Voiceover and narration can be used for anything from training videos to commercials to animated features as it’s a form of acting and reading and can be learned by anyone. So, if you’re keen to learn this valuable skill yourself, you’ve come to the right place!

I have found some of the best free online voice-over courses and classes available online to help you break into a voiceover career for profit or use it for your own videos or animations as you improve your acting skills.

Many of these online courses include valuable extras such as material to download, exams, course textbooks, CE credits, or a certificate of completion. Let’s jump right in!

Top 10 Best Free Online Voice Over Classes

1. Voice over Masterclass – The Official DIY Guide to Voice Acting (Skillshare)

First up on my list is a great online course to teach you all of the skills you need for success in voice-over acting, from how to nail the read, how to record, and how to market yourself and your work!

You will be taught in this online voice-over course by Donald Fittsgill, owner of the company Podcast Doc which assists aspiring podcasters to find their voice and present it properly so you are in great hands with his expertise!

Across 45 minutes of beginner-level on-demand video, the course modules include conversational reading, upbeat reads, narration, setting up a recording room or home studio, hardware essentials, recording and editing, creating audiobooks, creating voice-over demos for the online market or documentaries, and finding a unique edge. Also included are downloadable resources, class projects, and class discussions.

This class is hosted on Skillshare, an online continuing education platform giving new users a free trial to test out a whole range of courses offered on the platform! All in all, this is a great short and sweet online voice-over course to get you started in the world of voiceovers and home recording!

• Beginner level for those looking to find their new voice!
• ¾ hour on-demand video
• Taught by voice-over actor
• Downloadable resources
• Class projects
• Class discussions

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

2. Introduction to the Voice Over industry from a voice America recognizes (Skillshare)

Learn from a nationally recognized voice actor in this beginner-level course offering plenty of insightful tips and tricks from an industry expert!

Nationally acclaimed voice-over personality, Mike Elmore, will be your instructor for this online course. Mike is a coach for acting and narration for many popular TV shows and also a producer of several successful shows.

Spanning 2 hours of self-paced on-demand video instruction, course modules include an introduction to voice-over, freelance options, improv, and a critique of student projects. Included in the course are downloadable resources, class projects, and class discussions for students to access to boost their learning.

SkillShare is the host for this online course and new users can take advantage of a free trial to enroll in the thousands of other courses like this one across diverse fields. This online voice-over course provides an excellent opportunity for you to build up your voice-acting abilities!

• Beginner level… no need for a recording studio!
• 2 hours of on-demand video
• Taught by TV voice-over producer
• Downloadable resources
• Class projects
• Class discussion

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

3. Voice-Over for Video and Animation (LinkedIn Learning)

Whether you’re a director or an actor, you’ll need to learn what is expected for quality voiceovers and how to improve your own readings. This all-levels online course will teach you all this and more!

In this online voice-over course, you will be taught by producer, director, and voice actor, Mark Simon, who is also president of Animatics & Storyboards, Inc whose work you would have seen if you’re a fan of Woody Woodpecker, Dynasty, and The Walking Dead.

By enrolling in this online class lasting 90 minutes, students will be guided through class topics covering preparation for a voice-over session, finding clients, making demo reels, and how to deliver files. This course also includes downloadable resources, class discussions, and a certificate of completion.

This course is hosted by LinkedIn Learning and includes valuable extras such as downloadable resources, CE credits, and a certificate of completion, as well as a free trial for new LinkedIn members. Hone your voice-over skills by enrolling in this online course!

• All levels
• 1 ½ hours on-demand video
• Taught by voice over director
• Downloadable resources
• Class projects
• Certificate of completion

Activate 1-Month FREE Trial

4. Be a Voice Actor: Making a Living with Your Voice (Udemy)

If you’re keen to take your first steps into the industry of professional voice over acting, look no further than this beginner-level online course which discusses how to record voice over and how to market yourself successfully!

Cartoon voice actor Laci Morgan is your instructor for this class, and has also made voice ads and created characters for video games from companies such as Mattel, Nintendo, Hasbro, and Sephora, so you know you’re being taught by an expert!

Comprising 2 ½ hours of on-demand video content, the course modules cover finding a voice, setting up a studio, audio editing, making a demo, marketing, and finding work. This class also includes downloadable resources and a certificate of completion.

Udemy is the online education platform hosting this course, a leading source of continuing education in many different fields, offering extras such as lifetime access and CE credits. You won’t want to miss this fantastic voice over course to take your skills to the next level!

• Beginner level
• 2 ½ hours on demand video
• Taught by cartoon and video game voice over actor
• Downloadable resources
• Class projects
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

5. Intro to Voice Overs 101 – A complete newbie’s guide to voice narration using Librivox and Audacity (Skillshare)

Teaching the difference between voice over and voice acting, this great online class will instruct you in the editing app Audacity and the project site Librivox to teach you to make demos that will launch your new career!

Your instructor for this quick 30-minute online class featuring on-demand video will be Erin Lillis, a voice actor, creative consultant, and commercial animator. Erin has worked on projects as diverse as Rogue One – A Star Wars Story and Disney’s Moana.

Students of this online voice over course are taken through course modules including voice overs, voice acting, eliminating unwanted mouth noises, choosing a microphone, and prepping scripts. Extras include downloadable resources, class projects, and class discussion.

SkillShare hosts the course and provides extras such as downloadable materials and class projects to work on, plus you get a free trial if you’re new to SkillShare. All in all, this is a great short and snappy course that enables you to get to work as a voice over artist!

• Beginner level
• ½ hour on demand video
• Taught by voice over expert
• Downloadable resources
• Class projects
• Class discussion

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

6. Vocal Lessons: 3 Expanding Your Range (LinkedIn Learning)

If you’re interested in expanding your vocal range for any kind of voice work, these singing lessons and vocal training methods will teach you just that!

As for your instructors, you will be led by Jeannie Deva, who has coached and trained Grammy winning singers, Broadway actors, and top recording artists across different genres of music and she brings her wealth of experience to this online voice over course.

This online voice over course spans 3 hours of on-demand video covering the 12 stages of developing as a singer, head voice vs chest voice, eliminating register breaks, and improving range and precision.

LinkedIn Learning hosts this course and provides lifetime access across multiple devices, downloadable resources, Continuing Education credits, a certificate of completion. You also get a free trial if you’re a new LinkedIn member! To take your voice over skills to new heights, this is a great course to enroll in!

• Beginner level
• 3 hours on demand video
• Taught by professional singing coach
• Lifetime access
• Class projects
• Certificate of completion

Activate 1-Month FREE Trial

7. VOICE OVER ACTING -Instruction in Commercials Animation & more (Udemy)

If you are being complimented on your great voice but wonder how to turn it into paid gigs or a full-time career, this online course will help you achieve those goals!

Voice coach and voice actor Michael Christopher is your expert teacher for this online course. Michael has done voice work for Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, and NASCAR.

Across 4 ½ hours of on demand video suitable for all levels, modules include the 4 C’s of voice overs, breathing exercises, essential techniques, and a bonus singing course. There are also valuable extras such as downloadable resources, articles and class projects.

Udemy online courses have lifetime access across multiple devices. Many of the courses include Continuing Education credit and a certificate of completion. All in all, this is an excellent course to take to hone your voice over abilities!

• All levels
• 4 ½ jours on demand video
• Taught by professional voice actor
• Lifetime access
• Downloadable resources
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

8. Setup for Video Interview and Voice Over (CreativeLive)

Part of a series of comprehensive courses for story telling, this online course covers a lot of material useful for making great video which includes recording accurate audio, so you can hone your voice over skills!

