Thor’s hammer. A volleyball named Wilson. One ring to rule them all. What do each of these things have in common? You’re probably thinking that they’re all movie props, and that’s true, but that’s not what makes them distinguished. When used properly (no pun intended), props become synonymous with the stories they tell. So, filmmakers, how do we turn objects into icons?Continue reading 6 Ways To Turn Movie Props Into Iconic Symbols
Bollywood and Hollywood are the two most known “woods” in the world, or at the very least, the top two film industries in the world. Actually, it depends how we measure that statement. Nollywood is another industry that seems to be passing Hollywood in terms of the amount of movies it produces a year. How is this possible? It seemed to have happened overnight. But did it? What is Nollywood and how did it become the second largest film industry in the entire world?Continue reading What is Nollywood and How Did it Become the 2nd Largest Film Industry?
Pixar shorts inspire imagination. They win awards. They deliver the goods. We’ve watched and compiled the best 21 Pixar short films right here, from the first Pixar movie to the most recent. They’re sure to entertain, trigger creativity, and — for filmmakers — spark short film ideas of your own. Storytellers, take heed: there’s a lot to learn on this list of animated short films. Continue reading 24 Best Pixar Shorts That You Need to Watch
Being a comedy writer isn’t easy. Even if you’re a director, knowing what’s funny and what’s not, isn’t always easy. Comedy is mostly subjective, but if you’re trying to write, direct, or even act in a comedy, there are some techniques that might help. So what is comedy? We’ll give our comedy definition, examples of types of comedy, and outline some comedic considerations. Continue reading What is Comedy — Defining it Through Technique
We all watch movies but rarely do we pause to think just how those movies were created. It’s the culmination of a large team of specialists and a production designer is an irreplaceable part of it.Continue reading 10 Production Design Tips For Filmmakers on a Budget
The impact of Italian Neorealism in film cannot be overstated. The works of Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, and other major Neorealist directors are undeniable when it comes to the influence they have had on cinema throughout the world. They also had an immense effect on a young boy growing up in Queens named Martin Scorsese.We’re going to look at a series of seminal Italian Neorealist films, including; Roma Citta Aperta, Ladri di Bicicletti, I Vitelloni, La Strada, and Viaggio in Italia and how they informed stylistic decisions in some of Scorsese’s best films.Continue reading What is Italian Neorealism in Film?…
A beginning, middle, and end are the bare bones that support the structure of any story. In his video essay First and Final Frames, Jacob T. Swinney compiles a stunning side-by-side comparison of opening and closing shots from many famous films. This is a unique experience to be sure. In this post we’re going to examine what goes into creating a powerful opening and closing scene. Continue reading How To Create Striking First and Final Frames in Your Film
Video game movies are often cast aside or plain derided by critics and fans, but we think that’s pure poppycock.It’s hard enough to bring a novel to life without angering fans, but just imagine if you were so immersed and devoted to that book that you occasionally slammed it into your hardwood floors, shattering it to pieces and thus forcing you to shell out $50 for a new one.Below is a list of the best video game movies to date, and with each, we provide the trailer and budget information for context. Enjoy.Continue reading 10 Best Video Games Movies: Good…
Quentin Tarantino has created some of the most memorable scenes in film history. However, none are quite so impactful, tense, and amazing as the Inglourious Basterds opening scene.The scene lasts for just under 20 minutes, but during that time, Tarantino employs a vast array of framing techniques and angles to help tell the story to its fullest potential. In this post, we’ll run through some of the different techniques he used and how you can incorporate them into your own films.Continue reading Writing and Directing for Suspense: Inglourious Basterds
There are many movies about loneliness and even more lonely people who see them. As a filmmaker, working with a lonely character poses the unique challenge of how to stand out. With framing, editing and coloring techniques at your fingertips, what combination best helps your story land?Continue reading How Spike Jonze Shoots Movies About Loneliness
