6 Ways To Turn Movie Props Into Iconic Symbols

Thor’s hammer. A volleyball named Wilson. One ring to rule them all. What do each of these things have in common? You’re probably thinking that they’re all movie props, and that’s true, but that’s not what makes them distinguished. When used properly (no pun intended), props become synonymous with the stories they tell. So, filmmakers,… Continue reading 6 Ways To Turn Movie Props Into Iconic Symbols

Stereotypes in Movies and How Filmmakers Can Avoid Them

Over the last century, we made some extraordinary advances in storytelling technology. We can shoot in complete darkness. We can create environments and characters from nothing more than pixels ⏤ even live, in real-time. And we can literally make an entire feature film using our phones! And, yet, stereotypes in movies still exist.  The progress needle… Continue reading Stereotypes in Movies and How Filmmakers Can Avoid Them

What is Nollywood and How Did it Become the 2nd Largest Film Industry?

Bollywood and Hollywood are the two most known “woods” in the world, or at the very least, the top two film industries in the world. Actually, it depends how we measure that statement. Nollywood is another industry that seems to be passing Hollywood in terms of the amount of movies it produces a year. How… Continue reading What is Nollywood and How Did it Become the 2nd Largest Film Industry?

24 Best Pixar Shorts That You Need to Watch

Animation BasicsOpen menu What is Animation Types of Animation What is Pre-Production in Animation What Does an Animator Do What is Cel Animation What is Pixilation Animation What is Tweening in Animation What is Anime What is Claymation What are Keyframe What is Persistence of Vision What is Stop Motion Animation What is Rotoscope Animation… Continue reading 24 Best Pixar Shorts That You Need to Watch

What is 360 Video? How to Create An Immersive Experience

If you’re a beginner enthusiast videographer, or professional dabbling into new territory, 360 video might be a great new adventure. Capturing immersive 360 degree footage isn’t complicated, but there are a few things to consider. Let’s answer what is 360 video, where does virtual reality come in, and how can you start shooting yours? Let’s… Continue reading What is 360 Video? How to Create An Immersive Experience

10 Best Shakespeare Movies: Film Adaptations Based on his Plays

You love William Shakespeare, right? Regardless, you’re looking for the best movie adaptation of William Shakespeare plays, but there are so many and you’re not sure which are the best to watch. We’ve put together a list of the 10 best William Shakespeare movie adaptations so you can not only learn more but also appreciate… Continue reading 10 Best Shakespeare Movies: Film Adaptations Based on his Plays

Inception Special Effects: Explosion Animation in the Paris Cafe Scene

BasicsOpen menu What is Post-Production What is VFX What are Special Effects What is Virtual Production What is SFX Makeup What is CGI What is Mocap What is Compositing What is Matte Painting What is Chroma Key What is a Green Screen What is a Blue Screen What is Practical Effects What is Motion Graphics… Continue reading Inception Special Effects: Explosion Animation in the Paris Cafe Scene

What is a Crane Shot? And Why Do the Pros Use Them So Often?

Types of Camera GearOpen menu Tripod Handheld Gimbal Jib / Boom Drone Dolly Steadicam Crane Shot TypesOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Camera Movement Master Class Create Free Shot List Now The crane shot allows the audience to leave a normal point of view, creating a novel perspective that’s inherently cinematic.… Continue reading What is a Crane Shot? And Why Do the Pros Use Them So Often?

15 Best Film Noir Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

The golden age of cinema is surprisingly dark. From 1941 to 1959, American audiences were captivated by melodramas about hard-boiled detectives, dangerous dames, and pulpy mysteries with literary origins. It’s a style that would later be known as film noir. Many of the movies in that classic film noir era-inspired cinema for decades to come.… Continue reading 15 Best Film Noir Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

What is Comedy — Defining it Through Technique

Being a comedy writer isn’t easy. Even if you’re a director, knowing what’s funny and what’s not, isn’t always easy. Comedy is mostly subjective, but if you’re trying to write, direct, or even act in a comedy, there are some techniques that might help. So what is comedy? We’ll give our comedy definition, examples of… Continue reading What is Comedy — Defining it Through Technique

10 Production Design Tips For Filmmakers on a Budget

What is Production Design What Does a Production Designer Do? Amazon’s The Boys Production Design Production Design Tips Academy Award for Best Production Design We all watch movies but rarely do we pause to think just how those movies were created. It’s the culmination of a large team of specialists and a production designer is… Continue reading 10 Production Design Tips For Filmmakers on a Budget

Christopher Nolan: A Filmmaker’s Guide to Nolan’s Directing Style

Best Nolan MoviesNolan’s Directing StyleNolan Directing Tips Nolan’s CirclesNolan’s Shot List Christopher Nolan films include Memento, The Dark Knight Trilogy, The Prestige, and Interstellar. His films Inception and Dunkirk received Academy Award nominations for best picture. We watched all of Christopher Nolan’s movies, interviews, and documentaries to compile a list of filmmaking tips & techniques.Continue reading… Continue reading Christopher Nolan: A Filmmaker’s Guide to Nolan’s Directing Style