Post-Production

What is Double Exposure? Techniques in Photography and Film

We’ve discussed the basics of exposure — overexposure, underexposure and what camera settings control it. But what is double exposure? It isn’t a difficult technique to master, it just takes a little practice. In this post, we’ll cover the basics behind this style with some tutorials on how to do double exposure in Photoshop. Let’s… Continue reading What is Double Exposure? Techniques in Photography and Film

Alyssa Maio

Academy Award for Best Original Score: Top Winners Ranked

The Academy Award for Best Original Score is one of the most prestigious honors a composer can be given. Over the years, some of the world’s most acclaimed composers, like John Williams and Max Steiner, have won the award. We’re going to list every Academy Award for Best Original Score winner, then rank some of… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Original Score: Top Winners Ranked

Chris Heckmann

Green Screen Color — Ideal Shades for Paint, Fabric and Screens

Have you ever wondered why green screens need to be, well, green? This particular green screen color didn’t just look pretty on camera. Green serves a specific purpose. The same holds true for blue, which you also sometimes see used in movie productions. There’s a time to use each one so that you can adequately… Continue reading Green Screen Color — Ideal Shades for Paint, Fabric and Screens

Mike Bedard

What is the Wilhelm Scream? Origins and Iconic Examples

What are some of the most iconic sounds in cinema history? Sure two lightsabers clashing or even the suspenseful score of Jaws make that list. However, one sound effect has been used throughout movies of all genres for over fifty years. It is none other than the iconic Wilhelm Scream. You may have heard it… Continue reading What is the Wilhelm Scream? Origins and Iconic Examples

Kyle DeGuzman

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

How to Reverse a Clip in Premiere Pro — A Step-by-Step Guide

The days of Avid Media Composer serving as the industry’s only standard video editing program are coming to a close. With David Fincher and Coen Brothers having turned to Adobe Premiere Pro for their post-production needs, the barrier to entry of professional-level video editing is shrinking. There are many reasons why one would want to reverse a… Continue reading How to Reverse a Clip in Premiere Pro — A Step-by-Step Guide

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

What is Continuity Editing in Film? Definition and Editing Techniques

Some say that when the editor does their job well, the audience is not supposed to notice. This does not mean that the editor’s job is unimportant. In fact, the complete opposite is the case. Editor’s are responsible for maintaining the illusion of a film and story by hiding the mechanisms at work. The main… Continue reading What is Continuity Editing in Film? Definition and Editing Techniques

Kyle DeGuzman

Cinematic Bars — How to Add Black Bars to Video [Downloads]

In the era of the digital format, many filmmakers utilize aspect ratio to help tell their story. Screening irregular aspect ratios onto traditional 16:9 screens both in theatres and on TVs requires letterboxing or pillarboxing. Creating your own letterboxes can be incredibly tedious. Luckily, there are free resources that make cinematic bars and letterbox templates… Continue reading Cinematic Bars — How to Add Black Bars to Video [Downloads]

Kyle DeGuzman

Types of Editing Transitions in Film — The Ultimate Guide

Video transitions are used in just about every film and video – and they play an enormous role in the subliminal or liminal effects of moving from shot to shot. As such, knowing when and how to use specific types of editing transitions in film – like wipes, fades and pans – can make your… Continue reading Types of Editing Transitions in Film — The Ultimate Guide

Chris Heckmann

How to Add Subtitles to YouTube Video to Boost Your Channel

Knowing how to add subtitles to a YouTube video is an essential skill for every creator. Whether you upload short films or video essays, YouTube subtitles help make your videos more accessible to a wider audience. But due to recent developments, it’s harder than in years past to get those captions made. Fortunately, with a… Continue reading How to Add Subtitles to YouTube Video to Boost Your Channel

Mike Bedard

Best Animation Software — 2D, 3D, Paid, and Free Options

Animation has undoubtedly opened countless doors in the stories filmmakers are able to tell. It has allowed worlds, characters, and adventures to seep out of the imagination of artists and onto the big screen. Many are drawn to the world of animation because of its limitless possibilities. If you are one of the many, at one… Continue reading Best Animation Software — 2D, 3D, Paid, and Free Options