Corey Rich will be leading you in this online voice over course, bringing his many years of experience in filming video and commercials for major companies including Fortune 100 companies.

Students who enroll in this course get the benefit of 15 hours on on-demand video lessons covering topics such as DSLR filmmaking, creative briefs, storyboarding, basic gear, video interviews, and voice over.

CreativeLive classes include lifetime access via streaming or downloading, bonus content, class projects, and a certificate of completion. Overall, this highly comprehensive online voice over course is not to be missed no matter what level you’re currently at!

• All levels
• 15 hours on demand video
• Taught by professional video maker
• Bonus materials
• Lifetime access
• Certificate of completion

Visit CreativeLive.com

9. Voice-Over Training: Record And Edit Voice Overs Like A Pro (Udemy)

If you’re finding that working from home presents challenges for voice over work, you can learn how to overcome these with good planning and proper techniques that are taught in this beginner level course!

Your instructors for this online voice over course are from Voiceover Masterclass, including former BBC news announcer Peter Baker. Peter is a popular tutor, having taught over 50,000 students across various courses.

In this course comprising 6 ⅓ hours of on-demand video lessons, class topics cover equipment choices, voice training, voice styles, audio editing, and marketing. Students also have access to downloadable resources, class projects, and class discussions.

Udemy is the online education platform offering this course, giving users lifetime access, extra materials, and a certificate of completion. Launch your voice acting career with the valuable skills you’ll learn in this online voice over course!

• Beginner level
• 6 ½ hours on demand video
• Taught by professional voice over performer
• Downloadable resources
• Lifetime access
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

10. Voice Training – 30-Days to a More Confident Powerful Voice (Udemy)

Develop a better voice and market yourself as a voice over artist and vocal actor by practicing the methods taught in this great beginner-level voice over course!

As with the previous course on this list, you will be taught by professional instructors from Voiceover Masterclass, including former BBC news announcer Peter Baker so you’re receiving plenty of expert guidance!

Throughout the 5 hours of on-demand video instruction in this course, students are engaged in 30 different lessons on various topics, plus bonus content.

You can find this course on Udemy, which offers you extras such as downloadable resources, class projects, a certificate of completion, lifetime access and Continuing Education credit. Take the opportunity to get started with voiceovers by enrolling in this great course!

• Beginner level
• 5 hours on demand video
• Taught by professional voice workers
• Downloadable resources
• Lifetime access
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to create your own short or feature-length film, you’ve come to the right place to learn the art of filmmaking!

In this article, I have gathered some of the best online filmmaking courses that will get you to produce films like a Hollywood pro in no time. You will learn all about lenses, lighting, positioning, sound recording, cinematography, editing, and much more.

Get ready to learn from some of the top Oscar-winning names in the world, such as Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog. So, let’s dive right in!

Top 13 Best Free Online Filmmaking Courses & Classes 2024

1. Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking (MasterClass)

First to feature on my list is a phenomenal filmmaking course from MasterClass that will take you through the mind of an Oscar-winning filmmaker, showing you how he approaches the art of filmmaking and teaching you elite techniques used by master filmmakers.

Your instructor for this course will be none other than Oscar-winning veteran filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, who just so happens to be one of the most highly-regarded filmmaking minds in the industry! No doubt you’ve watched some of his films, so you know this course offers an incredible opportunity to learn from the best.

Spanning 4 ½ hours, students will go through 30 video lessons on topics including how to develop a good process, channel their own unique influences into their work, what technology to use, develop your style, how to work with the script, cast and direct actors, location scouting, costume design, cinematography, low-budget filmmaking and so much more!

Hosted on MasterClass, a subscription comes with a 30-day money-back refund policy if you change your mind. Overall, a great filmmaking course taught by a true legend!

• Intermediate level
• 4 ½ hours long
• Taught by Oscar-winning filmmaker
• 30-day full refund policy
• Available for offline viewing

Try MasterClass For 30-Days

2. DSLR Filmmaking: From Beginner to PRO! (Skillshare)

Keen to unlock the secrets of the DSLR camera to take your filmmaking from beginner to pro-level? Then this online filmmaking course from Skillshare is a great choice!

For this course, you will be taught by Jordy Vandeput, a filmmaker with over 10 years of professional experience. Jordy is also the founder of Cinecom, an education company that is focused on training creative individuals in the media industry.

In this beginner level, 1 ½ hours long filmmaking class, Jordy will teach students filmmaking basics such as shutter speed, exposure, reading a histogram, ISO, lighting, composition, the rule of thirds, and much more!

Hosted on Skillshare, this course is a great introduction to the filmmaking skills you’re looking for! Skillshare also has over 27,000 other courses available, plus you get a 2-week free trial and can cancel anytime!

• Beginner level
• 1 ½ hours long
• Taught by filmmaker with 10+ years of experience
• Free 2-month trial of Skillshare Premium
• Share your projects and get feedback

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

3. Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking (MasterClass)

If you are looking to learn the techniques and insider knowledge from one of the most iconic and influential documentary makers in history, look no further!

Werner Herzog started making films when he was just 19 years old, and today has directed 70 films, winning close to 50 awards for his incredible work, so you are in excellent hands!

Through 26 on-demand video lessons spanning 6 hours in total, students will follow Werner as he teaches the art of making films that never compromise on quality, covering topics such as cinematography, scouting, self-financing, interview techniques, storytelling, and negotiation skills to name a few.

There’s more than just video lessons on offer – once you’re subscribed to MasterClass, you’ll get PDF workbooks, offline access, audio-only lessons, and a number of other benefits! All in all, a great filmmaking course to keep honing your skills!

• Intermediate level
• 6 hours long
• Taught by legendary filmmaker with 50 awards
• 30-day full refund policy
• PDF workbooks and offline viewing available

Try MasterClass For 30-Days

4. Fundamentals of DSLR Filmmaking (CreativeLive)

If you’ve got the right skill level, you don’t need anything other than a DSLR to shoot professional-level video and film. So, if you’re looking to add these skills to your arsenal, this filmmaking course is a fantastic choice for you.

As for your instructor, Victor Ha, an ex-professional photographer and now a filmmaker, will be teaching you in this course. Over 43,000 students have taken Victor’s beginner-level online course on CreativeLive.

Across 14 hours of on-demand video lessons in this online filmmaking class, Victor will teach students all the right skills for using a DSLR to shoot quality films, with topics including how to use compositional skills while taking video, what features to tweak on the camera, selecting the right equipment, and much more.

GET 20% OFF THE CREATOR PASS WITH CODE CREATIVELIVE20 THRU 10/31!

• Beginner level
• 14 hours long
• Taught by professional filmmaker
• 50% discount on Creator Pass

5. DSLR Filmmaking for Beginners (Skillshare)

Whether you’re shooting a film using your smartphone, DSLR, or GoPro, you’ll need to understand the basics of filmmaking to achieve great results, and this online filmmaking course will teach you the skills you need!

Dennis Schrader, a freelance videographer based in Germany, will be teaching you in this filmmaking class. You will also be joining 20,000 other students who have benefited from Dennis’ many creative classes.

During this dense 1-hour course, students will learn the basic technical knowledge needed to get good at bringing ideas to life through film, including topics such as the impact of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO on video quality, how to balance the composition, use lighting techniques to get a ‘cinematic’ look, and much more!

Currently, students can find this course hosted on Skillshare which has 27,000+ classes and a 2-week free trial!

