Ron Howard MasterClass Review 2022: Is It Worth It?

This article “Ron Howard Masterclass Review” will provide you with the opportunity to read an in-depth evaluation of Ron Howard’s Masterclass, including information on how the lessons are presented, who the course is best suited for, the cost, and what I enjoyed about it, etc.

Ron Howard is an Academy Award-winning director who is known for some of Hollywood’s most well-crafted and critically praised films, such as A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, and The Da Vinci Code. He is also the author of the novel The Da Vinci Code.

The Ron Howard MasterClass examines the art of directing from Howard’s dual perspective as an actor and a director of film and television.

As a result of his illustrious career in the worlds of cinema and television, I regarded this course as an unrivaled opportunity to learn from one of Hollywood’s most illustrious members of the elite.

But what exactly is the Ron Howard MasterClass experience like? How long do you think it will take? Is the Ron Howard MasterClass a good investment of your time?

During this review of Ron Howard MasterClass, I’ll be answering all of these questions and more, as well as offering my honest assessment of Ron Howard’s course, including what I liked and didn’t like about it.

This MasterClass is lengthy, with a duration of about eight hours. The following evaluation will be lengthy as a result of this. If you are only interested in the headlines, the following Ron Howard Masterclass Review is for you:

Who Is Ron Howard?

Ronald William Howard, better known by his stage as Ron Howard, (born March 1, 1954, Duncan, Oklahoma, United States), American filmmaker who originally gained prominence as a child actor before rising to prominence as a recognized director.

Howard’s parents worked in the entertainment industry, and he made his debut appearance on screen in Frontier Woman (1955), when he was just 18 months old.

His first onstage appearance was at the age of two in a summer-stock production of The Seven Year Itch, and he quickly established himself as Ronny Howard, appearing on a variety of television shows such as Playhouse 90, General Electric Theatre, The Danny Thomas Show, The Fugitive, and Dr. Kildare, as well as in the film The Journey, which he co-wrote and directed (1959).

He went on to helm the film Apollo 13, which was nominated for two Academy Awards.

His biographical drama, A Beautiful Mind, went on to win two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture in the following year.

As one of the most well-known directors in the United States, I was eager to see what Ron Howard’s MasterClass had in store for me.

You can also follow Ron Howard on Twitter, where he currently has 2.5 million followers and regularly posts some extremely interesting content to his audience.

What Is MasterClass?

MasterClass is an online learning platform that was established in 2015. It specializes in video content created by experts who are world-renowned in their fields.

The fact that MasterClass has grown in popularity is not surprising considering that it offers over 150 lessons from luminaries such as Gordon Ramsay, Hans Zimmer, and David Lynch.

Another significant advantage of MasterClass is the high production values and video quality that it offers. Check out our MasterClass review for a more in-depth look at the program.

In spite of all of this, MasterClass may not be suitable for everyone. As a result, I intend to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this MasterClass to assist you in deciding whether it is right for you.

Lessons Overview – Ron Howard Masterclass Review

The MasterClass given by Ron Howard is a fantastic opportunity to learn about all areas of filmmaking from a renowned director.

I’m referring to anything and anything that has anything to do with direction, including cinematography, production, and even acting.

Due to the fact that Ron is also an actor (he was a young artist who starred in the television series Happy Days as Richie), he discusses a few tactics that can be beneficial to aspiring actors. Now, let’s take a look at the teachings he has given us.

It would take an eternity to wrap up the full 32 classes, so allow me to quickly go through the course, highlight the most important insights, and list all of the essential recommendations that Ron presented throughout his MasterClass.

1. An Introduction To The Art Of Directing

The introduction was pretty captivating to see because it was both subtle and engrossing at the same time.

When Ron introduces himself, he tells the story of how he grew up to be a filmmaker, starting with playing children’s roles, and his passion for directing films, which he refers to as “creative problem-solving.”

He highlights how important it is to convey a tale through the lens of a certain department. In this instance, the medium is filmmaking.

