Acting EssentialsOpen menu What is a Screen Test in Acting What is a Casting Call What is the Taft-Hartley Act What is SAG-AFTRA What is a Cold Reading Best Acting Agencies What is a Demo Reel Acting TipsOpen menu How to Become an Actor as a Kid How to Become an Actor How The Best… Continue reading How to Become an Actor as a Kid — 8 Steps for Child Actors
EssentialOpen menu What is Creative Commons What is Fair Use What is Public Domain ResourcesOpen menu Creative Commons License Pros and Cons How Copyright Free Music Works How to Copyright a Script How to Find Award-Worthy Script Ideas from The Public Domain Best Public Domain Movies You want to make a movie. You’ve come to… 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
Directorial DepartmentOpen menu What Does an Assistant Director Do What Does a 2nd Assistant Director Do What is a Casting Director What is a Second Unit Director What Does a Director Do Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Unlike painting or writing, which are often done in isolation, making a film requires a team effort.… Continue reading What Does an Assistant Director Do? Defining the 1st AD
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
WGAOpen menu What is WGA How Do You Join the WGA WGA Minimums SAG-AFTRA IATSE Local 600 ResourcesOpen menu Complete Guide to Movie Unions Guide to Working with Unions 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… 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
BasicsOpen menu What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur ResourcesOpen menu Essential Cinematography Books Top 100 Cinematography Films DP Advice from Alex Buono Videography Contract Template Best Cinematography Schools Cinematography Jobs How to Join the Cinematographer’s Guild Best Cinematography Online Courses E-BooksOpen menu FREE… Continue reading Cinematography and Film Terms Every Working Filmmaker Should Know
EssentialOpen menu What is Creative Commons What is Fair Use What is Public Domain ResourcesOpen menu Creative Commons License Pros and Cons How Copyright Free Music Works How to Copyright a Script How to Find Award-Worthy Script Ideas from The Public Domain Best Public Domain Movies Does it seem like every story imaginable has already… 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) 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 Extreme close-up shots are a… 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 13… Continue reading 13 Best Screenwriting Contests You Need to Enter Now
ProcessOpen menu How to Make a Short Film How to Write a Short Without Dialogue Short Film Schedule Tips Write a Short That Gets Noticed Making a Short Film How to Storyboard a Short Film Phases of Short Film Pre-Production Ari Aster Short Films How Whiplash Went From a Short to a Feature ResourcesOpen menu… 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
Production DepartmentOpen menu Producer vs Director What Does an Executive Producer Do What Does a Producer Do What Does a Co-Producer Do What Does a TV Producer Do What is An Associate Producer What is a Line Producer What is Production Assistant What is an Entertainment Lawyer What Is a Production Coordinator Ultimate Guide to… Continue reading What Is a Production Coordinator? Salary & Job Description
What is below the line? If you are at all interested in the behind-the-scenes side of filmmaking, then you may have heard the terms “above the line” and “below the line” thrown around in interviews, articles, or BTS footage. Today, we’ll be providing a below the line definition, explaining where the term comes from, and… Continue reading What is Below the Line in Film & Which Crew Members Qualify?