• Beginner level
• 1 hour long
• Taught by Germany-based videographer
• Free 2-month trial of Skillshare Premium

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

6. Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking (MasterClass)

Next on my list is an excellent course that will teach you filmmaking from the perspective of an award-winning artist who has been on both sides of the camera. After completing this online class, you will be able to bring your ideas to life in your own films!

Your instructor for this filmmaking masterclass will be Jodie Foster, a filmmaker, and actress who has won 2 Oscars for her work. Jodie is known for her roles in Silence of the Lambs and Little Man Tate, so you are being taught by a real industry veteran!

Across 4 hours of on-demand video lessons, you will learn the filmmaking process from the perspective of Jodie, who will teach you topics such as finding a personal story, exploring big ideas, prepping and scheduling, casting, directing actors, shooting the film, editing, and much more.

You can find this filmmaking course over on the MasterClass education platform, where you’ll be able to take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee when you subscribe. You won’t want to miss this unique chance to go behind the scenes and have one of the world’s best filmmakers teach you their craft!

• Intermediate level
• 4 hours long
• Taught by 2-time Oscar-winning filmmaker
• 30-day full refund policy
• Loads of value-added features like PDF workbooks

Try MasterClass For 30-Days

7. Filmmaking on a Budget: Tips for Achieving a Cinematic Look (Skillshare)

If you’ve ever wanted to make a film but thought it would be too expensive, this course is here to show you how to get big-budget results on a low budget!

As for your instructor, you will be taught by Simon Cade, a self-taught filmmaker, and producer who is best known for his YouTube channel, DSLRguide. Simon’s portfolio of work includes various advertisements, mini-documentaries, and music videos.

In just half an hour of jam-packed video content, students will learn how to do filmmaking on a budget by going over equipment, frame rates, shutter speeds, ISO, aperture, shooting on an iPhone, depth of field, cinematography tips, and many more!

Again, this course can be found on Skillshare, which currently offers a 2-week free trial that gives access to their massive catalog of creative online lessons.

• Beginner level
• ½ an hour long
• Taught by self-taught filmmaker
• Free 2-month trial of Skillshare Premium

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

8. Making a Short Film: Start to Finish (LinkedIn Learning)

If you’re brimming with ideas for captivating stories that you want to put out into the world but need to improve your technical ability, this beginner-level online filmmaking course is for you!

Instructors for this filmmaking course will be provided to you by CreatorUp, a network of over 250 creative professionals who are specialists in the fields of filmmaking, photography, and digital content creation.

Once students have completed the 5 hours of on-demand lessons, they will be capable of screenwriting, analyzing and editing their own film script, composing the series of shots needed, budget and schedule a project, work with actors, and much more!

You won’t want to miss this online filmmaking course to learn all the conceptual and technical tips and tricks you need to get started!

• Beginner level
• 5 hours long
• Taught by instructor from CreatorUp
• Certificate of completion
• Free access for new LinkedIn users

Activate 1-Month FREE Trial

9. Cinematography Basics: Understanding Filmmaking Style (Skillshare)

Cinematography is a word that gets thrown around a lot in filmmaking circles, and for good reason. Getting the cinematography of your film on-point can take it from amateur to pro. So if this is something you want to master, look no further!

Zak Mulligan, a cinematographer with renowned work in the film and TV industry, will be teaching you in this online course. Zak is best recognized for his work in popular shows like House of Cards and The Outsider, so you’ll be receiving fantastic industry insight.

Spanning 1-hour of video lessons, students will learn about important considerations that will help them vary the mood, feel, and tone of their film, techniques for making a shot list, composition, visual language, and much more!

Once you’re done with this short filmmaking course, you’ll feel ready to experiment with new ideas and techniques, and you’ll be one step closer to being a professional filmmaker!

• Beginner level
• ½ an hour long
• Taught by accomplished cinematographer
• Free 2-month trial of Skillshare Premium
• Thriving student community of 20,000+ members

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

10. Complete Filmmaker Guide: Become an Incredible Video Creator (Udemy)

Next on my list is a value-packed filmmaking course that will have you overflowing with creative ideas in no time! Taken by over 40,000 students, this class teaches you the planning, shooting, and editing that is involved in making a film.

Julian Melanson, a film director and teacher with over 7 years of professional experience, will be teaching you in this filmmaking course. Julian has published 4 courses on Udemy, teaching over 110,000 students and earning a rating of 4.4 stars.

Through 5 ½ hours of lessons, Julian will teach students everything he knows about the art of directing, shooting, and editing films that mesmerize audiences, including tips and tricks for pre-production, using various lenses, getting the lighting right, getting the right sound quality, and much more.

Students can find this course on the Udemy platform, which also has over 150,000 on-demand online courses available for all levels and provides a certificate of completion at the end. All in all, a great online course to choose to further hone your filmmaking skills!

• Intermediate level
• 5 ½ hours long
• Taught by experienced filmmaker
• Full lifetime access
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

11. Introduction to Documentary Video Storytelling (LinkedIn Learning)

Some of the most impactful documentaries around are the ones that have the power to make you lose track of time by transporting you right into the story they’re telling. If you want to learn how to make documentaries like these, you’ll want to enroll in this online filmmaking course!

Your instructor for this online course will be Ashley Kennedy, a senior staff author at LinkedIn Learning and a video-editing and story-telling expert. Over 11,000 students have taken her online course on LinkedIn, so Ashley comes highly recommended.

In this 2-hour long online filmmaking course, students will learn about everything that goes into making a documentary to inform and engage viewers, including topics such as the history of documentaries, classic expository techniques, modes of storytelling, and much more.

Overall, an excellent introductory class to equip you with the knowledge you need to build up your filmmaking skills!

• Beginner level
• 2 hours long
• Taught by video-editing expert
• Certificate of completion
• Free access for new users

Activate 1-Month FREE Trial

12. Wedding Filmmaking Fundamentals (Pluralsight)

Weddings are a special time, and the right videographer can help a couple treasure their special memories forever.

In this course, you will be taught by Dallin Seely, a professional videographer who covers about 20-30 weddings and other corporate projects in the span of a year. Dallin has received an average instructor rating of 5.0 stars on Pluralsight, so you are in great hands.

Through 1 ½ hours of video lessons, students will learn to make memorable wedding films for couples to treasure in years to come. Topics include planning and preparation, getting the bride and groom ready, capturing the ceremony, post-editing, and much more.

By the time you’re done with this online filmmaking course, you’ll feel ready to take the next step to become a professional videographer!

• Beginner level
• 1 ½ hours long
• Taught by professional videographer
• Certificate of completion
• Free 10-day trial

13. Hollywood Film School: Filmmaking & TV Directing Masterclass (Udemy)

Ending my list on a high note, this is a great hands-on filmmaking class that will teach you key techniques employed by Hollywood directors to make stunning films that captivate audiences. You will be joining over 8,000 students who have taken this online filmmaking course and given it an average rating of 4.3 stars.

Gil Bettman, a veteran film director, will be teaching you in this online course. Gill teaches screenwriting and directing as a professor at Chapman University, and published his debut book, First Time Director, in 2003.

In this beginner-level 5-hour long course, Gil will take students through all the techniques he uses as a successful filmmaker, including the basics of shooting with a moving camera, how to move it around, how to use different lenses to get different effects, and tons more!

Overall, a value-packed online course for learning filmmaking skills!

