Directing

What is a Cutaway Shot? How and Why Editors and DP’s Use it

Cinematographers and editors work together to create sequences that resemble reality. Once an editor gets the footage, if there are mistakes that create unintended disorientation, editors need to go to their tool belt. One way to do this is to use cutaway shots.Continue reading What is a Cutaway Shot? How and Why Editors and DP’s… Continue reading What is a Cutaway Shot? How and Why Editors and DP’s Use it

Alyssa Maio

How to Shoot B-Roll Footage on the Cheap

B-Roll BasicsBest B-Roll WebsitesHow To Shoot B-Roll We’ve all seen B-roll in our favorite content, but how does a filmmaker shoot cinematic B-roll footage without a big budget? Our video below will take you through these considerations step-by-step so that you can learn how to shoot B-roll efficiently while also elevating your music video, commercials,… Continue reading How to Shoot B-Roll Footage on the Cheap

SC Lannom

Mastering the Film Color Palette: Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro movies are known for their lush fantasy landscapes, sense of creeping dread, and unmatched use of color. His self-confessed primary influences are obvious once you know how to look for them. Comic books, manga, horror movies, and his native Mexican culture all combine to create a director who is not afraid to stuff every… Continue reading Mastering the Film Color Palette: Guillermo del Toro

Matt Vasiliauskas

Steven Spielberg Movies: Filmmaking Style & Cinematography Techniques

You’ve seen many Steven Spielberg movies in your time. Despite his popularity, very few directors can pinpoint what defines the Steven Spielberg filmmaking style, trademarks, and cinematography techniques that make him the greatest filmmaker of all time. In this article, you’ll learn how a young Steven Spielberg climbed his way up from his first feature, Duel,… Continue reading Steven Spielberg Movies: Filmmaking Style & Cinematography Techniques

SC Lannom

What is an Establishing Shot? Creative Examples that Set the Tone

Types of FramingOpen menu Establishing Shot Single Shot Two Shot Over the Shoulder Insert Shot POV Shot More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now You’ve written a script or maybe you’re trying to figure out a script’s shot list. You know what the film is about… Continue reading What is an Establishing Shot? Creative Examples that Set the Tone

Alyssa Maio

The Best Drone Footage: A Closer Look with the DJI Mavic Air

The most recent drone from DJI Mavic is the Air. It’s lightweight, (mildly) affordable, and produces some incredible footage. This post gives a brief overview of the DJI Mavic Air, its capabilities, and a list of our favorite footage. Let’s take a look.Continue reading The Best Drone Footage: A Closer Look with the DJI Mavic… Continue reading The Best Drone Footage: A Closer Look with the DJI Mavic Air

StudioBinder

How to Clean Camera Sensors: What to Consider to Avoid Damage

Cleaning camera sensors isn’t challenging, it just requires meticulousness and the know-how to do it safely, so you don’t damage your camera. And it’s easy to damage your camera when the sensor is wide open. Dust and other particles are flying around you all day, everyday, and the last thing you want to do is… Continue reading How to Clean Camera Sensors: What to Consider to Avoid Damage

Alyssa Maio

What is Deep Depth of Field? Definition and Examples

Dof basicsShallow dofDeep dofDOF GuideTYPES OF CAMERA FOCUS If you’re just getting your feet wet in photography or videography, you’ve probably heard one million terms tossed around that either mean nothing to you…yet, or you know of them, sort of, but you’re not entirely sure how they all work together. Whatever your skill level, this… Continue reading What is Deep Depth of Field? Definition and Examples

Alyssa Maio

Film Blocking: Filmmaking Techniques for Visual Storytelling

Ep1: Film ToneEp2: Prod DesignEp3: Film BlockingEp4: Camera Movement VIEW ALL EPISODES → EPISODE 3Filmmaking techniques: Blocking for directorsHow directors and cinematographers work together to block actors in a scene. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel ← WATCH PREVIOUS EPISODE WATCH NEXT EPISODE → FILMMAKING TECHNIQUES: EPISODE 3How directors block actors:In our third episode on Filmmaking Techniques in… Continue reading Film Blocking: Filmmaking Techniques for Visual Storytelling

