Types of FocusOpen menu Shallow Focus Deep Focus Rack Focus Zoom Shots Dolly-Zoom (Zolly) Tilt-Shift More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now If you’re an aspiring cinematographer or director, you know that the camera is your primary storytelling tool. How you move the camera or how… Continue reading What is a Zoom Shot and When You Should Use One
A Close-up shot is one of the most commonly used shot sizes in film and television, but there are ways to make your close-ups extraordinary. It may be when you decide to use them in your story, or how you angle your camera to get an added emotional effect, or by surrounding them with varying… Continue reading Close-Up Shots: Examples of Camera Movement & Angles
Taking a great portrait isn’t about having a quality camera and attractive subject. It’s not even about wardrobe or location. If you mess up the lighting in your portraits, post production won’t always be able to save you. How can you nail it each time? Whether you’re taking school pictures or are shooting athletes for… Continue reading Portrait Lighting Setup Guide — 8 Ways to Shoot Great Portraits
While many films include archetypal supporting characters, these molds are a little worn out. The audience is getting smarter and more curious. They crave more than the all-too-familiar “mentor” or “sidekick” as a way to convey information or to push the protagonist forward. Watching to see what a supporting character is capable of by themselves… Continue reading What is a Supporting Character — And Why They Matter
Any great director has fans and detractors, lovers and haters. But few filmmakers inspire division as extreme as comic book, movie maestro, Zack Snyder. Frivolous hack, or pop art genius? Stylist without substance, or masterful cinematic storyteller? Even Snyder’s critics admit that what he does well, he does better than anyone. Snyder’s kinetic action sequences can… Continue reading Zack Snyder’s Directing Style and Visual Style Breakdown
As a writer, stream of consciousness may be fun to write but unenjoyable to read. Or for you, the reverse may be true. When talking about screenwriting, stream of consciousness may not be a method frequently used on the page but can be used and benefited from in the pre-writing process or even with visual… Continue reading What is Stream of Consciousness Writing — Methods & Tips
Production hiring site Staff Me Up is one of the best tools in the industry for anyone looking to find work, and for producers looking for crew. Staff Me Up can be used to find jobs in cinematography, casting, producing, editing, PA work, you name it. You can search by city, state, department, or specific… Continue reading Staff Me Up — Tips on How to Land Film Production Jobs
Whether you’re a photographer, a video game designer, a filmmaker, or work with VR, thoroughly understanding field of view or (FOV) is your foundation for success. It’s basic optics, and while you likely can assume what it is, let’s quickly go over it and see its importance in photography and the gaming world. So, what… Continue reading What is FOV — The Importance of Field of View in Photography
Directorial DepartmentOpen menu What Does an Assistant Director Do What Does a 2nd Assistant Director Do What is a Casting Director What is a Second Unit Director What Does a Director Do Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Unlike painting or writing, which are often done in isolation, making a film requires a team effort.… Continue reading What Does an Assistant Director Do? Defining the 1st AD
Types of Camera AnglesOpen menu Low Angle Shot Eye Level Shot High Angle Shots Dutch Angle Shot Overhead Shot Aerial Shot Camera Angle Guide Explore More ShotsOpen menu All Camera Shots Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List The way you frame your actors or subjects conveys a message to the audience. Send the… Continue reading High Angle Shot — Camera Angle Explained & Iconic Examples
Directorial DepartmentOpen menu What Does an Assistant Director Do What Does a 2nd Assistant Director Do What is a Casting Director What is a Second Unit Director What Does a Director Do Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Knowing precisely what a director does in every stage of a production’s life cycle is vital to… Continue reading What Does a Director Do? The Film Director’s Job Description
Screenwriting JobsOpen menu Screenwriting Jobs Writers Assistant Jobs Screenwriting ResourcesOpen menu Screenwriting Internships Screenwriting Classes Online Screenwriting Websites Screenwriting Programs Screenwriting Fellowships Screenwriting Books StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free T here are so many screenwriting books out there that claim to be the best, so how do you know which ones to buy?… Continue reading 15 Best Screenwriting Books to Help You Break Into Hollywood
How to Format a ScreenplayOpen menu Formatting a Screenplay Screenplay Font Margins Scene Headings Sluglines Action / Description Action Breaks Character Cues Dialogue Transitions Chyrons Flashbacks TV Script Format 101 Pre-Lap How to Use O.S. in a Script How to Use CONT’D in a Script FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for… Continue reading How to Put Your Story Into Screenplay Format
How to Format a ScreenplayOpen menu Formatting a Screenplay Screenplay Font Margins Scene Headings Sluglines Action / Description Action Breaks Character Cues Dialogue Transitions Chyrons Flashbacks TV Script Format 101 Pre-Lap How to Use O.S. in a Script How to Use CONT’D in a Script FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for… Continue reading How to Write a Flashback in a Script — Techniques & Format
I think we all can agree, screenwriting contests can be useful tools for both new writers and those with experience under their belts. They’re excellent ways to get noticed, but some of the contests out there can’t take you as far as some others. So what are the best screenwriting contests to enter? Continue reading 13… Continue reading 13 Best Screenwriting Contests You Need to Enter Now
Films based on book adaptations earn a stunning 53% more at the worldwide box office. But just how does a story go from Barnes & Noble shelves to international silver screens? In this article, we’ll break down the murky middle and take you through the creative process of how to write an adaptation. We’ll put… Continue reading How to Write an Adaptation — Script Development Explained
The goal of cinematic storytelling has always been empathy; to move the viewer as close as possible to the story. First, we used moving pictures, then color and sound, 3D, IMAX, CGI, and animation. Now filmmakers are looking towards virtual reality as a way to further immerse an audience. With this technology, the viewer moves… Continue reading What is VR Film — The Future of VR Movies Explained