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
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
LED photography lights — why use them? Well, for one thing, they’re cost effective, can be easily controlled, and they really don’t give off much heat. Depending on your shooting situation, they’re often a photographer and videographer’s first choice. But how do you know which one to choose? Whether you’re a pro in the studio… Continue reading LED Photography Lights — A 2021 Buying Guide
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
So you finally found a DSLR camera and now it’s time to start shooting video. Only one problem. How does the sound come out? …Not as good as you hoped? Most built-in camera microphones pick up minimal sound. So for professional grade audio to go along with your professional grade video footage, it might be… Continue reading 10 Best DSLR Microphones — Shotgun, Lav, and More
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
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?
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
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
90s movies may forever be my favorite movies. For whatever reason, whether comedy, drama, or horror, I feel this overwhelming sense of peace when one of my favorite 90s films is on. Is it just nostalgia or do they actually hold up? I suppose that’s always debatable. But there is a thin line between what… Continue reading Best 90s Movies of All Time — An Awesome 90s Movies List
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
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
Hulu has really stepped up its game in the television world. From sci comedies to heartbreaking dramas, to creepy Stephen King sagas, we’ve curated Hulu’s eclectic collection below. Here are some of the best shows on Hulu right now.Continue reading The Best Shows on Hulu Right Now (January 2021)
Hulu has really stepped up its game over the last few years, and with new competition like Disney+ and HBO Max, can you blame them? With so many streaming services, it’s hard to know where new releases go and old favorites live. But now the trouble is…how do you find anything? Well, we’ve got you… Continue reading The Best Movies on Hulu Right Now (Jan. 2021)
While you may not choose to write an entire script on an app, there are some script writing apps that are more reliable and user friendly than others. They’re also great for the person who doesn’t have a ton of time to write throughout the day. Perfect for those magical, albeit inconvenient moments when inspiration… Continue reading 20 Best Screenwriting Apps for iOS and Android (2021)
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?
T here are many ways to film the same scene. The director’s decisions depend on what experience they want the audience to have. Knowing what shot composition is and how to use it is vital to visual storytelling. Shot composition is more than arranging scene elements in a camera frame. It is an art that combines… Continue reading Rules of Shot Composition in Film: A Definitive Guide
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)
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
Indie filmmakers on YouTube hand out their expertise like candy. It’s cheaper than film school, and it’s awesome. But the amount of channels that exist can feel daunting.Continue reading The 45 Best Filmmaking YouTube Channels of 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)
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)
Hulu has really stepped up its game over the last few years, and with new competition like Disney+ and HBO Max, can you blame them? With so many streaming services, it’s hard to know where new releases go and old favorites live. But now the trouble is…how do you find anything? Well, we’ve got you… Continue reading The Best Movies on Hulu Right Now (Dec. 2020)