Separate the tool from the craft

Courses divide on whether they teach a tool or a craft. The Academy of AI Filmmaking says learning the craft means any tool will do. School of Storytelling explains tools case by case. Runway's academy teaches Runway's own suite. As of 2026-09-25.

Tool training dates as the tool changes; craft lasts longer but needs a tool to practise on.

A sensible order is a tool maker's short course to learn the buttons, then a filmmaking course for the rest.

Where a page names tools, it is also showing how recently it was updated.

A course that teaches craft still needs a tool to practise on, so check which one it assumes.

Inclusion rule. Readings from the register used on this page. Order. The order the text takes them in.

1From the providers' pages

Learn this, and you can use any tool, forever.

Academy of AI Filmmaking

The necessary AI tools will be explained on a case-by-case basis during the course.

School of Storytelling

Learn how to effectively integrate Runway's full suite of generative AI into your visual effects pipelines.

Runway Academy

• What This Academy Is
  Filmmaking craft first, so any tool can be usedAcademy of AI Filmmaking / recorded 2026-09-25
• FAQ
  AI tools explained case by case during the courseSchool of Storytelling / recorded 2026-09-25
• AI for Visual Effects
  Runway's own toolsRunway Academy / recorded 2026-09-25

Providers on this page: Academy of AI Filmmaking · School of Storytelling · Runway Academy

2More notes

• Match the course length to the goal
• Check what a course ends with
• Start with material that costs nothing
• Read the level labels