Alyssa Maio is a screenwriter from New Jersey, now living in Los Angeles. She works as a copywriter here at StudioBinder.
Writing contests are great ways to build your portfolio, and hone your writing skills. For emerging writers especially, the price to pay is usually quite small, while the rewards range from getting published to receiving thousands. Not a bad trade-off. The only reasonable downside is all the extra work…for well…all the extra rejection. Ah, I’m only… Continue reading Short Story Contests Worth Your Time — Prizes, Fees, Deadlines
Lighting techniques are the heart of great photography and cinematography. Knowing the fundamentals and learning each lighting pattern will give you more control and intention over your shots. Butterfly lighting is fundamental to portrait photography. Not only is it one of the most flattering lighting patterns, it is also extremely easy to set up. So,… Continue reading What is Butterfly Lighting — Definition, Examples and Setups
BasicsOpen menu Basics of Film Lighting What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur Lighting EssentialsOpen menu 3-Point Lighting What is Key Light What is Fill Light What is Backlight What is Practical Lighting When is Golden Hour E-BooksOpen menu FREE Ebook: Camera Lenses Explained… Continue reading Underexposed Photography — Editing in Photoshop & Lightroom
We’ve discussed the basics of exposure — overexposure, underexposure and what camera settings control it. But what is double exposure? It isn’t a difficult technique to master, it just takes a little practice. In this post, we’ll cover the basics behind this style with some tutorials on how to do double exposure in Photoshop. Let’s… Continue reading What is Double Exposure? Techniques in Photography and Film
To find an easy-to-use professional-level camera isn’t too difficult in today’s market. There might be lots to pick from but at least you have options. But if you’re on the beginner/enthusiast side, even getting closer to professional-level, and on a budget, it’s not always easy. Finding that sweet spot between inexpensive and well, good enough,… Continue reading Best Cheap 4K Camera — 5 Great Options Under $1,000
BasicsOpen menu Basics of Film Lighting What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur Lighting EssentialsOpen menu 3-Point Lighting What is Key Light What is Fill Light What is Backlight What is Practical Lighting When is Golden Hour E-BooksOpen menu FREE Ebook: Camera Lenses Explained… Continue reading What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It
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 10 Best DSLR Microphones — Shotgun, Lav, and More
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
Advertising EssentialsOpen menu Ethos, Pathos & Logos Explained What is Pathos What is Logos What is Telos What is Kairos What is Ethos How to AdvertiseOpen menu How to Pitch a TV Show Like a Pro How to Make a Movie Poster How to Make a Commercial How to Develop Your Brand What is a… Continue reading Rotten Tomatoes Ratings — How Does Rotten Tomatoes Work?
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
90s movies may forever be my favorite movies. For whatever reason, whether comedy, drama, or horror, I feel this overwhelming sense of peace when one of my favorite 90s films is on. Is it just nostalgia or do they actually hold up? I suppose that’s always debatable. But there is a thin line between what… Continue reading Best 90s Movies of All Time — An Awesome 90s Movies List
Today, there are thousands of podcasts available to stream on every topic imaginable, and so it’s no real surprise that the market caught up quickly. Now, with just some simple software, anyone can start a podcast. But how do you know which software to choose? Just like podcasts: there are a ton. Most of the… Continue reading Best Podcast Recording Software — Mac, PC, Paid & Free
Hulu has really stepped up its game in the television world. From sci comedies to heartbreaking dramas, to creepy Stephen King sagas, we’ve curated Hulu’s eclectic collection below. Here are some of the best shows on Hulu right now.Continue reading The Best Shows on Hulu Right Now (January 2021)
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?
BasicsOpen menu Basics of Film Lighting What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur Lighting EssentialsOpen menu 3-Point Lighting What is Key Light What is Fill Light What is Backlight What is Practical Lighting When is Golden Hour E-BooksOpen menu FREE Ebook: Camera Lenses Explained… Continue reading What is a Leko Light and How to Use It — Lighting Techniques
Hulu has really stepped up its game in the television world. From sci comedies to heartbreaking dramas, to creepy Stephen King sagas, we’ve curated Hulu’s eclectic collection below. Here are some of the best shows on Hulu right now.Continue reading The Best Shows on Hulu Right Now (December 2020)
Hulu has really stepped up its game in the television world. From sci comedies to heartbreaking dramas, to creepy Stephen King sagas, we’ve curated Hulu’s eclectic collection below. Here are some of the best shows on Hulu right now.Continue reading The Best Shows on Hulu Right Now (November 2020)
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)
Exposure TriangleOpen menu What is the Exposure Triangle Aperture ISO Shutter Speed Frame Rate Create your free shot list → If you know how to adjust your aperture on your digital camera, you’re much closer to mastering lighting and nailing the right exposure for your shots. Without knowing how to use aperture, and how it… Continue reading What is Aperture — Ultimate Guide to the Camera Aperture and Depth of Field
As camera technology evolves, the mirrorless vs DSLR debate is becoming more and more about preference. While DSLR cameras may have been the frontrunner for the last few years, mirrorless cameras have made such incredible advancements that both professionals and beginners alike swear by them. We’ll lay out the key differences between a mirrorless camera… Continue reading Mirrorless vs DSLR — Pros and Cons for Photo and Video
