Ever watch a sci-fi movie and wonder how they filmed it? Are there secret movie studios on the Moon? Mars? Westeros? Unfortunately not, the answer is far less gratifying. Instead of Mars, it was probably filmed in a warehouse. However, luckily for us, chroma keying is cheaper and a lot more practical than a trip to the Moon. So cheap you might be able to use it on your next shoot! But what is a green screen, how do they work, and what are the various ways they can be used? Let's get into it.Continue reading What is a Green…
Before you yell, “Action,” you need to make sure the subject in your frame is in the sharpest, cleanest focus possible. This is known as critical focus, and it makes all the difference in having a professional-looking video and an amateur one. You need the right tools on-set to properly calibrate your camera. Right now, you may ask yourself, “What is a focus chart?” But by the end of this post, you’ll understand why you need to acquire one immediately.Continue reading What Is a Focus Chart, How They Work, and Where To Get One
Have you ever wondered how to make your films look like the pros? You might feel inclined to blame your camera, your lenses, your budget, but that would be the wrong response. All of the great cinematographers study the characteristics of light. Learning how to control the fundamentals of lighting will allow you to shape light that creates images worthy of the big screen. Although we will be discussing cinematography lighting, all of these principles apply to photography lighting as well. As this series of articles on lighting techniques progress, we will go into greater detail about each of the four…
Best Nolan MoviesNolan's Directing StyleNolan Directing Tips Nolan's CirclesNolan's Shot List Understanding how Christopher Nolan approaches filmmaking is an important step to improving your own skills, but his films are complicated puzzles that are built to confuse and perplex viewers. His use of visual and narrative circles creates intricate and layered films. In this post, we’re going to find the “head of the snake” that governs the overall philosophy of Christopher Nolan’s filmmaking. Let’s jump in.Continue reading How Christopher Nolan Films use Circles to Warp Sight & Sound
Filmmakers always strive to make an audience feel a certain way when watching their films. One of the most fundamental ways is through lighting. And fill light is one of the most fundamental lighting methods to understand. It determines the contrast, shadows, and brightness of the shot. Understanding the fundamentals of light, how to shape it, and how to use it to elevate your story will make you a more well-rounded filmmaker. Once you grasp the basics of fill light and how it functions, you can create a lighting style that is unique and functional. Let’s dive into the fill…
There is more than one way to create a time lapse video and even more ways fine-tune the time-lapse-capturing process. Creating great time lapse videos can be daunting as it is an incredibly technical feat with a number of settings, tools, and variables that all must be taken into account. Whether you’re wondering how time lapse videos work, what time lapse photography is, how to do a time lapse video, or even how to make a hyperlapse, we’ll walk you through the process from start to finish. Continue reading How to Make a Time Lapse Video in 5 Simple Steps
A static camera shot is perhaps the most basic tenet of cinematography and one of the first tools a growing filmmaker adds to their cinematic toolbox. Camera movement certainly makes for more dynamic visuals but knowing when to keep the camera still can have just as much impact. Let's review some static shot examples and see how filmmakers have reaped the storytelling benefits of an unmoving camera.Continue reading What is a Static Shot? Definition and Examples in Film
While many actors transition to and from the world of theatre and film, there are many differences between live acting and camera acting. To determine an actor’s presence and ability to perform on camera, producers and casting directors utilize a screen test. The format and content of a screen test can vary. Let’s look into the various uses of a screen test and why they are an essential process during Pre-Production for every project.Continue reading What is a Screen Test in Acting? Definition and Examples
Have you heard the term “principal photography” or “principal shooting” bandied about without knowing exactly what it means? Breaking into the behind the scenes world of filmmaking requires learning an entire set of specialized terminology. In this post, we’ll answer the questions: what is principal photography? How long does it take to shoot a movie? We’ll also be taking a look at the different production steps in filmmaking, covering the differences between the 3 stages of filmmaking and the 5 stages of film production, and what to do if your own principal shooting goes over schedule. Continue reading What is…
Every month, dozens of movies arrive on Netflix, but it can be a hassle keeping track of all the great content that comes and goes. Don’t fret though, we’re going to break down the best new movies on Netflix each month to help you decide on what to watch. These are the best of what’s coming to Netflix in June, 2020. Continue reading Best New Movies on Netflix, Filmmaker Playlist (October 2020)