• Beginner level
• 5 hours long
• Taught by veteran film director
• Full lifetime access
• Certificate of completion

Visit Udemy.com

Storyboarding is an amazingly useful way to communicate your ideas to an audience. It’s guaranteed that pretty much any movie or TV show you can think of once started out as a storyboard.

But would that movie have been made if the storyboard failed to convey the story? Probably not!

The following are some of the best online storyboarding courses in 2024 for those who want to learn how to use storyboards to communicate an idea or plan.

These courses will also teach you a variety of skills including drawing, scriptwriting, and pitching your proposal to an audience! Let’s begin!

Top 11 Best Online Storyboarding Courses 2024!

1. Storyboarding for Motion Graphics: An Introduction to Main Titles (Skillshare)

Up first on my list is an awesome course that is a “Staff Pick” on Skillshare and it will give you a great introduction to using graphic design for motion graphics. This is the perfect niche for the graphic designer who is also a passionate movie buff and is looking for a new way to apply their graphic design skills!

Maggie Tsao is the instructor of this 2-hours course who has worked on Homeland, Saturday Night Live, and Dexter. So students are in great hands!

For this course, students will be working with Adobe Photoshop, so having some experience in this software would be beneficial. You also might find it easier to work with a tablet when working on motion graphic projects – but it’s up to you!

In total, there are 15 lessons in this course and they cover the following topics: what are the main titles?; concept & tools; file setup; style frame: composition, typography, VFX; title frame; and storyboard: sequence, design, final frame, final tweaks.

Other lessons in this course will teach you all the skills you need in order to be able to take on the class project which is to design a main title for the film “Gone Girl” (David Fischer, 2014). You’ll use the movie poster as inspiration and go from there! Overall, a great course!

Strengths:

• Low time commitment and manageable course content: 15 lessons, 1h42m
• Popular: 1,141 students
• Intermediate level – build on your prior knowledge
• Specific focus: motion graphics, main titles

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

2. Storyboarding for Film: Illustrating Scripts and Stories (Skillshare)

Next on my list is another Skillshare class that is a great introduction to storyboarding. It’s also suitable for all levels, and the only materials you need are a pen and some paper. The course also includes some really helpful additional resources such as a storyboard template and reference charts!

Instructor Ryan Falkner has a ton of industry experience and has worked on several well-known TV shows and movies such as ER, Desperate Housewives, House MD, Dukes of Hazzard, and Pineapple Express. Like the above course, you will again be learning from one of the best!

Students will start off with a warm-up exercise which is to storyboard a tweet. After that, you’ll move on to two lessons that cover the core concepts of storyboards and scripts. The following three lessons focus on cinematography: camera shots; camera angles and thumbnail sketches; and camera diagrams.

In total, there are 13 lessons in this course which will give you a great understanding of why storyboarding is an absolutely crucial step in making a successful film. Overall, a great pick!

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 13 lessons, 1h17m
• Popular: 2,592 students
• Suitable for all levels, almost no course requirements or supplemental material necessary

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

3. Storyboarding for Animation (Skillshare)

Moving on is a fantastic course that is geared towards people who envision their story being brought to life via animation. You’ll be taught by art director and motion designer, Sarah Beth Morgan. Sarah has made a successful career as a freelancer in these fields and is here to share her experience and expertise with you!

Topics covered in the course include the power of planning, brainstorming your concept, pulling references, mood boarding, planning the narrative, sketching the action, style framing, designing a scene and adding color and detail.

Like many Skillshare courses, this one too has a project that students can undertake which is to create and develop a storyboard. This project will include your inspiration, mind maps, sketches, and color palettes so that you can put the whole creative process that you learned in this course into practice!

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 1h7m, 13 lessons
• Suitable for all levels
• Specific focus: storyboarding for animation

Activate FREE Skillshare Trial

4. Elearning Essentials: Storyboarding (LinkedIn Learning)

This course will really be able to open up your eyes to how essential the act of storyboarding is when making a plan. Instructor and professional storyboarder, Brett Kirkpatrick, will teach you about some of the different approaches you can take to creating a successful eLearning storyboard.

Brett starts off by establishing an understanding of what storyboarding is which will help to get a grasp on the topic. You will then learn how to get your storyboard started in the following lessons: working with SME’s and stakeholders, identifying your target audience, mapping out your goals/ objectives and working with a script.

In addition to the above modules, there are some additional topics which include designing your slides, animation storyboarding, storyboarding a scenario, and storyboarding a knowledge check.

Although this course focuses on creating a storyboard for the purpose of planning an e-learning program, everything you learn in this course is highly transferable to any type of storyboard you create!

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 1h5m
• Intermediate level – great for professionals
• Very popular: 16,034 students
• Specific focus: storyboarding for professional eLearning

Visit Linkedin.com

5. Learn to Storyboard for Film or Animation (Udemy)

This Udemy course is one of the best online storyboarding courses because along with tons of great info on storyboarding, it will also provide you with some great practical drawing techniques. But don’t worry if drawing isn’t your cup of tea, you don’t need to be Picasso to be a great storyboarder!

There are six lessons in the drawing skills section: top 7 tips for drawing in animation; drawing characters and scenes; drawing the male figure; drawing the female figure; drawing in perspective; and practice drawing a layout. The other two sections focus on process and visual storytelling.

In the process section, you’ll learn how to draw three different camera angles; how to break down a script; how to draw thumbnails; and more. In the visual storytelling section you’ll learn about the principles of composition; storytelling shots: the P.O.V; the 180-degree rule; and camera moves.

This is the perfect course for someone who struggles to put their ideas on the page due to perceived lack of drawing ability!

Strengths:

• This course is a “Bestseller” on Udemy
• High 4.4 star rating
• Low time commitment: 23 lectures, 1h47m

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6. Learn to Storyboard: The First Steps of Visual Storytelling (Skillshare)

This course is taught by Leo M. who is a story artist at Walt Disney Studios. He has worked on hit movies such as Big Hero 6, Wreck-It Ralph, and The Simpsons Movie. The course is designed for students of any skill level and after taking it you’ll know how to invent a concept and execute it using a storyboard.

The 12 lessons in this course are on the following topics: what is storyboarding?; rules & tools of storyboarding (part 1 and 2); generating three ideas; sample research; research for pretzel story; paradigm; thumbnails; first pass; second pass; final pass; and final pass cleanup tutorial.

The course project will allow you to take inspiration from your personal life in order to create a compelling story. You’ll get to storyboard a favorite story from your life following these steps: choose the best idea, research your subject, explore and structure your idea, dramatize, and execute.

Who knows? Maybe the story of your life will become the next hit Disney movie!

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 12 lessons, 1h41m
• Popular course: 7,271 students
• Beginner-intermediate level

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7. Animation Foundations: Storyboarding (LinkedIn Learning)

The focus of this course is to give you an understanding of the important role that storyboarding plays in the creation of a film. This is one of the best online storyboarding courses you can take if you want to learn technical film grammar as well as fundamental storyboarding and illustration techniques.

The first section deals with technical aspects of storyboarding and teaches you about aspect ratio and frame rates and story panels. The second section focuses on film grammar with lessons on acts, sequences, and scenes; types of shots and camera moves; and transitions.

Section three has the most lessons and it focuses on the actual process of storyboarding. Lessons include: animation vs live action; staging and composition; direction of action; lighting and depth; poses and staging; dos and don’ts; a finished sequence; and animatics and layouts.

To learn more about, you can see my LinkedIn Learning Vs Lynda post here!

