What is a C-stand? Anyone who has been on a professional film set is sure to be familiar with C-stands and their various permutations, but to the general public and plenty of no-to-low budget filmmakers, the C-stand remains a piece of equipment that often goes undefined. No longer will this ubiquitous piece of gear remain shrouded in mystery. In this post, we’ll break down what they are, what they're used for and explain their components. Continue reading What is a C-Stand — Types, Functions & Proper Usage Explained
One of the most common tools on both high and low-budget film sets is the trusty green screen. You set up your green screen and shoot your footage using it, but now what? How do you remove the green background and replace it with something else? The answer is to use software with chroma-key functionality, and we have rounded up all of the best software options for you to choose from. But, before we get into the specific software selections, let’s have a quick refresher or introduction on how green screens work. Continue reading Best Green Screen Software for Film &…
What is suprematism in art? Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with supremacism. The suprematist art style is an important one with a storied history that requires a great deal of context to fully appreciate. We’ll get started with an overview definition before drilling down into the history of the movement, then we’ll wrap things up by looking at some of the most notable examples of suprematist art.Continue reading What is Suprematism — Art Movement Characteristics
What is kinetic art? Unlike with other artistic styles, kinetic art as a term has less to do with how a piece of art is made and more to do with how it is presented when finished and how it is experienced. In this post, we’ll provide a definition, break down the various types of kinetic art, and take a look at some noteworthy examples. Let’s get started with a definition.Continue reading What is Kinetic Art — Movement, Artists, and History Explained
What is social commentary? You may have heard the term thrown around in video essays or seen it pop up in book, music, or film analysis without knowing precisely what it means. In this post, we will be defining social commentary, examining the different ways it can manifest in cinema, and taking a look at a few great examples of films that nail social commentary. Continue reading What is Social Commentary — Definition, Examples & Meaning
If you are new to the world of filmmaking, it is possible to be overwhelmed by the wave of production terminology and industry lingo that you are expected to know. One such term is the Abby Singer shot. You may hear the phrase called out by the 1st AD or another production member, and today, we’re going to break down what it means, why it’s called the Abby Singer shot, and why it matters.Continue reading What is an Abby Singer Shot — Definition and History Explained
What is Primitivism? The answer is complex and requires some historical and cultural context to fully understand. Primitivism bridges the gap between art and philosophy and has a tumultuous history. We’ll get started with an overview definition, then dig into the roots of the artistic style and the group of artists who pioneered it in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of Primitivism.Continue reading What is Primitivism — Movement, Style & Artists Explained
What is the MPAA? You may or may not have heard the acronym before, but you have definitely seen and felt the influence of this organization if you have been to the movies in the past 99 years. The acronym was recently shortened to the MPA, but most people will be more familiar with their previous title as the MPAA. This long-standing organization has a complex history and has been a powerful force in the film industry for better and worse. In this post, we’ll be unraveling the entire complicated history of the MPAA, but first, let’s get started by…
Have you ever wondered why movies are rated the way that they are? The rating a film receives can have a significant impact on its audience size and, by the same token, on its box office revenue. But, what do all of the various letter ratings really mean? We will be explaining each of the current movie ratings as well as all of the former ratings that are no longer used. Let’s tackle each rating in escalating order of severity, but first, a bit of background on the rating process.Continue reading Movie Ratings Explained — Origins & How They’ve Changed
What is world-building? And, more importantly, why does it matter? World-building is an integral element of storytelling that often goes overlooked and underappreciated. Good world-building might be felt rather than explicitly noticed, and a lack of world-building can leave a book, film, or video game feeling shallow. We’ll get started with a world-building definition, then explore when and why world-building is so important, and we’ll close things out by taking a look at some great world-building examples. Continue reading What is World Building — Definition, Examples & Techniques
