We often describe a movie we’ve seen, a novel we’ve read, or even a video game we’ve played (such as Red Dead Redemption) based on how “realistic” it seems — how closely it hews to real life experiences or feelings. But movies, novels, and games are by their definition not real. They are fictional creations… Continue reading What is Realism in Art — Examples & Characteristics Explained
What is white balance? White balance is a vital camera setting to properly calibrate in order to achieve your desired image. If you have ever taken a photograph or video and found the result to look unnatural blue or yellow, then improper white balance is to blame. We’ll break down what white balance is, how… Continue reading What is White Balance — How it Works and Why It Matters
What is day for night? And, perhaps more importantly, is it a good idea? There is plenty of debate over the effectiveness of day for night and, even though the technique is used in plenty of feature-films, many filmmakers wouldn’t touch day for night with a ten-foot pole. In this post we will be defining… Continue reading How to Shoot Day for Night — Tips & Techniques Explained
What are microphone polar patterns? If you don’t work in the audio field, then the term may be completely unfamiliar to you. Having a working knowledge of polar patterns, also known as pickup patterns, is crucial when it comes to choosing the best microphone or microphones to use for a specific project. We’ll break down… Continue reading What are Microphone Polar Patterns — And Why They Matter
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
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
So, you want to become a voice actor? Like with any career in the entertainment industry, becoming a professional voice actor can be difficult to attain but deeply rewarding to accomplish. There are many different career paths one can take to begin earning a living as a voice actor. Read on to learn how to… Continue reading How to Become a Voice Actor — 5 Essential Steps
So you’re a working or aspiring storyboard artist and you need to create a storyboard demo reel to show off your brilliant work. Creating a demo storyboard reel is similar to creating any other type of reel, it’s a matter of intention and precision in what you include. In this article, we’ll dive into how… Continue reading How to Create a Storyboard Demo Reel — Tips for Story Artists
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
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
The Inception hallway scene is one of the all-time best cinematic action scenes – but how did director Christopher Nolan and his production team make it? We’re going to take you behind the scenes to show you the technical ingenuity of the Inception hallway scene. A sequence that not only boggles the mind but was… Continue reading Inception Hallway Scene — How They Shot It Without CGI
What is land art? In this post, we’ll be providing a definition and overview of this artistic movement, then digging into the history of the style and taking a look at some of the most prominent voices and important pieces in this expansive medium. First up, let’s get started with a comprehensive definition.Continue reading What… Continue reading What is Land Art — History of Earthworks & Land Art Movement
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
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
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.
At one point or another, we have all asked the question: when was photography invented? We know it was sometime in the distant past, just not exactly when. That’s because photography has a long history, dating all the way back to the 5th century BCE. We’re going to look at the history of photography to… Continue reading When Was Photography Invented — A Quick History Lesson
What is rolling shutter and why does it happen? If you have ever filmed something on your phone and found that the resulting footage looked completely different than what you recorded, then rolling shutter may be the culprit. Whether this type of shutter plagues your footage or you just find the effect interesting and what… Continue reading What is Rolling Shutter — Camera Shutter Effect Explained
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
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
Much has been made about Wes Anderson’s use of symmetry in shot composition – but did you know symmetry extends to his editing style as well? Wes Anderson utilizes symmetry in every facet of his filmmaking process, from pattern events to blocking and staging. We’re going to show you the art behind Wes Anderson’s symmetrical… Continue reading Wes Anderson Symmetry & Symmetrical Editing Explained
