Have you ever changed the focus of your lens and noticed something… change? Not just the focus, but the image itself reframes and changes size. This is focus breathing. It can be annoying and distract your audience when it occurs in the middle of a shot. What is focus breathing and why does it occur? In this article, we’ll dive into the definition of focus breathing, why it happens, and some tips on how to anticipate or avoid it all together.Continue reading What is Focus Breathing — Camera Lens Techniques Explained
One of the most important parts of creating an engaging film is being efficient with time. As a storyteller, you must make sure that you are communicating the necessary plot information to your audience without boring them with superfluous details. A bridging shot helps filmmakers accomplish exactly this. When a story jumps from one moment to another that is at a different time or place, bridging shots help communicate this change in an efficient yet effective way. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the bridging shot and how it can be an incredibly useful filmmaking tool.Continue reading…
The world of animated movies has opened doors to limitless types of stories. It’s limitlessness, however, comes at the cost of labor. The innumerable moving parts of an animated movie production are all overseen by a director. While it can sound like an overwhelming task, directing an animated movie can be broken down more simply. In this article, we’ll dive into how to direct an animated movie, the stages of creating an animated movie and the director's role throughout production. Continue reading How to Direct an Animated Movie From A to Z in 10 Steps
The advent of the internet is arguably the biggest revolution in education since the invention of the printing press. Anything and everything you want to learn about is at the tips of your fingertips including the best cinematography courses. It may be overwhelming to find the best sites and courses online, so we curated a list of the best online cinematography courses that you can start today. Continue reading Best Cinematography Online Courses — Basic & Advanced
It is not uncommon for writers to find inspiration from their dreams. Dreams are a canvas of the subconscious that humans have innately interpreted throughout history. This allure to deciphering dreams has made them an incredible storytelling mechanism. Many screenwriters utilize dream sequences for their strong imagery and effective storytelling abilities. In this article, we’ll analyze how to write dream sequences in film and the do’s and don’t of the craft. Continue reading How to Write Dream Sequences in Film — Format & Story Tips
If you ever took any type of film editing class or read a book on film editing, L cuts might have been among the first techniques you learned. This is because it is one of the most effective techniques at creating a natural flow of a film. Nearly every single movie you watch will have some sort of L cut within its edit. So what is an L cut? Let’s find out.Continue reading What is an L Cut in Film — Editing Transitions Explained
Studios, producers, executives, agents, and managers are always looking for the next great up and coming screenwriter. One of the best ways they find them is through screenwriting fellowships. The best screenwriting fellowships are a win win. They allow writers to develop their scripts while also gaining access to various execs and producers that can carry their career forward. Studios win because they are able to attract the best writers to their programs, potentially hire them, and/or produce their work they’ve developed in the program. So, what are the best screenwriting fellowships to apply to? Let’s find out. Continue reading Best Screenwriting…
One of the best places to start when learning about photography is learning about the different portrait lighting setups. From these lighting setups, you’ll be able to learn how light position can completely change the effect on a photo. One of the most common portrait lighting setups is broad lighting. What is broad lighting and how is it created? This is a simple, yet distinctive lighting setup that you will want to use or avoid depending on the effects you are trying to create in your photograph. In this article, we’ll discuss those effects and help you add this technique…
Any photographer, whether you are aspiring to be a professional or take photos as a hobby, wonders whether or not film photography or digital photography is better. Knowing the difference between the two will help you utilize each to what they’re best at. Ultimately, this will result in better photographs. Let’s take a look at the core differences between film and digital photography as well as the pros and cons of each medium. Continue reading Film vs Digital Photography — The Good & Bad of Each Format
Screenplays are meant to tell a cinematic story. This can be difficult, however, without the advantage of visuals. Screenwriters are stuck with using words to communicate highly cinematic scenes. One of the best tools they have to do this is the parenthetical. Parentheticals allow screenwriters to fit in small, but vital information within a dialogue scene. Parentheticals can completely change how a scene reads and how a reader understands the story. What is a parenthetical in a script and how can you use it in yours? In this article, we’ll dive a bit deeper into parentheticals and take a look at…
