MZed, which is an online educational platform, has announced a partnership with ARRI to provide ARRI’s renowned training programs to filmmakers all over the globe. Now you can get certified by ARRI Academy without leaving your couch.

ARRI Academy

ARRI Academy is an educational program, that offers online courses as a series of live sessions or recorded sessions with corresponding self-learning units. The program covers all aspects of shooting with the ALEXA LF, ALEXA Mini, ALEXA SXT W, and AMIRA. It is a perfect opportunity to enhance your knowledge of ARRI’s camera functions and advanced look workflows. The topics are diverse, for instance: lighting, camera’s system, training for a specific camera (ARRI Mini, ALEXA SXT AMIRA, etc. ), camera motion, advanced color science and more.

Furthermore, ARRI publishes short educational videos regarding the topics above from time to time on its YouTube channel. You should check it out. It’s free and very informative.

However, for the certified in-depth courses held at the Academy, you need to travel to a specific location to participate in workshops, seminars, and masterclasses.

MZed and ARRI: An online in-depth educational resource by ARRI Academy

MZed, which is a meticulous online training platform, has picked up the gauntlet and assembled the ARRI knowledge to make it accessible to the internet. This initiative has been possible due to a partnership between ARRI and MZed. As stated by ARRI: “We are very excited to be hosting our ARRI Academy online courses now on MZed.com. It is a very powerful platform that delivers high-end educational content to our current users and future customers around the world,” says Harald Schernthaner, Head of Global Customer Training at ARRI. Moreover, it’s important to mention that all graduates will receive ARRI Academy certification upon completion of the course.

We are very excited to be hosting our ARRI Academy online courses now on MZed.com. It is a very powerful platform that delivers high-end educational content to our current users and future customers around the world

Harald Schernthaner, Head of Global Customer Training at ARRI

The first course: Certified Training for Camera Systems

The first course released under this partnership is called: Certified Training for Camera Systems. This eight-module course covers all aspects of shooting with the ARRI ALEXA LF, ALEXA Mini, ALEXA SXT W, and the AMIRA. Also, as a part of the agreement, this first course will be made available to members of MZed’s subscription membership, MZed Pro, for free.

Let’s soar over the first course’s topics and syllabus:

1. ARRI ALEXA LF and the ALEXA SXT W: Introduction to basic features, layout, and capabilities.
2. ARRI AMIRA and the ALEXA Mini: Introduction to basic features, layout, and capabilities.
3. Lens mounts, lenses, and filters: Introduction to the native lens mounts of the ALEXA LF, ALEXA SXT W, ALEXA Mini, and AMIRA, and how they can be adapted to support a wide range of lens choices. Discussion on illumination circle of lenses and sensor size coverage.
4. Menu configuration, Web remote, and Camera Access Protocol: Configurations and remotely control the ALEXA LF, ALEXA SXT W, ALEXA Mini, and AMIRA.
5. Recording Media, Recording Formats, and Online Tools: Media, sensor modes, aspect ratios, lens styles, and codecs.
6. ARRIRAW, Rec709 v LogC, Exposure, and Focus Control: Detailed explanation of how a camera sensor converts optical light into a digital signal inside the camera. Color processing and tools available to assist with exposure and focusing.
7. ARRI Looks, Color Tool, and Post Production Workflow: Options and software tools to manage color including in-camera, off-camera, during post-production and even live-grading on set.
8. ARRI Image Quality and HDR: Definition of dynamic range and color reproduction from a camera sensor. Investigation and execution of High Dynamic Range (HDR) imagery.

Price

It’s a $50 per module. However, all eight modules (total time of 10 hours) will cost you $200 and can be streamed and downloaded for offline watching. As written above, this course is also available to members of MZed’s subscription membership, MZed Pro, for free.

Final thoughts

The best way to learn how to use ARRI’s camera is actually to rent and use them. That’s probably the most immersive and efficient way to educate yourself regarding ARRI ecosystem. The problem is that ARRI cameras are expensive to rent and buy. Of course, you can get a used ARRI for less than $10,000 or even better, buy it from the CPO program. But again, it will cost you. The other option, which is much less useful is to take an online course. In case it’s your sole option, go with MZed’s educational online platform. For a couple of bucks, you will get decent knowledge of ARRI’s cameras and ecosystem, plus a formal certificate, which might help you to get hired.

What are your thoughts about this? Should you take the course? Let’s know in the comments section below.