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
Staying organized is one of the most essential components to a smoothly run production. This means having the most important details of your production stored in an easily accessible and organized form. When it comes to cast lists and talent, there can be plenty of important details to make note of from person to person.… Continue reading Cast List Template — FREE PDF Download & Guide
What is fair use? If you produce YouTube content or do any work with intellectual property or copyrighted material, then a thorough understanding of fair use copyright law may be absolutely vital. In this post, we’ll break down what fair use is, dig into the criteria that determine fair use, and discuss the various applications… Continue reading What is Fair Use — Definition, Policies, Examples and More
What does high concept mean? The term ‘high concept’ is thrown around in film circles with reckless abandon but the true meaning is often misused or misconstrued. In this post, we will define high concept, debunk many of the misconceptions around the term, and look at some examples. And we’ll let you know how you… Continue reading What is High Concept in Film — Definition and Examples
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
You might think you know what a Casting Director does, but you would likely be only partially right. Casting Directors do a lot more than just find actors for film, television, and commercials. In this post we’re going to talk about all the things Casting Directors do — and don’t do. We’ll also discuss casting in… Continue reading What is a Casting Director — Job Description, Duties & Salary
What is a StoryboardHow to StoryboardStoryboard ExamplesStoryboard SoftwareStoryboard TemplatesCreate Storyboard → How can you storyboard if you cannot draw? It might seem like a conundrum at first glance but, luckily, there are a number of alternatives to drawing that you can make use of and still produce high quality storyboards. In this post, we will… Continue reading How to Storyboard if You Can’t Draw — 4 Alternative Options
Shooting a documentary is very different from shooting a narrative film. In many ways it can be on the cuff, guerilla style shooting. Documentaries can also be made of properly planned and composed shoots. Great documentaries are made of both and thus require an organized documentary shooting schedule. Creating a documentary shooting schedule is an effective… Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Shooting Schedule
What is a StoryboardHow to StoryboardStoryboard ExamplesStoryboard SoftwareStoryboard TemplatesCreate Storyboard → Storyboarding is an incredibly powerful filmmaking tool that allows you to refine your ideas as well as communicate them to others. But how exactly do your storyboard visual ideas like a shot’s composition? Storyboard composition and storyboard format can be ambiguous. In this article,… Continue reading Storyboard Composition — A Guide to Layout, Format, Framing
One of the most crucial elements to a scene can be a prop. Props are important for a film’s plot, characters, and overall story. Ensuring that every prop in a screenplay is accounted for and brought on set can be overwhelming. However, creating a props list by breaking down a screenplay is a sure fire… Continue reading Props Breakdown — How to Make a List of All Props in a Script
So you have a great idea for a movie or TV show but don’t have the know-how to write it yourself. What do you do? Hire a screenwriter, of course! But how do you hire a screenwriter? Read on to see the five steps you must take to find a great screenwriter for your project… Continue reading How to Hire a Screenwriter — 5 Steps to Find the Perfect Writer
What is meal penalty? Well, meal penalty is something cast/crew are sometimes subject to – and it’s certainly something producers don’t want to incur. Meal penalty is the disincentive that keeps producers from overworking their employees – but it’s also something more than that. We’re going to break down meal penalties at the union, state,… Continue reading What is Meal Penalty — CA Lunch Penalty Law Explained
If you’re the kind of person who waits through the credits of movies (and if you are, thank you for acknowledging the crew), you’ve probably asked yourself, “What is a Key Grip”? Well, in this post we’re going to tell you exactly what the Key Grip on a film crew is. We’ll explain what they do,… Continue reading What is a Key Grip — Definition & Job Description Explained
One of the first (and most exciting) parts of starting your own film production company is creating your film production company name. This name is going to reflect your groundbreaking style, show off your professional and one-of-a-kind brand, and set the tone for the projects you’ll take on as your company takes off. It also… Continue reading Film Production Company Names — Creative Ideas & Examples
A film production agreement is an important legal document for writers, directors, producers, and financiers – but what is a film production agreement? We’re going to answer that question by defining the term and its associated contracts. We’re also going to explore some real world examples. By the end, you’ll know why film production agreements… Continue reading Film Production Agreement — A Primer on Film Prod. Contracts
Why are major Hollywood movies so expensive these days? It seems like everything costs at least $200 million to make. Surely, there has to be a happy medium between indies and blockbusters. As it turns out, while the average movie budget has exploded over the last few decades, it’s still a far cry from your… Continue reading Average Movie Budget — How Much Do Movies Cost to Make?
How do people make movies? Writers, actors, directors, surely play a part, but there’s something more important than a movie’s creators, and that thing is money. Movies need money; that’s an irrefutable fact. And it’s the sole goal of the financier(s) to get a positive return on their investment. We’re going to look at how… Continue reading Film Production Budget — Low to High Budget Films Explained
So you want to become a producer. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Producing and directing jobs are projected to grow 24% over the next decade, 16% faster than the median growth rate, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We’re going to give you some tips and tricks on how to become a… Continue reading How to Become a Producer — Career Tips to Start Producing
You may have heard Tom Cruise’s famous rant at some of the crew on his latest Mission: Impossible sequel. Cruise was upset that people weren’t respecting the rules the COVID-19 virus has dictated for film production. But just what are these rules anyway? In this post, we’ll talk about working in production during COVID. We’ll explain… Continue reading What is a COVID Compliance Officer — Set Protocols Explained
At one point or another, everybody in film production has asked the question “what is craft services?” Well, what is craft services? We’re going to answer that question by defining craft service. We’re also going to break down the difference between craft service and catering. By the end, you’ll know everything there is to know… Continue reading What is Craft Services on a Movie Set — Film Prod. Essentials
