Have you ever asked yourself, "What is CinemaScope?" It’s a widescreen lens and projection system that has become a popular choice for filmmakers and is now an industry standard. Most audiences had never seen anything like it, and it started a widescreen revolution that literally changed the shape of movies forever. So, what is CinemaScope, exactly? And just how important was it to the cinema landscape both then and now?Continue reading What is CinemaScope? Definition and Examples for Filmmakers
E very time there is an open directing assignment, a list of possible directors is put together. You might have to do this as an assistant, or as a producer or writer yourself trying to attach the RIGHT director to your project. That's why we’re going to go over an extensive list of the best female directors. There are countless talented female filmmakers out there, and any list for a prospective director should include many of them. Here are the best female directors working today. Continue reading The Best 60 Female Film Directors Working Today
Before a movie or a TV show begins, we’ve already made a critical judgment on its tone, whether we think of it at the moment or not. That’s because every visual story is prefaced with opening credits, a title card, title sequence, or both. The opening credits or title sequence of a movie have an enormous impact on establishing tone, character, plot, and even theme. By understanding how movie opening credits and title sequences are used, we can decide on what kind of opening would make the most sense for our own productions.Continue reading Movie Opening Credits: How to Make…
What is New Hollywood? There’s a scene in Orson Welles’ The Other Side of the Wind that can answer that for us. It shows a group of young directors going to the home of a Hollywood Golden Age titan to express their admiration. This scene shows what the Hollywood New Wave was really about; an unwavering appreciation for Film that inspired these filmmakers to take it in a new direction. Essentially, New Hollywood was American cinema reborn by the Film School Generation.Continue reading What is New Hollywood? The Revolution of 1960s and ‘70s Hollywood
Kit lenses are great for beginners, but if you’re at the point where you want to experiment with new lenses, prime lenses are a great place to start. They can also help you become a better photographer or filmmaker, because they rely on way less mechanics than other lenses. So. what is a prime lens? And why should you use one? Let’s dive in.Continue reading What is a Prime Lens and What are the Benefits of Using One?
Throughout film school, one is inundated with a list of “the masters.” Your Kubricks, your Scorseses, and your Tarantinos. And while they all have their rightful place in the pantheon of auteurs, I’ve always wondered why one name has yet to reach the list. Sex, lies, and videotape debuted 30 years ago, and ever since Steven Soderbergh has directed upwards of 40 projects. 40! Steven Soderbergh movies run the gamut of tone, genre, and big-name talent. In this list, we’ll detail the Top 10 Steven Soderbergh movies from worst to best (the word worst being used loosely). By the end,…
Robert Pattinson’s The Batman (2021) is one of the most highly anticipated movies in the world. But although the film has generated enormous pre-release hype, the history of its production is littered with roadblocks and challenges. We’re going to break down everything we know so far about the new Batman movie by looking at the film’s cast and crew, story details, and expected release date.Continue reading The Batman 2021: Cast, Set Photos, Release Date and What We Know So Far
One of the most fascinating aspects of animation is the creation of visual continuity and motion, through still images. While technology may have changed the way animation works today, it hasn’t changed the underlying mechanism of the craft. If you’ve ever seen anything move on screen, persistence of vision is at play. So, what is persistence of vision? To start, it’s the very foundation of animation, but as an animator, how do you use it? How do you create that smoothness from frame to frame? It takes some understanding of a pretty basic optical concept that’s been at play for well…
What is a tilt shift lens? The tilt-shift lens manipulates optics and perception — making it one of the best tools a photographer or videographer can have at their disposal. The tilt shift effect can be very dramatic but the way to get it is something photographers at any level can achieve it. So, how does it work, and how can you use a tilt shift lens to capture such fascinating images?Continue reading What is a Tilt Shift Lens? The Tilt Shift Effect Explained
They say never meet your heroes. That is, of course, unless you happen to be Denis Villeneuve. During a Q&A after the premiere of Dune: Part Two, Steven Spielberg named Denis one of the best world builders in cinema. High praise from one of Denis’ biggest influences. And if you’ve seen Dune: Part Two, you understand exactly why. From Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival to the world of Dune, Denis’ visionary direction has created films of magnificent scale while also keeping the heart of his narratives grounded and emotional. Let’s take a look behind the scenes of Dune: Part Two…
