Digital filmmaking courses are no longer what they used to be, as the general curriculums had to be changed according to the ongoing market demands. The astounding rise of OTT platforms in the post-pandemic era has made it quintessential to adapt to the OTT-reliant industry norms for every aspiring filmmaker. Considering that, top digital filmmaking institutes have also implemented certain changes to ensure that their students thrive in the OTT-first entertainment era.
Ever since leading OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar have taken over the entertainment industry, the norms of visual storytelling and filmmaking have changed drastically. It’s impossible to adapt to the change unless you’re equipped with the fresh technical and creative aspects of digital filmmaking. That’s exactly why professional filmmaking courses have become so relevant. This blog will explain how a professionally curated digital filmmaking course shapes you for the OTT-dominated entertainment industry.
OTT-type Storytelling
No matter how good you are at scripting fabulous stories for the big screens, OTT demands something else. To engage OTT viewers, you’re bound to adapt to the episodic storytelling style, where the tension stays built till the very last episode. Even if you’re making movies, your approach has to be different if you want your movies to be commercially successful.
The gigantic rise of OTT platforms has significantly reduced the number of footfalls in the theaters. That’s because viewers can access all the movies on OTT platforms instead of paying separately for every single movie. Nowadays, movies become commercially successful when they lock decent OTT deals. So, you’re supposed to make movies that resonate with the OTT audience so that your content generates decent viewership and does well commercially.
Since OTT-style storytelling is quite different from how storytelling for big screens has been, you need to learn its nitty-gritty. A professional digital filmmaking course not only teaches you how to write engaging scripts for web shows and movies but also offers insights into what kind of storytelling works best. The real-time insights are extremely helpful for budding creators who are yet to find their own niches.
Layered character shades, experimental and episodic plots, and shocking cliffhangers have replaced conventional and mainstream storytelling even since the rise of OTT. A professional course educates you on how to create such scripts.
OTT content heavily focuses on audience analytics and engagement metrics, and that’s why the industry insights become even more relevant. In the top courses, you learn from the industry experts directly, which is a great opportunity in itself. Pitching professionally holds a lot of significance, especially when you’re looking for your first break. You may have created a compelling OTT-style narrative for a movie or a web show, but it won’t work unless you pitch it professionally. Professionally designed filmmaking courses help you learn professionally pitching techniques as well as offer connection-building opportunities.
Master the Technicalities
The best aspect of pursuing a digital filmmaking course is that you get to master the contemporary filmmaking technicalities here. Even many of the recognized filmmakers struggle to adapt to the latest technical aspects of filmmaking, and their films or web shows seem outdated.
Since the streaming formats have changed, and viewers started streaming content across various formats, you need to master the latest camera operations and cinematography. Conventional cinematography practices no longer entertain viewers much, so experimentation has become mandatory. Also, you can’t optimize your content for specific streaming formats unless technically sound.
Shooting for 4K mobile screens is much different from shooting for big screens. Only technical efficiency can help you handle both seamlessly. You master that throughout a filmmaking course. The same applies to lighting techniques as well as sound design and mixing.
Experimental lighting techniques and creative color grading add more charm to the frames. Similarly, creative sound design and mixing ensure an immersive experience for all viewers. These aspects are to be learned and mastered during a full-scale, professionally designed digital filmmaking course.
Workshops and Live Projects
Even if you master the theoretical aspects, you can’t become a decent filmmaker unless you try everything first-hand. Most recognized institutes offer several workshops to help filmmaking students apply their theoretical knowledge confidently. Some courses even offer internships under reputed filmmakers and opportunities to work on live projects, so that students learn better. These extra facilities make sure that every student becomes industry-ready and adept at making films for OTT platforms.