What is a Special Effects Supervisor — Job Description & Role Explained

Think of some of your favorite films or television series of all time. Whether they are rooted in fantasy or made to be naturalistic, odds are they required some special effects. To bring those effects to life, a Special Effects Supervisor got the job done. And in this article, we’ll dive into the role and… Continue reading What is a Special Effects Supervisor — Job Description & Role Explained

What is Exposition — You Can’t Escape It But You Can Conquer It

One of the most basic functions of every film is to communicate information over a length of time to an audience. How this film is communicated often determines how engaged an audience may be. One of the most difficult types of information to weave naturally into a story is exposition. What is exposition? In this… Continue reading What is Exposition — You Can’t Escape It But You Can Conquer It

What are Rhetorical Appeals — The Art of Persuasion Explained

You probably have heard of the terms ethos, pathos, and logos before. You may even understand what each is. However, you may not know them as rhetorical appeals. What are rhetorical appeals and how is each one a cornerstone of rhetoric? In this article, we’ll take a look at the components of the rhetorical appeals, how… Continue reading What are Rhetorical Appeals — The Art of Persuasion Explained

What Are Leading Lines — Composition in Photography & Film

Have you ever seen a photograph or a shot in a film and found your eyes wandering across the frame only to land at something significant? Odds are, leading lines were used to direct your attention. Photographers and cinematographers alike use various types of lines to lead the viewer’s eyes and tell a story through… Continue reading What Are Leading Lines — Composition in Photography & Film

What is a Location Scout — Duties & Job Description Explained

One of the great things about cinema is its ability to transport audiences to far and remote places. These places are often a character themselves within the story of a film. Finding these locations is an incredibly important component of filmmaking that is put on the shoulders of a location scout. What is a location… Continue reading What is a Location Scout — Duties & Job Description Explained

The Making of Titanic — On the Set of James Cameron’s Epic

It is easy to look back at the release of James Cameron’s Titanic and see that all things led to it being a record-breaking cultural phenomenon. The film’s massive budget, insane on-set stories, and unprecedented scale gained mainstream buzz before the film was even released. The result was a film that impacted culture and cinema for… Continue reading The Making of Titanic — On the Set of James Cameron’s Epic

How to Make Glitch Effect Premiere Pro — A Quick & Easy Guide

Whether you are editing YouTube videos, a science fiction film, or a commercial, a glitch effect can add a whole lot of production value to your project. Learning how to create a glitch effect from scratch in Premiere Pro will also help you learn how to get creative with duplicating frames and adjusting their qualities… Continue reading How to Make Glitch Effect Premiere Pro — A Quick & Easy Guide

What is a Feature Film — Definition & Qualifications Explained

You may have heard the term “feature film” or even simply “feature” whenever the topic of movies comes up. But what is a feature film and how does it differ from other types of film? Features make up the larger library of motion pictures that movie-goers are familiar with. While they may differ in genre,… Continue reading What is a Feature Film — Definition & Qualifications Explained

How to Direct Actors for Film — 12 Tips & Techniques Explained

There are many responsibilities that fall onto the shoulders of a director. One of the most important responsibilities they have is to direct the actors of a film. How do great directors bring out great performances from an actor? What is the relationship between director and actor? How should a director communicate with an actor?… Continue reading How to Direct Actors for Film — 12 Tips & Techniques Explained

How to Create a Documentary Shot List — Step-by-Step Guide

It is common practice to create a shot list when preparing to shoot a narrative film. What about documentaries? Documentaries are a whole different type of project than narrative film. This does not, however, mean that they would not benefit from shot lists. It just means that documentary shot lists must be created to best… Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Shot List — Step-by-Step Guide

Camera Report Template — Free Downloads and Guide

In the era of the digital camera, there are numerous settings and adjustments that can be made on a camera. Keeping these details organized and recorded is important for many reasons. Camera reports have changed substantially over the last few years so it’s time to get an updated version. In this article, we’ll give you… Continue reading Camera Report Template — Free Downloads and Guide

What is Foreshadowing — Definition, Examples in Film and Lit.

Have you ever watched a movie with a plot twist that blew your mind and then watched that movie again and noticed signs leading to the twist? You’re not alone. So, what is foreshadowing? Is it just simply dropping clues or is it something more? Implementing foreshadowing techniques into your story can create anticipation that… Continue reading What is Foreshadowing — Definition, Examples in Film and Lit.

How to Create a Documentary Storyboard — Free Template

What is a StoryboardHow to StoryboardStoryboard ExamplesStoryboard SoftwareStoryboard TemplatesCreate Storyboard  → Shooting documentaries can be incredibly spontaneous. However, this does not mean that they do not require preparation to shoot. Creating a storyboard for a documentary is a great idea for various reasons. The process of storyboarding can help you curate the visual tone, style,… Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Storyboard — Free Template

How to Film and Edit a Music Video From Start to Finish

Music videos are an incredible medium that bridges the world of filmmaking and music. Whether you are a musician looking to shoot your own music video or a filmmaker looking to shoot a music video for a client or friend, creating a music video can be daunting. When broken down into steps, however, filming and editing… Continue reading How to Film and Edit a Music Video From Start to Finish

Storyboard Website Design — How to Pre-Visualize Your Site

What is a StoryboardHow to StoryboardStoryboard ExamplesStoryboard SoftwareStoryboard TemplatesCreate Storyboard  → Storyboarding is a technique that originated within the filmmaking process. However, its value has exceeded that of the entertainment industry. Designers have found use of the technique during ideation and development phases of websites. In this article, we’ll take a look at storyboard website… Continue reading Storyboard Website Design — How to Pre-Visualize Your Site

Storyboard Camera Movement — Tips and Techniques

What is a StoryboardHow to StoryboardStoryboard ExamplesStoryboard SoftwareStoryboard TemplatesCreate Storyboard  → Cameras are getting smaller, rigs are getting more accessible, and camera movement is becoming more prevalent than ever throughout all levels of filmmaking. With that comes the task of incorporating camera moves and camera movement into a storyboard. In this article, we’ll take a… Continue reading Storyboard Camera Movement — Tips and Techniques