To say that the Ron Howard MasterClass course is comprehensive is almost to undersell it; the course takes an incredibly deep dive into its subject matter, making it a must for anyone interested in directing professionally or simply hoping to learn more about films in order to further their own appreciation from an academic standpoint.
The course walks a student through the entire production process, starting with aspects such as selecting a script, then choosing actors, and a detailed look at collaboration and how Howard tackles this in his own work. From there, the course continues to the nitty gritty of the film-making process: cinematography is covered in depth, as are the disciplines of production design, research, casting, and much more besides. Post-production then comes to the fore, with classes on topics such as editing, music and scoring, and sound design.
All of the above will be incredibly beneficial to anyone interested in learning more about the entire process that surrounds the production of visual media, and there is no doubt that even if the course just focused on those aforementioned elements then it would be offer something truly special to students. However, the Ron Howard MasterClass takes things a step further still, adding an extra few course areas that literally only Howard, among anyone working in Hollywood today, could produce.
These additional course elements focus on Howard’s body of work, There are scene deconstructions from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind, as well as complete coverage of the staging required – including potential alternatives – to create Frost/Nixon. Howard’s ability to deconstruct his own work and present it to a student is outstanding, and these elements are by far the most instructive and insightful of a course that is already packed with incredibly useful information. Howard’s readiness to draw from his own oeuvre absolutely justifies the MasterClass approach of encouraging experts to teach, and it works perfectly in this setting.
In addition to the collection of videos that form the main basis of the course, anyone choosing to enroll will receive a course workbook at the commencement of their studies. This workbook includes helpful information such as lesson recaps and supplemental material.
Given the breadth of information provided throughout the course, the fee – Learning from Ron Howard at Masterclass will cost you £170 for the All-Access Pass which will give you access to all of the courses that Masterclass has to offer.