Travel Filmmaking Program

1) Course Overview → 2) Curriculum → 3) Meet the Faculty → 4) FAQs → 5) Enroll


Photo: Alicia Sebastian

A dynamic program for launching or advancing your new media and travel filmmaking career

Matador’s Travel Filmmaking Program covers equipment, shooting techniques, editing, audio, plus the business side – everything from building a Web presence to finding market opportunities as a freelance filmmaker.

Key curriculum areas include:

  • A brief history and overview of the evolution of travel filmmaking
  • Camera types and formats
  • How to shoot like a pro
  • Image composition, lighting, and filters
  • How to capture sound
  • Editing and post-processing
  • Types of travel filmmaking
  • How to get paid and make a living
  • Building and keeping an audience
  • How to launch your career and live the dream
  • and much more!

After completing all 12 chapters, as an alumnus you’ll continue to have lifelong access to the curriculum as well as the Forums, and all future Continuing Education or Bonus Modules (supplemental courses that explore the latest in branding, SEO, and new media).

Explore the course by viewing the curriculum outline, meet the faculty, or read the FAQs.

Cost: $599 $350 *limited time only!

Test-drive this course right now for only $10. Pay the rest in 7 days.

“You will learn one of the most important skills of the coming century: how to be a powerful visual storyteller.” - Ian MacKenzie, Head of Matador Video

Full Course Curriculum

Please note that each chapter begins with definitions of key terms and ends with recommended readings (most available for free online) as well as assignments which are eligible for peer and instructor feedback in weekly travel filmmaking workshops.

Pre Course
  • Before we get started

  • Course overview
  • 
Setting up your video blog

  • 10 ways to get the most out of MatadorU
Chapter 1: Travel Film History to Today’s Opportunities
  • A brief history and the evolution of travel filmmaking
  • Distribution channels old and new: Video sites, film festivals, stock libraries, competitions
Chapter 2: Equipment
  • Camera types and formats
  • Lenses
  • Types of filters
  • Camera stabilizers: Tripods, dollies, and jibs
  • Storage
  • Other accessories
  • Laptops and editing computers
  • Software
Chapter 3: Camera Basics
  • Getting your numbers straight: Resolution, frame rate, and aspect ratio
  • General camera settings
Chapter 4: Image and Sound Composition
  • Framing shots: Long, medium, and close-up
  • Framing shots: Creative framing
  • The rule of thirds
  • Motion: Dolly, tracking, panning, zooming, and stabilizing
  • 180 degree rule
  • Lens selection
  • Natural vs artificial light and the Golden Hour
  • Shooting at night
  • White balance: Some considerations on color temperature
  • Key concept: 3-point lighting for interviews
  • Sound
Chapter 5: Types of Travel Films and Shooting Tips
  • It’s about storytelling: An overview
  • Types of travel films
  • Made for the Internet: Actuality, experimental, transmedia, and just “plane” fun
  • Shooting 101: Tips
Chapter 6: Post Production
  • Importing footage and backing up footage
  • Organizing, transcoding, digitizing
  • Rough cut: Trimming and cutting
  • Editing sound and music
  • Adding transitions, effects, and titles
  • Outputting to the web, DVD, and broadcast
Chapter 7: On the Road
  • Planning and research
  • Packing and transporting your gear
  • On the ground
Chapter 8: Getting and Making Work
  • Are there really opportunities out there?
  • Developing and funding your project idea
  • Distribution channels for your work
  • Pitching and presenting your work
  • The next steps
Chapter 9: Building and Keeping an Audience Online
  • Your web presence and social media
  • What is social media?
  • The social graph vs the interest graph
  • Tackling Twitter and attracting followers
  • Analytics, Alexa rankings, and number crunching
  • YouTube vs Vimeo vs the rest of ‘em
Chapter 10: How to Monetize Your Blog
  • Monetizing your blog
  • Working with premium ad networks and how to negotiate contracts
  • How to sell your own ads
  • 8 steps to building a profitable blog that funds your travels
  • 9 tips for creating a media kit you’re proud to send out
  • 7 tips for creating an “Advertise” page you can link to and create warm leads
  • Bonus tips for working with advertisers
Chapter 11: Straight Talk: The Myths and Reality of Travel Filmmaking
  • What’s your motivation?
  • Reality: It’s about who you know
  • Reality: An alternative source of income
  • Reality: Dealing with burn out
  • Staff position vs. freelancing
  • Learn to estimate time and the value of your work
  • MatadorU success story
Chapter 12: Living the Dream: Making your side gig your main gig
  • Making a living as a full-time filmmaker
  • Should I go to film school?
  • Working for a company vs. working for yourself

1) Course Overview → 2) Curriculum → 3) Meet the Faculty → 4) FAQs → 5) Enroll