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Alex Assenmacher

The ONLY course that applies narrative fiction and psychology tricks exclusively to aerial footage. [Fully new course 2022 - updated January 2023][Trusted by more than 3.8k students]

What's it about?

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The ONLY course that applies narrative fiction and psychology tricks exclusively to aerial footage. [Fully new course 2022 - updated January 2023][Trusted by more than 3.8k students]

What's it about?

  • Are you tired of boring landscape shots with your drone? Start telling exciting stories with your drone, with a beginning and an ending. You want your videos to be a truly genuine experience for your viewer.

  • Take full control of your drone, know all its settings, understand pre and postproduction. And most importantly, play with your viewers psychology learning the most important tools about storytelling.

  • Be finally a pro drone filmmaker

Why take this course?

  • Here you'll learn how to make an authentic aerial production. To get the most out of your drone and your camera, first you should understand the components that each of them has, and how they work, in order to get very specific results, that will make you discover a new world.

  • Based on the negative and positive experiences from all my productions already made, and adding many of the questions that users ask me, you'll learn a new air language. I'll put you in the situations that you'll face, and you'll learn ways to solve them.

  • Above all, this course is about telling a story. Do you ever get tired of seeing landscapes and more landscapes no matter how pretty they are? It's time to learn what a story is, what elements it has, and especially how to apply them to aerial footage. This course is a pioneer in applying fiction exclusively to this type of recording.

  • You'll be joining a closed Telegram group for students where you'll be able to post your footage and get instant feedback from other students and the instructor.

"As a beginner, and with my DJI Mini 2, I never thought I could improve my films that much. I am SO thankful that I came across Alex's course. I've learned so many new things, techniques, tools and shots, that I literally went from deceptive videos to decent productions within a few weeks. I can only recommend this course to anyone seeking to understand the power of a well-developed story, the mastering of your drone and all its settings, plus knowing how to edit your videos with great colors and appropriate music. If I could give you 100 stars I would Alex. For those who don't know him, he's a very kind instructor always answering students doubts and questions. What a nice experience this has been. " Higashami N., [Feb. 2022]

How is the course structured?

  • Even when you know how to get the most out of your drone, in this course you'll learn the tools to make your productions even better.  You'll understand and apply editing and post-production processes, to both image and audio. From a good synchronization of both, color grading your footage, working on good titles, to manual audio editing that will make viewers have an even better experience.

  • Finally you'll do some exercises in which you'll be able to show everything that you have learned.

Come on in, you won't regret it :) . You'll enjoy and learn things that you never imagined you were able to do.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Tell astonishing stories trough aerial filming
  • Don't just film landscapes, create stories
  • [updated course in 2023] last update: june 2023
  • A really good story has a great pre and post production.
  • You will know how to fly properly and film breathtaking shots
  • You will organise your productions much more efficiently and professionally
  • Focusing in the psychology of a viewer

Syllabus

Welcome to the course :)
  • What will the course be about?

  • My motivations

  • What will you be able to do when you are finished?

  • The course will be constantly upgrading

Read more
  • THE biggest question: hey Alex, which drone should I buy.

  • I'll be answering that specific question in this video. But hey, if you already have a drone, don't worry, this lecture is still important, we're going to be talking about YOUR purpose!

  • Choosing your best platform to share your work is key

  • I'll be talking about the pros and cons of each of those platforms

  • A very interesting lecture about social media's current situation

  • We'll talk quickly about our community and about why each one of us has responsibilities for being part of it.

  • We will go through some basic examples of what NOT to do

In this file that you can download, you'll find the link to our private Telegram group + a few extra of my social media links where you'll find all of my content :)

Settings before flying
  • Short introduction about what the section is about

  • We will be learning what ISO is (one of the three basic pillars of image capturing), how it works, when to use low ISO, High ISO and knowing how to use it properly in different case scenarios.

  • We will be learning what an actual Shutter is (the second of the three basic pillars of image capturing).

  • Also, the difference between photography - and video shootings as both cases are quite different.

  • I will explain when it is better to use a high vs a low shutter speed, as well as a short resume about the most typical shutter speeds.