Shant Kiraz

The Directing Style of Quentin Tarantino

Best Tarantino MoviesQT’s Directing StyleQT Directing Tips QT DialogueOnce Upon a Time AnalysisBasterds Breakdown Is there any filmmaker whose personality is more apparent when you watch his films than Quentin Tarantino? In his own quirky way, Tarantino has introduced us to some of the most shocking and moving emotional moments on film. Of course, Quentin Tarantino’s… Continue reading The Directing Style of Quentin Tarantino

Matt Vasiliauskas

What is an Animatic? Bring Your Storyboard to Life

Whether you’re making an animated commercial, a live-action short, or a feature film, animatics will help ensure a solid finished product. You’ve probably heard of storyboards and might have seen animatics before, even if you didn’t know that’s what they’re called. So, what is an animatic and what makes them so useful? In this post, we’re going… Continue reading What is an Animatic? Bring Your Storyboard to Life

Brent Dunham

What is Depth of Field? Examples of Shallow vs Deep Depth of Field

Dof basicsShallow dofDeep dofDOF GuideTYPES OF CAMERA FOCUS If you’re hoping to become a great photographer or videographer, utilizing every tool at your disposal is the safest and smartest way to get there. One tool that can level-up your skill set is depth of field. Understanding depth of field is tantamount to not only craft,… Continue reading What is Depth of Field? Examples of Shallow vs Deep Depth of Field

Alyssa Maio

How to Make a Storyboard for Video and Film: The Definitive Guide

What is a StoryboardHow to StoryboardStoryboard ExamplesStoryboard SoftwareStoryboard TemplatesCreate Storyboard Now → You’ve got a big shoot coming up. You want to visualize the scenes you plan to shoot with a storyboard, but you’re wondering how to make a storyboard that touches on everything a good storyboard should.Continue reading How to Make a Storyboard for Video and… Continue reading How to Make a Storyboard for Video and Film: The Definitive Guide

StudioBinder

What is an Insert Shot: How to Build Clever Inserts like The Coen Brothers

Types of FramingOpen menu Establishing Shot Single Shot Two Shot Over the Shoulder Insert Shot POV Shot More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now Insert shots are the unsung hero of filmmaking. They’re used in feature films, documentaries, and commercials. They may seem simple, but getting… Continue reading What is an Insert Shot: How to Build Clever Inserts like The Coen Brothers

SC Lannom

Shot Reverse Shot: Reaction Shots, Cutaways, and Coverage

Shot reverse shot may seem like a simple concept, but the truly great filmmakers know how to use it to achieve unique results. Want to make your scenes more dynamic, robust, and powerful? In this post, we take examples of shot reverse shot, reaction shots, scene coverage, and cutaways to illustrate how you can use these… Continue reading Shot Reverse Shot: Reaction Shots, Cutaways, and Coverage

SC Lannom

The Modern Cowboy Shot: The Different Types of Shots in Film, Explained

Close UpsOpen menu Extreme Close-Up (ECU) Close-Up (CU) Medium Close-Up (MCU) Medium ShotsOpen menu Medium Shot (MS) Cowboy Shot (CS) Medium Full Shot (MFS) Wide ShotsOpen menu Full Shot (FS) Wide Shot (WS) Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now Cowboy shots… Continue reading The Modern Cowboy Shot: The Different Types of Shots in Film, Explained

SC Lannom

3 Cinematic Film Techniques to Make On-Screen Texting Actually Look Good

Itext. You text. My grandmother who still thinks Reagan is president texts. But most tv shows and movies shy away from it. Having your characters pull out their phone puts seems to go against the key foundations of cinematics. But it doesn’t have to. Taking tips from Tony Zhou’s video essay, we’ll cover three cinematic… Continue reading 3 Cinematic Film Techniques to Make On-Screen Texting Actually Look Good

Joey Povinelli