Cinematography Bundle

From camera operator to cinematographer

In the filmmaking course, Jordy explains the difference. A camera operator sets up the camera and frames the subject correctly. A cinematographer makes the creative decisions about camera and light, and tells the story through lighting, framing and movement. Creating depth, he says, is where cinematography starts. This bundle follows that path: the camera skills first, then depth and story through light and composition.

What's in the Cinematography Bundle

Learn Filmmaking From Beginner To PRO

31 lessons, about 2 hours, for beginners. Jordy built this course the way film schools teach: first the camera settings (aperture, ISO, shutter speed, frame rates, the histogram, focus, white balance and picture profiles), then framing and visual storytelling (the rule of thirds, framing a person, focal length, camera height, the 180 degree rule, B-roll and shooting for the edit), and finally the gear that supports the camera (ND filters, tripods, rigs, gimbals and sliders).

Introduction To Lighting For Video & Film

6 lessons, under 30 minutes, for beginners. Where to put a light and why. You learn the key light, fill light, backlight and practical lights, how a highlight pushes a shadow forward to create depth, and how warm and cool light separate your subject from the background. In the last lesson Jordy lights an interview and a dramatic fiction scene in his own living room.

Mastering Cinematic Compositions In Video & Film

13 lessons, about 40 minutes, listed as advanced. How to frame a shot so the viewer looks where you want: the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, center composition, depth of field, color and exposure, camera height and focal length, leading lines, the point of interest from one cut to the next, and movement inside the frame and of the camera. Jordy kept every lesson short so you can rewatch it while you practice.

What you can do after the three courses

• Set aperture, ISO, shutter speed and white balance yourself, and check exposure on the histogram.

• Choose a focal length and camera height for the story you want to tell.

• Place a key light, fill light, backlight and practical lights so your shot alternates highlight and shadow.

• Use warm light against cool light, or a red scarf against a green bush, to make your subject stand out.

• Frame with the rule of thirds, the golden ratio or a center composition, and plan where the eye lands after every cut.

Who the Cinematography Bundle is for

Anyone who films interviews, short films, documentaries or corporate videos and wants the shots to look cinematic. The filmmaking and lighting courses start from the basics. The composition course is aimed at people who already shoot video, so you take it last.

What you need

A camera on which you can set the exposure yourself. Jordy demonstrates on a Panasonic Lumix GH5, but he says it does not matter which camera you use, and he suggests your phone for the composition exercises. No professional lights are required: the principles are shown with windows and lamps as well as film lights. To try the color lessons, colored gels or filters help. None of the three courses uses editing software.

In which order to take the courses

Start with Learn Filmmaking From Beginner To PRO. Its lesson on creating depth introduces cinematography and recommends Jordy's composition course as the next step. Then take Introduction To Lighting For Video & Film, and finish with Mastering Cinematic Compositions In Video & Film.