  • And of course, we will talk about the 180 degree rule, which is about shutter speed and frame rate.

  • Finally, we will be having a look what frame rate means, and how to achieve film looks and slow motion effects by applying both subjects we have learned about.

  • We will be having a look at what aperture is (the last one of the three basic pillars of image capturing).

  • We'll take a look at the different aperture sizes and how to calculate them with a simple mathematical equation.

  • We will learn what exposure value is and how it applies on our shootings.

  • Also, we will see how to achieve different results with same exposure values.

  • Finally, we will see how to adjust a correct exposure value on our drones.

  • We will be talking about ND filters, how they work and some of the different situations where these filters are particularly helpful.

  • Also, we will mention when not to use them.

  • Finally, we will take a closer look at graduated ND filters.

  • Testing a variety of ND Filters

  • What they do and how they perform

  • How you will need to use them

  • What is resolution?

  • Which resolution to use?

  • Resolution and frame rate? How to set each one correctly

  • What are color profiles?

  • Should you use D-Cinelike, D-log...?

(Some newer drones don't have this anymore)

  • What are the three camera style settings on your drone

  • How to use them in your favor

  • Preset Color profiles?

  • What is White Balance?

  • How to use a proper White Balance?

  • Auto or Manual?

  • In this lecture I wanted to go through all hidden and secondary menus of your drone, and explain the most relevant tools you can use.

We will take a look at the different extras you should be buying right away when purchasing a drone, such as:

  • batteries

  • backpacks

  • propellers

  • You will learn all you can do before filming, will save you a lot of time afterwards.

  • I will tell you, based on my experience, what I do before arriving at the location, by using Google Maps.

  • Use official flying zone - websites in your country to know if it's legal flyingt where you want to go.

  • Keys to choosing a good spot for flying your drone

  • Things to avoid

  • Which equipment do I use

  • Will it depend on the type of production?

In this lecture...

  • You will find some exercises for a better learning of all the lectures taught above.

Control and Flight

Short introduction about what the section is about

In this lecture...

  • We'll go to outdoors for understanding better the tips we'll be learning in this lecture
  • You'll learn basics for taking off and landing such as positioning, type of surface...
  • You will learn what RTH is

  • How it works

  • How to set it best for under specific circumstances

Flying and filming techniques
  • We will take a look at the different options you have for editing, such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro...

  • If you don't have them yet, I will make a brief video about how to purchase them at the best prices.

  • You will learn the basics of image composition.

  • We will take a look at the golden mean and at the rule-of-thirds.

  • You will get a nice view of the different shots that you can film with your drone.

  • Also at what speed you need to be flying for getting more accurate and filmic shots.

  • Intelligent Flight Modes are a great way to create beautiful shots easily

  • Which ones should you try?

  • Quickshots are a great tool for social media content

  • Let's test some of them

  • You'll have listed all the details you should be achieving for filming and editing an amazing video

  • All you have learned must be reflected in the footage you will film as a final result

  • Let's see if you learned something :)

Telling a Story
  • A good story told by a boring person will always be a bad story...But what about if you're able to be a good storyteller?

  • You'll learn some tips for knowing how stories have to be told, adapted to your footage.

  • Entirely based on my experiences doing other paid jobs

  • The message. You need to be specific

  • Being subtle

  • You'll get a look at how stories are divided into three acts

  • You'll understand how beginnings and endings have to be structured

  • You'll know how to create a rising action and finish it with an amazing climax

  • You'll be able to tell a story and create experiences with your drone footage

  • This lecture is an example to understand what we talked about the three-act-structure in the previous lecture.

  • Definition of your video Mood

  • Different components of your drone video mood

  • When to develop the mood of your projects

Editing your visual footage

I decided to switch from Premiere Pro to Davinci because I was having lots of problems when exporting my videos on Premiere. It was constantly crashing, bugging, it was just terrible and I was sick of it.
I switched to Davinci, and even thought it's not perfect nor crash-free, it has improved my workflow efficiency quite a bit.

