Have you heard the term “principal photography” or “principal shooting” bandied about without knowing exactly what it means? Breaking into the behind the scenes world of filmmaking requires learning an entire set of specialized terminology. In this post, we’ll answer the questions: what is principal photography? How long does it take to shoot a movie? We’ll also be taking a look at the different production steps in filmmaking, covering the differences between the 3 stages of filmmaking and the 5 stages of film production, and what to do if your own principal shooting goes over schedule. Continue reading What is…
Though best known for producing many of the best television shows of all time, HBO is also home to many excellent films. HBO caught on quick that streaming was the way of the future, and got into the only media game early. We’ll be taking a look at what movies are on HBO right now. HBO-Go is home to not just every great HBO original series, but also hundreds of films ranging from all-time classics to new releases. Joining us in counting down the top 50 HBO movies available right now.Continue reading Best Movies on HBO Right Now — Filmmaker…
One of the most, if not the most, iconic and influential directing duos of all time, the Coen Brothers have secured a place in the zeitgeist and in the annals of film history. From Blood Simple to The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the Coen Brothers’ filmography has been both eclectic and distinctive. In this post, we’ll be providing a Coen Brothers bio, taking a look at how they got their start, and exploring the Coen Brothers’ film style as a whole. Join us as we answer the question: who are the Coen Brothers?Continue reading Who Are the Coen Brothers —…
If you are at all interested in filmmaking, then you have undoubtedly heard the term ‘green screen’ but have you heard of ‘blue screens’? There are a number of blue screen vs green screen differences and we’ll break all of them down in this post.Blue screen backgrounds may find slightly less use than green screens but both are widely used in the industry. If you don’t know how blue or green screen technology works, what the difference between blue and green screens is, or why to use blue or green screen backgrounds, then you’ve come to the right place.Continue reading…
The best action movie actors have a magnetic combination of physical ability, “coolness,” and charisma to spare. Hollywood’s obsession with muscle-bound action stars may have lessened since the gun-toting days of the '80s and '90s but compelling, talented central figures remain a staple of action cinema the world over. Join us in counting down the 20 all-time best action stars from around the world.Continue reading 20 Best Action Movie Actors of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers
It is impossible to overstate how important a role audio plays in the film viewing experience. While it’s perfectly natural to be drawn to the visual side of filmmaking, those striking visuals don’t hold the same weight without strong cinematic sound design to back them up. Whereas a painting is purely visual and a song can be purely aural, cinema combines sight and sound for a unified experience where one bolsters and elevates the other. Read on to learn about the role of the sound designer and other sound design jobs, the fundamentals of sound design, and to check out some…
Audio is 50% of the film experience, yet many beginning filmmakers don’t place nearly as much focus on audio as they do on the visual side of things. Don’t leave audio as an afterthought. The lavalier is one family of microphones that you may want to consider adding to your filmmaking arsenal. What is a lavalier microphone and how do they work? Let's get into it.Continue reading What is a Lavalier Microphone and How Do They Work?
Blaxploitation films comprise one of the many sub-genres that fall under the “Grindhouse” umbrella — exploitation films made throughout the late '60s and '70s. The term “blaxploitation film” itself is a portmanteau of the words “black” and “exploitation.” Black exploitation films were arguably the most important sub-genre to come out of the entire Grindhouse film movement. The films of the black exploitation movie era hold a special place in history. Join us in celebrating the best blaxploitation films ever made. Continue reading The Best Blaxploitation Movies That Defined The Genre
With such a wealth of new movies to rent on Amazon Prime it can be hard to keep track of and parse new movies as they are added to the platform. Here we cover the best new movies on Amazon Prime in May 2020. You can also read our list of the best overall films available on Amazon Prime right now. All movies will be available as of July 1st unless otherwise noted. Now let’s take a look at what’s new on Amazon Prime video. Continue reading Best New Movies on Amazon Prime (July 2020)
With such a wealth of new movies to rent on Amazon Prime it can be hard to keep track of and parse new movies as they are added to the platform. Here we cover the best new movies on Amazon Prime in May 2020. You can also read our list of the best overall films available on Amazon Prime right now. All movies will be available as of May 1st unless otherwise noted. Now let’s take a look at what’s new on Amazon Prime video.Continue reading Best New Movies on Amazon Prime (June 2020)