As a result of this, he makes film-lens-shaped gestures with his hands and declares that a film is about what happens inside the frame lines, rather than what happens on the set or even during the production.

A little later, he inquires as to who is the keeper of the story. the director,” he says in response to himself

2. How To Pick A Tale To Tell

At the outset of the course, Ron instructs his students that it is a wise decision to offer what is new and exciting in the market and that it will be worthy of the audience’s time and money. I mean, he’s not entirely wrong.

From the point of view of the audience, you’d want to see something fresh and different, not something that has been done before, and something that is clearly worth the effort and money you’ve put into it.

This is followed by an explanation of the significance of freshness in Ron Howard movies He points out some of the most important aspects of a successful story and offers advice on how to capture the attention of the audience.

He claims that via his acting experience, he has gained an understanding of the audience, which he applied in Lesson 2.

3. Writing the script, developing it, and collaborating with the cast and crew

In this episode, Ron talks about the fundamentals of writing a script in-depth. You also receive advice on how to write screenplays that are linked to the tale while keeping the audience’s expectations in mind, which I thought was an excellent method to write.

He talks about the development process of a film, which takes time before it is released. In addition, he outlines the processes that go into the creation of a film.

I repeat: it is the evolution of a film, not the direction, that is important. It was well-explained from beginning to end. Afterward, Ron discusses his experiences working with cinematographers, including how crucial it is to establish a personal connection with them.

As he explains it, a successful picture relies on the collaboration of a director and cinematographer, because the director’s vision and the cinematographer’s interpretation of a film will be finalized.

I was astonished to learn this because I had assumed that the director was the only one who played a significant role in the production of a picture, but I was mistaken. As I progressed through the training, it was a pleasure to pick up new skills and knowledge.

One of the assignments in Lesson 4 was particularly useful, in which he proposes selecting a screenplay for a movie that you have not previously watched and evaluating the story from it, which was a fun activity to undertake for the first time.

MasterClass With Ron Howard – My Experience

In general, there were many aspects of Ron Howard’s MasterClass that I enjoyed, and I will emphasize those aspects in the following paragraphs.

Having said that, I do not believe that this is a flawless program, and I will also discuss certain areas in which there is room for advancement.

Before deciding to enroll in the class, you should give some thought to both of these advantages and disadvantages.

Pros & Cons – Ron Howard Masterclass Review

PROS

01 – Learning in depth from an Expert

Not only is Ron’s reputation amazing, but so is the sheer number of topics he covers in this MasterClass. Ron covers a lot of material in his over 8 hours of programming. Among the topics covered are case studies, group work, and script editing.

In order to do his subjects justice, Ron organizes them into 32 classes and explains them in great depth. That the director’s interaction with important members of the crew was covered as well impressed me. There had been brief mentions of this in previous classes, but no one had gone into such detail.

The masterClass is a wonderful chance to learn from directors on a near-1-1 basis, with its outstanding product quality and well-ordered chapters. Ron’s portions are well-organized within the chapter contents, making it simple to go back and review previous material.

02 – Excellent Practical Examples

Ron devotes three chapters to scene analysis, detailing how he and other directors have accomplished specific objectives in the past. In addition, MasterClass remounts Frost/Nixon over the course of eight lessons.

The film scenes were my favorites because we could dissect the action as Ron explained the nitty-gritty details.

This felt very much like a seminar version of a Film Studies course. It’s great to have a blend of theory and practice to help cement knowledge, and I appreciated how this article appealed to visual learners like myself who learn best through concrete examples.

• The following are concepts that Ron clarifies for us as well:
• setting up and filming dramatic sequences
• Learning how to effectively employ a variety of shots
• What a difference storyboards and models can make Variety of scene-shooting techniques

It was interesting to hear Ron discuss a film sequence that wasn’t his own—Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Many subscribers expected, and signed up for, a reenactment of Frost/Nixon. This was a fascinating glimpse at the process of rehearsal and staging. Instead of just hearing about Ron’s shooting method, seeing him in action was quite helpful.

