You’ve probably heard the term ‘film noir’ hundreds of times. You may associate it with detectives and femme fatales running around in black and white. But what is film noir, really? Well, it turns out it’s not so clear cut, but there are some elements of the style that are fairly obvious. Let’s get into… Continue reading What is Film Noir? A Brief History with Examples from Cinema
A filmmaker is a visual artist. To be a great visual artist you need mastery of the color palette. Many of the greatest Directors, Cinematographers, and Production Designers have extensive backgrounds as visual artists themselves. There are many ways to use color in film. We’re going to break down the key approaches as well as… Continue reading How to Use Color in Film: 50+ Examples of Movie Color Palettes
Dramatic IronyOpen menu Types of Irony What is Tragic Irony Stages of Dramatic Irony Verbal IronyOpen menu Sarcasm Understatement Overstatement Socratic Irony Situational IronyOpen menu Cosmic Irony Poetic Justice Structural Irony Historical Irony We encounter irony every day: in our favorite movies, TV shows, and in our own lives. Most people have a general understanding… Continue reading 3 Types of Irony Explained (+ Examples)
The rule of three is one of the most important rules in all of writing – but what is the rule of three? We’re going to explore this fascinating and useful rule by looking at examples in sentences, situations, and stories. This article will serve as a referential guide for you to circle back to… Continue reading What is the Rule of Three — A Literary Device for Writers
Color BasicsOpen menu What is Color Temperature Color Grading vs. Color Correction What is LUT What is Technicolor First Color Movie Film Colorization Process Color SchemesOpen menu What is a Color Palette What is a Color Scheme Triadic Color Scheme Monochromatic Color Scheme Analogous Color Scheme Complementary Color Scheme FREE Ebook: How to Use Color… Continue reading What is Color Theory — A Guide for Image Makers
Cinematography Terms Screenwriting Terms Film Terms What is film theory? Is it just the theory of film? Or is it something more? Fear not, we’re going to answer the question “what is film theory?” with a film theory definition. We’re also going to examine a variety of different aspects of film theory, both technically and… Continue reading What is Film Theory — How to Study Film (And Why)
Best Horror MoviesOpen menu Best Horror Movies of All Time Best Zombie Movies Best Vampire Movies Best Jump Scare Movies Best Stephen King Movies and TV Shows Best Underrated Horror Movies EssentialsOpen menu What is Horror Body Horror Explained Giallo Films Explained Horror Movie Tropes Found Footage Filmmaking What is a Grindhouse Movie Horror WritingOpen… Continue reading Body Horror Explained — Inside the Best Body Horror Movies
ProcessOpen menu How to Make a YouTube Video How Do You Make a Video on YouTube How to Add Subtitles How to Make Money on YouTube How to Make A YouTube Channel That Stands Out How To Make An Intro For Your YouTube Video ResourcesOpen menu Best Filmmaking YouTube Channels Best Camera for YouTube Videos… Continue reading The 12 Best Filmmaking and Screenwriting Podcasts
Before The Walt Disney Company owned a bunch of companies, and before other film studios and companies were being bought by other big companies, there was the classic Hollywood studio system. What is the studio system? While it would be easy to simplify it as the time when movie studios owned the theaters that would… Continue reading What is the Studio System — Hollywood’s Studio Era Explained
The best scary movies stay with you. They follow you home from the movie theater. They are right behind you as you walk alone at night. They are with you no matter how deep under the covers you go. Like the videotape in The Ring, once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. The best scary… Continue reading 10 Best Scary Movies That You Need to Watch Right Now
The Elements of Composition in Art, Photography & Film (FREE Ebook)A comprehensive and accessible guide for artists, photographers and cinematographers looking to master the elements of composition.We’ll cover over a dozen elements of composition like lines, shapes, balance, and including various compositional techniques within each. Download Now Composition in ArtWith these elements of composition in… Continue reading Elements of Composition in Art, Photo & Film (Free Ebook)
How to Use Color in Film: 50+ Examples of Movie Color PalettesLearn how to pick the right color schemes to create and memorable and meaningful visual aesthetic. Download Now How to Use Color EbookUnderstanding color schemesIn this ebook we explore the various color techniques, and provide color scheme examples from noteworthy films that utilize color… Continue reading How to Use Color in Film – FREE Ebook Download
What is slapstick comedy? Is it the same thing as physical comedy? And where does the name come from? We will be answering all of these questions, plus taking a trip through the history and evolution of slapstick, and looking at a number of great slapstick comedy examples from classic and modern movies. First, let’s… Continue reading What is Slapstick Comedy — Movie Genres Explained
It was not long ago that the idea of virtual reality seemed to only be realized in science fiction. But now, VR technology is becoming increasingly popular on Christmas wish lists, office spaces, and viral videos. With its increasing popularity many fear it, others embrace it, and some simply wonder, “What is virtual reality?” In… Continue reading What is Virtual Reality — Games, Movies & Storytelling
What is a Slasher film? The name of this popular horror sub-genre might evoke a strong mental image, but do you know the actual criteria for what constitutes a Slasher film? In this post, we’ll provide a Slasher movie definition, explore the complex history of Slasher films, and take a look at some of the… Continue reading What is a Slasher Film — Definition, Characters, Villains & Tropes
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 What is Dolby Stereo — History of Game-Changing Sound in Film
What is realism in film? We hear the term “realistic” all the time, but how do we know if something is realistic when realism is so subjective? Well, in storytelling, there is an objective way to tell whether or not something is realistic. We’re going to explore what realism is and how it’s used in… Continue reading What is Realism in Film? Cinematic Realism Explained
Color BasicsOpen menu What is Color Temperature Color Grading vs. Color Correction What is LUT What is Technicolor First Color Movie Film Colorization Process Color SchemesOpen menu What is a Color Palette What is a Color Scheme Triadic Color Scheme Monochromatic Color Scheme Analogous Color Scheme Complementary Color Scheme FREE Ebook: How to Use Color… Continue reading What is Technicolor? Definition and History Explained
What is an experimental film? This elusive and niche genre can be difficult to define, and there are many common misconceptions about experimental filmmaking, but we’ll be sorting through the fact and the fiction to provide a comprehensive overview of what it means for a film to be “experimental”. We’ll get started with a definition,… Continue reading What is Experimental Film — History, Examples & Movements
Before the 1950s, nearly every single movie was in the same 4:3 aspect ratio. But then CinemaScope from 20th Century Fox changed the landscape with widescreen imagery to get people into theaters nationwide. Pretty soon, other studios were making their own widescreen movies, including Paramount Pictures with VistaVision. What is VistaVision, you ask? Well, it… Continue reading What is VistaVision — A History of Widescreen in Hollywood
