How to Make a Lined Script and Save Your Shot List

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…

What is a Dolly Zoom — Scene Examples of the Vertigo Effect

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

Rules of Composition: How to Show Deeper Meaning in a Single Frame

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

Best Cell Phone Camera — Latest Models, Prices, & Features

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

A Beginner’s Guide to Film Coverage

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

How to Make a Shot List Using StudioBinder’s Shot List Software

[tcb-script type="application/ld+json"]{"@context":"http://schema.org/","@type":"ItemList","itemListOrder":"http://schema.org/ItemListOrderAscending","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Free Shot List & Storyboard Software for Creatives: StudioBinder","description":"Visualize your scenes with intuitive shot list and storyboard software, built natively into the world’s leading video, TV & film production management software.","url":"https://www.studiobinder.com/shot-list-storyboard/","image":["https://s.studiobinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/StudioBinder-Shot-List-Template-and-Storyboard-Template-Shot-List-Software.png"],"id":"shot-list-storyboard"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"How to Make a Shot List Using StudioBinder’s Shot List Software","description":"Maximize your shooting days by learning the ins-and-outs of shot lists. This step-by-step guide explains everything on how to make a shot list.","url":"https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-make-a-shot-list-software/","image":["https://s.studiobinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/How-to-Make-a-Shot-List-with-StudioBinders-Shot-List-Software-Header-StudioBinder.jpg"],"id":"how-to-make-a-shot-list-software"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"CreativeWork","name":"Shot Listing Like a Pro: When Do You Create a Shot List?","description":"Written by a working 1st AD, we'll cover the value of shot lists, and provides real-world examples of when you need to make a shot list…

Dutch Angles: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

There will be moments in any good story where the main character is under duress. Where something is... wrong. How does a filmmaker convey this? With a Dutch angle. A Dutch angle is a classic cinematic technique to create unease inside the mind of the viewer. In this post, we’ll break down Dutch angles so that you can use them in your next project.Continue reading Dutch Angles: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

What is the Rule of Thirds — Definition and Examples

What is the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is an effective way to frame the elements in your scene so that the resulting image is much more visually captivating. Like most other filmmaking “rules,” it’s not really a rule at all — more of a golden guideline.It’s also an incredibly easy rule to try: any level photographer or cinematographer can use it. First, let’s define it by showing you some rule of thirds examples, then explore how it’s used in film.Continue reading What is the Rule of Thirds — Definition and Examples

When is Golden Hour? How to Capture the Perfect Light

  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