Screenplays, as well as script treatments, are well known as the foundation for any movie. People in the industry also know that there are so many screenplays out in the wild that have not been produced. But what about those that are chosen for production? Well, they evolve to become shooting scripts. What is a shooting script, you ask? If you’ve been on the internet researching scripts for famous movies, it’s possible you have already seen one.There is a fine line that exists between what is a regular screenplay and what is a shooting script. We’re going to make sure…
Scene transitions, sudden sounds, quick cuts, off-screen voices, and narrative flow are just among the many terms associated with the “invisible art” known as film editing. Originally seen as a technical tool in the movie making process, film editing quickly evolved to become one of the most important creative aspects of filmmaking. But as its affectionate nickname implies, not everyone knows much about film editing or how it works. So what is film editing, what does a film editor do, where did it come from, and why is it so important?Continue reading What is Film Editing — Editing Principles &…
For centuries, narrative works were strongly positioned to be one of two things: a comedy or a tragedy. Even these days, the two genres of drama and comedy are usually the most prominent or easiest to ascertain. Even if one has minor elements of the other, they can still exist as separate entities. Unless, of course, you’re talking about a dramedy. What is a dramedy, you ask? While it can be simplified as being a mixture of drama and comedy, we want to go in-depth with characteristics and examples. We want you to know what to look out for when…
Since the mid-’80s, few films have entered the pop cultural landscape and stayed there like Ghostbusters. A strong comedic cast, talented director, and a memorable theme song catapulted the movie to the history books. And to paraphrase Peter Venkman, the franchise rights alone made them rich beyond their wildest dreams. But it all had to come from somewhere, which is why we will be looking at the Ghostbusters script. We’ll be going over who wrote Ghostbusters and see how the script, while a little different from the final film, provided the basis for memorable quotes, characters, and themes.Continue reading Ghostbusters…
You’re probably very familiar with stop-motion animation, which is distinct for having three-dimensional objects move on their own, usually in a jerky fashion. Well, clay models aren’t the only ones that get to have their picture taken a trillion times to look like they’re moving — human beings can get in on the fun too! But it’s not called stop-motion in this case; it’s called pixilation. What is pixilation, you ask, and why is it spelled with an “i” instead of an “e”? Let’s answer those questions by learning a bit more about this filming technique, along with some examples.Continue…
Before The Sopranos, television looked a bit different than it is today. Premiering in 1999 on HBO, the show was a major hit and phenomenon for a variety of reasons. While it looked like a regular mafia show on the surface, The Sopranos dug deep, looking at its characters as regular human beings, which we could all relate to. It did it through memorable dialogue, exciting action, and profound themes, which can all be seen in some form in The Sopranos pilot script.Continue reading The Sopranos Pilot Script PDF Download and Analysis
When it comes to making videos for YouTube, there are all types of camera options at your disposal. The best camera for YouTube videos could be something mainly used for outdoor recording or indoor vlogging — or both. And like all things, prices range, which can make the hunt for the best camera for YouTube videos trickier than it should. That’s why we’ve compiled this list, which goes from least expensive to most, to help you find the right video camera for YouTube for the right price.Continue reading Best Camera for YouTube Videos — Prices, Specs & Top Picks
When shooting a motion picture on physical celluloid, there are different types you can choose from. Each type will be a certain width, which contributes to its quality, size, grain count, and more. When identifying the different types of celluloid used in filmmaking, we refer to these strips by their film gauge, which is often, but not always, recognized by how many perforations it has. But what is film gauge, why does it matter, how else can it be identified, and which one should you choose? Continue reading What is Film Gauge — 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, 65/70mm Explained
While watching a movie, have you ever noticed certain logos or acronyms in the credits? Sure, there’s plenty of those from companies and such, but some of them are also from societies, guilds, and unions. There’s also a good chance, if you have dabbled in some area of serious movie making, you have learned about a movie union. But what is a movie union, where did they come from, and what do they do?Continue reading Movie Unions — A Complete Guide to Film Unions & Guilds
We do not always place a lot of emphasis or importance on sound, even though its impact on motion pictures is huge. Movies didn’t start with sound, but now they’re part of the package that comes with filmmaking. And while sound in movies has been around since the late 1920s, it would be Dolby Stereo in the 1970s that led a revolution. The name Dolby is no doubt familiar to you, but what is Dolby Stereo, and how did it impact filmmaking and movie watching?Continue reading What is Dolby Stereo — History of Game-Changing Sound in Film
