This page was created to solely send filmmakers to other great websites online. I really feel these are the best websites for filmmakers. There are a ton of resources and educational sites out there and hopefully this post will help make the search for that a little easier. If you feel that there are other websites on this list that should be mentioned, leave me a comment or email and I’ll look into it. Thanks.
https://www.hurlbutacademy.com/
Shane Hurlbut is a well known cinematographer whose work includes: Need For Speed, Terminator Salvation, & The Greatest Game Ever Played, just to name a few. He writes about his experiences and shares tips to make you a better cinematographer/filmmaker.
Filmmaker IQ is like your film theory college course, online for free. John Hess explores the ‘whys’ of film-making just as much as the ‘hows’.
Planet 5d is a great site to stay current with dslr cameras and technology. Planet Mitch is a great guy and there to answer any questions you may have.
http://mattscottvisuals.com/lighting/
Matt Scott educates in a unique way. He has some of the cleanest lighting plots out there and is an amazing cinematographer. Check out the interview I did with him here: http://gaddisvisuals.com/capturinglightepisode6/
Caleb Pike does great tutorials and DIY videos. He recently released a Panasonic GH4 guide that walks users through all the features and menus of that particular camera.
Cinema 5d started out as a site focused on the Canon 5DM2, but now covers all digital cinema cameras. Their camera reviews are fantastic.
If you want to stay current and up to date with technology, newsShooter is the place to go. Everything thing from gear reviews, to firmware updates and NAB coverage.
The American Society of Cinematographers website… that’s all i’m going to say.
http://www.colorgradingcentral.com
Color Grading Central is great for learning color correction and grading. This membership site is where I learned how to use Davinci Resolve.
http://lightsfilmschool.com/blog/
Light Film School offers an online film program, but they also blog about topics related to screenwriting, cinematography and directing.
Andrew Kramer is a genius when it comes to motion graphics and After Effects. If that’s your thing, you should totally be following this site.
http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/
Premiumbeat.com is a great resource for licensing music. The site also covers production and videobproduction. There is even a page for industry news.
Creative Cow is a great site/forum on video production. The community there is very helpful with answering questions. This is probably one of the first blogs I started following years ago. They’ve been around for a while.
Film Riot is one of the best DIY and low-budget film-making sites out their. Ryan Connolly and Triune Films show that you can get great video with tips and tricks that are affordable.
Stillmotion consists of a group of filmmakers that started doing weddings and now are doing high profile projects. They focus on “story” and “finding your voice” as filmmaker and share their personal experiences. They have a 4 part video tutorial on process that should be required viewing on “how to tell stories”. They’ve also released an app, “SMAPP” (iOS), that has tools for creating shot lists, picking lenses and what gear to use.
“No Film School is a resource for all things film-making. They post tutorials, camera reviews, and let you know that in the film industry to be successful no film school is required.
Ryan is a skilled cinematographer who shares his knowledge of cameras and film-making/video production technique. His site is a great read for those wanting to stay current with cameras and cinematography gear.
Philip Bloom covers film-making from DSLR’s to high end digital cinema cameras. Philip often does in-depth cam and equipment reviews and shares his thoughts on the current state of cinematography and the video industry.
Making Of is a Youtube channel where Natalie Portman interviews industry professionals on film-making.
Shooting People is a great blog site, but it’s much more than that. You can network with other industry professionals, find jobs, and even acquire funding.
Indy Film Gear covers everything from DIY projects and gear, to creating your own call sheets and paperwork.
Learningdslrvideo.com is a site learning as you go. sharing my mistakes and my successes with everyone else. Dave Dugdale is very transparent in mentioning that he isn’t a professional, but a advanced amateur learning the art of film.
Retooled focuses on the post production side of things, with topics relating to Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro and After Effects. Be sure to check out the detailed video tutorials for those looking to learn intermediate and advanced editing techniques.
Vincent Laforet is a filmmaker who became known from the popular short film “Reverie” shot on the Canon 5DM2.
If you want to learn a particular skill, lynda.com is the place for you to do so. There are a wide range of skills but the tutorials are great.