03 – Unique Delivery Style

User feedback throughout the course was unanimous that Ron was an engaging instructor. He guides us in building self-assurance and fostering collegiality in the workplace.

Quite a bit of his time is spent discussing his strategies for dealing with setbacks. That involves differences of opinion and accidental stumbles in the creative process. Ron’s perspective on directing was candid and open; he discussed both the challenges and the rewards of the job.

In general, Ron was very easy on the ears. His extensive guidance covers every facet of filmmaking. Ron’s ability to teach and convey his thoughts so effortlessly left me in awe.

04 – Perspective on Professional Relationships

Ron’s emphasis on the importance of productive partnerships was a major theme throughout this MasterClass. Though 8 hours wouldn’t be enough to cover all of a director’s collaborations, Ron does a solid job of touching on three crucial partnerships:

• Cinematographer
• Actors
• Designer of productions

He describes the duties of the various crew members and the director’s role in coordinating their efforts to achieve the desired results. Conversational skills and learning to perform well under stress are emphasized.

05 – Flexible Advice

While Ron’s expertise is in directing, most of what he teaches here is also applicable to screenplay and editing. The majority of participants said the course provided them with much more useful information than they had anticipated.

The fact that his recommendations could be applied to other facets of filmmaking was a big plus for me. I frequently use Reddit to find out what people think about a course before enrolling in it, and I was pleased to find that many comments agreed with me.

“Yes, Ron Howard’s MasterClass is on directing. However, his first couple of lessons are script-related and had some pretty good insights. It is fascinating to hear what a director looks for in a script because I’m so often focused on producers, other screenwriters, or even.. the dreaded audience.”

A comment from Reddit

This was a terrific method to broaden the context of directing and introduce people from different disciplines to the filmmaking world.

06 – Strong Story Focus

Ron does an excellent job of keeping students on track throughout the course’s length. True especially while telling a story. To Ron, this is an essential means of expression from the get-go.

What really stood out to me was how the narrative served as the focal point for the entire lesson. It consolidated numerous isolated teachings into one cohesive whole. Ron also provides extensive commentary on the elements of a successful narrative.

Because, as he argues, storytelling is so fundamental to being human, I believe this might have wider application than just the film industry.

07 – Access

The following subtitles complement Ron’s MasterClass, which is currently only available in English.

• English
• German
• Spanish

The responses to these captions have been positive overall. Not generated automatically, but made with the target audience in mind.

For those who do better with written instruction, a Workbook is included in the course materials. It’s helpful to have a review of the chapter’s contents before or after each class.

CONS

Even though I enjoyed Ron’s MasterClass, I do believe there are several areas in which it may be enhanced.

01 – Undefined Jargon

Although Ron’s courses are generally straightforward, he occasionally employs jargon without providing context. It’s not likely to be an issue for pupils further along in their film studies. A dictionary or explanation of some of the terms used would have been helpful to me in the Workbook.

User feedback has indicated that this is an easy class to pick up and use. MasterClass, like Udemy, claims to be appropriate for students “of all ability levels.” It’s unclear whether or not Ron intends for his students to learn such advanced concepts from him, given how often jargon like “framework” is employed.

Infrequent yet nonetheless a challenge for movie novices. Those who have inquiries can make use of the Community Hub and the comment sections. Furthermore, MasterClass allows you to have your questions sent directly to Ron.

02 – Promotional Materials that Are Weak

Many participants voiced reservations about the MasterClass due to what they saw as deceptive advertising. Many viewers felt like there were gaps in the acting. Some people were let down that they couldn’t watch the complete movie despite the fact that it was advertised in the trailer.

“Where are the Frost/Nixon blocking classes and working with actors? I looked on the site map and it just brings me to the introduction. Am I missing something?”

“Disappointed at what I was led to believe would include a fly-on-the-wall walkthrough of how Ron directs a scene with real actors. It turned out to be promotional material and not actually part of the MasterClass. Very disappointed as this was the part I was most looking forward to.”

