HBO’s Watchmen was a smash-hit with critics in 2019, due to sharp writing, great production design, and memorable characters. The first, and likely only season of Watchmen, featured some characters we already knew, like Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias, and some new characters, like Night Sister and Looking Glass. Of all the new characters, Looking Glass… Continue reading Looking Glass — Watchmen’s Best Character Explained
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → Symbolism can create an indelible impression on an audience. Symbolism runs through literature, poetry, and especially screenwriting, where visuals are paramount. But what is symbolism? In this… Continue reading What is Symbolism? Definition, Examples in Literature & Film
Camera & Lighting DepartmentOpen menu Director Of Photography Camera Operator Focus Puller Key Grip Gaffer Dolly Grip Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → The short answer to the question, “What is a Grip?” is that a Grip on a film crew is someone who moves lighting equipment around. But… Continue reading What is a Grip on a Movie Set? Job Description and Duties
Сhoosing the right location for your shoot can make or break your film and have a meaningful impact on the tone of the finished work. Unfortunately, finding the right location within your budget can be a real challenge in Los Angeles. We took a look at their locations in Los Angeles and found the 10… Continue reading The 10 Most Unique Movie Filming Locations in Los Angeles
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 Davinci Resolve 16 — Prices, Features, and How it Compares
INT. BATHROOM, EXT. SANTA MONICA PIER, EXT. NEW YORK STREET. What do all of these have in common? Well, first of all, they’re all scene headings, at least two-thirds of one. Secondly, they’re all different places or locations. There isn’t a set rule on how many locations to include in a script, but remember that… Continue reading How to Manage Shooting Locations in StudioBinder
The Best Breakup Scenes? Classifying on-screen heartbreak into a “best” category may be a little callous. But just like your ex, we’re going to do whatever we want, anyway! Just kidding. We made a list of the saddest movie breakup scenes in recent years. So however you choose to judge those gut wrenching moments in… Continue reading Best Movie Breakup Scenes (& Their Makeup Scenes)
Color BasicsOpen menu What is Color Temperature Color Grading vs. Color Correction What is LUT What is Technicolor First Color Movie Film Colorization Process Color SchemesOpen menu What is a Color Palette What is a Color Scheme Triadic Color Scheme Monochromatic Color Scheme Analogous Color Scheme Complementary Color Scheme FREE Ebook: How to Use Color… Continue reading How to Use Color in Film like Kubrick: Mise-en-Scène Elements Explained
Major Awards:Open menu Best Picture Best Director Best Actress Best Supporting Actress Best Actor Best Supporting Actor Writing & Visual:Open menu Best Original Screenplay Best Adapted Screenplay Best Film Editing Best Visual Effects Best Cinematography Animation & Production:Open menu Best Animated Short Film Best Animated Feature Film Best International Feature Film Best Costume Design Best… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Director — Oscar Winners Ranked
Animation BasicsOpen menu What is Animation Types of Animation What Does an Animator Do What is Cel Animation What is Anime What is Claymation ResourcesOpen menu How to Direct an Animated Movie Animation Storyboard Tips Unreleased Aladdin Animatic Best Animated Music Videos Best Animation Software Best AnimationsOpen menu Best Animated Movies of All Time Best… Continue reading What is Rotoscope Animation? The Process Explained
BasicsOpen menu What is a Green Screen? Blue Screen vs Green Screen DIY Green ScreenOpen menu How to Make a Green Screen How to Use a Green Screen Green Screen Color Green Screen Lighting EditingOpen menu Best Green Screen Software Best Green Screen Background Videos How to Use a Green Screen in iMovie If you… Continue reading Blue Screen vs Green Screen Differences Explained
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → There are many ways to enhance the main plot of a film. You can flesh out your protagonist, establish a story structure that keeps the audience engaged,… Continue reading What is a Subplot in Film and TV? Definition and Examples
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → I am, you are, she is, they will be — these are all things we say on a near-daily basis, and they’re all examples of different points… Continue reading What is Point of View? Definition and Examples in Lit and Film
Some of the most iconic shots in history have been taken from the air. The elevated vantage point that we rarely see in day to day life creates a unique experience for any movie-goer. From war films, to thrillers, to action movies, aerial cinematography has created some of the most iconic shots in cinema. These… Continue reading What is Aerial Cinematography? Drone Shots and Techniques
Francis Ford Coppola is one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time; his seminal classics, The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation, consistently rank among cinema’s pantheon – but did you know he’s directed 20 other feature-length films? We’re going to rank every Francis Ford Coppola film, from top to bottom. By… Continue reading Best Francis Ford Coppola Movies — Every Film Ranked
Mise en scène. It’s a fancy looking phrase that you’ve seen floating around many film-related articles, carrying with it an immediate sense of snobbery. Don’t worry, you’re not the first person to ask “what is mise en scene?” After today, you’ll have a better sense of this concept and its fundamentals so you can apply… Continue reading What is Mise en Scène in Film: Definition and Examples
Audiences and filmmakers alike love sequels. And we all love to rank and debate which are the “greatest.” But deciding which films belong on a “best movie sequels of all time” list can feel overwhelming. How does one choose from every film ever made? And how to rank one above the other? While such a… Continue reading Best Movie Sequels of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers
The term “postmodernism” gets thrown around a lot. Anything that seems to buck normal conventions or breaks the fourth wall tends to receive the label, but what is postmodernism really? For this blog, we’ll look into the history of postmodernism as well as its place in the cinematic landscape today. We’ll examine several postmodern films,… Continue reading What is Postmodernism? Definition and Examples for Filmmakers
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 → A variety of lenses used throughout your filmmaking project… Continue reading What is a Fisheye Lens? Definition and Examples in Film
In a world where almost everything you see is digitally shot, the priority is now “clean” images with high resolution and sharp edges. For a lot of filmmakers and fans lamenting the death of celluloid, one of the key attributes missing is something we’ve nearly forgotten: film grain. The textured look of cinematic film grain… Continue reading What is Film Grain? The Causes and Effects Explained