Kyle DeGuzman

Final Cut Pro vs Premiere Pro — Prices, Specs, Pros & Cons

Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro are the two most popular video editing platforms for film professionals. Apple and Adobe have been battling for market share in the video editing software industry for decades, and there are no signs of them slowing down anytime soon. So – Final Cut Pro vs Adobe Premiere Pro: which… Continue reading Final Cut Pro vs Premiere Pro — Prices, Specs, Pros & Cons

Chris Heckmann

How to Move the Anchor Point in After Effects (Tutorial)

After Effects is an incredibly powerful and useful program. However, learning how to initially use it can be daunting. One fundamental technique used for both simple and complex animations is moving the anchor point. It may seem easy to do, but you might have found that simply clicking and dragging didn’t quite do the trick.… Continue reading How to Move the Anchor Point in After Effects (Tutorial)

Kyle DeGuzman

Best After Effects Plugins — The Ultimate Guide to AE Plugins

Is in undeniable that After Effects is an incredibly powerful tool. It is also undeniable that After Effects can be incredibly overwhelming and complex to use, especially for new users. This is where plugins come into play. Plugins give creators and artists to share the software they create with other After Effects users to both… Continue reading Best After Effects Plugins — The Ultimate Guide to AE Plugins

Kyle DeGuzman

Free Sound Effects for Video Editing — Top Sites Ranked

One of the most overlooked aspects of filmmaking for beginner filmmakers is sound design. Screenwriting, cinematography, direction, and editing are all essential to a great film. But proper sound design is what can take any project to the next level. That being said, foley can be a lot of work. Sound effects can also be expensive.… Continue reading Free Sound Effects for Video Editing — Top Sites Ranked

Kyle DeGuzman

What is VFX? Defining the Term and Creating Impossible Worlds

Thanks to movies and television, we’ve all experienced fantastical worlds that could never exist on our Earthly plane. Even if we don’t typically enjoy the fantasy genre, we’ve definitely seen these effects in action — whether in cinema, commercials or even video games. This post explores how to create these worlds using visual effects. So… Continue reading What is VFX? Defining the Term and Creating Impossible Worlds

Alyssa Maio

Free Fog Overlay Templates — Downloads For Video & PNG

Utilizing mediums like fog, haze, and smoke in a shot has various benefits. Visually, it can give your scene depth and imbue it with motion as the haze moves across the screen. Tonally, fog and haze can add a layer of mystery that is perfect for horror, thriller, and dramatic stories. But fog and haze… Continue reading Free Fog Overlay Templates — Downloads For Video & PNG

Kyle DeGuzman

Free Video Transitions — Premiere Pro, After Effects, and More

Stock transitions have been used over and over again and has led to video editors avoiding transitions to avoid making a stale video. However, thanks to the power of the internet and generosity, some creators have put together some extremely unique, creative, and sometimes colorful transitions that can add some life to your edits. From… Continue reading Free Video Transitions — Premiere Pro, After Effects, and More

Kyle DeGuzman

What is a Vectorscope? How They Work and Why You Need One

Everyone’s eyes process color differently. You may color grade in post-production, thinking you’re getting your image exactly right. But for other people, it just looks… off. To get the best results, you need to rely on the vectorscope, which is present in many video editing software programs, including Adobe Premiere Pro. But what is a… Continue reading What is a Vectorscope? How They Work and Why You Need One

Mike Bedard

How Copyright Free Music Works and Where to Find It

When creating a filmmaking project, costs add up quickly. Whether paying for cast, camera equipment, PA’s, or countless other expenses, you wanna save anywhere you can. So how about music? Today, we break down copyright free music. We talk about what it is, how to use it, and copyright free vs “royalty-free.” We’ll get you… Continue reading How Copyright Free Music Works and Where to Find It

Theo Friedman

7 Best Free LUTs You Need to Make More Cinematic Videos

Color grading is a critical, yet tedious aspect of the Post-Production process. One of the best tools a filmmaker has to save time without compromising great color grading are LUTs. LUTs are used by both professional and amateur filmmakers for both their convenience and their cinematic effects. Many of the best free LUTs are now generously… Continue reading 7 Best Free LUTs You Need to Make More Cinematic Videos

Kyle DeGuzman

How to Edit Photos Like a Professional in 8 Essential Steps

Getting started in photography is incredibly exciting. But once you’ve taken all of your photos, you may be a bit intimidated with the process of editing them. However, photography editing doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In fact, it can be a process that you look forward to just as much as shooting. It… Continue reading How to Edit Photos Like a Professional in 8 Essential Steps

Kyle DeGuzman