Casey Neistat Teaches Filmmaking & Storytelling

Become a better filmmaker and storyteller in 30 days. During this one-month class, learn from filmmaker and YouTube pioneer Casey Neistat. Follow along with Casey’s creative process and finish the class with 2 shareable films of your own.

Create 2 original short films in 30 days

Renowned filmmaker Casey Neistat teaches you his entire filmmaking process in this month-long class, transforming the way you share your own stories. Immerse yourself in Casey’s unique process and leave the class with 2 finished films and a new set of lifelong skills.

Film #1 – Storytelling & Filmmaking Fundamentals

For Film #1, Casey shares his start-to-finish filmmaking process. Using just his phone, he creates an entire movie from scratch, sharing his full range of techniques along the way. You’ll follow along with Casey’s process step-by-step and create an original, story-driven film of your own.

Film #2 – Cinematography & The Complete Toolkit

For Film #2, Casey dives deep into his full set of filmmaking tools and techniques as he creates a more ambitious film. In this film, he uses a wider range of gear, shooting methods, and narrative techniques to create a more cinematic movie. You’ll again follow along and create a second, larger film.

Level up your filmmaking and storytelling skills

During this 30-day class, learn the full set of filmmaking and storytelling skills Casey Neistat uses to create his movies. This class meets you where you are and pushes your skills to the next level.

Finding Ideas & Stories

Casey finds ideas everywhere: from his environment, the people around him, and a lifetime of experiences. You’ll learn how he identifies promising film ideas, conveys universal themes, and shares stories that connect with an audience.

Cinematography & Visual Storytelling

From time lapses to extreme close-ups, Casey uses a range of shots, angles, and camera techniques to enhance his narrative. In this class, learn Casey’s methods for capturing the most cinematic shots to frame the world around you.

Editing, Pacing & Rhythm

Casey shows how he selects, arranges, and cuts together the most interesting shots to keep his narrative well-paced and his video fresh and compelling. Learn how he blends audio, video, and graphics in the edit to create an engaging film.

Setting the Tone with Music

Casey uses carefully selected songs to set the tone, create intrigue, and drive momentum in his movies. Learn how he finds the perfect track, cuts it together with footage, and polishes the audio to support and elevate his narrative.

The Three-Act Structure

For Casey, the three-act structure is an essential tool to craft and communicate a great story. In this class, you’ll learn how he develops a compelling narrative in three acts, from a sharp, engaging hook to a resolution that leaves the viewer satisfied.

Getting the Most Out of Your Gear

Casey is a one-man crew who makes the most out of his gear in inventive and non-traditional ways. In this class, he’ll show you how he captures cinematic shots whether he’s carrying his whole vlogging rig or using just the camera on his phone.

Vlogging & Spontaneous Filmmaking

Casey’s process is largely spontaneous, allowing for a great deal of creative freedom as he shoots his movies. In this class, you’ll learn how he embraces the environment around him and lets his story evolve organically as he films.

Titles, Text Graphics & Overlays

Casey’s simple text graphics are an essential element of his style, giving context while allowing the subject of the movie to shine. In this class, learn his approach to adding graphics that inform the viewer without distracting from the story.

Introducing Characters & Settings

Casey films an array of people and locations, from strangers on noisy streets to family in intimate spaces. Learn how he develops characters in his movies, immerses the viewer in his environment, and adds detail to his story.

Keeping Your Audience Engaged

Casey uses cinematography, well-paced editing, graphics, and audio to keep his viewers watching. Learn how he captures the most compelling shots, keeps his story interesting, and uses cinematic elements to heighten the mood of his film.

Reviewing & Polishing Your Work

Casey puts his own work through a rigorous review before he finally shares his movies. In this class, you’ll learn how to trim down your edit, adjust your film’s pace and structure, and make sure your work is something you’re proud of.

Sound Design, Effects & Editing

Casey uses audio effects to enhance his movies and the story he is telling. In this class, you’ll learn how he finds the right audio effects, adjusts and balances additional sounds in his edit, and weaves them seamlessly into his videos.

Filmmaking Tricks & Casey-isms

Casey’s style has been emulated and adapted since he established himself as a pioneer of online filmmaking over a decade ago. Learn the secrets, tips, and tricks that have secured his status as a genre-defining vlogger and filmmaker.

Creative Problem Solving

Over the course of the filmmaking process, obstacles naturally pop up. You’ll see Casey troubleshoot and work through creative challenges, like resolving missing audio and adjusting his story when it takes unexpected turns.

Develop Your Voice as a Filmmaker

Across hundreds of films, Casey has defined and refined his own style, elevating his work while staying true to himself. In this class, you’ll acquire the skills and the critical eye to develop a filmmaking voice that’s uniquely yours.

