How to Use a C-Stand — Parts, Functions & Proper Usage Tips

What would you consider the most versatile tool on a set? Most filmmakers and grips would probably come to the same conclusion — the C-Stand, otherwise known as the workhorse of a film production. They are the humble heroes that can impact both the quality of a shot as well as the safety of a… Continue reading How to Use a C-Stand — Parts, Functions & Proper Usage Tips

Cinematography and Film Terms Every Working Filmmaker Should Know

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

Extreme Close-Up Shots: Creative Examples That Work

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

8 Production Hacks for a 2nd AD Shooting on Location

So you’ve done everything you can think of to prep during pre-production. You now find yourself on set. Here are 8 production hacks for a 2nd AD to put into practice immediately. This is a companion to piece to 7 Pre-Production Hacks for 2nd AD’s. If you haven’t had the chance to give it a read, check it out!… Continue reading 8 Production Hacks for a 2nd AD Shooting on Location

Ultimate Guide to Script Supervisors (FREE Script Supervisor Template)

We’ve all seen a continuity error in a film or noticed a plot hole at some point. The fact that you don’t see hundreds of them is because productions hire someone to pay attention to the details of a script. This person on set is known as the script supervisor. We’ll go over what a… Continue reading Ultimate Guide to Script Supervisors (FREE Script Supervisor Template)

What Does a Producer Do: The Various Types of Producers in Film & TV

What does a producer do, exactly? More to the point, why are there so many different types of producers in film, TV, and video production? Do you know the difference between a producer versus an executive producer? How about a co-producer, associate producer, or TV producer? Some of the distinctions won’t be cut-and-dry, but understanding… Continue reading What Does a Producer Do: The Various Types of Producers in Film & TV

Ultimate Guide to Sound Recording: Audio Gear and Techniques

BasicsOpen menu What is Sound Design What Does a Sound Designer Do Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing What is Voice Over What is a Foley Artist What is Diegetic Sound  What is Non-Diegetic Sound What is a Film Score What is Asynchronous Sound What is Music Licensing TechniquesOpen menu Ultimate Guide to Sound Recording Filmmaker’s… Continue reading Ultimate Guide to Sound Recording: Audio Gear and Techniques

How to Shoot the Best Fight Scenes Like Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes

You grew up watching the best fight scenes and loved every bone-cracking minute of them. They are one of the reasons you became a filmmaker, and perhaps you’ve already put together a few of your own. But for some reason… they just don’t play the way you had hoped. It’s not like you don’t know how… Continue reading How to Shoot the Best Fight Scenes Like Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes

How to Efficiently Schedule a Montage: Pro Tips for Producers & 1st ADs

Amovie montage can accomplish many things, from interweaving multiple storylines to delivering jokes. But accounting for a montage in your production schedule is no laughing matter. What can be summed up in two or three lines in a script, translates to many more minutes on screen.  So how does the savvy producer or 1st AD… Continue reading How to Efficiently Schedule a Montage: Pro Tips for Producers & 1st ADs