from now until November 30th.
CHECK OUT THE BARGAINS AT INSTA360!
Insta360 GO 2 + Free Lens Guard
- Standalone includes 1x GO 2 (32GB)
- Charge Case (1x)
- Lens Guard (pre-installed on the lens by default) (1x)
- Magnet Pendant (1x)
- Pivot Stand (1x)
- Easy Clip (1x)
- Type-C Charge Cable (1x)
Price: $323.97 (A $30 savings!)
Insta360 ONE X2
- Standalone includes 1x Insta360 ONE X2
- Single lens capture
- Dual-lens 5.7K capture
- Best stabilization in the game
- *Does not contain memory card
Price: $456.97 (A $43 savings!)
Insta360 ONE R
- 1-Inch Edition includes 1x 1-Inch Wide Angle Mod
- Core (1x)
- Battery Base (1x)
- Mounting Bracket (1x)
Price: $513.48 (A $169 savings!)
SAMSUNG
SAMSUNG 2TB T5 PORTABLE SOLID-STATE DRIVE
CHECK OUT SAMSUNG 2TB T5 PORTABLE SOLID-STATE DRIVE.
- 2TB Storage Capacity
- USB 3.1 Type-C and Type-A Connections
- Up to 540 MB/s Data Transfer Rate
- USB Type-C & USB Type-A Cables Included
- AES 256-Bit Hardware Encryption
Price: $199.99 (a savings of $50!)
ATOMOS
ATOMOS NINJA V 5″ 4K HDMI RECORDING MONITOR
CHECK OUT ATOMOS NINJA V 5” 4K HDMI RECORDING MONITOR.
- 1920 x 1080 Touchscreen Display
- 4K HDMI 2.0 Input/Output
- 1000 cd/m² Brightness
- 10-Bit 4:2:2 ProRes & DNxHR Encoding
- Supports Multiple Log Formats
- 10-Bit Exterior Viewable Monitor
- Supports ProRes Raw with Select Cameras
- AtomHDRMode with 10-Stop Dynamic Range
- Records to 2.5” Mini or Standard SSDs
- Single Sony L-Series Battery Slot
Price: $499 (a savings of $150!)
RØDE
RØDE VIDEOMIC PRO CAMERA-MOUNT SHOTGUN MICROPHONE
CHECK OUT RØDE VIDEOMIC PRO CAMERA-MOUNT SHOTGUN MICROPHONE.
- Mobile Journalist, Vlogger, Run & Gun
- 70-Hr Run Time via 9V Battery
- Attached 3.5mm TRS Output Cable
- Compact and Lightweight
- Integrated Shoe/Pole Shockmount
- For Cameras and Portable Recorders
- Gain and Bass Roll-Off
- Power Switch with LED
- Windscreen Reduces Wind Noise
Price: $149 (a savings of $80!)
SMALLHD
SMALLHD 703 ULTRABRIGHT ON-CAMERA MONITOR
CHECK OUT SMALLHD 703 ULTRABRIGHT ON-CAMERA MONITOR.
- 7” 1920 x 1080 Display
- Bright 2200 cd/m² LCD Panel
- Power via 2-Pin LEMO
- Milled Aluminum Unibody Housing
- SDI and HDMI Inputs
- HDR Preview
- Page Builder OS
- Includes D-Tap Power Cable
Price: $2,249 (a savings of $750!)
TILTAING
TILTAING FF-T06 MINI FOLLOW FOCUS
CHECK OUT TILTAING FF-T06 MINI FOLLOW FOCUS.
- Mounts on 15mm Rod, 2 x Hard Stops
- Precision Fluid Dampening Control
- 0.8 MOD Gear, Removable Marking Disk
- Hard-Shell Case Included
Price: $79 (a savings of $20!)
SANDISK
SANDISK 128GB EXTREME PRO UHS-I SDXC MEMORY CARD
CHECK OUT SANDISK 128GB EXTREME PRO UHS-I SDXC MEMORY CARD.
- 128GB Storage Capacity
- Max Read Speed: 170 MB/s
- Min Write Speed: 30 MB/s
- Built-In Write-Protect Switch
- UHS-I / V30 / U3 / Class 10
- Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s
- Records Full HD, 3D, and 4K Video
Price: $30.99 (a savings of $49!)
SANDISK 128GB EXTREME PRO CFEXPRESS CARD TYPE B
CHECK OUT SANDISK 128GB EXTREME PRO CFEXPRESS CARD TYPE B.
- 128GB Storage Capacity
- Max Write Speed: 1200 MB/s
- Compatible with Select XQD Devices
- Max Read Speed: 1700 MB/s
- Records Raw 4K Video
- Downloadable Photo Recovery Software
Price: $179.99 (a savings of $70!)
BEST FOR POST-PRODUCTION
MUSICBED
Musicbed is the leading sync licensing platform for authentic music from relevant artists. From music discovery and idea inception, all the way to finishing films with the perfect music, Musicbed plays an integral role in the creative process. Musicbed represents over 900 leading composers, tour-tested bands, and rising singer/songwriters, to help you find the perfect soundtrack for your next project.
And, guess what? Musicbed is offering a one-day (11/26/21) deal that’s exclusive to our readers. When you use the coupon code FABLACKFRIDAY at checkout, you’ll receive your first month free when you purchase an annual Business subscription.
Use Promo Code: FABLACKFRIDAY (valid only 11/26/21)
LOUPEDECK
LOUPEDECK + PHOTO & VIDEO EDITING CONSOLE
CHECK OUT LOUPEDECK + PHOTO & VIDEO EDITING CONSOLE.