I paid a single 299$ fee for the Davinci's full Studio version. But the free version is almost as good as the studio version. You may want to check it out.

This won't affect this course's lectures, as editing concepts are essentially the same across all softwares. So don't worry about it, I'm just giving you the possibility to check everything out, and as I mentioned in the previous lecture, make sure to check out all the trial versions before, so that you can feel most comfortable with your choice.


Link to my Davinci Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/davinci-18/

  • Where to download the free software: Davinci Resolve 18

  • How to install it

  • Step by step guide through the Project Manager

  • Efficient and clean workflow

  • Optimization of the workspace with my personal tips

  • Software settings vs Project settings

  • Explanation of the 7 different programs inside Davinci

  • Window by window walk-through inside the Software

  • Organization of all tabs

  • You will learn how to use premiere and do the basic edits.

  • If you are using another software, don't worry, the basic tools and steps you will learn in this video will apply also on final cut, avid...

Extra

Here you will find a link for downloading 3 compressed files. In this file, I have included for after effects:


  • A few of my Drone Shots so you can play with them

  • Text animations (for titles, credits, text...)

  • Image animations (light leaks for your footage, logo animations, HUD packs...

  • A few songs that I have used for this course

  • Some audio effects (cinematic, misc...)

All files are royalty free (you can use them for anything). As I couldn't upload a file to udemy, I'll just give you a PDF file with a MEGA link. Don't worry, it's safe, free and LEGAL.

  • How to be an efficient editor by rendering

  • Some key tips to work faster

  • What are proxies?

  • How and when to use them?

  • We will learn how to give your titles a really nice and professional look by creating them and showing them at the right time plus some basic edit.

  • Remember that titles are a vital part of your image and your channel.

  • What is Color Correcting and why is it SO important?

  • Understand each of the settings you will be tweaking

  • Use of scopes to understand what's happening

  • Master the art of color correcting

  • Once you've color corrected, it's time to understand the basics of color grading

  • Where to start

  • What to do

  • Specific looks

  • Use of LUTS

  • Master the Art of color grading

In this two files you'll find the Soundbank Websites links + Free font Websites from where you can download your new fonts!

Music and Audio
  • We will learn how important audio is for our films.

  • Some people say soundtrack is as important as the filmed clips on a video.

  • You will understand the basics of how copyright works

  • You will understand what you can and what you cannot use on your drone videos

  • You will learn the different things that can happen when uploading videos with copyrighted material

  • We'll go through the 5 most important soundbank websites

  • How much they cost and what they offer

  • Which one I use

  • Free websites and resources are a great help if you don't want to spend money on sound banks

  • Most helpful free websites

  • You'll learn the basics of how to include audio and music to your clip for giving it an amazing professional look.

  • You will learn how to use keyframes for changing volumes at specific parts, creating manual fade ins or fade outs...

  • We will also take a brief look at some audio effects, including reverb, constant power...

Final Video

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores pre and post-production techniques, which are essential for creating polished and professional aerial videos that engage viewers and tell compelling stories
Provides access to a closed Telegram group, which allows learners to receive feedback from peers and the instructor, fostering a collaborative learning environment
Covers drone settings such as ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and white balance, which are fundamental for capturing high-quality aerial footage in various conditions
Includes downloadable resources such as drone shots, text animations, and royalty-free music, which can be used to enhance video projects and experiment with different styles
Uses DaVinci Resolve for editing demonstrations, but the instructor notes that the editing concepts are applicable to other software, such as Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro
Requires learners to purchase additional equipment such as batteries, backpacks, and propellers, which may pose a financial barrier for some students

