Directing

What is Chroma Key Technology — The VFX Process Explained

What is chroma key? The use of this technique has become integral to modern filmmaking. Whether alongside the use of green screens or blue screens, chroma key effects have become the most commonly used VFX technique in the entire film industry. In this post, we’ll provide a chroma key definition, explain the importance of this… Continue reading What is Chroma Key Technology — The VFX Process Explained

Sam Kench

What is Motivated Lighting in Film — Building a World with Light

The best films are ones that create immersive and believable worlds. Worlds that make you forget that you are watching a film, and make you feel like you are participating. There are many filmmaking techniques that aim to elicit this feeling in audiences. When it comes to cinematography and lighting, motivated lighting is perhaps the… Continue reading What is Motivated Lighting in Film — Building a World with Light

Kyle DeGuzman

Academy Award for Best Cinematography — Top 20 Winners

The Academy Award for best cinematography is one of the most prestigious honors bestowed each year at the Oscars. The best cinematography Oscar has been around since the inception of the award ceremony but it underwent a great deal of experimentation and evolution in the early years.Continue reading Academy Award for Best Cinematography — Top… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Cinematography — Top 20 Winners

Sam Kench

What is an Eyeline Match? Definition & Examples for Filmmakers

Eyelines in film help you tell a professional visual story better than most directing techniques and film gear ever will. The very basics of crafting an effective scene begins with the eyeline match. This is a filmmaking technique that, when done correctly, should go completely unnoticed. Nonetheless, it is an incredibly important technique that all… Continue reading What is an Eyeline Match? Definition & Examples for Filmmakers

Kyle DeGuzman

What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It

Knowing how to properly expose your shots is an obvious first step for becoming a photographer or cinematographer. We’ll lay out examples and visuals to answer what is overexposure in photography. But we’ll also take a look at why overexposing photos with intention sometimes works (sometimes doesn’t) and the ways in which you can break… Continue reading What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It

Alyssa Maio

Best Pixar Movies Ranked — From ‘Toy Story’ and Beyond (with WALL-E Video Essay)

The release of Toy Story, Pixar’s first feature, in 1995 was a milestone not only in animation but in cinema as a whole. Pixar has gone on to change what we think a “kid’s movie” can be and how a movie can be made. To try to decide on the best Pixar movies in the… Continue reading Best Pixar Movies Ranked — From ‘Toy Story’ and Beyond (with WALL-E Video Essay)

Rex Provost

Academy Award for Best Actress — Top 20 Winners Ranked

Many consider the Academy Award for Best Actress the greatest honor an actress can receive. Over the years, some of cinema’s finest actresses, like Meryll Streep and Elizabeth Taylor, have been given the award. We’re going to list every actress who has won the Academy Award for Best Actress, then we’ll rank some of their… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Actress — Top 20 Winners Ranked

Chris Heckmann

Best Lavalier Microphone — Pros & Cons, Prices & Specs

There are a number of different quality lavalier microphone brands on the market and prices can range from cheap and affordable to exorbitantly expensive. Audio fidelity can also fluctuate widely from brand to brand. Knowing which lav mic to go with can be a difficult choice for the independent filmmaker. In this list, we’ll be… Continue reading Best Lavalier Microphone — Pros & Cons, Prices & Specs

Sam Kench

What is an Anamorphic Lens? How to Get that Cinematic Look

What does tank-warfare and the aspect ratio of movies have in common? Anamorphic lenses! These technological marvels are legendary in the world of cinematography. Over the past 100 years, Hollywood has constantly experimented with various innovations, seeking not just to push creativity but to increase profit. A brief journey through history will help us appreciate… Continue reading What is an Anamorphic Lens? How to Get that Cinematic Look

Alyssa Maio

Is Photography Art? — Both Sides of the Debate Explained

Is photography art? This question has been debated since the creation of the first camera, and is still sometimes contested to this day. The answer may seem obvious to those working within the photographic medium, but there is some dissent, even within the artistic community. We will be playing devil’s advocate and taking a look… Continue reading Is Photography Art? — Both Sides of the Debate Explained

Sam Kench

Contrast Photography — How to Master High Contrast Images

What does contrast do to a photo? Why is it so alluring when we see it? There’s no doubt that contrast adds a certain characteristic that can elevate a photo. Great contrast photography starts with how you shoot the photograph. Adjusting your contrast in editing should only be a sweetener for the contrast that you’ve… Continue reading Contrast Photography — How to Master High Contrast Images

Kyle DeGuzman

Best Wes Anderson Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked

The aesthetic of Wes Anderson can be seen from miles away. His directing style is delicate but deliberate, and his eye for color and set design is undeniable. Quirky character after quirky character, they all remain strangely original. Each costume seems to be tailored to their personalities, and the extraordinary little performances we experience in… Continue reading Best Wes Anderson Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked

Alyssa Maio

Best Kids Movies of All Time — Classics Every Kid Should See

There are a lot of great kids movies to watch, whether you’re looking for something to show your children, niece/nephews, classroom, etc. – or you’re just looking to reconnect with your childhood. We’re going to rank the best kids movies of all time based on three criteria: visuals, creativity, and moral/insightful message.  Note: we tried to… Continue reading Best Kids Movies of All Time — Classics Every Kid Should See

Chris Heckmann

Aesthetic Photography — Composition, Lighting, and Color

Have you ever been in a photo gallery and immediately drawn to a specific photograph? If so, what was it about this photograph that grabbed your attention? This is the question at the heart of aesthetic photography. What defines an aesthetic photograph? In this article, we’ll take a look at the highly ambiguous and often vague… Continue reading Aesthetic Photography — Composition, Lighting, and Color

Kyle DeGuzman

Best End of the World Movies — 15 Visions of the End Times

Filmmakers have attempted to portray the end of the world through film since early cinema. Throughout the years, these attempts have proven to be futile for many. The list of forgettable apocalypse movies could fill a novel. But a few filmmakers have portrayed the end of the world in wildly entertaining and unique ways. So which… Continue reading Best End of the World Movies — 15 Visions of the End Times

Kyle DeGuzman

The 27 Best Film Cinematographers That Everyone Should Know

The best cinematographers are artists, technicians, diplomats, and accountants. Choosing the best cinematographers is tough and extremely subjective but this list is full of talented people. If you want your film to look like it was shot by one of the world’s best cinematographers, read on. We’ve broken down the key cinematic techniques that the… Continue reading The 27 Best Film Cinematographers That Everyone Should Know

Herman Wilkins