Matthew Vasiliauskas is a graduate of Columbia University. His work has appeared in publications such as Conjunctions, Berlin’s Sand Literary Journal, Chicago Literati and The Pennsylvania Review. Matthew currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
Stephen King said, “We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.” Although horror movies have been effective outlets for entertainment, they have also been the ideal genre to explore the social and cultural fears plaguing societies.Continue reading How To Master A Storyboard Like Jordan Peele: Get Out
Okay, is there anyone who doesn’t choke up when little Zuzu Bailey says, “Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings,” at the the end of It’s a Wonderful Life? The best Christmas movies vary in style and tone, but they tend to possess certain thematic elements such as forgiveness, charity and devotion. A film from the modern era that truly embodies these themes is Home Alone. In this post, we examine how Home Alone stands out amongst Christmas films due to its sound design, production design and cinematography.Continue reading Mastering the Christmas Movie: Home Alone
Director Ridley Scott has said: “Life isn’t black and white. It’s a million gray areas.” From Alien to Gladiator, Ridley Scott movies explore the often difficult questions surrounding morality and existence. Actions accepted in one reality, may be condemned in another. But what helps Ridley Scott films dissect these complex issues are their use of color theory.Continue reading How to Create A Movie Color Palette Like Ridley Scott [FREE LUT Pack]
Pablo Picasso once said, “Our goals can only be reached through the vehicle of a plan. There is no other route to success.” In the production world, every component depends on a clear, well-organized timeline. With the dawn of the online timeline creator, crew members can now easily structure and navigate the complex elements of a project.Continue reading How to Create an Online Film, Photo & Video Production Timeline [Free Template]
John Williams once said, “Composing music is hard work.” From Jaws to Harry Potter, the composer’s ability to both enchant and captivate has made his sound one of the most recognizable in Hollywood filmmaking.Continue reading Mastering the Film Score: John Williams
The phrase branded content has been tossed around in recent years with many people scratching their heads as to what it is.Branded content uses the elements of storytelling to integrate a company’s message into a marketing campaign.It seems simple, but this effective technique can reach your audience’s hearts in a way even the most well-crafted ad never could. Here’s everything you need to know about branded content -- including branded content examples and how to use it for your own brands!Continue reading How To Create a Successful Branded Content Campaign [with Branded Content Examples]
Filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has said, “Fear of the unknown is a great creative partner.”Throughout Inarritu's filmography the director has continually embraced the uncertainty of life’s moments; allowing his audiences to cry with joy and scream with fear.Here are four ways Inarritu's shooting style influences the emotions of his narratives. Continue reading Mastering the Shot List: Alejandro González Inarritu
Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky once said, “If during my work I find that a shot or a take might resemble what has already been done by another great director, I modify the scene to prevent that from happening.”Although the auteur only completed seven feature films, his singular cinematic style continues to inspire audiences.Here are some ways Andrei Tarkovsky movies employ effective shot design.Continue reading Mastering the Shot List: Andrei Tarkovsky
Best Nolan MoviesNolan's Directing StyleNolan Directing Tips Nolan's CirclesNolan's Shot List From The Dark Knight to Interstellar, Christopher Nolan movies take full advantage of the medium, creating realities that often operate by their own rules.Of course, story is at the foundation of these creations, but what helps to maintain the viewer’s attention are the shot list choices. Here are some of the ways his shooting style enhanced Christopher Nolan’s filmography.Continue reading Mastering the Shot List: Christopher Nolan
When we think of micro-budget filmmaking, we think of the film’s budget, distribution, or possibly marketing, as the most crucial element. The process, after all is one that mystifies and entraps legions of filmmakers. Furthermore, how to navigate the often-frustrating world of ultra low-budget filmmaking is something that escapes even those filmmakers in the midst of it. But, with over 20 years experience in the film industry, filmmaker Alex Ferrari knows the most essential aspect of the micro-budget filmmaking process is freedom. He has figured out that a lack of freedom can stifle a filmmaker’s project. Recently, we had the…
