12 Secrets to Great Exposition in Screenwriting (w/ Examples)

Screenplay Structure 101Open menu Three Act Structure Freytag’s Pyramid Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement Write Your Script For Free → Exposition in film or screenwriting is one of the most difficult aspects… Continue reading 12 Secrets to Great Exposition in Screenwriting (w/ Examples)

The Ultimate Guide to Production Reports

Nobody likes doing paperwork, but sometimes it’s just part of your job. On a film shoot, production reports are how the production office communicates with each department, and vice-versa. Fortunately, StudioBinder makes creating reports easy so you have more time to rest and recharge before the next shooting day. Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Production… Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Production Reports

The Clapperboard Explained — How to Use a Film Slate

The humble film slate, scuffed and scratched and tossed casually aside between setups, is actually a very important piece of equipment that no film set should ever be without. In this post, we’re going to give you an insider’s tour of the slate, officially known as a clapperboard. We’ll show you how to use a… Continue reading The Clapperboard Explained — How to Use a Film Slate

23 Best Documentaries of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

The first films ever made were documentaries. Originally demonstrations of the magic of filmmaking technology, these short, seemingly insignificant projects have since served as historical records of everyday life at the turn of the 19th century. 125 years later, documentary filmmaking is still one of the most powerful ways of educating and influencing audiences, for… Continue reading 23 Best Documentaries of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

What is a Casting Director — Job Description, Duties & Salary

Directorial DepartmentOpen menu What Does an Assistant Director Do What Does a 2nd Assistant Director Do What is a Casting Director What is a Second Unit Director What Does a Director Do Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → You might think you know what a Casting Director does, but… Continue reading What is a Casting Director — Job Description, Duties & Salary

What is a Key Grip — Definition & Job Description Explained

Camera & Lighting DepartmentOpen menu Director Of Photography Camera Operator Focus Puller Key Grip Gaffer Dolly Grip Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → If you’re the kind of person who waits through the credits of movies (and if you are, thank you for acknowledging the crew), you’ve probably asked… Continue reading What is a Key Grip — Definition & Job Description Explained

What is a COVID Compliance Officer — Set Protocols Explained

You may have heard Tom Cruise’s famous rant at some of the crew on his latest Mission: Impossible sequel. Cruise was upset that people weren’t respecting the rules the COVID-19 virus has dictated for film production. But just what are these rules anyway? In this post, we’ll talk about working in production during COVID. We’ll explain… Continue reading What is a COVID Compliance Officer — Set Protocols Explained

Academy Award for Best Costume Design — The Complete List

Major Awards:Open menu Best Picture Best Director Best Actress Best Supporting Actress Best Actor Best Supporting Actor Writing & Visual:Open menu Best Original Screenplay Best Adapted Screenplay Best Film Editing Best Visual Effects Best Cinematography Animation & Production:Open menu Best Animated Short Film Best Animated Feature Film Best International Feature Film Best Costume Design Best… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Costume Design — The Complete List

What is Queer Theory? Definition and Examples for Filmmakers

Queer theory is a complex, multi-faceted subject that’s difficult to cover in a single post. So we’re going to try to break it down into more digestible pieces. We’ll give you a basic overview of Queer Theory, but mainly we’ll provide some examples from films and TV shows that have been groundbreaking in terms of… Continue reading What is Queer Theory? Definition and Examples for Filmmakers

What is a Grip on a Movie Set? Job Description and Duties

Camera & Lighting DepartmentOpen menu Director Of Photography Camera Operator Focus Puller Key Grip Gaffer Dolly Grip Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → The short answer to the question, “What is a Grip?” is that a Grip on a film crew is someone who moves lighting equipment around. But… Continue reading What is a Grip on a Movie Set? Job Description and Duties

Joker Costume Design: How to Break Down a Script for Wardrobe

In filmmaking, we’re often told that the screenplay is the blueprint, but hand-in-hand with that is the script breakdown. Every show, no matter how big or small, starts with the script breakdown. Not only does the breakdown give us the first sense of what the world of the story will look like, it also informs each… Continue reading Joker Costume Design: How to Break Down a Script for Wardrobe

What is a Gaffer? Definition and Job Description Explained

Camera & Lighting DepartmentOpen menu Director Of Photography Camera Operator Focus Puller Key Grip Gaffer Dolly Grip Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → A lot of job titles on a film set come from other industries or traditions, and Gaffer is one of them. The Gaffer is an indispensable… Continue reading What is a Gaffer? Definition and Job Description Explained

Who is This Person? Finding a Character Using the Script Breakdown

There’s an old film school thought experiment that asks about a character, “What does he have in his refrigerator?” In this post, we’re going to practice that experiment.We can learn plenty about who a character is from the things they say, as well as the things others say about them. But we also learn who… Continue reading Who is This Person? Finding a Character Using the Script Breakdown

Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar Winners — 20 Great Scripts in 20 Years

Screenplays By GenreOpen menu Comedy Sci-Fi Drama Crime TV Scripts Horror ResourcesOpen menu FREE Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Best Screenplays to Read Shane Black Movies & Screenwriting Explained Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Best Horror Movie Scripts to Download Write Your Script for Free → With the last… Continue reading Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar Winners — 20 Great Scripts in 20 Years

What’s in Your Shot List: How to Design and Communicate Your Vision

Learn How to Shot ListOpen menu What is a Shot List How to Make a Shot List How to Make a Lined Script Shot List ExamplesOpen menu Free Shot List Template How to Design Your Shot List Shot Listing Like a Pro How to Create a Shot List Like ‘Creed’ Shot Listing Efficiently Create Shot… Continue reading What’s in Your Shot List: How to Design and Communicate Your Vision

Cinéma Vérité — Filmmaking Style That Keeps It Real

Cinéma vérité – literally “cinema of truth” – is a style of filmmaking you’ve probably seen more than you realize. You may even have studied it as part of your film education. As a technique, cinéma vérité has been a valuable tool for independent filmmakers for decades, not only for recording events as they happened,… Continue reading Cinéma Vérité — Filmmaking Style That Keeps It Real