Strengths:

• Beginner-friendly but covers intermediate topics as well
• Low time commitment: 1h32m
• Very popular: 11,511 viewers

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8. Storyboarding Your Film (CreativeLive)

Instructors Chris Prynoski and Christy Karacas don’t think that you need to be able to draw in order to create an effective storyboard. Even if you can literally only draw a stick figure, you can still get your ideas across in a compelling way and convey the vision you have for your film production.

There are only 10 lessons in this class, but almost 4 hours worth of course material. So this course is a nice middle ground as it takes the time to go into detail but isn’t overwhelming at all. The first few lessons will teach you about the purpose of storyboarding and the tools you’ll need to get started.

The rest of the lessons in the course are on the following topics: storyboarding basics; conceptualizing the script; fundamentals; starting with the script; workflow; programs and apps; and commercial, corporate, pitch presentations. See, no drawing necessary!

Strengths:

• Popular: 1.1k students
• You can work through it in a day: 10 lessons, 3h42m
• Great course for people who don’t want to spend too much time on the drawing aspect

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9. Advanced Storyboard for Film and Animation (Udemy)

This is an intermediate-advanced level course for people who are ready to take their storyboarding skills to the next level. People taking this course should already have a knowledge of the different camera angles and shots and have sufficient drawing skills to bring a concept to life in a storyboard.

This is one of the best online storyboard courses for if you want to improve your drawing skills. There is a section of the course that focuses solely on drawing with lessons and assignments on topics such as gesture drawing; how to draw dynamic poses; characters; and layouts and backgrounds.

The advanced visual storytelling section will teach you how to stage your scenes for the action; how to create impactful composition and depth; how to identify the story point; and how to use beats and timing. There are also short assignments in this section.

The final section focuses on linear storytelling and it includes lessons on the following topics: opening sequences; alternative opening sequences; when to cut, and when not to; match cuts and hook ups; and standard shots for character development.

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 22 lectures, 1h21m
• High rating: 4.5 stars
• Includes lessons that will help students improve drawing skills

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10. Instructional Design: Storyboarding (LinkedIn Learning)

The focus of this course is to explore three different storyboarding methods: using text; mockups; and rapid-prototyping tools. No matter which method you are using, your goal when storyboarding should always be to effectively convey your vision so that others can get on board!

The first section of this course contains five great lessons that give you an overview of storyboarding and an understanding of the benefits and core concepts of storyboarding. The second section focuses on text-based storyboarding and teaches you about creating an opening slide and a scenario.

The third section is all about mock-up storyboarding and features lessons on the following topics: understanding mock-up storyboarding; storyboarding an opening slide; storyboarding an animated content slide; storyboarding a scenario; and storyboarding scenario feedback.

The fourth section deals with rapid-prototyping storyboarding and again, you’ll learn about creating an opening slide, an animated content slide, and storyboarding a scenario. The last section is extremely helpful as it gives you some tips for addressing common challenges!

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 1h14m
• Beginner friendly
• Very popular! 28,046 viewers

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11. The Animation Storytelling and Pre-production Workshop (Udemy)

This is one of the best online storyboarding courses because it will introduce you to some really cool programs/software that you can use for storyboarding – although you don’t necessarily need to use them for the course. You also don’t need a lot of time to do this course – it will take less than an hour!

This course is divided into three sections: scripting, storyboarding, and voice-over acting. In the scripting section you’ll learn about why it’s important to start with the script; scriptwriting software; setting scenes; character dialogue; story beats and the outline; making it visual; and drafts and rewrites.

Then you’ll get to the reason you’re here: the storyboarding section. There are 4 lessons in this section and they cover the following topics: storyboarding overview; storyboarding methods and software; crafting the animatic; and what goes into the storyboard.

This course will teach you to look at storyboarding from a broader perspective. You’ll start to think of it as just one piece of the puzzle that makes everything come together.

Strengths:

• Low time commitment: 15 lectures, 52m
• Introduces you to helpful storyboarding and scriptwriting software
• Beginner friendly!

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The best online VFX courses teach the skills needed to make a success of your foray into the field of visual effects. Whether you prefer still photography, video, TV, or cinema, this skill is really more a fantastic art form. 

What is VFX? Essentially, it’s anything done to film or digital moving imagery that isn’t accomplished during the live shooting. It can be as simple as applying a color cast or as sophisticated as chroma key compositing.

In order to master VFX, you need to know the processes and the techniques very well. Which is why training such as the courses on our list is so vital. Sure, you could learn by trial and error, but it’s so much better to learn from others who can assist you to excel.

Top 12+ Free Online Best (VFX) Visual Effects Courses & Certifications 2024

1. DIY Green Screen for Film: Creating Surreal Visual Effects (Skillshare)

Up first on my list is a fantastic course that will get you started in chroma key and green screen visual effects. Both the actual shooting and the post-production is covered in good detail with a live exercise as you view the on-demand video.

Your instructor, Paul Trillo is an award-winning filmmaker and director with years of successful projects under his belt. His approach to VFX green screen is easy to understand, making mastery of the technique within the grasp of anyone willing to put in the effort.

In this course, Paul takes you through all the steps involved in this VFX method of coming up with a plan, proper lighting for shooting your footage, removing and replacing the green in After Effects, and then… Profit!

As this course is hosted on Skillshare, students can get full access to this course and 29,000+ others on their 1-month free trial. P.S. Over 1,900 other students have completed this course!

• Intermediate level
• An award-winning filmmaker as the instructor
• 1-hour on-demand video
• Teaches Green Screen Chroma Key Compositing
• Covers filming and post-production
• Class projects

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2. Learn Visual Effects: Adobe After Effects / PFTrack / 3dsMax (Skillshare)

Filmmakers at all levels of skill and experience will be able to find something in this course to benefit them. In 4 hours and 22 minutes, you will learn VFX tools and techniques for 3 different programs.

The programs covered are Adobe After Effects, Autodesk 3dsmax, and PFTrack. In After Effects you will learn layers, rotoscoping, animation, chroma key, and 3D tracking. For 3dsmax, you study graphing, rendering, and texture. For PFTrack, it’s track nodes, orienting, and exporting to other post-production programs.

Ideally, It would help if you have some experience with cinematography and the basic uses of these programs to ease the learning curve, but even a beginner can take a lot from this course!

Again, being hosted on Skillshare, students get access to this course and 1,000’s more on the 1-month free trial!

• All levels
• Teaches 3 different VFX programs
• Best if a student is familiar with the 3 programs
• An international filmmaker is the instructor
• 4 hours 22 minutes on-demand video
• Downloadable assets available

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3. VFX Keying: Master Course (LinkedIn Learning)

Green Screen and Blue Screen are seen by many in the industry as the bread and butter of VFX compositing technicians and artists. In the Master Course presented here, you will engage with 12 hours worth of on-demand self-paced video instruction.

Taught by Steve Wright, a master VFX artist with over 20 years of experience in filmmaking and commercials. He has VFX credits in over 70 feature films including Hart’s War, U-571, and Night At the Museum 2.

This class covers virtually every important detail involved in keying such as workflow, lighting, color correction, saturation keys, and many other tips, tricks, and tools.

Provided with the course are project files to download and use plus it comes with a certificate of completion and has been taken by over 12,000 aspiring VFX artists!

Students can also take advantage of the free 1-month LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda) trial! Hands down one of the best online visual effects courses!

