If you’ve seen one commercial, you’ve seen ’em all, right? Not exactly. Each commercial is a unique production and requires everything a short film does. Scripts, shot lists, script breakdowns, shooting schedules, and more. In this post, we break down the TV commercial production process and everything you need to do before the cameras roll.Continue… Continue reading TV Commercial Production Prep — From Script to Schedule
In the era of the internet and Youtube, the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of expressing ideas and concepts. However, there is a bit of an enigma behind the construction of the video essay largely due to the vagueness of the term. What defines a video analysis essay? What is a video essay… Continue reading What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay
Y ou’ve got the green light. Your shoot is coming up. Your next task? Create a script breakdown. The script breakdown sheets are used to determine the shooting requirements of every scene and also inform the budget. But do you know how to break down a script like a seasoned pro? In this post, we’ll review… Continue reading How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet)
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 Verbal irony is the most common type of irony because it’s tied directly to language – which we use every day. But… Continue reading What is Verbal Irony? Definition and Examples
Y ou’ve got the green light. Your shoot is coming up. Your next task? Create a script breakdown. The script breakdown sheets are used to determine the shooting requirements of every scene and also inform the budget. But do you know how to break down a script like a seasoned pro? In this post, we’ll… Continue reading How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet)
You, a production professional, know how to make script sides.The 2nd AD tells you, “Make script sides and distro when they’re done.” What are sides? How do you make them? What does distro mean? In this article, we’ll cover how to make script sides like a master. By the end, you’ll be ready to take… Continue reading How to Create Script Sides for Film & TV [with Examples]
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)
Basics of CompositionOpen menu What is Composition Rules of Shot Composition Rules of Composition Scale Proportion BalanceOpen menu Asymmetrical Balance Symmetrical Balance Radial Balance Golden Ratio Foreground Elements Texture SpaceOpen menu Positive Space Negative Space Positive & Negative Space Fill the Frame Simplicity What is the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is an… Continue reading What is the Rule of Thirds — Definition and Examples
Call Sheet EssentialsOpen menu What is a Call Sheet Anatomy of a Call Sheet Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets How to Make a Call Sheet Call Sheet Templates TipsOpen menu How to Create a Better Call Sheet Now (with Free Templates) Best Practices for Sending Call Sheets Staggering Call Time Formulas How Call Sheets are… Continue reading What is a Call Sheet — Everything You Need to Know
What does pacing mean in the context of storytelling? What makes one story feel fast or another one feel slow? How can pacing be controlled? Throughout this post, we will be answering all of these questions and digging into everything you need to know about narrative pacing. Let’s get started with a definition.Continue reading What… Continue reading What is Narrative Pacing — And How to Control It
In the age of YouTube, songs are meant to be seen, but producing a music video takes different skills and a different approach altogether. You may know a talented artist who needs a music video, and you might already have a pretty great idea for it. Now you want to back that creativity up with… Continue reading How to Write and Prep a Music Video [AV Script Template]
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 What is a Storyboard? The Fundamentals to Get You Started
A good shot list maximizes shooting time and limits downtime across all departments. In this post, we lay out the essentials of a shotlist with pro-tips on best practices. We’re also going to walk you through StudioBinder’s shot list module so you can maximize your productivity. In the end, we’ve provided a shot list template… Continue reading The Only Shot List Template You Need — with Free Download
Directors and cinematographers shoot with purpose, as they match their technical shot choices with the intended tone or emotion of the story. Of course, they’re not the only ones making critical choices. Editors’ decisions hugely determine the success of a film. It is up to the editor to assemble every scene, every cut in a… Continue reading The Rule of Six — Eye Trace Editing Technique Explained
Creating a film is an exciting endeavor, but along the way it’s inevitable to hit logistical aspects that can discourage your ambitions. Film permits, for any filmmaker, can inevitably be one of these obstacles. Can I shoot here? What do I need to do to shoot here? Will I get in trouble? These are all fair… Continue reading How to Get a Film Permit — A Step-by-Step Breakdown
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 How to Make a Storyboard: Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
If you’ve ever marveled at the breathtaking landscapes of Pandora in Avatar or the spellbinding battles in The Lord of the Rings, you’ve witnessed the magic of visual effects. When looking into the nitty-gritty of how these famed visuals are created, filmmakers have utilized a combination of techniques such as CGI and VFX. But what’s the… Continue reading VFX vs. CGI vs. SFX — Decoding the Debate
So you’ve finished your story: the primary antagonist has been defeated; the main-plot has been resolved — but something still feels incomplete. Don’t worry, many writers struggle to find that ever-so-coveted perfect ending. One way to add further resolution to a story’s conclusion is by adding an epilogue. We’re going to show you how to… Continue reading How to Write an Epilogue — Ideas for Crafting a Perfect Ending
Editing EssentialsOpen menu What is Film Editing Types of Editing Transitions How to Become a Film Editor What is a Film Cut What is a Freeze Frame DownloadablesOpen menu Free Video Transitions Free Sound Effects for Video Editing Best Free Video LUTs Ding Sound Effect Download Muzzle Flash Effect Download Free Fog Overlay Templates Editing… Continue reading What is a Freeze Frame — The Best Examples & Why They Work
How to Format a ScreenplayOpen menu Scene Headings Sluglines Action / Description Dialogue Transitions TV Script Format 101 FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free TV script format is perhaps the most difficult type of script format to master. That’s because it involves tons of intricacies that screenplays and stage plays… Continue reading TV Script Format 101 — Examples of How to Format a TV Script
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