Our physical experience of life is chronological. Yet our internal experience of life may not be. We reminisce on the past and anticipate the future. This uniquely human experience is portrayed on the big screen through non-linear storytelling. What is a non-linear plot used for? Non-linear plots allow filmmakers to rearrange time in an order… Continue reading What is a Non-Linear Plot — How to Write Stories Out of Order
There are certain compositional techniques that make a shot visually beautiful. There are other compositional techniques that are effective at visually telling a story. The frame within a frame does both. And any compositional technique that can tell a better story while simultaneously creating a more cinematic shot is worth learning about. What is a… Continue reading What is a Frame Within a Frame — Composition Techniques
There is something incredibly satisfying about symmetrical balance in art. While you may not be able to define it (yet), most people know it when they see it. From architecture to paintings to photography to cinema, symmetrical balance is a tool used by artists of all mediums. Why is the technique used, beloved, and sometimes… Continue reading What is Symmetrical Balance in Art — Composition Techniques
Toy Story is recognized as one of the more revolutionary films that introduced CGI to the world of animation. However, in order for any of that brilliant animation to gain traction or make a difference, it had to be grounded in a brilliant story. Thanks to John Lasseter, Pete Docter, and the early team at… Continue reading Toy Story Script PDF Download — Plot & Themes Explained
You probably have heard of the terms ethos, pathos, and logos before. You may even understand what each is. However, you may not know them as rhetorical appeals. What are rhetorical appeals and how is each one a cornerstone of rhetoric? In this article, we’ll take a look at the components of the rhetorical appeals, how… Continue reading What are Rhetorical Appeals — The Art of Persuasion Explained
Have you ever seen a photograph or a shot in a film and found your eyes wandering across the frame only to land at something significant? Odds are, leading lines were used to direct your attention. Photographers and cinematographers alike use various types of lines to lead the viewer’s eyes and tell a story through… Continue reading What Are Leading Lines — Composition in Photography & Film
Staying organized is one of the most essential components to a smoothly run production. This means having the most important details of your production stored in an easily accessible and organized form. When it comes to cast lists and talent, there can be plenty of important details to make note of from person to person.… Continue reading Cast List Template — FREE PDF Download & Guide
One of the great things about cinema is its ability to transport audiences to far and remote places. These places are often a character themselves within the story of a film. Finding these locations is an incredibly important component of filmmaking that is put on the shoulders of a location scout. What is a location… Continue reading What is a Location Scout — Duties & Job Description Explained
It is easy to look back at the release of James Cameron’s Titanic and see that all things led to it being a record-breaking cultural phenomenon. The film’s massive budget, insane on-set stories, and unprecedented scale gained mainstream buzz before the film was even released. The result was a film that impacted culture and cinema for… Continue reading The Making of Titanic — On the Set of James Cameron’s Epic
Whether you are editing YouTube videos, a science fiction film, or a commercial, a glitch effect can add a whole lot of production value to your project. Learning how to create a glitch effect from scratch in Premiere Pro will also help you learn how to get creative with duplicating frames and adjusting their qualities… Continue reading How to Make Glitch Effect Premiere Pro — A Quick & Easy Guide
There are many responsibilities that fall onto the shoulders of a director. One of the most important responsibilities they have is to direct the actors of a film. How do great directors bring out great performances from an actor? What is the relationship between director and actor? How should a director communicate with an actor?… Continue reading How to Direct Actors for Film — 12 Tips & Techniques Explained
It is common practice to create a shot list when preparing to shoot a narrative film. What about documentaries? Documentaries are a whole different type of project than narrative film. This does not, however, mean that they would not benefit from shot lists. It just means that documentary shot lists must be created to best… Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Shot List — Step-by-Step Guide
In the era of the digital camera, there are numerous settings and adjustments that can be made on a camera. Keeping these details organized and recorded is important for many reasons. Camera reports have changed substantially over the last few years so it’s time to get an updated version. In this article, we’ll give you… Continue reading Camera Report Template — Free Downloads and Guide
Have you ever watched a movie with a plot twist that blew your mind and then watched that movie again and noticed signs leading to the twist? You’re not alone. So, what is foreshadowing? Is it just simply dropping clues or is it something more? Implementing foreshadowing techniques into your story can create anticipation that… Continue reading What is Foreshadowing — Definition, Examples in Film and Lit.
What is a StoryboardHow to StoryboardStoryboard ExamplesStoryboard SoftwareStoryboard TemplatesCreate Storyboard → Shooting documentaries can be incredibly spontaneous. However, this does not mean that they do not require preparation to shoot. Creating a storyboard for a documentary is a great idea for various reasons. The process of storyboarding can help you curate the visual tone, style,… Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Storyboard — Free Template