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Drones: how to tell Aerial Stories | Updated June 2023 with these activities:
Read 'Directing the Story' by Francis Glebas
Gain a strong foundation in storytelling principles before diving into aerial filmmaking.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Directing the Story' by Francis Glebas.
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters related to narrative structure and visual storytelling.
  • Take notes on key concepts and examples.
Practice Basic Drone Maneuvers
Improve drone handling skills to ensure smooth and cinematic footage.
Show steps
  • Review drone safety guidelines and regulations.
  • Practice basic maneuvers like take-off, landing, and smooth panning shots in an open area.
  • Experiment with different flight speeds and altitudes.
Create a Short Aerial Storyboard
Apply storytelling concepts learned in the course to plan a short aerial film.
Show steps
  • Develop a simple narrative with a beginning, middle, and end.
  • Sketch out key shots for each scene, focusing on visual composition and camera movement.
  • Add brief descriptions of the action and dialogue (if any) for each shot.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Experiment with Camera Settings
Master camera settings to achieve desired visual effects and overcome challenging lighting conditions.
Browse courses on ISO
Show steps
  • Choose a static subject and location.
  • Systematically adjust ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, noting the impact on exposure and depth of field.
  • Experiment with different white balance settings to achieve accurate colors.
Edit a Short Drone Video
Practice editing techniques to enhance the visual impact of aerial footage.
Show steps
  • Select a few short clips of drone footage.
  • Import the footage into a video editing software (e.g., DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro).
  • Trim the clips, add transitions, and adjust the audio levels.
  • Experiment with color correction and grading to create a specific mood.
Study 'The Five C's of Cinematography' by Joseph Mascelli
Deepen understanding of cinematography principles to improve the visual quality of aerial films.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Five C's of Cinematography' by Joseph Mascelli.
  • Read the book, paying close attention to the chapters on composition, camera angles, and continuity.
  • Analyze examples of aerial footage, identifying how the principles of cinematography are applied.
Create a Portfolio of Aerial Shots
Showcase skills and creativity by compiling a collection of best aerial shots.
Show steps
  • Review all aerial footage and select the best shots based on composition, storytelling, and technical quality.
  • Organize the shots into a cohesive portfolio, considering the order and flow.
  • Add descriptions or captions to provide context and highlight key aspects of each shot.

