Have you ever thought about the power of brevity in storytelling? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine the fascinating world of novellas, a literary form that masterfully balances the succinctness of short stories and the depth of novels. As we journey through this exploration, we’ll also uncover the unique role novellas play in the broader… Continue reading What is a Novella — A Guide to the World of Compact Fiction
Screenplay StructureOpen menu What is The Three Act Structure What is Freytag’s Pyramid What is a Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey What is Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu What is Exposition What is an Inciting Incident What is Rising Action What is the Climax of a… Continue reading What is Rising Action in a Story — Examples & Techniques
Cinematography Terms Screenwriting Terms Film Terms Perhaps you’ve just heard about a new movie in the works with your favorite director– you immediately make a mental note of excitement, quietly counting down the days until it hits theaters, but then a year almost passes and… there’s no movie to be found. What happened? Where’d the… Continue reading What is Development Hell — Where Projects Go to Die
Cinematography Terms Screenwriting Terms Film Terms In cinema, there exists a niche that often goes unnoticed by the mainstream yet holds a magnetic allure for those who discover it: the realm of cult classics. These films may not have garnered immediate acclaim or box office success, but over time, they’ve managed to carve out their… Continue reading What is a Cult Classic — The Allure of Fringe Films
BasicsOpen menu Basics of Film Lighting What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur Lighting EssentialsOpen menu 3-Point Lighting What is Key Light What is Fill Light What is Backlight What is Practical Lighting When is Golden Hour E-BooksOpen menu FREE Ebook: Camera Lenses Explained… Continue reading What are Gels in Lighting — Photography & Cinematography
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 → In the world of filmmaking and photography, understanding… Continue reading What is a T-Stop — Camera Lens Essentials Explained
BIf you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your gear collection to a 360 camera, it’s good to know a bit about what’s out there. The majority of these omnidirectional cameras are video, but it’s noted when they’re solely for photography. This is a buying guide to the best 360 cameras on the market today. Continue… Continue reading 17 Best 360 Cameras — The Ultimate Buying Guide
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 The Top Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee
When you see a really cool slow-mo video, like an NBA all-star dunking, or footage of a predator catching its prey, we ask the same thing — how did they film that? And if you want to get that kind of quality slow motion footage yourself, it’s good to know what your options are. So,… Continue reading 10 Best Slow Motion Cameras To Die For (Buying Guide)
Every camera needs a camera bag – but what’s the best camera bag to buy? We’re going to break down a variety of different camera bags by looking at their features, specs, and prices – as well as reviews from industry professionals. Fear not dropping your camera anymore – the perfect camera bag is just… Continue reading Best Camera Bag — Features, Specs, Reviews & Prices
If you have an interest in recording on-screen content, then you may be looking for a capture card. But what is a capture card? In simplest terms, a capture card is a device that’s used in conjunction with a computer to capture on-screen content and encode it for playback. Now, what is the best video… Continue reading Best Capture Cards for Streaming — Buying Guide
If you’re a filmmaker at any level, you know there are many scriptwriting software options out there to aid your writing process. Continue reading 9 Best Screenwriting Software Tools
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 → Canon has been a top camera and lens… Continue reading 31 Best Canon Camera Lenses [Buying Guide]
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 Best Sound Editing — 10 Oscar-Winning Movies Ranked
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 Best Sound Mixing — 20 Oscar-Winning Movies Ranked
Types of CharactersOpen menu Protagonist Antagonist Hero Anti Hero Tragic Hero Foil Character Character TropesOpen menu Common Character Types Types of Villains Femme Fatale Mad Scientist Mary Sue Damsel in Distress Write Your Free Script → What is a protagonist? Many refer to it as the leading character in a story. But is the protagonist… Continue reading What is a Protagonist — Definition & Examples for Screenwriters
Directorial DepartmentOpen menu What Does an Assistant Director Do What Does a 2nd Assistant Director Do What is a Casting Director What is a Second Unit Director What Does a Director Do Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → If you’ve ever heard the terms ‘second unit’ or ‘second unit… Continue reading What is a Second Unit Director & What Does a Second Unit Do?
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
Screenplays By GenreOpen menu Comedy Sci-Fi Drama Crime TV Scripts Horror ResourcesOpen menu FREE Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Best Screenplays to Read Shane Black Movies & Screenwriting Explained Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Best Horror Movie Scripts to Download Write Your Script for Free → With the release… Continue reading Bridesmaids Script PDF Download — Dialogue & Plot Analysis
All writers aim to engage their audience. And to engage their audience, their writing must be effective. So what are the tricks of the trade to effective writing? There are various elements to great writing, but two fundamental elements are clear communication of ideas and conciseness. One of the best tools a writer has to… Continue reading What is an Analogy — Definition, Examples in Literature & Film
