You want to make a movie. You’ve come to the right place! But once you get started, you realize all of the hidden expenses beyond getting a camera and hiring some actors. There’s music involved and perhaps a video clip you need to insert somewhere. Suddenly, that film project costs hundreds more dollars than you… Continue reading What is Creative Commons — How to Borrow and Share Media
Production hiring site Staff Me Up is one of the best tools in the industry for anyone looking to find work, and for producers looking for crew. Staff Me Up can be used to find jobs in cinematography, casting, producing, editing, PA work, you name it. You can search by city, state, department, or specific… Continue reading Staff Me Up — Tips on How to Land Film Production Jobs
Unlike painting or writing, which are often done in isolation, making a film requires a team effort. Gaffers, Cinematographers, Best Boys, PAs — but who does what and why? There are few roles in film production more valuable than a 1st AD but what is an assistant director and what does an assistant director do?… Continue reading What Does an Assistant Director Do? Defining the 1st AD
Whether you are a producer, 1st AD, or script supervisor, breaking down a script is an incredibly daunting and tedious task. Overtime, the process of breaking down a script by color has become the only organized and efficient way of tackling the task. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to breakdown a… Continue reading Script Breakdown Colors — How Colors Work in a Breakdown
What is production value? You have heard the term thrown around by filmmakers or in behind-the-scenes videos without knowing exactly what they mean. We will start off with a production value definition, then get into why you want to keep it high, how to improve the production value of independent projects, and we’ll take a… Continue reading What is Production Value in Film — Low Budget Into High Art
One of the most astounding facts of cinema is how long it takes to produce a movie that runs an hour and a half. How could something rather short in time take years to produce? How long does it take to make a movie? In this article, we’ll break down every phase of the filmmaking… Continue reading How Long Does it Take to Make a Movie — Production Timeline
Download the Film Location Release Form Template, FREE.Planning to secure a shooting location for a film project? Download this location release template for peace of mind. Download Now Location Release DetailsWhat does the location release template include?Standard, professional legal formattingCustomizable areas are conveniently called out in red.Based on popular location release form by IndyMogul.Brief enough… Continue reading Download a Free Film Location Release Form Template
While watching a movie, have you ever noticed certain logos or acronyms in the credits? Sure, there’s plenty of those from companies and such, but some of them are also from societies, guilds, and unions. There’s also a good chance, if you have dabbled in some area of serious movie making, you have learned about… Continue reading Movie Unions — A Complete Guide to Film Unions & Guilds
What is a background artist? It might sound like a simple question, but the answer is a bit more complex than one might expect. The term ‘background artist’ can be used to label two different professions and both of them can be found working on a film set. We will break down what those two… Continue reading Background Artist — Animation & Film Crew Position Explained
At one point or another, many of us iPhone users have asked “how do I make a movie on my iPhone?” Well, there’s never been a better time to make a movie on iPhone. For filmmakers, iPhones offer unparalleled transportability and ease of use – but they come with drawbacks too. Let’s explore the pros… Continue reading How to Make a Movie on iPhone — A Step-by-Step Guide
Afilm set is a unique world that has to be experienced to be understood. There is a steep learning curve that comes with every film production. It can take many years before anyone is completely at home on set, and to master the plethora of film and cinematography terms.Continue reading Cinematography and Film Terms Every… Continue reading Cinematography and Film Terms Every Working Filmmaker Should Know
Does it seem like every story imaginable has already been told? Instead of looking toward the future for your next project, why not delve into the past? Your next film could be a remix of something that’s come before. And before you get worried about Johnny Law, you’ll find many works exist within the public… Continue reading What is Public Domain and How is it Used? A Guide for Creators
Film is a uniquely visual storytelling medium. Everything you see within the frames of a shot is carefully thought out by someone behind the scenes. More often than not, these details in the frame come from the art department. An art department is responsible for the larger creation of a film set as well as… Continue reading The Art Department in Film — Guide to Positions, Duties, Salary
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 Extreme close-up… Continue reading Extreme Close-Up Shots: Creative Examples That Work
I think we all can agree, screenwriting contests can be useful tools for both new writers and those with experience under their belts. They’re excellent ways to get noticed, but some of the contests out there can’t take you as far as some others. So what are the best screenwriting contests to enter? Continue reading 14… Continue reading 14 Best Screenwriting Contests You Need to Enter Now
Looking for funding for your film is often harder than making the actual movie. Waiting on your agent, producers, or anyone else to show up and give you the funds you need can leave you demoralized. But, finding film funds doesn’t have to be impossible! Because there are film grants for every filmmaker. Not only… Continue reading The Ultimate Film Grants List for Every Filmmaker in 2021
Making a short film can seem like an indomitable task. Most writers and directors struggle to get their productions off the ground, often because they lack the resources to get started. No need to worry though, we’re going to show you step-by-step how to make a short film with video guides and all the software… Continue reading How to Make a Short Film — 12 Steps from Idea to Finished Film
Most movies you watch are shot with film permits, in a studio, and with a full production crew that is doing everything “by the book.” But not every movie made has a chance to shoot in this way; even big films might have to do things on the downlow. We are, of course, talking about… Continue reading Guerilla Filmmaking — Style, Tips, Gear, and Movie Examples
I n the process of video production, you’ll eventually need to start location scouting. But considering permits, fees, and logistics, it can be daunting to find locations that work for your budget. But the importance cannot be overestimated. Worry not! There is hope. You don’t need a Hollywood budget to get good locations. What you need is… Continue reading 11 Essential Location Scouting Tips: How to Plan a Movie Shoot
Most people typically think of the more creative side of the production process such as cinematography, directing, or writing. Although these are immensely important, there is a side behind the scenes of a production that must be kept in order for a production to run smoothly. That would be the much less glamorous, but still… Continue reading What Is a Production Coordinator? Salary & Job Description