Career center

Learners who complete Drones: how to tell Aerial Stories | Updated June 2023 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Drone Videographer
A Drone Videographer uses unmanned aerial vehicles to capture video footage. This course directly addresses the need for story-driven aerial video, teaching how to move beyond simple landscape shots and create compelling narratives. It covers important concepts for professional drone filmmaking, from understanding camera settings to pre and post production techniques. The course’s focus on controlling the drone and understanding its settings, plus the study of storytelling, makes it valuable for a drone videographer. It emphasizes a viewer's psychology, and this unique application of fiction to aerial footage is specifically relevant.
Aerial Cinematographer
An Aerial Cinematographer specializes in capturing high-quality cinematic footage from drones. This course is directly relevant as it emphasizes creating 'authentic aerial production' and using drones to tell stories, instead of just capturing pretty landscapes. The syllabus includes deep dives into camera settings, pre-production planning, and post-production processes for image and audio, all of which are necessary for aerial cinematography. The course also uniquely applies fiction to aerial footage, which is critical for creating engaging and cinematic experiences.
Travel Videographer
A Travel Videographer documents travel experiences and destinations through video. This course provides a travel videographer with a means to capture unique footage. It teaches how to use drones to tell stories, rather than just capture landscapes, and this is valuable in creating more engaging travel content. Instruction in the course on drone settings, shooting techniques, and pre and post production are all directly applicable to creating professional and cinematic travel videos. The unique application of story and fiction described in the course is also specifically relevant.
Freelance Videographer
A Freelance Videographer works on a variety of video projects for multiple clients. This course is useful for a freelance videographer because it provides ways to create unique narratives through aerial footage. It covers all aspects of drone filmmaking, from understanding camera settings and drone handling, to pre-production planning, and post-production. The course can give a freelancer an edge because they will learn a new skill set and learn the key factors of great storytelling. These are all valuable assets for a freelance videographer.
Real Estate Videographer
A Real Estate Videographer creates visual content for real estate listings. This course helps enable a real estate videographer to become more skilled in their job. The course’s focus on aerial video, storytelling, and pre and post production is essential to creating engaging content. It also teaches specific techniques with drones that are valuable for showcasing properties from unique perspectives. The course’s instruction on the psychology of a viewer may be particularly helpful for capturing the best aspects of a property.
Wedding Videographer
A Wedding Videographer captures video footage of weddings and related events. This course will be valuable for a wedding videographer seeking to add aerial footage to their services. The course specifically teaches how to craft compelling narratives using drones, which will help capture those special moments of weddings and receptions. The instruction on drone techniques, camera settings, and post-production processes are also valuable for creating high quality wedding videos. A wedding videographer would find the lessons in applying fiction to aerial footage very helpful.
Drone Pilot
A Drone Pilot operates unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes, and this course may be useful for such an individual. It focuses on using drones for aerial filming and storytelling, going beyond simple landscape shots. The course teaches how to control a drone, using specific camera settings, in addition to pre and post production techniques. Therefore a drone pilot will find the course’s instruction valuable. This course helps improve drone piloting by emphasizing storytelling and viewer engagement.
Video Editor
A Video Editor is responsible for assembling raw video footage into a final product. Through instruction on video editing, this course is applicable to the role. It covers post-production processes, including image and audio synchronization, color grading, titles, and manual audio editing. As such, a video editor will find this course's lessons invaluable. The course content’s specific focus on applying these editing techniques to aerial footage makes it particularly beneficial for a video editor specializing in this kind of production.
Content Creator
A Content Creator plans, develops, and produces engaging content for various platforms. This course may be useful for a content creator seeking to add unique aerial videography to their skill set. It teaches how to use drones to tell compelling stories through aerial footage and this can lead to more engaging content. By covering topics from controlling a drone and its camera settings to organizing pre and post-production and understanding story structure, this course may help a content creator enhance their ability to create rich and engaging video content.
Film Director
A Film Director is responsible for the creative vision of a film. This course may be useful for a film director who wants more understanding of aerial cinematography and storytelling. The course focuses on cinematic techniques using drones, incorporating storytelling principles, and considering the viewer's psychology. The instruction on pre and post production would also apply to larger scale film productions. A film director may find the course helpful for learning how to incorporate drone footage skillfully into their projects.
Marketing Specialist
A Marketing Specialist develops and implements marketing strategies to promote a product or brand. This course may be useful for a marketing specialist looking to make use of aerial videography to create unique and engaging marketing content. It teaches how to use drones for storytelling, going beyond basic landscape shots to tell an authentic story, which should be beneficial for creating effective marketing campaigns. Instruction on video editing and post production may also play a role in creating compelling marketing visuals.
Social Media Manager
A Social Media Manager is responsible for creating and curating content for social media platforms. The course may be useful for a social media manager seeking to enhance their skill set with unique aerial video. The course’s content addresses using drone footage for storytelling, along with instruction on pre-production, post-production, and various editing techniques. A social media manager could find the lessons on using quickshots particularly valuable for generating engaging social media content.
Photojournalist
A photojournalist captures and reports on news and events through visual media. This course may be useful for a photojournalist seeking to expand their skills with aerial videography. It teaches the use of drones for storytelling and capturing aerial footage, along with pre and post production techniques. A photojournalist may find the concepts behind telling a story through visual media to be particularly valuable. This course may be useful in expanding a photojournalist's means of storytelling.
Instructional Designer
An Instructional Designer creates learning materials and experiences. This course may be useful for instructional designers looking to enhance the visual appeal of their work through aerial video. This course will teach a designer how to create engaging visuals through drone footage. The course instructs on pre and post production, image and audio editing along with how to control the drone and its settings. An instructional designer may find that this has many creative applications.
Animator
An Animator creates moving images using computer software. This course may be useful for an animator as they consider using drone footage in their work. While the course is primarily focused on video, it does provide an overview of pre and post production techniques, including how to edit and add audio and music to footage. An animator may find the course’s content, especially concerning storytelling and how to engage a viewer, helpful for their work.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Drones: how to tell Aerial Stories | Updated June 2023.
Provides a comprehensive guide to storytelling techniques applicable to visual media. It covers storyboarding, character development, and narrative structure, all crucial for creating compelling aerial stories. Reading this book before the course will provide a solid foundation in storytelling principles. It is commonly used by industry professionals and students alike.

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