Alyssa Maio

Alyssa Maio is a screenwriter from New Jersey, now living in Los Angeles. She works as a copywriter here at StudioBinder.

Best Cheap 4K Camera — 5 Great Options Under $1,000

To find an easy-to-use professional-level camera isn’t too difficult in today’s market. There might be lots to pick from but at least you have options. But if you’re on the beginner/enthusiast side, even getting closer to professional-level, and on a budget, it’s not always easy. Finding that sweet spot between inexpensive and well, good enough,… Continue reading Best Cheap 4K Camera — 5 Great Options Under $1,000

Alyssa Maio

What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It

Knowing how to properly expose your shots is an obvious first step for becoming a photographer or cinematographer. We’ll lay out examples and visuals to answer what is overexposure in photography. But we’ll also take a look at why overexposing photos with intention sometimes works (sometimes doesn’t) and the ways in which you can break… Continue reading What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It

Alyssa Maio

What is an Anamorphic Lens? How to Get that Cinematic Look

During the 1950s, a new kind of media had taken hold — television. Americans were eager to stay home, captivated by their new TV sets. Hollywood had to find new ways to re-capture the audience’s attention and imagination. And they did just that. With a new anamorphic lens system, they were able to literally change… Continue reading What is an Anamorphic Lens? How to Get that Cinematic Look

Alyssa Maio

Best Wes Anderson Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked

The aesthetic of Wes Anderson can be seen from miles away. His directing style is delicate but deliberate, and his eye for color and set design is undeniable. Quirky character after quirky character, they all remain strangely original. Each costume seems to be tailored to their personalities, and the extraordinary little performances we experience in… Continue reading Best Wes Anderson Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked

Alyssa Maio

Rotten Tomatoes Ratings — How Does Rotten Tomatoes Work?

The Rotten Tomatoes ratings system―good or bad? Well, I’d say it’s a bit better than the original way tomatoes were used to judge entertainment. Because even if we want to throw fruit at the screen, 21st century technology reminds us we don’t have to. Rotten Tomatoes will provide us with a fair Critic consensus before… Continue reading Rotten Tomatoes Ratings — How Does Rotten Tomatoes Work?

Alyssa Maio

What is VFX? Defining the Term and Creating Impossible Worlds

Thanks to movies and television, we’ve all experienced fantastical worlds that could never exist on our Earthly plane. Even if we don’t typically enjoy the fantasy genre, we’ve definitely seen these effects in action — whether in cinema, commercials or even video games. This post explores how to create these worlds using visual effects. So… Continue reading What is VFX? Defining the Term and Creating Impossible Worlds

Alyssa Maio

Best Soft Box Lights of 2021 — The Ultimate Buying Guide

If you’re just starting out or simply looking to expand your filmmaking toolkit, soft box lights are a must. Knowing how to diffuse and soften your light is just as important as knowing how to light the shot itself. So whether you’re a hobbyist or beginner-enthusiast ready to get your first studio kit, it’s good… Continue reading Best Soft Box Lights of 2021 — The Ultimate Buying Guide

Alyssa Maio

Soft Focus Photography & How to Master that Soft Focus Look

While we may be familiar with soft focus shots as images with intentional blur or glamour shots in portraits, understanding this effect in such a limiting way…well, limits us! The shots that are possible when you master soft focus are endless, and they can be done whether you have high-tech equipment, or not. So what… Continue reading Soft Focus Photography & How to Master that Soft Focus Look

Alyssa Maio

Best Podcast Recording Software — Mac, PC, Paid & Free

Today, there are thousands of podcasts available to stream on every topic imaginable, and so it’s no real surprise that the market caught up quickly.  Now, with just some simple software, anyone can start a podcast. But how do you know which software to choose? Just like podcasts: there are a ton. Most of the… Continue reading Best Podcast Recording Software — Mac, PC, Paid & Free

Alyssa Maio

What is Shutter Speed and Its Role in the Exposure Triangle?

Exposure Triangle Aperture ISO Shutter Speed Frame Rate Shot List Creator We all know the sound that a camera makes. That satisfying click when we press the button and create our photograph. What we’re hearing is the camera’s shutter. That sound is the shutter moving up and down. It moves the same way every time… Continue reading What is Shutter Speed and Its Role in the Exposure Triangle?

Alyssa Maio

17 Best 360 Cameras — The Ultimate Buying Guide (2021)

BIf you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your gear collection to a 360 camera, it’s good to know a bit about what’s out there. The majority of these omnidirectional cameras are video, but it’s noted when they’re solely for photography. This is a buying guide to the best 360 cameras on the market today. Continue… Continue reading 17 Best 360 Cameras — The Ultimate Buying Guide (2021)

Alyssa Maio

What is a Leko Light and How to Use It — Lighting Techniques

Gaffers and Cinematographers know the benefits of the Leko light. Once solely used for lighting up auditoriums and concert venues, these lights can now level up your scenes without spending more than a couple hundred dollars. For those unfamiliar, let’s go deeper. What is a Leko light and how can you use it on set?Continue… Continue reading What is a Leko Light and How to Use It — Lighting Techniques

Alyssa Maio

Best Sound Editing — 10 Oscar-Winning Movies Ranked (2021)

Sound editing is a fundamental building block that adds another layer of intrigue and awe in any film especially your favorite ones. From foley artists recording in a studio, to gathering sounds in the woods (more on this soon), sound editing requires a level of exactness and imagination unrivaled by most artists. Sound is just… Continue reading Best Sound Editing — 10 Oscar-Winning Movies Ranked (2021)

Alyssa Maio

Best Sound Mixing — 20 Oscar-Winning Movies Ranked (2021)

For many viewers, Best Sound Mixing is often overlooked by all of the other categories at the Oscars. But it is a highly technical craft that is also incredibly creative. Mixing is the process of matching audio levels of every single sound in order to make the film sound seamless, realistic, and sharp. Sound mixers… Continue reading Best Sound Mixing — 20 Oscar-Winning Movies Ranked (2021)

Alyssa Maio