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High-Production Filmmaking Course with Strong Business Training, But Premium-Priced for What's Available Free
Full-Time Filmmaker positions itself as the complete solution for anyone wanting to turn video production into a career. We found it's essentially a massive library of filmmaking knowledge, packaged with Parker Walbeck's signature high-energy teaching style.
The course structure follows a logical progression: you start with camera fundamentals (which camera to buy, how to set exposure, what frame rates mean), move through production techniques (composition rules, gimbal movements, lighting setups), then dive into post-production with dedicated modules for Premiere Pro, Final Cut, and DaVinci Resolve.
What caught our attention? The job shadow modules. Instead of just theory, you literally watch Parker film real client projects from initial meeting to final delivery. We're talking actual wedding shoots, real estate walkthroughs, and commercial productions where you see the messiness of real work, not just polished tutorials.
The business side gets equal weight here. There's extensive training on pricing your services (with actual rate cards), finding clients (including email templates), and managing contracts. Parker shares his own invoices, client communications, even his early failures.
With over 60 hours of core content plus regular updates (we verified they've added new modules on YouTube production and social media strategies recently), it's comprehensive. The included Facebook community has 17,000+ members actively sharing work and answering questions.
Is it revolutionary? Not really. But it's thorough, well-organized, and backed by Parker's actual experience building a six-figure video business. The lifetime access means you're buying into an evolving resource, not a static course.
Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)
moderate Moderate (5–10 Hours/Week)
Students consistently praise the comprehensive nature and production quality, though advanced filmmakers question whether the high price justifies content that's partially available free. The business modules and community access generate the most positive feedback.
"The job shadows alone paid for the course, I finally understood client management" - YouTube Review
"Great content but felt like I was constantly being sold the next thing" - Reddit User
"Went from zero to $3k/month in 6 months following the system" - Trustpilot Reviewer
"Community is gold, course is good, price is steep" - Facebook Group Member
"If you need structure and accountability, worth every penny" - Course Graduate
Reddit threads in r/videography show a split: working professionals often say "just watch YouTube," while beginners value the structured path. One user noted: "The course itself is solid, but Parker's free content covers 40% of the same material." Quora discussions highlight the community as the differentiator, with several users claiming they found clients through the Facebook group.
Most students find value, particularly those who need structure and community support. The divide comes down to learning style: self-directed learners might find it overpriced, while those wanting a clear roadmap appreciate the comprehensive package.
"Build a full-time filmmaking career" is the core promise. While the course provides comprehensive training, we found successful students typically took 6-12 months to replace their income, not the implied quick success. The "six-figure" testimonials are real but represent maybe 5% of students.
Launched at $497 in 2017, increased to $997 by 2019. Regular "sales" drop it to $597-797, though these happen monthly. Black Friday sees the lowest at $497.
Aggressive post-purchase marketing for Mastermind ($5,000+), Wedding Video Pro ($497), and various template packs. Email frequency is high initially (daily for first week).
We verified several success stories: Austen Paul built a YouTube channel with 50k+ subscribers, Griffin Conway launched a production company. These are exceptional cases with students who had prior creative experience.
Marketing oversells the ease of success while underselling the time investment required. The course delivers on content promises but sets unrealistic timeline expectations.
Hosted on Teachable, which we found reliable and user-friendly. Video quality is consistently 1080p, chapters are well-marked, playback speed controls available.
Streaming only (no downloads), which frustrated some users wanting offline access. All content remains accessible indefinitely, updates appear automatically.
Teachable app works well for watching lessons, though you'll need a computer for actual editing practice. Interface is responsive on tablets.
5+ Mbps internet for smooth streaming, computer capable of running Premiere Pro or Final Cut (16GB RAM recommended)
Professional delivery through established platform. The streaming-only approach protects content but limits flexibility. Regular updates (we counted 12 new lessons added in 2023) justify the lifetime access model.
Primary complaint centers on value-for-money rather than delivery issues. Some students report feeling overwhelmed by upsell emails after purchase. No reports of content not being delivered or technical problems.
30-day guarantee with conditions, you must watch less than 50% of content and show you've "put in work." Some users report hoops to jump through, but refunds are honored when conditions are met.
Marketing leans heavily on income potential ("build a six-figure business") without prominently mentioning the years of work required. Success stories are real but represent top performers, not average outcomes.
Facebook group remains highly active and supportive. Minor complaints about beginners asking the same questions repeatedly, but moderation keeps spam minimal.
No major concerns about legitimacy. Standard high-ticket course issues apply: aggressive marketing, conditional refunds, heavy upselling. The product is delivered as advertised.
At $997, you're paying premium prices for organization and community rather than exclusive content. We calculated roughly 40% of the technical training exists free on YouTube (including Parker's channel). However, the business modules, job shadows, and structured curriculum provide value that's hard to replicate through self-directed learning. If purchased on sale at $597, the value proposition improves significantly.
Full-Time Filmmaker is legitimate and delivers what it promises: comprehensive filmmaking education with strong business training. Parker Walbeck built a real video business and shares genuine insights, particularly in the client management sections.
Our main hesitation? The price point. At $997, we expect more than well-organized fundamentals. Yes, the job shadows are valuable. Yes, the community is active. But when Parker's own YouTube channel covers many basics for free, the premium feels steep.
Who benefits most? Complete beginners who value structure and community support. The course eliminates the overwhelming process of piecing together random YouTube tutorials. The business training alone might justify the cost if you land even one $2,000 client.
Who should pass? Experienced filmmakers will find limited new technical content. Self-directed learners can build similar knowledge for under $100 using YouTube and cheap Udemy courses, though they'll miss the community and job shadows.
Bottom line: It's a quality course that works, with over 1,300 positive reviews backing that up. But at this price point, we'd recommend waiting for a sale unless you specifically need the structure and accountability right now.
At $997, you're paying premium prices for organization and community rather than exclusive content. We calculated roughly 40% of the technical training exists free on YouTube (including Parker's channel). However, the business modules, job shadows, and structured curriculum provide value that's hard to replicate through self-directed learning. If purchased on sale at $597, the value proposition improves significantly.
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Full-Time Filmmaker positions itself as the complete solution for anyone wanting to turn video production into a career. We found it's essentially a m...
Full-Time Filmmaker positions itself as the complete solution for anyone wanting to turn video production into a career. We found it's essentially a m...
Full-Time Filmmaker positions itself as the complete solution for anyone wanting to turn video production into a career. We found it's essentially a m...
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