You’ve seen many Steven Spielberg movies in your time. Despite his popularity, it can be difficult to pinpoint what defines the Steven Spielberg directing style. Perhaps his control of the medium is so natural and intuitive, his trademarks and cinematography techniques go unnoticed in a good way. This article will explore the most iconic films by Spielberg, analyzing his unique style and storytelling techniques.We get lost in a Spielberg movie in a way that’s like no other filmmaker. His ability to captivate audiences raises questions like what film is the highest grossing of all time, as many of his masterpieces…
Storyboards can be a crucial backbone in the filmmaking process. Understanding what you’ll be shooting on a given day, and making sure that your crew does as well, often makes the production process much smoother and more efficient. In this post, we’ll look at how to make a storyboard template so that you can hit the ground running for your next shoot. Continue reading How to Make a Storyboard Template — A Step-by-Step Guide
Becoming a film director isn’t a straight path. There are multiple ways of getting there but, ultimately, there's only one driving force: you. Regardless of your education or current skill set, if you want to make movies, you will. But that’s easier said than done, so let’s go a little deeper to answer how to become a director.Continue reading How to Become a Director: Learning from Seasoned Filmmakers
There is no better teacher than doing. Learning as you go and surrounding yourself with filmmakers who are better than you is one of the best ways to learn the craft. However, many of the best cinematography books are actually worth taking a look at. In fact, some of them not only educate on craft, but they also provide a new way to see the world. Continue reading 30 Best Cinematography Books That Actually Inspire
The size and shape of your storyboards matters. And if you're wondering if there is a single, standard size and shape of all storyboards, you'd be wrong. But that's a good thing! There is flexibility in storyboard dimensions, which allows you to visualize your story how you see fit. No matter the scope of your intended project, this post will cover some of the basics of storyboard dimensions and the considerations to make when storyboarding. Continue reading Storyboard Dimensions — Sizes, Layouts and Format Explained
Knowing precisely what a director does in every stage of a production's life cycle is vital to your success in the industry. A director's job description involves participation in nearly every phase of a project. Because their vision largely impacts the final product, directors work closely with department heads and technicians to bring it to fruition. The duties of a film director are many, but don’t worry: We’ll lay it all out here. So, what does a director do? Let's break it down.Continue reading What Does a Director Do? The Film Director’s Job Description
The French New Wave of cinema, or La Nouvelle Vague, was one of the most important film movements of all time. In this article, we’re going to rank the best French New Wave Films based on four criteria: Acting, Story, Directing and Style. But before we jump into the ranking, it’s important to know what the French New Wave is.This is our list of the best French New Wave films, including work from the critics of Cahiers du Cinema and the directors of the Left Bank.Continue reading French New Wave Films: A Curated List and Their Iconic Directors
The French New Wave changed the ways movies were made forever and influenced some of the greatest directors of our time. But what is the French New Wave? How did it begin and why? This post will provide you with a definition, a brief historical context, and highlight some key characteristics of the movement from the earliest pioneers. As we'll see, the influence of the French New Wave continues through modern filmmakers like Tarantino and Scorsese, just to name a few.Continue reading What is French New Wave? Background and Revolutionary Techniques
You're looking for a list of the different camera angles in film, but you also want great examples that come with clear explanations of when and why to use specific camera shot angles. Whether you want your characters to seem powerful, vulnerable, or intimate, the power of camera angles cannot be understated. We'll provide you with downloadable shot lists that feature all of the different types of camera shot angles in film. Lezgo.Continue reading Camera Angles Explained: The Different Types of Camera Shot Angles in Film
How you move the camera is a sort of language, a way to communicate to the audience apart from dialogue. There are one million ways to move the camera to complement the narrative. And camera panning is just one way to speak — a simple movement that speaks volumes. So, what is a camera pan and how can it be used to speak directly to the audience? Let’s define it and look at some examples.Continue reading What is a Camera Pan — Camera Movement Fundamentals
