I got it last year Aaron Sorkin’s Masterclasswhich I absolutely loved and still refer to this day when writing scripts. As far as masterclasses go, it set the bar very high and I admit that when I took subsequent courses (namely those of David Mamet and Werner Herzog) I was not sure they would be met. same level. After taking on all three, I can confidently say that they are all incredible in their own right, and each for a different reason.
What makes Werner Herzog’s class so powerful (among other things) is his perspective as a mature filmmaker. He was more than just a director, writer or cinematographer. He is indeed an all-rounder film producermastered his craft in almost every aspect. Not to mention, he is completely self-taught and has built his career from the ground up by creating projects and creating opportunities for himself.
For this reason alone, I know DIY filmmakers working on their own micro-budget or self-funded projects will be able to relate to what he’s talking about…and filmmakers working on larger scale projects will also understand the attitude of doing it themselves . So, with that in mind, I’m looking forward to sharing with you my thoughts on the Herzog Masterclass from a DIY filmmaker’s perspective.
Before we get started, I’d also like to quickly point out that while Masterclass is a partner of NoamKroll.com, I have never reviewed any product or service that I don’t fully believe in, and I definitely would not recommend any product or service that I can . All thoughts below are entirely my own.
Werner Herzog’s Masterclass
If you’ve attended multiple masterclasses, you’ll know that no two are the same. While all courses offer video modules, assignments (optional), and the ability to communicate with classmates, the content and style of each course vary significantly.
The lessons in Herzog’s Master Class were very conversational and informal, which I really enjoyed. Of all the 26 courses included in his curriculum, not one of them felt “actionable,” and I mean that in the best way possible. Many times, online courses will provide a step-by-step breakdown of “how to do X, Y, or Z,” which may be appropriate for some topics, but is often too rigid for others. If Herzog’s class was shoehorned into a box like that, I think it would completely lose its magic.
What makes this course so successful is that it puts you in the room with Werner and allows you to absorb his vast knowledge of filmmaking as if you were having a one-on-one conversation with him. Most of the classes are just Werner talking directly to the camera and cover all aspects of filmmaking including: screenwriting, financing, recording, working with actors, negotiating contracts, camera techniques and career strategies, and more.
To say that Werner Herzog covers a wide range of topics in this course would be a massive understatement. He effortlessly navigates the creative, technical and business aspects of filmmaking, whether narrative or documentary, always conveying his message through the perspective of a self-made filmmaker.
Every filmmaker has his or her own path to success. Some people enter or work in institutions through writing. Others work their way up through personal assistants and through the ranks. Still others—like Werner Herzog—were truly self-taught and eventually achieved success by doing it themselves. That’s why I’m personally so excited about this course, and I’m sure many of you will feel the same way.
Taking the writing process as an example, Herzog talks about how he likes to write very quickly, sometimes completing a script in five days or less. What’s the reason? Because the script is only part of his creative process. This is not the end of his journey, but the beginning. He writes plays not to option or sell them, but to make them.
In a way, as I read between the lines of what he taught in this masterclass, I really felt that his process was all about speed.
He writes, shoots and edits in record time and seems to get his best work by doing so. This process undoubtedly gave him the ability to teach himself a lot. He is not afraid of making mistakes or failing. He understood that failure was part of the process and that he would never learn without going through the motions over and over again…so he worked, worked, and worked until he began to achieve the creative success he sought. Now he has a huge body of work to show off.
While his masterclass explores in detail many of the broad strokes of basic structures like this, his course also contains a wealth of specific, practical advice. For example, in one section he outlines the specific methods he used (such as running his own voices) to successfully produce and direct feature films with the smallest crews imaginable (sometimes as little as 2 people) that went on to compete in the Academy Awards Like a prize competition. Likewise, he elaborates on his philosophy for sequencing each shot, which is essentially unheard of for a director of his caliber.
One of many other examples of practical advice can be found in Lesson 10: Camera shooting strategy. Here, Herzog touches on a topic I’ve always found interesting—reporting. He explains why taking a minimalist approach to camera coverage works wonders for him, and how he shoots a maximum of 3 or 4 shots per scene to keep the actors fresh and the crew working on most The workday ends early. These anecdotes are just a few of the countless practical tips Werner generously and thoroughly relays throughout the class.
Another part of the masterclass that I really enjoyed and want to highlight here are the last few sessions, where Herzog talks about the realities of working in film and building a career for yourself. He talks about career tactics, ways to deal with rejection, and the importance of taking control of your career. These sections are particularly inspiring and reassuring to me because Herzog’s words of wisdom answer many of the tough questions I often ask myself when trying to find my place in this industry.
As you probably know, this masterclass covers a lot of ground. Far more than I could begin to explore in this review…so for my fellow do-it-yourselfers out there, I highly recommend this course.
I took this class for the first time last week and within two days I couldn’t help but binge-watch every lesson. This wasn’t the original intention of the course, but once I started, I couldn’t stop…
Part of that is the way Herzog delivers his message. He is passionate and passionate about what he does. Sometimes he would jump out of his chair mid-course to demonstrate something, such as how to put a camera on a stand while shooting handheld. Don’t even get me started on some of his battle stories, which I won’t even try to reiterate here!
What a joy it is to watch this master at work and absorb his unparalleled words of wisdom about the craft of filmmaking. So, for those looking to improve their skills across the board, there’s no better place to learn. Hope you like it!
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