There are certain compositional techniques that make a shot visually beautiful. There are other compositional techniques that are effective at visually telling a story. The frame within a frame does both. And any compositional technique that can tell a better story while simultaneously creating a more cinematic shot is worth learning about. What is a frame within a frame in film and photography? You may be familiar with the term, but in this article we’ll dive a bit deeper. Let’s take a look at the different effects this technique has on an audience and the different ways to create one. Continue reading…
There is something incredibly satisfying about symmetrical balance in art. While you may not be able to define it (yet), most people know it when they see it. From architecture to paintings to photography to cinema, symmetrical balance is a tool used by artists of all mediums. Why is the technique used, beloved, and sometimes avoided by artists? What is symmetrical balance in art and composition? Let’s find out.Continue reading What is Symmetrical Balance in Art — Composition Techniques
Most people understand the term “positive space” simply as the subject of a work of art. While this is true, there is much more to this concept than that. What is positive space in composition and what is it used for? The presence of positive space may be a given, but how it is used and created is what impacts artistic work. Let’s take a look at a few characteristics of positive space in artistic compositions and its impact it has on viewers. Continue reading What is Positive Space in Art & Film — Composition Techniques
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 responsibilities of a Special Effects Supervisor and what skills a successful supervisor should possess. Continue reading What is a Special Effects Supervisor — Job Description & Role Explained
Toy Story is recognized as one of the more revolutionary films that introduced CGI to the world of animation. However, in order for any of that brilliant animation to gain traction or make a difference, it had to be grounded in a brilliant story. Thanks to John Lasseter, Pete Docter, and the early team at Pixar, it was. In fact, the Toy Story script became the first animated film in cinema history to be nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award. So what makes the Toy Story script so brilliant? In this article, we’ll dive into how the Toy Story…
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 an image. What are leading lines and how can you use them? Let’s take a look at how this technique can benefit a shot’s aesthetic and function and how you can use them in your own compositions. Continue reading What Are Leading Lines — Composition in…
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. In this article, we have two different options for you to organize your talent details and information into an organized cast list.Continue reading Cast List Template — FREE PDF Download & Guide
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 scout and why are they critical in the pre-production process of filmmaking? It may be obvious that they find the locations of a film, but they are also responsible for much more. In this article, we’ll analyze the various duties of a location scout as…
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 to create various effects. In this article, you’ll learn how to create glitch effect in Premiere Pro step by step. Continue reading How to Make Glitch Effect Premiere Pro — A Quick & Easy Guide
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, stories, and even format, features share similar characteristics.Continue reading What is a Feature Film — Definition & Qualifications Explained