Comments from the community

Although I was able to watch these films, it seems that many users were unable to do so. Many people were let down by MasterClass because they felt they had been misled by the company’s advertising.

Obviously, there was a time when the videos couldn’t be viewed. It’s possible that this is the result of uploading problems or copyright issues from before. I also noted that the Workbook didn’t include any information on block scenes; this MasterClass may have been updated multiple times since it was first posted online.

03 – Cases that stand alone

I appreciated how the training was broken up into separate teaching and case study sessions. Ron is excellent at walking us through examples and elucidating their significance when he does so.

However, the case studies can be read independently. More short clips mixed with the longer sessions would have been helpful for visual learners. The majority of the class was in agreement on this.

“I I tend to learn best from example .. some clips from good movies/screenplays would be great!”

Comment from the community

For example, in his Martin Scorsese MasterClass, Martin always begins by introducing a clip, screens it, and then discusses its significance. More of this would have been welcome in Ron’s MasterClass since it would have served to break up the more drawn-out lectures.

04 – Technical Issues

MasterClass (and online education in general) has the drawback of occasionally experiencing technological difficulties. While I have found MasterClass to be quite user-friendly, it is still subject to buffering and crashes when playing videos. Understandably, this is annoying.

To that end, the Community Team at MasterClass is always quick to address any issues that may arise. As issues develop, I find that MasterClass does a fantastic job of fixing them.

05 – Lack of Diversity

One of the users pointed out that the majority of the filmmakers mentioned in Ron’s MasterClass are white men. It seems to me that this is more of a problem with Hollywood as a whole and that it is unfair to dismiss Ron because of it.

“I’ve gained so much respect for Ron Howard, but it’s devastating to hear him, time and time again ONLY cite male filmmakers, directors and actors. He pays so much lip service to diverse perspectives, but he is only citing other white men.”

Comment from the community

It’s something to think about as we plot our next move. Spike Lee and Mira Nair are two directors whose work is comparable to Ron’s MasterClass. It’s encouraging to see more information about diverse filmmakers available online. Independent filmmaking is the main focus of these courses.

Course Pricing – Ron Howard Masterclass Review

At the time this article was written, MasterClass had three different subscription plans available. This is how much it will set you back (per month):

• Individual (1 user) $15
• Duo (2 users) $20
• Family (up to 6 users) $23

All of them are billed on an annual basis, which could seem expensive at first glance.

However, if you join forces with some of your loved ones or acquaintances, you can cut your expenses by a significant amount. And of course, by enrolling in the greatest number of classes that you can.

With more than 150 different classes to choose from, there is a good chance that at least some of them will pique your interest.

Even if you purchase an individual membership and only find 10% of the courses to be of interest, you will still only be paying $12 for each course: The annual individual membership price is $180, and 15 classes are equal to $12.

In the event that you are dissatisfied with your purchase, MasterClass will reimburse your money within the first thirty days. You can also give someone the gift of MasterClass if you purchase it.

Conclusion – Ron Howard MasterClass Review

This is one of my favorite courses on MasterClass, and I highly recommend it. Overall, I thought it was a fantastic use of my time and money. I got substantial, practical knowledge that I believe I will be able to put to use in order to take my projects to the next level.

Over the course of 2 1/2 hours, you will be inspired to get up and move by Ron Howard’s discussion of filmmaking. It will assist you in getting the ball rolling if you are stuck. If you’ve been itching to bring a story to life, this will assist you in getting started.

It will assist you in determining which tales people are interested in watching. This masterclass will energize you in ways that I believe very few other filmmaking seminars will ever be able to do.

Following this course, you will not be a less effective director than you were before taking it. You will emerge from this training a better director, one who is more enthusiastic, confident, and inspired.

Thank you for reading this article “Ron Howard Masterclass Review.” If you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions regarding this article, please write them in the comment section below. And don’t be hesitant about passing on this piece of knowledge to others.