- Edit Using Buttons, Dials, and Sliders
- Command Multiple Editing Functions
- Mechanical Keys
- Adobe Lightroom, Premiere Pro Compatible
- Beta Integration for Capture One
- Adjust & Fine Tune Images
- Two Customizable Dials & 17 Buttons
- Ergonomic Design & Improved Build
- Skylum Aurora HDR Compatible
- Windows & Mac Compatible
Price: $229 (originally $279)
MONOPRICE
MONOPRICE MM-5R POWERED MULTIMEDIA SPEAKERS
CHECK OUT MONOPRICE MM-5R POWERED MULTIMEDIA SPEAKERS.
- Ribbon Tweeter
- Bluetooth
- Qualcomm aptX HD Audio
- USB DAC
- Optical Inputs
- Subwoofer Output
- Remote Control
Price: $299.99 (a savings of $100!)
APPLE
APPLE 13.3” MACBOOK PRO M1 CHIP WITH RETINA DISPLAY (LATE 2020, SPACE GRAY)
CHECK OUT APPLE 13.3” MACBOOK PRO M1 CHIP WITH RETINA DISPLAY (LATE 2020, SPACE GRAY).
- Apple M1 8-Core CPU
- 13.3” 2560 x 1600 IPS Retina Display
- P3 Color Gamut, True Tone Technology
- Touch Bar, Touch ID Sensor
- Magic Keyboard, Force Touch Trackpad
- 16GB Unified RAM, 512GB SSD
- 8-Core GPU, 16-Core Neural Engine
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0
- 2 x Thunderbolt 3 / USB4 Ports
- macOS
Price: $1,549 (a savings of $150!)
BEST FOR ANY KIND OF FILMMAKER
Filmmakers Academy
All Access membership
This membership is the first of its kind! When you go All Access, you receive every course and lesson in our content library, which amounts to 800+ hours — and counting!
All of our courses and lessons are instructed by industry experts that include:
- Shane Hurlbut, ASC – Cinematographer
- David Cole – Master Colorist
- Jordan Brady – Director
- Sherri Kauk – Cinematographer
- Derek Edwards – Key 1st Assistant Camera & Operator
- Derek Johnson – DIT and Junior Colorist
- Chris Herr – Gimbal Tech & Operator
Filmmakers Academy will also be adding new mentors in 2022. They consist of the following:
- Gabrielle Blackwood – Documentary Director
- Lydia Hurlbut – Wellness & Filmmaking Lifestyle
- Joaquin Elizondo – Editor
Save 20% off with our early access price! That’s right—we’re offering one of the biggest Black Friday sales of the year!
Price: $33/mo. (originally valued at $39/mo.) billed annually.
30% Storewide Sale
If you’re not ready to go All Access, that’s okay! You can access courses individually or bundled together by subjects in our store. And for a limited time, Filmmakers Academy is slashing its prices for every course in its store by 30%.
Courses in the Filmmakers Academy Store include:
- Color Correcting: Terms & Techniques
- Unscripted Camera Operating: The Playbook
- Commercial Directing Master Class
- How To Be A Camera Assistant
- How To Be A DIT
Use Promo Code: 30OFFSTORE
Visit Filmmakers Academy to check out all of our courseware.
50% off Super Bundles
For filmmakers who know exactly what they’re looking for, our Super Bundles are curated of courses that allow you to build upon what you have already learned. Just note that everything that’s included in our Super Bundle is already made available with an All Access membership.
Filmmakers Academy Super Bundles:
Camera Operating and Focus Pulling
Reimagine how you approach a camera with three unique mentors!
Bundled Courses:
- How To Be A Camera Assistant with Derek Edwards
- Unscripted Camera Operating: The Playbook with Sherri Kauk
- How To Be A MōVI Gimbal Tech with Chris Herr
1st AC Derek Edwards instructs you on how to prep a camera package, reveals what should be in your AC kit, and how to be an effective focus puller. Cinematographer Sherri Kauk unveils her playbook for shooting unscripted TV and shares crucial skills that will help you grow and progress as an effective camera operator. Then, Chris Herr opens your mind to the world of gimbal technology and operating, focusing specifically on MōVI systems.
Price: $338.50 (orig. $677)
Commercial Directing
Discover what it takes to become a successful commercial director!
Bundled Courses:
- Commercial Directing Master Class with Jordan Brady
- Commercial Directing: What No One Talks About with Shane Hurlbut, ASC
In Jordan Brady’s Commercial Directing Masterclass, you’ll learn how to build and manage your career with brands along with gleaning the nuances of working with agencies. Then, Shane Hurlbut, ASC flips commercial directing on its head to reveal insights on landing the job, optimizing your efficiency, creating successful treatments, and how to pitch locations.
Price: $324.50 (orig. $649)
Color Correcting + DIT
Learn the fundamentals of color correction both on set and in post-production!
Bundled Courses:
- Color Correcting: Terms & Techniques with David Cole
- How To Be A DIT with Derek Johnson
Master Colorist David Cole guides you through the fundamentals of color correction where he explains key terms and then applies them to a working scenario (with shortcuts included!). Derek Johnson shines a light on what’s in his DIT kit, advises workflow and management, then shows you how to conduct live color grades on set with LUTs, imparting advanced color grading techniques.
Price: $324 (orig. $648)
THE BOTTOM LINE
Whether you’re looking to punch up your personal kit or searching for a gift for that special filmmaker in your life, Black Friday and Cyber Week are the best time to buy. At no other time in the year, you will experience such savings!
If you’re an owner-operator, you could add Tiffen filters, Blueshape batteries, or SanDisk cards to your package at an incredible value. Post-production warriors will benefit from a Loupedeck Photo + Video Editing Console or Monoprice MM-5R Powered Multimedia speakers. But, all of the above would certainly heighten their talents from industry masters with a Filmmakers Academy All Access membership! Be sure to act fast before these discounts and savings disappear. You don’t want to wait a whole other year…