Film blocking is arguably one of the most important things a Director must do on set. Think of it as a carefully choreographed dance where the camera and subject move together in harmony.Continue reading 3 Ways To Make Your Film Blocking More Interesting
BasicsOpen menu What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur ResourcesOpen menu Essential Cinematography Books Top 100 Cinematography Films Videography Contract Template Best Cinematography Schools How to Join the Cinematographer’s Guild Best Cinematography Online Courses E-BooksOpen menu FREE E-Book: Camera Lenses Explained FREE E-Book: Exposure… Continue reading ASC Celebrates 100 Years with a Best Cinematography Films 100 List
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 How to Overcome Stage Fright — Jenny Slate & Other Comedians Share
Best Tarantino MoviesQT’s Directing StyleQT Directing Tips QT DialogueOnce Upon a Time AnalysisBasterds Breakdown Speculation about Tarantino’s last movie has now reached full tilt — but are we really ready for Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek? There is only one final film to go before we find out if QT was bluffing or not. But what… Continue reading Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek: Should This Be Tarantino’s Last Movie?
ProcessOpen menu How to Make a Short Film Short Film Schedule Tips Write a Short That Gets Noticed How to Storyboard a Short Film Phases of Short Film Pre-Production How Whiplash Went From a Short to a Feature ResourcesOpen menu Best Short Films of All Time Best Short Film Ideas Crowdfunding Movies The Ultimate Film… Continue reading 30 Ways to Brainstorm Short Film Ideas You Can Actually Produce
When I watch the Netflix series Mindhunter, I’m blown away by how accurate the production design seems to portray the time period. I think to myself, “How do they find these places?” The short answer… they don’t. They find locations that have the right skeleton, and then collaborate with a skilled VFX team to enhance scenes… Continue reading VFX in Netflix’s Mindhunter: Matte Paintings, Composites, and 3D Tracking
Cycloramas are commonplace in video production, and they make the lives of those shooting on a green screen that much easier. So what is a cyclorama? Let’s find out. Continue reading What’s a Cyclorama? How Can Cyc Walls Help My Shot?
Types of LensesOpen menu Lens Basics Prime Lens Zoom Lens Anamorphic Lens Focal LengthsOpen menu Wide Angle Lens (14mm – 35mm) Standard (35mm – 70mm) What is a 50mm Lens Good For 35mm vs 50mm Lenses Telephoto Lens (70mm – 200mm) Create your free shot list → How do you go about capturing cinematic footage?… Continue reading Carl Zeiss Cinema Lenses: The Best Showreels and Shorts
The best digital camera for multi-functionality on the market, the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro now has an update – the Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6K G2. Both cameras yield some beautifully cinematic footage, and this post takes a look at footage from each.Continue reading Best Footage: Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro and Its Update the Mini… Continue reading Best Footage: Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro and Its Update the Mini Pro G2
The second and concluding chapter in director Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s It is here. The Losers Club are all grown up as they return to their childhood town to battle inner and outer demons. The cast is impressive, the visuals are stunning, and the imagination on display is undeniable. But that doesn’t translate to… Continue reading “It Chapter Two” Review: Bigger Not Better
Storyboard EssentialsOpen menu What is a Storyboard Best Storyboard Examples How to Storyboard Ultimate Guide to Storyboard Rules Best Storyboard Software Storyboard TemplatesOpen menu Storyboard Templates Pack How to Make a Storyboard Template How to Use a Storyboard Template Music Video Storyboard Template Commercial Storyboard Templates Movie Storyboard Template Create Your Free Storyboard Here →… Continue reading Disney’s Unreleased Aladdin Ending Scene Animatic (and Storyboard)
For filmmakers, Netflix is an invaluable resource. With this library of movies at your fingertips, you can watch just about anything. The problem is sifting through the seemingly endless titles to find the really good stuff. If it doesn’t pop up on the main page, you’ve got to search. Fear not, intrepid explorer, we’ve got… Continue reading 10 Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (September 2019)
Cinematography Terms Screenwriting Terms Film Terms Dailies. Maybe you’ve heard the term, maybe you haven’t. They’ve been associated with newspaper dailies– the everyday papers left on your doorstep in the morning. Yeah, not those. What are dailies in film? Well, if you’re new to production, it’s a good idea to know what they are. Let’s… Continue reading What are Dailies in Film? Who Needs Them and Why
Whether you’re making a short film or a feature, having an insanely low budget may seem like a road block, but it doesn’t have to be. No budget movies can also cultivate creativity, encouraging a sort of ‘Necessity is the mother of invention,’ mindset. In this mode, you can take your film to unexpected places… Continue reading Zero Budget Filmmaking Tips: 7 Steps on How To Get That Hollywood Look
Close UpsOpen menu Extreme Close-Up (ECU) Medium Close-Up (MCU) Medium ShotsOpen menu Medium Shot (MS) Cowboy Shot (CS) Medium Full Shot (MFS) Wide ShotsOpen menu Full Shot (FS) Wide Shot (WS) Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) Create Free Shot List It can be difficult to convey the importance of a landscape or emotion, especially when framing… Continue reading The Wide Shot: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles
Types of Camera GearOpen menu Tripod Handheld Drone Dolly Steadicam Crane Shot TypesOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Camera Movement Master Class Create Free Shot List Now → If you’re an aspiring videographer, or even cinematographer, you’ve probably used a gimbal. But if you haven’t…how come? They’ll make your shooting life… Continue reading What is a Gimbal? How Can You Use Them to Shoot Better Videos
Production DepartmentOpen menu What Does a Producer Do What Does an Executive Producer Do What Does a TV Producer Do What is An Associate Producer What is a Line Producer Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Production ResourcesOpen menu Ultimate Location Scout Cheat Sheet Shooting Schedule Template Production Crew Contact List Template Film Budget Template… Continue reading Producer vs Director: The Roles & Responsibilities Explained
If you’re just learning about cameras, the jargon and technicalities of the equipment could seem a bit daunting. This article defines the front-runner in photography and filmmaking: the DSLR camera. But what is a DSLR camera? This post outlines the mechanics and provides brief comparisons, so you can fully understand what it means to be DSLR.Continue… Continue reading What is a DSLR Camera? Understanding Digital SLR & Mirrorless Cameras
BasicsOpen menu What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur ResourcesOpen menu Essential Cinematography Books Top 100 Cinematography Films Videography Contract Template Best Cinematography Schools How to Join the Cinematographer’s Guild Best Cinematography Online Courses E-BooksOpen menu FREE E-Book: Camera Lenses Explained FREE E-Book: Exposure… Continue reading Cinematography Advice from SNL Director of Photography Alex Buono
The cleanliness of your camera lens affects the quality of your images. It’s as simple as that. But it’s a bit of a double-edged sword because if you clean your lenses too much, or too often, you run the risk of scratching your lens. This post will briefly summarize how to clean camera lenses, with… Continue reading How to Clean a Camera Lens: The Do’s and Don’ts
