What’s an Extreme Long Shot (aka Extreme Wide Shot)?

Close UpsOpen menu Extreme Close-Up (ECU) Medium Close-Up (MCU) Medium ShotsOpen menu Medium Shot (MS) Cowboy Shot (CS) Medium Full Shot (MFS) Wide ShotsOpen menu Full Shot (FS) Wide Shot (WS) Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) Create Free Shot List Even if you’ve seen only one movie in your entire life, it’s likely that you’ve seen… Continue reading What’s an Extreme Long Shot (aka Extreme Wide Shot)?

Best Charlie Kaufman Movies, Ranked for Their Screenplays

No one plunges into the specifics of their own psyche quite like screenwriter and director Charlie Kaufman. And the praise for his work, from audiences and critics alike, ranges from overwhelmingly positive to downright life-changing. But what makes his movies so great? When thinking about some of the best screenplays, it seems the more specific… Continue reading Best Charlie Kaufman Movies, Ranked for Their Screenplays

When Were Movies Invented? A Brief History of Motion Pictures

We often hold writers, directors, and cinematographers, responsible for movie masterpieces. But who made this possible? It turns out discovering who invented the movies is actually more of a question of when, because there were different inventors at different times in history, and all had a hand in innovating the motion picture. Let’s look at… Continue reading When Were Movies Invented? A Brief History of Motion Pictures

Manic Pixie Dream Girl — A Eulogy for a Character Trope

Plot TropesOpen menu What is a Trope What is a Cliche Flashback MacGuffin Plot Twist Red Herring FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free Here lies the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She was written into this world without a care in the world, and now the majority of movie-goers, filmmakers, writers,… Continue reading Manic Pixie Dream Girl — A Eulogy for a Character Trope

What is Shallow Focus? How Can it Help Your Cinematography?

Types of FocusOpen menu Shallow Focus Deep Focus Rack Focus Zoom Shots Dolly-Zoom (Zolly) Tilt-Shift More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now → Cinematographic and photographic techniques like shallow focus can serve your story or images in numerous ways. And mastering it isn’t overly complicated. Some… Continue reading What is Shallow Focus? How Can it Help Your Cinematography?

What is Nollywood and How Did it Become the 2nd Largest Film Industry?

Bollywood and Hollywood are the two most known “woods” in the world, or at the very least, the top two film industries in the world. Actually, it depends how we measure that statement. Nollywood is another industry that seems to be passing Hollywood in terms of the amount of movies it produces a year. How… Continue reading What is Nollywood and How Did it Become the 2nd Largest Film Industry?

What is 360 Video? How to Create An Immersive Experience

If you’re a beginner enthusiast videographer, or professional dabbling into new territory, 360 video might be a great new adventure. Capturing immersive 360 degree footage isn’t complicated, but there are a few things to consider. Let’s answer what is 360 video, where does virtual reality come in, and how can you start shooting yours? Let’s… Continue reading What is 360 Video? How to Create An Immersive Experience

What is a Crane Shot? And Why Do the Pros Use Them So Often?

Types of Camera GearOpen menu Tripod Handheld Drone Dolly Steadicam Crane Shot TypesOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Camera Movement Master Class Create Free Shot List Now → The crane shot allows the audience to leave a normal point of view, creating a novel perspective that’s inherently cinematic. Whether you’re an… Continue reading What is a Crane Shot? And Why Do the Pros Use Them So Often?