The Latest Industry News for the Exciting World of Production.

Top image via Shutterstock.



YouTube is a truly underrated asset for filmmakers. It offers an unimaginable volume of content, all with the intention of teaching and inspiring young filmmakers. Even if you just picked up the art as a hobby, you can find advice for all experience levels, from “never having picked up a camera” to “mastering Adobe After Effects.” Instead of including big-time YouTubers like Peter McKinnon or Film Riot in this round-up, I’ll be showcasing some of the truly underrated channels that are really helping the filmmaking community.

1. YC Imaging

Chrystopher Rhodes brings you actionable tips while also showcasing his finished products, so you can see the advice in action. Creating everything from vlogs to editing tutorials to product reviews, YC Imaging is an excellent resource for all things camera, lenses, or lighting. Offering about four videos a week, this channel does not let up with the helpful videos and tips. His finished music videos are very inspiring, and they’re done in a style that aspiring YouTubers should learn.

• Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Music Videos


• How I Back up My Files


• How Many Lenses Do You Really Need

2. Aputure

Ted and the team from lighting company Aputure have built one of the most consistently helpful and interesting YouTube channels in the past couple years. Demonstrating lighting setups and ways you can shoot your project, the skills and know-how they share is priceless - direct from the people that literally make the lights you’re using.

• Filmmaking Mistakes to Avoid


• The ONE Lighting Tip You Need to Know


• How to Tell a Story with Lighting

3. cinemaK

Speaking of lighting, cinemaK brings us some of the best demonstrations of how to light scenes - while keeping costs down. His DIY mentality is perfect for creators helping other creators solve problems resourcefully. Plus, who doesn’t love DIY videos? He hasn’t been uploading as much lately, but the channel is still around, proving its sticking power as an effective resource for anyone who needs info on the power of good lighting.

• DIY Super Frugal Cinesaddle Alternative


• Ursa Mini 4.6k Low Light Test

4. CookeOpticsTV

CookeOpticsTV is one of the most professional channels out there. Frankly, it should be on TV, given the quality of the production and the video professionals involved. Whether it’s interviews or in-depth tutorials on why movies feel the way they do, the channel is highly entertaining and continues to put out incredible content.

• Cinematography Analysis: There Will Be Blood


• Wes Anderson’s Production Design


• Cinematography Meets VFX

5. Zach Ramelan

One of the most energetic voices rising in the film community right now is Zach Ramelan. He does it all: shoots music videos, edits and creates vlogs, and shows his viewers how filmmaking is done. His vlogging helps filmmakers by offering insight into how the modern videographer and producer earns a living - and what they can expect from their careers. His tutorials are often thorough and passionate. Keep an eye out for his name - you’ll see it everywhere in the not-too-distant future.

• DIY Micro Lens Hack


• FIXING MY BROKEN A7s Screen


• Don’t Get Lost In Gear

6. Grip Tips

So, as you might expect, Grip Tips targets grips, production assistants, DPs, and DIY aficionados. As you can see from the video above, most of the videos focus on how to build, assemble, and manage the production gear you’ll find on a big set - while also considering safety. There are several videos on their channels devoted to working with C-stands and lighting stands in general. Even if you’re not working on a big set, this type of information will come in handy on your own productions.

• Comparing Four Common Expendable Diffusions


• Solid Flags


• Nets

7. Cinecom.net

If you’re looking for music video recreations, or just awesome VFX work, Cinecom.net is your channel. Jordy and company work out of their DIY studio building impressive rigs and sets. The channel is a lot of fun, and it’s perfect for anybody exhausted with filmmakers who take themselves too seriously. They’re having a lot of fun and creating some pretty incredible tutorials.

• 5 Color Grading Hacks


• Transitions from TWICE in Premiere Pro


• Making a Playful Food Tutorial

8. Wolfcrow

The least actionable, but certainly one of the most authoritative, channels on this list is Wolfcrow. Diving into cinematographers’ work in the most specific, detailed way gives us an inside look at how movies get made today. The format for this channel is video essay; however, if you watch this channel instead of spending thousands upon thousands of dollars in tuition at film school, you’ll be just fine.

• Camera Angles and Movement: Three Billboards


• The Marvel Cinematic Language Explained


• Cinematography of Blade Runner 2049

9. Brandon Washington

One of the most recent creators on the scene, Brandon Washington offers a fresh channel that is gaining momentum. Contributing a perfect blend of inspiration, editing, photography, and hands-on gear reviews, Washington will blow up in the next year, most likely creating and producing content you’ll see on fstoppers, No Film School, PremiumBeat, etc. This channel is perfect for anybody interested in photography and videography.

• How to Capture Crispy Audio


• Easy 1 Light YouTube Setup


• The Best Travel Camera

10. Shutterstock Tutorials

Well, I have to plug our channel, obviously! The Shutterstock Tutorials YouTube channel is just getting started, and we’ve got tons of fresh material in the works. Offering actionable tips on editing, shooting, and lighting, the channel is here to help new filmmakers find their voices while teaching them a few things along the way. Make sure to subscribe as the channel gets into product reviews and more advanced tutorials.

• The Best Mouse for Video Editing


• What is Focal Length?


• What is Gaff Tape?

11. PremiumBeat

PremiumBeat is a perfect resource for all things filmmaking. Whether it’s After Effects, Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve, the tutorials cover all ground - basic, advanced, and everything in between. They also have stellar cinematography, inspiration, and DIY build tutorials as well. There’s something for everybody, and occasionally they’ll give away some free assets with their videos.

• How to Minimize Lighting Setups


• Tips for Stabilizing Footage


• Lighting with Fire

Looking for more video production tips? Check out these tutorials.

• Video Tutorial: Cleaning Up Noisy Video in 30 Seconds


• Gear Recommendation: The Best Mouse For Video Editing


• Camera Lenses 101: When to Choose Wide or Telephoto


• How to Use Motion Graphics Templates in Adobe Premiere Pro


• Video Tutorial: 5 Tricks For Working with Photos in Premiere Pro