The Best MasterClass Courses to Gift the Film Buffs in Your Life
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
All products and services featured by Variety are independently selected by Variety editors. However, Variety may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
If you have any storytellers and budding filmmakers in your life, a Masterclass course makes for the perfect personalized and thoughtful gift this holiday season.
More from Variety
The 20th Anniversary of 9/11 Will Be Televised, but I Won't Be Tuning In
Spike Lee Highlights Untold Stories of 9/11 in His Docu-Series 'NYC Epicenters: 9/11 - 2021½
Dina Amer Deconstructs Radicalization in Venice Days' Bold Feature Debut 'You Resemble Me'
MasterClass’s courses cut a swath through almost every industry, from cooking and interior design to writing and sports, but some of their most popular and star-studded classes are catered towards those within the entertainment industry. Spike Lee, Aaron Sorkin, Martin Scorsese and David Lynch are among the industry vets who have exclusive classes on writing, acting, and filmmaking. Most recently James Cameron, most famous for directing “The Terminator” signed on in June to teach a 15-course class through the screen.
Unlike traditional continuing education classes, which require in-person attendance and tuition fees, MasterClass courses are available as part of an annual subscription for $180 (for access to all the classes on the site). The fee gets you lifetime access to the course videos and materials, so you can reference the lesson plans and tips at any time.
MasterClass says it has a “robust pipeline” of new courses and categories set to launch in the next few months, which will bring its catalog to more than 90 classes, and more than a thousand lessons. Best of all, it makes an awesome gift for the film buff on your list that you send easily and instantly online (which is how most of us will be gifting this year). Prices are $15 per class and $180 for the year.
James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking
<img class="wp-image-1234997566" src="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg?w=300" alt="." width="500" height="282" srcset="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg 1721w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg?resize=125,70 125w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg?resize=681,383 681w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg?resize=450,253 450w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/James-Cameron-MasterClass.jpg?resize=250,140 250w" sizes="(min-width: 87.5rem) 1000px, (min-width: 78.75rem) 681px, (min-width: 48rem) 450px, (max-width: 48rem) 250px">
David Lynch Teaches Creativity & Film Making
Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting
Martin Scorsese Teaches Film Making
Natalie Portman Teaches Acting
Spike Lee Teaches Independent Filmmaking
Best of Variety
Best-Selling Celebrity Memoirs: Billy Porter Joins the Ranks
The Best Pop Culture Halloween Costumes for 2021: From 'Squid Game' to 'Cruella
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.