• Intermediate level
• Taught by feature film VFX artist
• 12 hours of on-demand instruction
• Concentrates on Chroma key compositing
• Covers all important details
• Certificate of completion

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4. Learn to create Visual effects using Maya (Udemy)

Autodesk Maya is a computer graphics program for animation, 3D, and modeling. It is often used in the film and game industries for modeling and compositing.

In this class, you’ll learn how to make models in photorealistic 3D, track camera motion in Autodesk Matchover, use the industry standard for rendering VFX lighting, Arnold Renderer, and how to create smoke and textures.

As a prerequisite for the course, you will need at least 16GB of RAM and a decent working knowledge of the basics of using Maya. It’s an advanced class with 12 ½ hours of on-demand video and numerous extra resources to download.

Bhaumik Patel is the teacher for this course who is a 3D artist for film, VR gaming, and TV. The 12 ½ hours is split into 70 different lessons. 1,203 students have enrolled, a certificate of completion is provided.

• • Advanced level
  • 12 ½ hours on-demand video
  • Professional 3D artist as teacher
  • Specific instruction for Autodesk Maya
  • Covers 3D, animation, and modeling
  • Certificate of completion

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5. VFX Post Production: Rendered Passes and Channels (CreativeLive)

Learn filmmaking from start to finish, including VFX post-production in this great course offered by CreativeLive. All up, the entire class is 15 ½ hours in 41 lessons, so it is thorough, to say the least.

The instructor is Ryan Connolly, a maker of music videos, commercials, and rendering for video games. He currently runs the video studio for Alienware software company.

There is a lot of bonus content included in the course, and you get lifetime access to the instruction. 24,000 film students have taken the course. To learn more, you can check out my CreativeLive review.

• Advanced level
• Covers various programs and techniques
• Complete course is 15 ½ hours
• Taught by a professional filmmaker and VFX artist
• 98% of graduates recommend this course
• Lifetime access

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6. Creating a Short Film: 09 VFX Environments (LinkedIn Learning)

Part of the 13 part series Creating a Short Film, lesson 9 is all about VFX. The entire course is over 7 hours of on-demand video for self-paced instruction.

The series is taught by an award-winning filmmaker, VFX artist, and professional worker in the film, video, and gaming industries, Chad Perkins, an Adobe Certified Instructor. The VFX Environments lesson concentrates on Adobe After Effects and using other programs to add renderings.

Course lessons include information on CG scenery, aerial shots, rotoscoping, adding and removing objects, tracking, and creating believable virtual realities.

• Intermediate to advanced level
• One component of a 13 part series
• Entire series is 7 hours
• Focuses on Adobe After Effects
• Taught by Adobe Certified Instructor and award-winning filmmaker
• Certificate of completion

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7. VFX: Complete Houdini Bootcamp (Udemy)

Houdini FX is one of the most powerful and complete 3D FX applications in use today. Houdini is difficult to master even for many experienced specialists, but this class helps absolute beginners get their feet wet in using the features of this wonderful program.

Raffi Bedros is the instructor. He is a 3D FX artist with lots of experience working in the video, film, and gaming industries. He helps you get focused on just what tools to use and when to use them for best results.

Some of the fun effects you will practice on this course are explosions, realistic oceans, smoke effects, snow and rainfall, and sand textures.

It’s 13 hours of on-demand training and includes 14 extra articles and 32 downloadable resources. A certificate of completion is provided and the course has been taken by 7,300 people.

• Beginner level
• Great for all levels of active Houdini users
• 13 hours of instruction
• Working professional artist instructor
• Lots of extra resources
• Certificate of completion

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8. VFX Techniques: Creating Particle Effects (LinkedIn Learning)

Particle effects, like fire, explosions, or realistic smoke, are used to enhance everything from feature films to online gaming. Adobe After Effects is often the program of choice for making the effects. This intermediate-level course teaches how to make particle effects look realistic.

Instructor Lee Lanier uses Adobe After Effects to show you how to create a wizard battle complete with all the booms, puffs, pows, and shimmers. Lee Lanier is a professional 3D generalist, VFX artist, and painter. He has worked on DreamWorks projects as an animator on the feature films Antz and Shrek.

This 3-hour intermediate-level course comes with resources, project files, and a certificate of completion. 14,000 people have seen this useful instruction.

• Intermediate level
• 3 hours
• Instructor is an animator and VFX artist who has worked on feature films for DreamWorks
• Uses Adobe After Effects
• Extra resources
• Certificate of completion

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9. Fundamentals of VFX (Udemy)

A 3-hour course that starts out on a beginner level and quickly progresses students through to intermediate and advanced levels with exercises and projects. It covers almost everything in the world of VFX.

Fundamentals are stressed, as are advanced ideas and techniques used throughout the different industries of gaming, VR, film and TV, and software. You’ll also learn about nodes, compositing, tracking, match moving, and 3D imaging, among other things.

Digital Learning Solutions provider expert instructors for this course. DLS is a leader in providing training to Broadcast TV and Motion Picture artists and technicians.

• Beginner level 
• 3 hours on-demand video
• Expert professional instructors
• Covers almost everything about VFX
•  Extra resources
• Certificate of completion

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10. Enhancing Automotive Design Concepts in 3ds Max and Photoshop (PluralSight)

A very advanced level course specializing in automotive design applications. Primarily uses Photoshop, HDR Light Studio, and 3ds Max programs.

Taught by automotive design specialist David Bodenstein, this is 11 hours of intense self-paced instruction.

Lots of resources are provided, but you will need to have all three programs and follow the instruction provided. In the course, you will learn how to create your own design from the ground up and how to enhance or modify existing designs.

• Advanced level
• 11 hours
• Lots of resources
• Requires 3 powerful programs
• Best if students are very familiar with the programs
• Taught by an automotive design expert

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11. VFX Compositing with After Effects: The Complete Edition (Udemy)

Specifically trains in compositing multiple live-action feeds into one moving image scene. It’s taught by Vicki Lau, a VFX artist who has worked on blockbuster feature films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Aquaman, as well as the hit series The Walking Dead.

It’s an advanced-level class for established and aspiring filmmakers who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in compositing live-action feeds.

2 hours long, it comes with extra resources and a certificate of completion. You will need a CC subscription for Adobe After Effects to get the most benefit from this class.

• Advanced level
• 2 hours
• Extra resources
• Taught by feature film VFX artist
• Lifetime access
• Certificate of completion

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12. After Effects CC: Beginner’s Guide to VFX Visual Effects (Udemy)

It says beginner in the class title, but make no mistake, this is an advanced course. In 4 ½ hours of on-demand video instruction and multiple extra resources, the class takes you on an in-depth tour of using Adobe After Effects.

As prerequisites, you should have a good working knowledge of animation and of the After Effects program. You should also have the latest versions of Adobe After Effects CC and Adobe Media Encoder.

Taught by Louay Zambarakji, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects, and Video Editing professional.

• Intermediate level to advanced
• 4 1/2 hours on-demand video
• downloadable resources
• Full lifetime access
• Instructor is a working professional
• Certificate of completion

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Do You Need Video Editing Help?

Perhaps after reviewing the best online VFX courses you’ve decided you’d prefer to leave the special effects video editing to seasoned experts. I can’t blame you – sometimes it can take much longer to learn something than to get help from someone who knows that they’re doing.

I’ve had great success with Fiverr whenever I encountered this issue. You can find experts from around the world who can handle your project at great prices. I’ve included a few below to give you an idea of what’s available.

If you are inspired by directors, cinematographers, and YouTubers, then seeking out the best online video editing courses is a great place to start.

