What is MasterClass?
VideoFresh is the leading video production company to produce “master class style” video content.
When you think of MasterClass, what comes to your mind?
The Oxford Dictionary defines “masterclass” as a class taught by someone who has an expert knowledge or skill in a particular area and especially in music.
A Google search of “masterclass” tells us that the MasterClass name and logos are trademarks and service marks of MasterClass.com (collectively the “MasterClass Trademarks”)
MasterClass.com is a Resounding Startup Success
Let’s address the trademarked MasterClass.com company and its service offering firstly. In case you have not heard of it, MasterClass.com is an online learning platform that comes in the form of video presentations from top experts in various fields. Classes are taught on a large variety of subjects including; Serena Williams Teaches Tennis, Gordon Ramsey Teaches Cooking, Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing, Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking, and so on.
Each class features about 20 video lessons, at an average of 10 minutes per lesson. So users can learn on their own terms — in bite-sized pieces or binge it all at once. Cinematic visuals and close-ups, hands-on demonstrations make users feel they have a one-on-one with the instructors, while downloadable workbooks help reinforce the learning experience.
MasterClass.com recently raised another $225 million in a new round of funding (F) that it will use to launch a new enterprise business and expand internationally. It more than triples the start-up’s valuation to $2.75 billion from its June 2020 valuation, according to Pitchbook.
MasterClass was founded in 2014 and after almost two years of sales pitches, filming, and website development, MasterClass.com went live in 2015. The company’s first-ever class was hosted by Dustin Hoffman and covered the ins and outs of acting. MasterClass.com became a hit right from the start. Within the first four months of launching, MasterClass.com was able to sell over 30,000 courses to students from around the globe. The company continued to add course content which helped it to continue to also add users to its platform. Today, the company counts over 80 courses on its platform while continuing serving users internationally.
Due to its popularity, getting new instructors has become much easier for MasterClass. Nowadays, MasterClass rejects 9 out of 10 applications coming from the agents of possible instructors. According to a report by Hollywood Reporter, instructors receive an upfront payment of $100,000 plus royalty fees of 30 percent.
MasterClass.com makes money by charging students a subscription fee for the ability to gain unlimited access to their courses. The package is called “All Access Pass” and comes in at $180 a year (or $15 per month). Separately, customers can also pay a one-time fee of $90 to access a single class.
The company stands in stark contrast to its competitors. While platforms like Udemy offer thousands and thousands of instructors, MasterClass focuses on selecting only the best in their field. And MasterClass does not make any promises of career growth. Rather, it is aimed at the more casual learner.
MasterClass’ Process of Creating a New Course
By the time you watch a new course on the MasterClass.com platform, the company has invested months, and in some cases even years into preparation and pre-production. It all begins with recruiting world-class instructors.
As a new instructor signs on, MasterClass matches them up with a team of producers who will see the project through from start to finish. Together, they collaborate on creating a curriculum a mixture of what the instructor wants to present and what MasterClass’ data says its students want to learn.
The average timeframe in developing a class end to end is around six months, while shooting usually takes just a few days. MasterClass which is based in San Francisco, doesn’t own its own studio though it does often use sets in Los Angeles. The majority of all filming though is shot on location. For example, Gordon Ramsay’s cooking class was shot in his home kitchen, Steph Curry’s basketball class was set in a gym and James Suckling’s wine appreciation class was filmed in a vineyard in Italy.
The authenticity of the sets helps foster the sense of intimacy that makes MasterClass.com content so genuine. The environment feels warmer than if the set were a stock, crew-assembled classroom. The impression is kinda like, you are sitting on a couch with the instructor and they share everything they know with you. And it you look around you can see their favorite books, and the environment in which they actually do their best work. It works.
A result of filming so many MasterClasses, the MasterClass.com production team has developed a playbook that operationally defines how to execute a successful production. So even before the cameras start rolling on a new class, everything needed to ensure a smooth production is already in place.
VideoFresh offers “Master Class style” video content at a fraction of the cost
Everyone Seems to Want to Now Produce “Master Class” Style Courses
A huge compliment to MasterClass.com is that many individuals, companies and educators are now looking to create their own master classes. (Note that we separated the two words so as not infringe on any trademarks!). Though “master class courses” were created and produced prior to Masterclass.com coming onto the scene. There has definitely been a huge uptick in the amount of “master class style of video content” now being produced.
VideoFresh offers “Master Class Style” Video Content at a Fraction of the Cost
VideoFresh a leading LA based video production company has developed its own in-house team that specializes in creating Online Video Courses and especially ‘master class style” video courses.
Similar to how MasterClass.com has developed its own production playbook for creating MasterClasses, VideoFresh has developed project blueprints that it uses for its clients to ensure that all “master class style” video production projects it produces are a success. And VideoFresh even offers a guarantee that its clients will love all the videos it produces.
Using its blueprint formula, VideoFresh will help anyone looking to produce a professional “Master Class style” video. The key elements common to most Master Classes are:
They are a one-time event even though they might be spread over multiple sessions, but they tend to be time constrained.
They are taught by a subject matter expert who will most often interact with students directly, whether through live online sessions, discussion boards, or even phone calls.
The participants are highly motivated and focused and usually know the basics and are looking to go deeper or get a more unique perspective.
One of the primary reasons MasterClasses have become so popular is due to their short intensive nature which makes them a relatively easy commitment that delivers quick results. Further Master Classes are generally perceived as offering high value, so students who don’t have the time to commit to weeks-long courses can often find time for a shorter, more intensive experience and will often even pay a premium for the opportunity.
Usually, Master Class instructors do not have formal classroom teaching experience, so the Master Class teaching environment works well for them too.
Wrap-up
The bottom line is that master class style video content is quite popular and is proven to be very effective. VideoFresh offers a proven production strategy that not only guarantees that your master class videos will be high quality, informing and entertaining. But also done at a fixed cost so you don’t have to deal with negotiating the price for it. VideoFresh are the industry leaders for training video production. Most importantly, we keep it simple.