The impact of Italian Neorealism in film cannot be overstated. The works of Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, and other major Neorealist directors are undeniable when it comes to the influence they have had on cinema throughout the world. They also had an immense effect on a young boy growing up in Queens named Martin Scorsese.We’re going to look at a series of seminal Italian Neorealist films, including; Roma Citta Aperta, Ladri di Bicicletti, I Vitelloni, La Strada, and Viaggio in Italia and how they informed stylistic decisions in some of Scorsese’s best films.Continue reading What is Italian Neorealism in Film?…
A beginning, middle, and end are the bare bones that support the structure of any story. In his video essay First and Final Frames, Jacob T. Swinney compiles a stunning side-by-side comparison of opening and closing shots from many famous films. This is a unique experience to be sure. In this post we’re going to examine what goes into creating a powerful opening and closing scene. Continue reading How To Create Striking First and Final Frames in Your Film
You’ve heard of the rom-com, but what about the zom-com? It’s a natural evolution for any film genre to eventually descend into parody. After you look through the best funny zombie movies of all time, you’ll see it’s impossible to kill the zombie movie because right when you think it’s dead, someone infuses a new twist into it, bringing it back to life.For this list, we’re ranking 20 of the best funny zombie movies any filmmaker should check out. We took into account laughs, scares, and overall filmmaking prowess to bring you this comprehensive list perfect for any horror enthusiast.Continue…
You grew up watching the best fight scenes and loved every bone-cracking minute of them. They are one of the reasons you became a filmmaker, and perhaps you’ve already put together a few of your own.But for some reason... they just don’t play the way you had hoped. It’s not like you don’t know how to film an action scene or even a good fight scene, but something is just... wrong. Was it the sound design? The fight choreography? The actors? You're not sure, but you do know one thing...You can do better.In this post, we’re going to break down…
Some directors are very particular about their fake blood (*cough* David Fincher). Others just want something that looks realistic enough without staining the set and wardrobes. Continue reading The Best DIY Fake Blood Recipe [with FREE Blood Spectrum]
A masked killer with a signature weapon. A group of victims anchored by a Final Girl. And a structure that evenly disperses the death and mayhem. Even people who don’t watch slasher movies know the game. The look and feel of these movies have become baked into pop culture. This has happened to such a degree that even non-slasher movies can’t escape their influence. What follows is a list, in no particular order, of the best slasher movies that don’t technically qualify as such.Continue reading The Best Slasher Movies (That Aren’t Slasher Movies)
Have you been to the movies lately? I think there might be more ways to watch movies than there are good movies to watch. But either way, this article will answer what is Dolby Cinema to see if it’s worth the cashola for your next date night. Continue reading What is Dolby Cinema? How Does it Compare to Other Screening Formats
Most filmmakers understand the cinematic power of a shot with an extreme angle, but what happens when you use standard composition and natural camera level for your shot selections?We’re going to discuss the eye level shot and go over which emotions are generated with this particular camera angle, and show examples of how an eye level shot can ground your characters and connect your viewer.Continue reading Eye Level Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Angles & Shots
Most working actors appreciate the fluidity of the medium — they can be in a movie one year, and then choose to work on a play or television series the next. Television, especially lately, has become so much richer and substantive. The level of conflict between characters, and even the dimensions and rawness of each character, makes working on a show much more desirable than the sitcoms of the 90s. So, it’s no wonder why we see big movie stars in tv series all the time now. Here are a few top actors that have made the switch.Continue reading Actors…
Video game movies are often cast aside or plain derided by critics and fans, but we think that’s pure poppycock.It’s hard enough to bring a novel to life without angering fans, but just imagine if you were so immersed and devoted to that book that you occasionally slammed it into your hardwood floors, shattering it to pieces and thus forcing you to shell out $50 for a new one.Below is a list of the best video game movies to date, and with each, we provide the trailer and budget information for context. Enjoy.Continue reading 10 Best Video Games Movies: Good…