There are multiple ways audiences can learn about who a character is. How they talk, how they dress, how they move, and how they interact with other characters all reflect a character’s personality. To capture a character as a whole, filmmakers often use the full shot. In this article, we’ll answer, "What is a full shot" along with the various reasons to use a full shot in film. We’ll also take a look at some iconic full shots from some of cinema’s best films of all time. Let’s dive in. Continue reading What is a Full Shot in Film? Types of…
What is a lined script? And what does it have to do with your shot list?On the surface, a shot list is exactly what it sounds like. A list of shots that communicates to your crew what camera shots you intend to get. Yet we all know once you get to set, issues arise and something always has to give. And that something is often your favorite camera angles.But with a little forethought and a lined script, we can prepare our shoot to make sure we get everything we need. Here's how you do it.Continue reading How to Make a Lined Script…
We've all seen films that constantly use medium shots, but how often do you notice? Every shot and edit matters. Today we're focusing on the medium shot. The visual glue of many scenes and films.Continue reading Medium Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles
The dolly zoom is one of the most discussed cinematic techniques. You can use them in many ways, but a great director will find a logical reason to include them. When paired with the correct story moment, the dolly zoom can draw the audience into the story and the character's state of mind. Continue reading What is a Dolly Zoom — Scene Examples of the Vertigo Effect
Telling a story isn’t enough. You have to grab your audience by the eyeballs. Whether you’re a seasoned director or just learning what framing in film is, the way we see things is just as important as the things themselves. In his video essay on Drive, Tony Zhou uncovers 4 simple rules of composition that can make your shots out-of-the-box.Continue reading Rules of Composition: How to Show Deeper Meaning in a Single Frame
Cinematography is the art of crafting visuals for motion pictures. It takes years of practice to cultivate a consistent craft and keen eye for filmmaking. That’s what separates great cinematography from cliche movie making. Before honing a craft, a deep knowledge of what it entails is critical.Continue reading What is Cinematography? Defining the Art and Craft
It’s 2021, and just about every cell phone you can get your hands on has a camera. In some cases, the cameras on your phone rival ones used by professional photographers and filmmakers. But for most of us, the cameras that come on a cell phone do just enough to satisfy. As such, we have provided a list for you to look through, featuring the best cell phone cameras available today. For your convenience, we have ranked them in order of price, from lowest to highest. Continue reading Best Cell Phone Camera — Latest Models, Prices, & Features
You’re an aspiring filmmaker, and dream of becoming a famous movie director. Or maybe you just really want to make films that matter, and connect to people on a deeper level. That’s really great and all, but how do you plan to do that? The first step in making movies, aside from writing the script, is planning out how it will get filmed. That’s where shot lists come in. So, what is a shot list? This post will define it, and answer why they’re so vital to getting the best shots.Continue reading What is a Shot List? Examples and a…
Cinematography is a term that includes many elements of filmmaking. If that sounds intimidating, fear not, because today in our beginner’s guide to cinematography techniques, we’re going to look at a bunch of different examples, so that you can see what they look like in action. By the end, you’ll know what the major cinematic shots are, and how to capture them. Let’s explore the world of cinematography!Continue reading A Beginner’s Guide to Cinematography Techniques
The term “coverage” is used in the world of film all the time – but what is coverage in film? Fear not, today we’re going to answer that question by breaking down its definition alongside some examples. By the end, you’ll not only know what film coverage is, you’ll know how to identify its different types.Continue reading A Beginner’s Guide to Film Coverage
