VIDEO CINEMATOGRAPHY techniques loved by pro filmmakers (Udemy.com)
Creative video. Learn what pro broadcast camera ops do to grab and excite an audience. Taught by a pro broadcaster
Created by: Andrew St.Pierre White
Last updated August 2019
What you will learn
- Shoot compelling video and capture your audience
- Understand clearly, with every shoot you do, what footage is needed to edit fantastic video
- Be an outstanding camera operator that producers love to use because they always deliver great, editor-friendly footage
- Fix the problem of being frustrated at the edit stage.
- Be in touch with a broadcast professional. I do my best to answer EVERY question posted to help you in your journey to learn great video storytelling.
How it compares
Against the other 293 rated Udemy courses in Video Editing & Animation on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.4 out of 5higher than 40% of them
- Reviews2,305#14 of 294 by number of reviews
- Length3.4 hoursshorter than 56% of them
- Last updatedAugust 2019earlier than 79% of them
Course Description
Do you want to understand the creative techniques broadcast pros use when shooting for a TV show?
Would you like to be taught by a genuine TV broadcast professional?
Do you want to improve the quality of your videos, to the point where your audience can't get enough?
Are you moving from still photography to video, and are not finding it easy?
Are your videos just not getting noticed and shared on your YouTube channel?
As a professional video cameraperson, are you not getting noticed because your work is technically fine, but not creatively outstanding?
Then you have come to the right place.
Making great video is not some great secret that no one is willing to share. The trouble is, most video courses on the net are presented by filmmakers making wedding videos and low budget music videos or their own YouTube channel. Very few are broadcast professionals. The proof is that most courses focus primarily on equipment, which requires limited creative insight.
This course is different
I've been a broadcast professional for 37 years. And I've won international awards for my work. And I will now teach you the creative elements needed to make great videos. So, if you want to improve your videos to the point where they enrapture the audience and have them begging for more, know this: It is NOT about getting better equipment!
Because . . .
Filmmakers:
Professionals worry about money,
Artists worry about light and sound,
Amateurs worry about equipment.
If you spend a lot of time worrying about equipment, is it not the time you stepped up to being an artist or a professional?
Even if you understand codecs, and cameras and sensors sizes and lenses, it is not enough. Knowledge without skills can never create a masterpiece.
And that is why this course is about honing your creative video skills. I do this in two parts. This course covers easy to understand shooting techniques that are used by broadcast professionals being paid upward of $1000 per day. The second course, is the creative editing: Video Editing - Inspire your audience with creative flair. (That's a different course)
Cameras and gear
When you enjoy a great meal, do you congratulate the chef by saying, "You must have a great stove?" Of course you don't. It's the same with filmmakers. A great film is not created by a great camera. It's created by talented, creative people. And those people use tools (cameras and lenses) to do it.
So this course is not about the tools. It is about why a tool might be used in a particular way. So if you are in need of creative inspiration, then these courses are right for you.
We teach the creative part of video filmmaking.
We teach filmmaking skills at a level that can be understood by the lay-person or amateur cinematographer, from techniques used by broadcast professionals.
During this course you will learn what is needed to tell a story on video, while informing and entertaining the viewer, no matter who they are. You will learn the important elements that go to make up a story, the affect of the visual elements and the importance and affect of the audio track. You will learn to prioritise when shooting, to enable the editing process to be easy and intensely creative. By using the techniques taught here, you can become a great video storyteller.
There are 42 lectures and 7 quizzes. Most instruction is by video, with examples and samples.
Part 1. Identify the kind of programs you want to make.
Part 2. The five most important elements of video storytelling. The importance of audio.
Part 3. From still photography to videography, we cover information versus emotion. The effect that audio has on an image.
Part 4. Shooting techniques: The 4-second rule is the secret to delivering footage for the edit. I also teach editing-in-camera versus shooting for the edit, and more.
Part 5. Shooting techniques: Perspective, zooms, lenses, light, composition, perspective, shooting interviews and much more.
Part 6. Equipment ideas.
Part 7. Conclusion and introduction to the editing course
I hope you will enjoy and learn much from spending this time with me.
Join over 32 000 of my students from 154 countries!
Your lecturer
Andrew St Pierre White has 37-years as a broadcast professional, with international awards to his credit. He understands what it takes to capture great footage and audio to make compelling videos, even on a low indie producer budget. Whether it be a documentary series, a 30-second commercial, or a YouTube product review, he has done it all. His YouTube channel boasts over six million views a year and his commercials and TV shows have been broadcast all over the world..
Latest testimonial on Udemy:
This is an excellent course for videographers who want to learn from a professional with over 30 years experience. BEST COURSE ON UDEMY. 10/10 Richard Butler, 1 hr 21 mins ago ·
Testimonials from our seminar attendees:
"Even though I used to shoot still photos for a national news organization, I had no idea how different the video story-telling process is from still photography. In just one class with Andrew, I learned more about making a great video than I had in all my other classes combined. Andrew's practical focus comes from 30 plus years of being a doer, not just a teacher. And make no mistake, Andrew is a GREAT, humble and respectful teacher. Andrew's class opened my eyes (and ears!) to how to tell compelling stories through video, and made me a much better consumer of the art as well. Thanks, Andrew!"
