Alyssa Maio is a screenwriter from New Jersey, now living in Los Angeles. She works as a copywriter here at StudioBinder.
The aesthetic of Wes Anderson can be seen from miles away. His directing style is delicate but deliberate, and his eye for color and set design is undeniable. Quirky character after quirky character, they all remain strangely original. Each costume seems to be tailored to their personalities, and the extraordinary little performances we experience in… Continue reading Best Wes Anderson Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked
Dof basicsShallow dofDeep dofDOF GuideTYPES OF CAMERA FOCUS If you’re hoping to become a great photographer or videographer, utilizing every tool at your disposal is the safest and smartest way to get there. One tool that can level-up your skill set is depth of field. Understanding depth of field is tantamount to not only craft,… Continue reading What is Depth of Field? Examples of Shallow vs Deep Depth of Field
Animation BasicsOpen menu What is Animation Types of Animation What Does an Animator Do What is Cel Animation What is Anime What is Claymation ResourcesOpen menu How to Direct an Animated Movie Animation Storyboard Tips Unreleased Aladdin Animatic Best Animated Music Videos Best Animation Software Best AnimationsOpen menu Best Animated Movies of All Time Best… Continue reading What is Animation — Definition, History and Types of Animation
If you’re an aspiring filmmaker, you’ve probably heard the term aspect ratio quite often. Before you shoot even a single frame of your film, you have to decide what aspect ratio would be best. This decision will affect the staging and framing of every single shot going forward. Why? What is aspect ratio, and why… Continue reading What is Aspect Ratio? A Formula for Framing Success
Acting EssentialsOpen menu What is a Screen Test in Acting What is a Casting Call What is Method Acting What is SAG-AFTRA What is a Cold Reading What is a Demo Reel Acting TipsOpen menu How to Become an Actor as a Kid How to Become an Actor How to Overcome Stage Fright Types of… Continue reading What is Method Acting — 3 Different Types Explained
If you’ve ever managed a complex project, you may have wondered, what is a Gantt chart, and how can it help streamline workflows? Their timelines is one of the most effective tools for organizing tasks, tracking progress, and achieving goals. In this guide, we’ll define what is a Gantt chart, explain how to create one,… Continue reading What is a Gantt Chart? Your Project Management Solution
Basics of CompositionOpen menu What is Composition Rules of Shot Composition Rules of Composition Scale Proportion BalanceOpen menu Asymmetrical Balance Symmetrical Balance Radial Balance Golden Ratio Foreground Elements Texture SpaceOpen menu Positive Space Negative Space Positive & Negative Space Fill the Frame Simplicity There are many ways to film the same scene. The director’s decisions… Continue reading Rules of Shot Composition in Film: A Definitive Guide
Summarizing an entire screenplay is not an easy thing to do. Let alone in 1-2 sentences. But it is what’s required if you want to pitch your script to a producer or studio. When you send out your script too, the logline sometimes determines if someone even reads it. So, what is a logline? We’re… Continue reading What is a Logline? [with FREE Logline Formula Template]
Exposure TriangleOpen menu What is the Exposure Triangle Aperture ISO Shutter Speed Frame Rate Create your free shot list → We all know the sound that a camera makes. That satisfying click when we press the button and create our photograph. What we’re hearing is the camera’s shutter. That sound is the shutter moving up… Continue reading What is Shutter Speed and Its Role in the Exposure Triangle?
The Best Breakup Scenes? Classifying on-screen heartbreak into a “best” category may be a little callous. But just like your ex, we’re going to do whatever we want, anyway! Just kidding. We made a list of the saddest movie breakup scenes in recent years. So however you choose to judge those gut wrenching moments in… Continue reading Best Movie Breakup Scenes (& Their Makeup Scenes)
So what is an adapted screenplay and what are the requirements for an adaptation? It’s obvious by the name that an adapted screenplay is well, adapted from something else, while an original screenplay is just that, originally created. But actually, even if you come up with an original idea, it may end up falling into… Continue reading The Adapted Screenplay: True Adaptations or Academy Categories?
There’s no shame in needing a refresher on filmmaking terms, the sooner you know who’s who, the faster you can get involved. So let’s start with one of the most basic, yet hugely significant roles, the movie director. What is a film director? Continue reading What is a Film Director? A Brief Definition of the… Continue reading What is a Film Director? A Brief Definition of the Role
Becoming a film director isn’t a straight path. There are multiple ways of getting there but, ultimately, there’s only one driving force: you. Regardless of your education or current skill set, if you want to make movies, you will. But that’s easier said than done, so let’s go a little deeper to answer how to… Continue reading How to Become a Director: Learning from Seasoned Filmmakers
The French New Wave of cinema, or La Nouvelle Vague, was one of the most important film movements of all time. In this article, we’re going to rank the best French New Wave Films based on four criteria: Acting, Story, Directing and Style. But before we jump into the ranking, it’s important to know what… Continue reading French New Wave Films: A Curated List and Their Iconic Directors
The French New Wave changed the ways movies were made forever and influenced some of the greatest directors of our time. But what is the French New Wave? How did it begin and why? This post will provide you with a definition, a brief historical context, and highlight some key characteristics of the movement from… Continue reading What is French New Wave? Background and Revolutionary Techniques
BasicsOpen menu What is Post-Production What is VFX What are Special Effects What is Virtual Production What is CGI What is Matte Painting ProcessOpen menu How to Move the Anchor Point in After Effects How to Mask in Premiere Pro Best After Effects Plugins Best Free After Effects Templates Inception Special Effects How They Shot… Continue reading What is VFX? Defining the Term and Creating Impossible Worlds
Dof basicsShallow dofDeep dofDOF GuideTYPES OF CAMERA FOCUS If you’re just getting your feet wet in photography or videography, you’ve probably heard one million terms tossed around that either mean nothing to you…yet, or you know of them, sort of, but you’re not entirely sure how they all work together. Whatever your skill level, this… Continue reading What is Deep Depth of Field? Definition and Examples
EssentialsOpen menu What is Sound Design Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing What is Voice Over What is Diegetic Sound What is Non-Diegetic Sound What is a Film Score TechniquesOpen menu Ultimate Guide to Sound Recording Filmmaker’s Guide to Sound Effect Techniques What is a Sound Bridge What is The Shepard Tone How to Design a… Continue reading Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing — What’s the Difference?
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 What does deus ex machina mean? Writers work hard to put their characters into terrible situations to find new and creative ways to get them out. It’s… Continue reading Deus ex Machina — Meaning, Definition & Examples
Crediting one person and nailing the exact year of when the camera was invented isn’t that simple. Mainly because the internet gives a ton of different answers. It turns out, a quick history lesson solves the problem. So, if “when was the camera invented” or “who invented the camera” are questions that keep you up… Continue reading When Was the Camera Invented — Dates & Inventors Explained