Pre-class: Onboarding and Introduction

Before class starts, there are few things you’ll need to do to be ready to go on Day 1. Casey explains how to get set up and what you’ll need to have and know ahead of time to get the most out of the class.

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Welcome Video

Casey welcomes you to class and previews the full 30-day schedule so you’re prepared to get going on Day 1.

Pre-class

Tools & Equipment You Need

Casey walks through the equipment you’ll need for class, from essentials like editing software to his favorite gear.

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Intro to Video Editing Software

This lesson contains all of the editing software fundamentals you’ll need to dive into your edit with confidence.

Days 1-16: Storytelling & Filmmaking Fundamentals

In this part of the class, Casey walks through his full filmmaking and storytelling process by creating an original movie in real time, from start to finish. He walks through his entire process of creating a short film, including how he finds a compelling idea for a movie, shoots his film, finds and adds the perfect background music, edits his footage together, and reviews and finalizes the polished film. You’ll follow along with Casey step-by-step and end Part 1 with your own original movie.

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1. Introduction to the Class Day 1

Casey explains how the class is structured, how to get the most out it, and what you’re going to learn during the intensive 30-day experience.

2. Finding Ideas Around You Day 1

Casey demonstrates how to discover promising film ideas and identify underlying themes using the environment around you.

Project 1A: Find Your Idea Day 1-2

In this project, apply what you learned from the previous lessons to find an idea for your first film of the class.

3. Shooting the Spontaneous Film Day 3

Casey shares his principles for capturing interesting and effective shots as he films his movie and develops his story on the fly.

Project 1B: Shoot Your Spontaneous Film Day 3-7

In this project, use what you learned in the previous lessons to shoot your first movie of the class, based on the idea you discovered.

4. Editing: Establishing Story & Tone Day 8

Casey shows how he establishes the tone and narrative of his film in the edit with hooks, music, and engaging shots.

Project 1C: Start Your Edit Day 8-11

In this project, apply what you learned and begin the rough edit of your movie, setting the tone for the rest of your film.

Feedback on the Edit in Progress Day 12

Receive personalized feedback on your edit in progress. Learn what you’re doing well and how you can improve.

5. Editing: Finishing the Movie Day 12

Casey demonstrates how he brings his film to a satisfying conclusion and reviews and polishes his own work.

Project 1D: Finish Your Movie Day 12-15

In this project, you’ll finish your rough edit, then take another pass at your movie to get it just right.

Feedback on the Final Movie (Day 16)

Receive personalized feedback on your first movie of the class. Learn what you’re doing well and how you can improve.

Days 16-30: Cinematography & The Complete Toolkit

In this part of the class, Casey will share his methods for elevating your filmmaking with a wider range of gear to use and more advanced editing techniques. For his second movie, he’ll create a movie around a personal idea that comes from his own experience — one that incorporates more ambitious cinematography, covers a variety of settings and narrative points, and weaves a more complex story. You’ll follow along with Casey to create a second original movie that challenges you to elevate your skills as a filmmaker and storyteller.

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6. Intro to Part 2: Pulling Ideas from Your Life Day 16

Casey introduces Part 2 of the class, and digs into his own life and experiences to find a compelling idea to develop into a movie.

Project 2A: Share Your Idea Day 16-17

In this project, you’ll find an idea that’s personal to you to use as the starting point for your second movie.

7. Filming: Establishing the Story Day 18

Casey begins capturing his narrative with cinematic shots inside his studio, outside on the street, and on the go.

8. Filming: Developing and Concluding the Story Day 18

Casey shares how he takes his shots to the next level, using his gear to capture compelling takes as he wraps his story.

Project 2B: Shoot Film #2 Day 18-22

In this project, apply what you learned and shoot a second, more cinematic and ambitious film around your idea.

9. Editing a More Complex Narrative Day 23

Casey establishes a dynamic story in his edit by introducing new narrative techniques as he works with more cinematic footage.

Project 2C: Start Your Second Edit Day 23-26

In this project, use what you learned in the previous lessons to start editing your second film of the class.

Feedback on the Second Edit Day 27

Receive personalized feedback on your edit in progress. Learn what you’re doing well and how you can improve.

10. Finishing Touches & Completing the Film Day 27

Casey further develops his film, continuing his narrative using elevated techniques and editing flourishes.

Project 2D: Finish Film #2 Day 27-30

In this project, you’ll complete your second edit, and review and share your final movie.

11. How to Keep Learning Day 30

Casey shares his philosophy and tips for growing as a filmmaker and continuing to create and develop your authentic style.