Intro toVisualStorytelling

Learn the fundamental techniques of visual storytelling through the classic and contemporary films that define the craft.

Self-paced course for teens and older. The course includes some references to R-rated films that may highlight adult themes or language.

30+
Self-Paced Lessons
10+
Hours of Content
15
Day Trial Period
Enroll Now — $199Watch Free Lessons
15-day money-back guarantee.
Self-paced with simple access
Classic and contemporary films analyzed
Practical assignments to apply learnings
Curated supplemental materials
Suitable for teens and older
Free Preview

Try it before you enroll

Watch these introductory lessons, completely free. No account required.

Trial Lesson 1
Introduction to Filmmaking
An overview of cinema's history, its power over us, and what it means to enter the world of storytelling.
Trial Lesson 2
Shot Sizes and Their Functions
From wide shots to extreme close-ups, how filmmakers choose the size of a shot to control what the audience sees, feels, and understands.
Trial Lesson 3
Introduction to Screenwriting
The foundational principles of screenwriting, from cinema's earliest stories to the modern screenplay as a film's architectural plan.
The Curriculum

30+ lessons across the craft of storytelling

Each lesson uses real examples from classic and contemporary films to show how technique creates meaning.

Story & Script
How stories are built on the page before they ever reach the screen.
  • Structure
  • Character
  • Dialogue
  • Concept
  • Narrative form
  • And more
The Visual Language
The grammar of what the camera sees, and why every choice matters.
  • Composition
  • Shot sizes
  • Camera movement
  • Light & shadow
  • Color
  • Design
  • And more
Direction & Performance
How directors shape scenes and guide what an audience feels.
  • Working with actors
  • Coverage
  • Shaping a scene
  • Sound & music
  • And more
Enrollment

One Price. Full Access.

Pay once and the course is yours.

Launch Offer — Save $50
Intro to Visual Storytelling

Complete access to all lessons, assignments, and materials

$249$199

✓ Save $50

  • 30+ on-demand video lessons
  • Nearly 10 hours of instruction
  • Taught through classic and contemporary films
  • Optional hands-on assignments
  • Curated supplementary materials and resources
  • Self-paced, revisit anytime
Enroll Now — $199

15-day money-back guarantee.

About Smashcut
smashcut

Smashcut partners with leading universities and organizations, including NYU Tisch, CAA, and the City of New York, to build film and media education for teens and adults. Intro to Visual Storytelling is designed for anyone who wants to understand cinema more deeply.

The course brings the theory and analysis at the heart of a film school education into a lightweight, self-paced format, so aspiring creators and film lovers can understand the language, craft, and technique behind the films they love. Whether that leads to creating something, heading off to film school, or simply watching more closely, that is up to you.

See stories differently.

30+ lessons on the craft of storytelling, taught through the films that do it best.

Launch price: $199 $249
Enroll Now — 15-Day Guarantee