Not only will you learn the art of storytelling, but you will also acquire the skills of how to piece together video footage in a technical way.

While many of the below video classes focus (pun intended) on certain software, fundamental skills such as cutting, transitions, layering will be transferable to any editing tool. Let’s begin!

• #1 Top Recommended Video Editing Course
• Taught By Professional Editor & Videographer
• Covers Video Effects, Sound Mixing, Animation & More
• Beginner Friendly Course
• 29,000+ Other Included Classes
• 27,000+ Students Enrolled
• 1-Month Free Trial
• Activate Free Trial Now

Top 17 Best Online Video Editing Courses, Training & Certifications 2024

1. Video Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro for Beginners (Skillshare)

Coming in first on my list is a fantastic Adobe Premiere Pro course hosted on Skillshare. This online class has close to everything a filmmaker needs to complete their creative video projects.

Taught by successful professional videographer Jordy Vandeput, it concentrates less on theory and more on using creative tools. Designed for beginners, it is also a great course for those already familiar with Adobe Premiere Pro. 

Some of what’s covered in these Skillshare classes are basic editing, transitions, learning the tools and all of their layers, and how to export the right type of file. Also included are deeper subjects such as video effects, sound mixing from multiple sources, and animation.

Altogether, there are about 3 ½ hours of course modules that are self-paced. Over 27,000 videographers have already taken this course with new updates every year.

As for the price, there is none! Skillshare is running a promotion where new users can get a 1-month FREE trial which gives access to this course and 1,000’s of others!

• Basic editing modules
• Advanced editing modules
• Designed for Adobe beginners but suitable for more advanced students
• Self-paced, about 3 ½ hours 
• Taught by an established professional
• Quizzes and class projects let you try out what you’ve learned

2. Adobe Premiere Pro CC for Beginners (Skillshare)

This course covers much of what you need to start editing with the Creative Cloud version of Adobe Premiere Pro. The program on CC will always have all the latest, most up-to-date tools and support, which this course helps you take advantage of.

It is presented by Will Bartlett, a professional cinematographer, and editor with over 15 years of professional experience. In this Skillshare course, he goes over almost everything you need to get beyond basic editing.

In addition to the on-screen instruction, there are several PDFs for you to use as you practice. Keep these, they will prove useful as you use Premiere Pro after the course. There are also files of video and audio that you can download to work on.

Some of the modules are keyboard shortcuts, title creation, audio mixing, layering tracks, color control, using plugins, and saving client-specific preset.

Course length is right about hours and there are 2,500 students who have taken it on Skillshare. Again, users get a 1-month FREE trial with no strings attached!

• Suitable for beginners and more advanced users of Adobe
• Taught by a working professional
• Modules are short and quick-paced
• Self-paced, 3 hours
• Downloadable PDFs
• Footage and audio provided for you to practice editing

3. Creative Editing Video Course (Udemy)

Up next on my list is a fantastic course that goes into more detail about professional editing techniques used by the pros. Students also get top-notch quality content as this course is taught by Andrew St Pierre White, who has 37 years of experience as a broadcast professional and has won numerous awards and accolades.

Students should ideally be familiar with the basics of editing already to get the most out of this video editing course. The instruction will focus on how to be creative, how to capture and maintain the attention of your audience, and how to provide consistently excellent results.

While the classes are taught using Premiere Pro, the lessons aren’t specific to this software and can be applied to Da Vinci Resolve, Avid, Final Cut Pro, and more.

Other modules include seamless editing, how to edit dialog, adding music and sound effects, and what counts as truly entertaining for your particular audience.

All up, this course is just over 3 ½ hours of self-paced video instruction which has been undertaken by 4,300 other creators. There’s also a certificate of completion included!

• Requires basic editing knowledge to get the most out of it
• Focuses a lot on the creative aspects as opposed to the mechanics of editing
• The instructor is an award-winning pro
• Lots of emphasis on sound editing
• Examines editing styles and how they differ
• Adaptable to several different editing programs
• Certification of completion (printable)

4. Adobe Video and Audio Production (PluralSight)

Takes you through the levels from beginner and raises you through intermediate to advanced. It can be used in conjunction with any of Adobe’s editing software programs.

Multiple instructors teach the various panels. Some of the things you can learn are masking and rotoscope, how to read the waveform displays to make those work for you, adding animation, and even screenwriting.

About 36 hours of instruction altogether. It’s self-paced, so you could go faster over programs you don’t use, but it’s all helpful in general, so you may as well pay attention to all of it.

• Multiple Adobe programs
• 36 hours of instruction
• Multiple professional instructors
• Prerequisite of knowing fundamentals of editing is beneficial
• Includes screenwriting
• Continuing education available

5. Introduction to Video Editing (LinkedIn Learning)

Moving on is an introductory course to both the technical aspects and the art of editing. Ashley Kennedy is the instructor of this course who walks students through a real-world project from start to finish using Premiere Pro.

About 3 hours long, you will learn the “rules” of editing and when to break them, how to handle camera movement, lens zooming, b-roll, focusing during the shot, and the importance of dialog editing in the sound mixing.

More for beginners, advanced users may also appreciate the hints she gives during the actual editing process as she shows how two different projects were completed.

The modules are split up in a logical order during the 3-hour course which has had over 390,000 viewers. Lynda/ LinkedIn Learning also has a 1-month free trial! This is easily one of the best online video editing courses available!

• Very good foundation for beginners
• Shows work on two actual projects
• Examines technical skills and being creative
• Emphasizes workflow
• Concentrates on Adobe Premiere Pro
• 3 hours, self-paced
• Users receive a certificate once completed

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6. Premiere Pro CC for Beginners (Udemy)

Created by Phil Ebiner, this online video editing course delivers a lot of instruction in a manageable timeframe. Specifically designed around the CC version of Premiere Pro, it also works for learning about the stand-alone and older versions from Adobe. 

You should have a copy of Adobe Premiere Pro already installed on your computer because the instruction has students doing a lot of hands-on practice of the things taught. It’s self-paced but with an emphasis on putting tools and skills to use.

The instruction covers such topics as video and audio transitions, adding motion to still footage and titles, color grading for effect and correction, greenscreen, and tips on efficiency.

11 ½ hours of instruction are supplemented with various articles and downloadable resources. Over 136,000 students enrolled.

• Designed for Adobe CC but backwards compatible
• Beginners or more advanced
• Many extra resources included. 
• Almost 12 hours of self paced instruction
• Taught by a working professional
• Students receive a certificate of completion

7. Sony Vegas Pro Video Editing Masterclass (Skillshare)

While specifically designed around Vegas Pro from Sony, you can also adapt the techniques to Adobe and other software. Taught by a working professional filmmaker, Masuk Sarker Batista, you will learn how to keep on growing after mastering the fundamentals.

Some of the subjects covered are how to improve the audio, how to edit with creativity, adding special effects, and other advanced techniques.

At the end of the course, you will edit a class project for yourself. All up, this class is just under 3 hours, with over 70,000 students have enrolled. Users can also take this course for FREE on the 1-month trial!

• Specific to Sony Vegas Pro
• Taught by a successful professional
• 2 hours 46 minutes, self paced
• Students complete a class project
• For beginners
• Includes many helpful examples

8. Mastering Final Cut Pro (Coursera.org)

Apple has an editing program, too, called Final Cut Pro. This course takes you through the basics to some advanced techniques. It helps students pass the Final Cut Pro X certification program from Apple.

You will need to already be familiar with the program as well as a Mac OS user. Knowing basic editing techniques is recommended. Practice exams are included at the end of each module.

