Creator Center
← All courses
Photography & Video

Smartphone Filmmaking

Shoot, light and edit cinematic video with the phone in your pocket.

21 learners

Created by Tomás Rivera · Updated October 22, 2026

  • Beginner
  • 46 min total
  • 9 lessons
  • Self-paced

What you’ll learn

  • Set frame rate, resolution and exposure for cinematic footage
  • Compose shots and plan a simple shot list
  • Record clear audio with an inexpensive microphone
  • Edit a short film with pacing, music and colour

Course content

3 sections · 9 lessons · 46 min

Camera settings3 lessons · 13 min
  • Settings that matterVideo · 11 min
  • Frame rate and shutterReading · 1 min
  • Lock exposure and focusReading · 1 min
Shots and sound3 lessons · 15 min
  • Five shots every film needsVideo · 13 min
  • Composition basicsReading · 1 min
  • Audio is half the filmReading · 1 min
Editing3 lessons · 18 min
  • Cutting a one-minute filmVideo · 16 min
  • Pacing and cutsReading · 1 min
  • Colour and musicReading · 1 min

Requirements

  • A smartphone made in the last five years
  • A free editing app (CapCut, iMovie or similar)

Description

Your phone is a capable cinema camera if you know how to use it. This course covers the settings, shots and editing choices that separate polished video from shaky clips: locking exposure, composing shots, recording clean audio and cutting a short film. You'll make a one-minute film by the end, using only your phone and a free editing app.

Instructor

Tomás Rivera

Documentary filmmaker and cinematographer

  • 4.6 instructor rating
  • 30 reviews
  • 77 learners
  • 2 courses

I've shot documentaries, interviews and brand films, often with small crews and smaller budgets. I teach filmmaking with the gear people already have, because good light and good decisions matter more than expensive cameras.

4.6 course rating · 10 reviews

5 ★70%
4 ★20%
3 ★10%
2 ★0%
1 ★0%
  • Grace Ahmed · Oct 22, 2026

    Much better than the free videos I tried before.

  • Lena Nguyen · Oct 22, 2026

    Short lessons that fit around work. Finished it in a week.

  • Farhan Walker · Oct 22, 2026

    Solid fundamentals, well paced.

  • Leila Banerjee · Oct 22, 2026

    Decent introduction, but I already knew most of it.

  • Sam Kapoor · Oct 22, 2026

    Clear explanations and practical examples throughout.

  • Noah Haddad · Oct 22, 2026

    Practical, fun and very well explained.

  • Kenji Khan · Oct 22, 2026

    Locking exposure alone made my videos look professional. Wish I'd known sooner.

  • Kwame Patel · Oct 22, 2026

    Cut on action — game changer for my YouTube edits.

  • Hannah Nair · Oct 22, 2026

    Great for beginners; the audio tips were the most valuable part.

  • Liam Costa · Oct 22, 2026

    Tomás is a natural teacher. Made my first short film in a weekend!