Anytime you see an actor handle or interact with an object in a film, that object was carefully picked out and acquired by a single person — the prop master. Films can have an incredible amount of props and each one is important in its own way. Behind it all is a prop master. What is a prop master and why are they important to a production? In this article, we’ll cover how prop masters approach a script, how they acquire props, and the other responsibilities they have on and off set. Continue reading What is a Prop Master —…
Without editors, films would never be made. They are one of the most integral roles of a film’s creation. Like cinematographers, editors are part technicians and part creatives which broadens their responsibilities. What does a film editor do in a film’s production? In this article, we’ll take a look at the role and responsibilities of an editor and what it takes to become one. Continue reading What Does a Film Editor Do — Role and Responsibilities
On a macro level, the creative force behind the visual look of a film falls in the hands of the director and director of photography. However, there is only one person on set responsible for what falls within the four lines of the frame — the camera operator. What is a camera operator in filmmaking? The camera operator is not only responsible for what falls in frame, but also what they leave out. They have various responsibilities that help ensure that they get the shot. We’ll dive into those responsibilities and more in this article. Continue reading What is a…
Short films are unique in the sense that they’re usually produced under tighter budgets and stricter time-frames than their feature-length counterparts. As such, we thought it would be a good idea to break down how to make a short film schedule, so you can plan your production as efficiently as possible. By the end, you’ll have everything you need in order to create a short film schedule and stick to it.Continue reading Short Film Schedule Tips — How to Plan Your Entire Production
Great movies are often praised for incredible direction, cinematography, or performances. But one of the more important aspects of the filmmaking process that unfortunately does not receive proper recognition is costume design. Costume designers are more than just fashion designers. They are storytellers that utilize the craft of fashion design to tell a story. In this article, we’ll take a look at the differences between a fashion designer and costume designer, the responsibilities of a costume designer, and why those responsibilities make them integral to the filmmaking process. Continue reading What is a Costume Designer — Job Description, Duties & Salary
What is the MPAA? You may or may not have heard the acronym before, but you have definitely seen and felt the influence of this organization if you have been to the movies in the past 99 years. The acronym was recently shortened to the MPA, but most people will be more familiar with their previous title as the MPAA. This long-standing organization has a complex history and has been a powerful force in the film industry for better and worse. In this post, we’ll be unraveling the entire complicated history of the MPAA, but first, let’s get started by…
Have you ever wondered why movies are rated the way that they are? The rating a film receives can have a significant impact on its audience size and, by the same token, on its box office revenue. But, what do all of the various letter ratings really mean? We will be explaining each of the current movie ratings as well as all of the former ratings that are no longer used. Let’s tackle each rating in escalating order of severity, but first, a bit of background on the rating process.Continue reading Movie Ratings Explained — Origins & How They’ve Changed
A Filmmaker's Guide to Script Breakdowns (Free Ebook)Learn how to create script breakdowns, categorize elements, and generate production reports.How to Create a Script Breakdown ExplainedThe script breakdown process explained, start to finishBeing able to execute proper camera exposure in photography and video requires fundamental knowledge of what's known as The Exposure Triangle. It consists of three pillars — aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.This is ultimate guide walks you through the key methods to emerge with the knowledge and confidence to elevate your imagery.You'll Learn:ContentsWhat is the script breakdown?How to break down a scriptCommon production elementsFormatting a script properlyWhat is a…
A Filmmaker's Guide to Shooting Schedules (FREE Ebook)Understand the fundamentals of creating a shooting schedule from start to finish.How to Create Shooting SchedulesMaster the film scheduling process, from start to finishThere are a lot of variables to consider when creating a real-world shooting schedule — time to prep, time to shoot, availability of talent, crew, locations, vendors, union requirements and break times to name a few. These are considerations that take filmmakers and 1st ADs years to master. With this ebook, we will fast-track your skillset so you can jump into any production and create an effective, and realistic, shooting schedule in…
Think of some of your favorite films or television series of all time. Whether they are rooted in fantasy or made to be naturalistic, odds are they required some special effects. To bring those effects to life, a Special Effects Supervisor got the job done. And in this article, we’ll dive into the role and responsibilities of a Special Effects Supervisor and what skills a successful supervisor should possess. Continue reading What is a Special Effects Supervisor — Job Description & Role Explained
