While not always necessary for story-telling, freeze frames are a timeless tool in film and television. Whether for stylistic purposes or to draw attention to particular aspects of your film, it’s important to whittle down the motivation for your freeze frame. Read on to dissect successful freeze frame movie examples and ways you can implement them in your own work. Continue reading What is a Freeze Frame — The Best Examples & Why They Work
There’s no one way to make a movie. In fact, there’s an infinite number of ways to make one. But in Hollywood, the general contours of a film’s creation hit similar story beats (to borrow a screenwriting term). Whether you are helming a massive studio blockbuster or grinding away at a microbudget indie film, the stages of film production often are the same.Continue reading Stages of Film Production — Overview of the Entire Process
Imagine you're watching a character reminiscing about their past. As they stare into the distance, their present environment gradually fades, and a scene from their past starts to emerge, taking us into their memory. This smooth transition, this blending of two moments, is the magic of a cross fade. This article aims to uncover the secrets of the cross fade, delving into its intricacies to provide a deeper understanding and enhance your filmmaking knowledge. Continue reading What is a Cross Fade Transition — Definitions & Examples
The digital realm has fundamentally changed the way media – music, film, television, video games, and more – are distributed. But what is digital distribution? We’re going to break down digital distribution by looking at how various industries bring their content to the masses. By the end, you’ll know what digital distribution is, and where to look for additional information. Continue reading What is Digital Distribution — Film, Music, and Gaming
There are a ton of professionals involved in Post-Production, and trusting each other probably matters more in 'post' than any other time in the filmmaking process. These are the final steps and they’re the glue that holds the movie together, literally. So, what is Post-Production, who’s involved, and what should you consider before it begins? Let’s take a look.Continue reading What is Post-Production — The Final Steps in the Process
Watching a film can sometimes feel like looking at the world through someone else’s eyes. This someone else may be a particularly auteurist filmmaker, or they can be a character within a movie that a filmmaker wants us to identify with. Referred to as subjective cinema, this filmmaking technique can be incredibly powerful.Continue reading Subjective Cinema — Types and Techniques in Filmmaking
Maybe you’ve seen a “behind the scenes” clip of an actor recording audio for a Pixar movie or an author reading their audio-book and thought, “That doesn’t seem that hard.” But how do you become a voice actor? Voice acting, though often less physically strenuous than sprinting in an action movie, has its own set of difficulties, techniques, and styles. In this article, we’re going to define the role of the “voice actor” and how it factors into the Entertainment business well beyond the sound booth.Continue reading What is Voice Acting — How to Become a Voice Actor
In the realm of cinema, the magic often lies in the unseen—the techniques and tricks filmmakers use to craft stories that captivate us. One such technique, often overlooked but incredibly impactful, is superimposition. It's a tool that has evolved with the medium, from its birth in the darkroom to its modern-day digital incarnation. But what is superimposition in film? How does it work, and why do filmmakers use it? Continue reading What is Superimposition in Film — Definition and Examples
Did you know that back in the day, movies shown on TV were completely different than how they appeared in cinemas? That's right. That is until something known as 'letterboxing' came along. What is letterboxing, you may ask? It's a technique used in films and videos, where black bars are placed at the top and bottom of the screen. Might seem odd, but it's a deliberate choice made to preserve the original aspect ratio of the film, ensuring viewers experience the movie exactly as the director intended. Stick around, and we'll explain how it works.Continue reading What is Letterboxing in…
Like anyone who has spent two hours waiting at the DMV can attest, emotional states are affected by the perception of time. In filmmaking terms, we want to take a moment to discuss one of the most commonly used time manipulation techniques — slow motion — and how it can be used to add deeper, emotional intensity to a scene or sequence. Continue reading How to Use Slow Motion to Create Iconic Moments
