Golden hour is a term to describe a certain kind of light that is incredibly pleasing to the eye, and also looks incredibly cinematic. But what is it? And when is golden hour? We'll look at some examples from top Hollywood filmmakers as well as tips on how you can capture images in this incredible light.Continue reading When is Golden Hour? How to Capture the Perfect Light
Director Rian Johnson movies have a distinct visual and emotional style. Which is a pretty impressive feat given how young a filmmaker he is. Most directors take a few films before they solidify their style. Here’s how you can learn to create a shot list like acclaimed director Rian Johnson -- just remember that for the Last Jedi, the star wipes were someone else’s idea first!Continue reading Mastering Shot Lists: Rian Johnson’s Movies and Directing Style (with Shot List Example)
Whip pans, swish pans, whip shot — whatever you call them, they are a great tool for creating seamless cuts and cool effects in your videos, but understanding how to build an effective whip pan is equally important. Continue reading What is a Whip Pan or Swish Pan: How to Shoot Whip Pan Transitions
Even if you've seen only one movie in your entire life, it's likely that you've seen a number of long shots and extreme long shots.Filmmakers typically use these two shots to open or close a movie, or to invite audiences into a completely different world altogether. With that in mind, we're going to help you prep and plan establishing shots for your next project. First, let's break down the basics.Continue reading What’s an Extreme Long Shot (aka Extreme Wide Shot)?
TYPES OF LENSESLENS BASICSPRIMEZOOMWIDE ANGLETELEPHOTO Finding the right lens for your camera can vastly improve your images and overall production, but learning what you need to know about video and photo camera lenses can be expensive and time-consuming. Continue reading Camera Lens Mounts Explained: Types of Lens Mounts and Adapters
What do you get from a low angle shot? Does it make your character seem more powerful? Can it also signal vulnerability? Today, we cover the low angle shot, and how you can use it in your next film. Continue reading Low Angle Shot: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles
It’s been nearly two decades since the release of Sam Mendes’ gangster-epic Road to Perdition and we thought it would be a good idea to look back at what made it so great. Mendes may be more famous for working on films like American Beauty, Skyfall, and 1917, but his work as the director of Road to Perdition is certainly some of his best. We’re going to break down the best and worst aspects of the film from writing to cinematography, but first, let’s remind ourselves of the story. Continue reading Road to Perdition: Revisiting the Sam Mendes Classic
Cinéma vérité - literally “cinema of truth” - is a style of filmmaking you’ve probably seen more than you realize. You may even have studied it as part of your film education.As a technique, cinéma vérité has been a valuable tool for independent filmmakers for decades, not only for recording events as they happened, but also for telling intimate, character-driven narratives.In this post we’re going to talk about what cinéma vérité is and show you some modern examples of it. We’ll also show you how you can use the vérité style in your own storytelling. Continue reading Cinéma Vérité —…
Jay Roach has filmed some of the greatest comedies of all time with his work on the Austin Powers trilogy and Meet the Fockers. In recent years, he’s turned his attention to more politically-oriented stories like Trumbo and the upcoming Bombshell. As part of our ongoing partnership with Sundance Co//ab, Jay Roach recently sat down with us to discuss how he created a claustrophobic, tense elevator scene for Bombshell.Watch: In the Frame with Jay RoachSubscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.Directed by Jay RoachBombshell (2019)Bombshell focuses on three women who worked for Fox News and set out to expose the…
Cinematographic and photographic techniques like shallow focus can serve your story or images in numerous ways. And mastering it isn’t overly complicated. Some filmmakers do tend to overdo these kinds of techniques to capture ‘that cinematic look,’ but being able to answer what is shallow focus and implement it in your work, is still an incredibly useful tool.Continue reading What is Shallow Focus? How Can it Help Your Cinematography?
