A supplement to hands-on practice. Watch it, then go shoot a 2-minute scene applying one of his principles (e.g., “frame for the eyes” or “cut on gesture”). That’s where the real learning happens.
He constantly references his own films. That’s fine – it’s his class. But it means less time on universal principles. For example, his advice on directing children is just “be patient with them” – no concrete technique. His section on low-budget filmmaking is nostalgic (“We shot Mean Streets in 24 days”) but not actionable for today’s indie filmmaker. MasterClass.Martin.Scorsese.Teaches.Filmmaking....
Here’s a deep, critical review of . Overview Released in 2017 as part of MasterClass’s early premium lineup, Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking is often cited as one of the platform’s flagship courses. Unlike technical “how-to” classes (e.g., on lighting or editing software), Scorsese’s approach is philosophical, historical, and deeply personal . The class consists of roughly 4 hours of video across 30 lessons, accompanied by a 72-page workbook. A supplement to hands-on practice
Scorsese brings in his longtime editor, Thelma Schoonmaker (3x Oscar winner). They break down the “Funny How?” scene from Goodfellas frame by frame. You see how a pause in dialogue, a cut on a blink, or a mismatched eyeline creates tension. This alone justifies the course cost. He constantly references his own films
Surprisingly, Scorsese spends little time on his own fame. Instead, he credits his influences (John Cassavetes, Powell & Pressburger, Satyajit Ray). He admits his mistakes – e.g., a failed dolly shot on Taxi Driver that he now regrets. That humility is rare.
If you approach it as a , you’ll leave inspired. If you expect a blueprint for your first indie feature, you’ll be disappointed.