The course creators recommend taking the 22 hours of instruction over 8 weeks, 4 to 6 hours per week. Of course, you can adjust the pace as you wish.

Study modules include basic transitions, audio files, and titles. Some advanced techniques cover adjusting the timing of individual clips or the entire video, graphics interfacing, and 360-degree video.

• For Apple Final Cut Pro
• Certification exam prep
• 22 hours of studies
• Practice exams for each module
• Taught by Apple certified trainers
• For intermediate to advanced users

9. Inside The Edit (The Edit)

No technical parts of any program are discussed in this self-paced course. You are expected to already be familiar with your own program. This study course is all about creativity and professional standards of editing.

It’s kind of like a film school on your laptop. In fact, Inside the Edit also conducts seminars at several different film schools.

If you are desiring to take your editing to the next level because you want in the TV or film industry, Inside the Edit is a great way to bring your creative output to the next level. Once you have acquired your skills, you’ll then be able to apply for freelance jobs or even remote working jobs!

• Not program specific
• Concentrates 100% on creativity and professional standards
• Great for anyone wanting to work in reality TV or documentary film
• Lots of resources available to fine tune your own studies
• Taught by well established professional editors
• Lifetime course subscriptions offered

10. Adobe Premiere Pro CC Video Editing: The Complete Guide (CreativeLive)

With over 18 hours of course videos, this is a very complete introduction to Adobe Premiere Pro editing, taught by a Master Trainer, Abba Shapiro. He certifies other instructors to teach Adobe programs, so his insight is invaluable in this comprehensive online course.

After your studies are complete, join Mr. Shapiro in a Facebook forum where collaboration and great ideas continue to enhance your skills and creativity. 

Within the course are modules explaining the basics such as rough cuts, audio, and transitions. You will also explore deeper subjects including animation, motion editing, time-lapses, green screen, and editing footage from multiple cameras.

The over 18 hours of self-paced instruction is split into 65 manageable bits, some very short, few are over 20 minutes at a time. 

Useful for beginners to advanced editors, it’s been accessed by over 331,000 people!

• 18 hours of instruction
• 65 different study modules
• Facebook group for continuing conversations with graduates and instructors
• Includes advanced topics like green screen and time lapse
• Covers most aspects of Adobe Premiere Pro 
• Bonus content included

11. Final Cut Pro X Master Class (Skillshare)

Apple’s video editing software is Final Cut Pro X. It is very full-featured and relatively simple to learn, but we could all use some experienced help in order to the most out of it.

 Taught by working professional filmmaker, Masuk Sarker Batista, this course will provide you with instruction to go beyond the beginner stage. 

With 39 lessons in about 2 ½ hours, the course will discuss how to get started with the software, making transitions, how to correct camera errors and other topics. Pretty much meant for beginners to help them progress in their knowledge and creativity.

• For Apple Final Cut Pro
• Designed for beginners
• Taught by an established professional filmmaker
• Self paced, short course
• Students work on a class project after completing
• Lots of extra resources

12. Video Editing in DaVinci Resolve 15: Beginner to Advanced (Udemy)

DaVinci Resolve is a freeware/shareware alternative to Adobe editing software, but only on Windows platforms.

Produced by working professionals, the course will take you from how to install the software to basic editing for beginners. Among the course modules are instruction in edits and swaps, color correction, adding graphics, and even working on single frames.

About 9 hours of on-demand (self-paced) video with multiple downloadable resources and extra articles.

• DaVinci Resolve
• For beginners
• In depth coverage with 9 hours of instruction
• Instructors are working pros
• Lots of extras
• Students complete an editing project as part of the course

13. Premiere Pro CC Beginner Course (Pluralsight)

A beginner’s course for the Creative Cloud version of Premiere Pro, this class concentrates on the most needed and used portions of the huge program

Taught by a team of experts in editing and in Adobe, the modules will take you from getting started with the program all the way to more advanced users. Modules include learning the fundamentals, action scene editing, multiple camera blending, metadata, and compression.

Over 22 hours of instruction, comes with lots of extra resources.

• Made for Adobe Premiere Pro CC
• Designed for beginners to intermediate
• Includes metadata and other advanced subjects
• 22 hours of self paced instruction
• Multiple expert instructors
• No previous editing experience necessary 

14. The History of Film and Video Editing (LinkedIn Learning)

An in-depth look at the history of film and video editing. Examines the tools, techniques, and methods used throughout the years. 

Taught by Ashley Kennedy, real-world examples are used to illustrate each point being made regarding different advances in editing. 

Valuable knowledge about why editing exists and how it was accomplished, which transcends into a better understanding of what current editing programs are actually doing. To learn more, check out my guide on some of the best LinkedIn Learning classes in 2024.

• Not specific to any program
• A fun break from tutorials
• A little over 2 hours of history
• For any level from beginner to pro
• Narrated by a working professional
• Over 150,000 enrolled

15. Using HDR Media in Final Cut Pro X (Larry Jordon)

A very specific focus, as opposed to more generic instruction, this course of study, highlights how to integrate HDR (High Dynamic Range) into finished video with Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Examines all the different high-end video formats from various different cameras, what the differences are, and how to use them effectively for superior video production.

Requires working knowledge of video editing and Apple hardware.

About 1 hour of instruction from Larry Jordan, a successful working professional in film and video.

Modules include handling RAW files, tone mapping, and the difference between linear and log.

• For advanced users
• Designed for Final Cut Pro X
• Taught by a seasoned professional
• Discusses specific camera brand settings
• About 1 hour long
• Optional live webinars available

16. Editing Fundementals (LinkedIn Learning)

A very basic course, this one doesn’t require you to even have a camera yet. Examines why editing video is a valuable skill set for any modern DSLR or mirrorless digital camera.

It even discusses the Five C’s of Cinematography, a valuable learning technique used for all varieties of film and video, an essential prerequisite for cinema learning in many filmmaker’s education.

This course works with any camera, any program, and is primarily meant for absolute beginners.

Less than an hour-long, the course is taught by Join Eduardo Angel, a successful cinematographer, and editor. If you want to get a certificate with your course, you can see my full guide here on how to get one for free!

• Works with any program
• Discusses important concepts such as the Five C’s of Cinematography
• Less than an hour long
• For absolute beginners
• Taught by a seasoned pro
• Part of a larger, very comprehensive field of study

17. After Effects CC Tutorial (Pluralsight)

Adobe After Effects is a program for making, adjusting, and editing visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing. Many refer to it as an animation program but it’s a lot more than that.

Taught by a team of professional instructors, this course is about 30 hours in length. It is self-paced and covers beginning subjects up to advanced. 

Modules include instruction in transparency and blending, stabilizing and tracking, rotoscoping, and compositing in 3D. This rounds up my guide on the best online video editing courses!

• Specifically for Adobe After Effects CC
• For beginners to advanced
• Taught by a strong team
• Over 30 hours of self paced instruction
• No prerequisites required
• Covers all aspects of motion graphics for cinema

Or Perhaps You Need Professional Video Editing Help

After reviewing these courses, are you ready to dive in? Or would you just prefer to get the project done with the Pro? I know I’ve gotten myself in too deep a few times only to wish I had called on a Pro from the beginning.

And video editing lends itself perfectly to using a freelancer because it’s all digital and they can work from anywhere and at any time. Even while you sleep. And if you haven’t used one before, Fiverr makes it easy. Below are a few Video Editing projects for you to consider.