Denis Villeneuve, director of such modern classics as Blade Runner 2049 and Sicario, has yet to make a bad movie. His first two features might be flawed but they are still fresh and exciting. Between his 2nd and 3rd features, Villeneuve took a nine-year break but, since he’s been back, he’s never missed the mark. But what exactly makes Denis Villeneuve movies so good? This is not a “Denis Villeneuve Movies Ranked” article. Instead, we’ve taken a tour through his strongest films, highlighting moments that prove that he belongs on a list of the best working directors. Continue reading Denis…
The 2016 linguistically-focused sci-fi thriller Arrival is one of five excellent films directed by Denis Villeneuve in as many years. Few filmmakers can maintain such high levels of both quality and quantity as Villeneuve. Join us in our Arrival movie analysis.Continue reading Arrival Explained: Villeneuve’s Balance of Fear & Intrigue
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”
We know shooting in the rain can be tricky. Our friends at Zacuto have provided a handy 9-step guide on how to effectively prep for shooting in the rain.Continue reading A Filmmaker’s Guide To Shooting In The Rain
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
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…
Darren Aronofsky movies show us the most complex regions of the human psyche. As the Black Swan director says, “Because we are filmmakers, we can show where a person’s mind goes.”Continue reading Darren Aronofsky Movies ― Directing Style and Technique
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 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
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…