Robert Towry
Monument, CO, United States
" I was fortunate to attend Andrews' class in Flagstaff, Arizona this year. A still photographer at heart, I wanted to make the leap into video making. With Andrews class I have learned so much and was so motivated that I want to become the next Spielberg! The course was informative and fun, from theory to fascinating clips that kept us all wanting more! There are many teachers who teach, but Andrew inspires and knows how to tell a story! "
Connie Blaeser
Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
Instructor Details
- 4.4 Rating
2,305 Reviews
Andrew St.Pierre White
Andrew St Pierre White is a professional broadcaster, writer and presenter, with 38 years in TV and film. He's also an award winning author with over 17 book titles and his YouTube channels boast over 80 million views and 300K+ subscribers.
Included in his resume as director and cinematographer are over 80 TV documentaries, many of which have been on major TV networks. He's edited hundreds of TV commercials and won several top international editing awards, including Cannes Gold, and New York TV Gold.
Andrew is also a guest lecturer at Oxford University, and a passionate and involved teacher.
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Reviews
By Tim Wickenden on 2/2/2026
This course really hits the sweet spot by stripping things back to the essentials while delivering serious technical value. We all know that great audio is crucial to filmmaking—but understanding why, and hearing clear, practical examples, is what truly makes it stick. The pacing is spot-on, the structure is balanced, and it’s packed with first-class pro tips you can actually use. Andrew’s teaching style is engaging and grounded in real-world experience, and I especially love his emphasis on storytelling over obsessive image perfection—the kind that plagues so many YouTube tutorials (you know exactly which ones I mean). If you’re just starting out in filmmaking, this is an excellent place to take your first steps. Put these techniques into practice—especially the 4-second rule (absolute gold, by the way)—and you’ll quickly start making better content. Huge thanks to Andrew for taking the time to share his knowledge.
By Kiran Aparadh on 3/2/2021
If you consider total duration of the course, how much time is given for teaching the story telling skills and techniques? its examples? very little. For telling 4 sec rule, importance of sound, little bit camera stabilizing techniques and one or two concepts on white balance and perspective, do you really need 2.5 hours? Absolutely not. At least you would have spent 1 hour on story telling skills and techniques (as advertised by you and described how you are different than others) Please rethink on contents and emphasis on different contents of this course. Huge scope for improvement especially for engaging the viewer throughout the course. Hope you will take it positive way. Thank you.
By Tadas Jurkstas on 10/25/2020
Too long introduction and repeats
By Ben Morin on 10/17/2020
Andrew is a gruff but likable teacher, and 'tells it to you straight.' There are some real kernels of wisdom in this course: the four-second rule, shooting for the edit, his emphasis on audio and others points. He's a charming guy and clearly has a lot of experience, although most of it seems to be shooting nature; this is not the best course for videography of people. There are a few things that I felt detracted from the course. One is the age of the course - it was apparently made in 2014, and often feels rather dated. Second, he's not a very technical videographer, and although I appreciate his emphasis on storytelling over gear, sometimes this is a problem. For instance, he only talks about microphones for two minutes, and omits some of the most basic points you could make about microphones (i.e. the importance of getting the microphone as close to a subject as possible; thinking of the space you're in and how much echo you must deal with; choosing audio levels; ways of actually recording your audio - straight to the camera vs to a dedicated recorder - and their pros and cons). It's also a highly repetitive course, and the main content could easily have been reduced by more than half. All of this said, it's still a good beginner course if you can buy it at the sale price.
By Angel on 10/16/2020
A great course to take that really gives you creative insight on how to shoot and film your video. I do enjoy how it steers away from the technical side of what a camera has and really breaks down on acquiring the best quality footage for your use. Great tips that will last a life time.
By Gary on 10/5/2020
This course was not what I initially expected and had less actual 'on-screen' type examples and walkthroughs than I a generally used to.. BUT there is good reason and in fact the ideas put across here were a revelation to me and very very helpful. My eyes (and more importantly ears) have been opened ... great content delivered with focus, well by someone who obviously knows his stuff !! Great!! :)
By Eddie Peguero on 9/10/2020
it was quite informative.......
By Emma Cresswell on 9/7/2020
Yes a good fit and I found the host leaving me wanting more so I have signed up for the editing course! Andrews passion really shines though!
By Rafael Samora Arajo de Mendona dos Santo on 9/5/2020
Muito bom.
By Ashutosh Shrestha on 9/2/2020
Helped me a lot, the points he made are spot on. Thanks.
By Troy Ostrander on 8/17/2020
Unique and surprising insights that only come from hard earned experience.
By Ammad Chaudhary on 8/14/2020
This course is great. I have learned a lot. Thank you, Udemy's team.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 88 / 100









