There are many elements that go into creating the optimal lighting setup for a shot. The positioning of lights, the type of lights you use, and the quality of light you create. One of the best tools cinematographers have to adjust the quality of a light is bounce light. Bounce light is used from DIY short… Continue reading What is Bounce Light in Photography — Tips and Techniques
Phone calls can be an essential component to a film’s narrative and the driving force behind a scene. They can be an opportunity for suspense, humor, and conflict. It is important to understand how to write a telephone conversation in a screenplay in the common case that your story calls for one (no pun intended).… Continue reading How to Write a Telephone Conversation in a Screenplay
Softboxes are the workhorse of any photography studio. In fact, it would be difficult to find any professional photographer who does not own one. What is a softbox and why are they so crucial for photographers? In this article, we’ll cover the essentials for this type of light and dive into when they should be… Continue reading What is a Softbox Used For in Photography & Lighting Tips
Among all of the different practices of photography that exist, which provides the most creative freedom? Which practice gives photographers freedom to explore any story or concept that they envision? The answer, most would argue, is editorial photography. Editorial photography is nor restrained by brand image like commercial photography. Nor does it depend on the unpredictable… Continue reading What is Editorial Photography & How to Take Editorial Images
What are some of the most iconic sounds in cinema history? Sure two lightsabers clashing or even the suspenseful score of Jaws make that list. However, one sound effect has been used throughout movies of all genres for over fifty years. It is none other than the iconic Wilhelm Scream. You may have heard it… Continue reading What is the Wilhelm Scream? Origins and Iconic Examples
The best films are ones that create immersive and believable worlds. Worlds that make you forget that you are watching a film, and make you feel like you are participating. There are many filmmaking techniques that aim to elicit this feeling in audiences. When it comes to cinematography and lighting, motivated lighting is perhaps the… Continue reading What is Motivated Lighting in Film — Building a World with Light
Satire is a term that is often misunderstood and for good reason. With the advent of the internet, social media, and memes, it has become the main vehicle for writers and creatives to deliver their social and political commentary. But what is satire and what exactly defines something as satirical? To understand this, we’ll dive… Continue reading What is Satire — 3 Types of Satire Every Writer Should Know
Eyelines in film help you tell a professional visual story better than most directing techniques and film gear ever will. The very basics of crafting an effective scene begins with the eyeline match. This is a filmmaking technique that, when done correctly, should go completely unnoticed. Nonetheless, it is an incredibly important technique that all… Continue reading What is an Eyeline Match? Definition & Examples for Filmmakers
Light is the heart and soul of capturing a beautiful image. How we manipulate light and expose for it is partly artistic and partly technical. The latter utilizes specific techniques to accurately capture the image we envision. The term foot candle may raise a few questions. What is a foot candle exactly? What is the… Continue reading What is a Foot Candle — How To Measure Light On Set
With new streaming platforms emerging every year and binge watching becoming an art form, the television industry needs more writers than ever. Unfortunately, there is also more competition than ever. Breaking into the TV industry can be tough, but here are the fundamentals you need to know about becoming a television show writer as well… Continue reading Writing for Television — Format, Genre and Structure
In the era of the digital format, many filmmakers utilize aspect ratio to help tell their story. Screening irregular aspect ratios onto traditional 16:9 screens both in theatres and on TVs requires letterboxing or pillarboxing. Creating your own letterboxes can be incredibly tedious. Luckily, there are free resources that make cinematic bars and letterbox templates… Continue reading Cinematic Bars — How to Add Black Bars to Video [Downloads]
While cinematography has the unique ability to visually draw an audience’s eye to something specific, screenwriters also have a unique tool to draw a reader’s attention to a specific scene element within a screenplay. The slug line is one of the best tools a screenwriter has for drawing attention and incorporating visual elements into a… Continue reading What is a Slug Line? Scene Heading Screenplay Formatting
Animation has undoubtedly opened countless doors in the stories filmmakers are able to tell. It has allowed worlds, characters, and adventures to seep out of the imagination of artists and onto the big screen. Many are drawn to the world of animation because of its limitless possibilities. If you are one of the many, at one… Continue reading Best Animation Software — 2D, 3D, Paid, and Free Options
What does contrast do to a photo? Why is it so alluring when we see it? There’s no doubt that contrast adds a certain characteristic that can elevate a photo. Great contrast photography starts with how you shoot the photograph. Adjusting your contrast in editing should only be a sweetener for the contrast that you’ve… Continue reading Contrast Photography — How to Master High Contrast Images
After Effects is an incredibly powerful and useful program. However, learning how to initially use it can be daunting. One fundamental technique used for both simple and complex animations is moving the anchor point. It may seem easy to do, but you might have found that simply clicking and dragging didn’t quite do the trick.… Continue reading How to Move the Anchor Point in After Effects (Tutorial)
Have you ever been in a photo gallery and immediately drawn to a specific photograph? If so, what was it about this photograph that grabbed your attention? This is the question at the heart of aesthetic photography. What defines an aesthetic photograph? In this article, we’ll take a look at the highly ambiguous and often vague… Continue reading Aesthetic Photography — Composition, Lighting, and Color
Is in undeniable that After Effects is an incredibly powerful tool. It is also undeniable that After Effects can be incredibly overwhelming and complex to use, especially for new users. This is where plugins come into play. Plugins give creators and artists to share the software they create with other After Effects users to both… Continue reading Best After Effects Plugins — The Ultimate Guide to AE Plugins
One of the most overlooked aspects of filmmaking for beginner filmmakers is sound design. Screenwriting, cinematography, direction, and editing are all essential to a great film. But proper sound design is what can take any project to the next level. That being said, foley can be a lot of work. Sound effects can also be expensive.… Continue reading Free Sound Effects for Video Editing — Top Sites Ranked
Filmmakers have attempted to portray the end of the world through film since early cinema. Throughout the years, these attempts have proven to be futile for many. The list of forgettable apocalypse movies could fill a novel. But a few filmmakers have portrayed the end of the world in wildly entertaining and unique ways. So which… Continue reading Best End of the World Movies — 15 Visions of the End Times
Utilizing mediums like fog, haze, and smoke in a shot has various benefits. Visually, it can give your scene depth and imbue it with motion as the haze moves across the screen. Tonally, fog and haze can add a layer of mystery that is perfect for horror, thriller, and dramatic stories. But fog and haze… Continue reading Free Fog Overlay Templates — Downloads For Video & PNG
The Office has proved to be a show that ages like fine wine. Since the series finale in 2013, the mockumentary style sitcom has only grown in popularity and continues to be binge watched around the world. With so many new fans, The Office has provoked a new conversation among its cult following: what are the… Continue reading 25 Best Michael Scott Quotes from The Office, Ranked
Stock transitions have been used over and over again and has led to video editors avoiding transitions to avoid making a stale video. However, thanks to the power of the internet and generosity, some creators have put together some extremely unique, creative, and sometimes colorful transitions that can add some life to your edits. From… Continue reading Free Video Transitions — Premiere Pro, After Effects, and More