Cooke Cinema Lenses: Breaking Down the “Cooke Look”

Selecting the right lenses for your project is one of the many considerations before production begins. And considering Cooke lenses may not be such a bad idea. Cooke lenses have become a staple in Hollywood, because of the particular look, feel, and overall quality of what they produce. So, what is the Cooke Look? And what do Cooke lenses do differently?Read this brief article to find out, and watch the accompanying comparison videos to see how Cooke compares with its competitors.Continue reading Cooke Cinema Lenses: Breaking Down the “Cooke Look”

Best Darren Aronofsky Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

Darren Aronofsky is one of the most interesting directors working today. His body of work is all the more impressive when you realize he’s made such an impact with only seven feature-length films.While he’s served as a producer on great films like Jackie and White Boy Rick, for this list, we’re only looking at his seven directorial features. Much like his filmography, this list is bound to be divisive, so let’s start analyzing the best Darren Aronofsky movies. Continue reading Best Darren Aronofsky Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

Mastering the Movie Color Palette: Denis Villeneuve

Over the course of nine feature films, Denis Villeneuve has shown himself to be one of contemporary cinema’s leading filmmakers.Known for his intense dramas, Villeneuve often allows his environments to act as extensions of his characters. Much of this is accomplished through color choice.Here’s how Denis Villeneuve uses color theory to enhance the narrative.Continue reading Mastering the Movie Color Palette: Denis Villeneuve

The Best Movie Sex Scenes of All Time, Ranked from Worst to Best

Ah yes, we’ve arrived back at the most carnal of all storytelling devices: the sex scene. Writers, artists and filmmakers have used sex to evoke a multitude of different emotions to the audience, like love, hate, confusion, lust, among many, many more. But every one of the best movie sex scenes of all time adds something essential to a story, whether it be comedic, dramatic, or stylistic.In this article, we’re going to rank movie sex scenes by looking at a few crucial criteria: Visuals, Impact and Acting. The scenes on this list are ranked by their importance to the narrative…

Three-Point Video Lighting: Key, Fill, & Backlight Setup Guide

Why do filmmakers need to know about 3 point lighting? It's great for picture-day photography, but what if you’re looking for an explanation of how 3 point lighting works for film and video?We’re going to show you why 3 point lighting is important for filmmakers, but also take you deeper into some advanced techniques, and how you can use it to effectively light large scenes.Continue reading Three-Point Video Lighting: Key, Fill, & Backlight Setup Guide

Soviet Montage Theory — Definition, Examples and Types of Montage

Soviet Montage Theory is one of the most technically influential film movements of all time. In this article, we’re going to define what Soviet Montage Theory is, then break down the five different types with examples from Russian cinema history. Continue reading Soviet Montage Theory — Definition, Examples and Types of Montage

Storyboarding the Austin Powers 3 Opening Scene with Director Jay Roach

The Austin Powers opening scene is one of the most memorable comedic set pieces in film history. With skydiving, motorcycles and exploding helicopters, it’s an incredibly detailed shoot, and the only way the Austin Powers 3 opening scene was even possible was with detailed storyboarding. In this co-production with Sundance Co//ab, Director Jay Roach shares his original storyboards and explains how he used them to shoot such a complicated scene while balancing action, comedy, tone, and contrast. We’ve imported the original storyboards that were used for the Austin Powers intro into StudioBinder’s storyboard software to provide useful tips you can…

StudioBinder Storyboard Creator: Step-by-Step Guide

Online storyboard creators give your projects a clear visual plan that communicates your creative goals for your story. In today’s post, we’ll take you step-by-step on how to make a storyboard in an online storyboard creator. Then we’ll show you how to use free storyboard software to upload your sketches and reference images into ultra-clean layouts while customizing display options as you go.Continue reading StudioBinder Storyboard Creator: Step-by-Step Guide