Every story ever created started with one thing: an idea. Now, how that idea is developed and brought to life changes from person to person because everyone’s “process” is different. So, why am I telling you this? Well, the hope is that by showing you one of my processes and how StudioBinder’s project features fit into that process, you can then in turn customize your project to fit your process. Come along as I develop an idea for a script using project features. Continue reading How to Brainstorm an Idea in StudioBinder
The Western is the quintessential American film genre. From the 1930s to the 1960s, American cinemas were filled with cowboys saving towns and fending off outlaws. While the classic Western may have gone out of fashion, it didn’t disappear completely. Instead, it morphed into what we know as the Neo Western. Let’s see what separates movies like No Country for Old Men from classic Westerns as well as rank the best modern Western movies for you to watch next. Continue reading The Best Modern Western Movies of All Time — Neo-Westerns Ranked
If you’ve ever been an AD on a production you know how massive a shooting schedule can become, especially on a feature. So much so, that when printing one out, you should probably add a line to your budget for paper and ink. That’s where our dear friend the one-liner comes in. Follow along for a step-by-step on how to create a one line schedule that can save you time and money on your next production.Continue reading How to Create a One Line Schedule for Any Production
It can be difficult to land storyboard jobs, but a great way to get your foot in the door is landing a storyboard internship. Internships for storyboard artists can teach you the ins and outs of the trade, and also help you build valuable connections that will come in handy as your career progresses.Continue reading Storyboard Internships — Best Options & How to Get One
Photography and cinematography are often referred to as “painting with light.” This means that photographers and videographers need to have a keen understanding of how to use light when capturing images, from both an artistic and scientific standpoint. Lighting ratios stand firmly in between the two camps, used creatively but achieved through a mathematical formula. Let’s look at what a lighting ratio is, and how you can use it.Continue reading Lighting Ratios Explained — And Why They Matter
When a layperson thinks about how a movie is shot, a director and cinematographer is typically what comes to mind. But a large part of a shot’s quality comes from the work of the 1st assistant camera. But what does an AC do? We’ll give you the 1st assistant camera job description, duties, salary, and more.Continue reading 1st Assistant Camera — Job Description & Role Explained
Suspension of belief describes an audience temporarily accepting the reality of a film and forgetting they are being shown a fabricated production. While an actor's performance and director's vision are at the forefront of this suspension of belief, details can also have a huge impact. One of these details is the people that appear in a shot that simply fills the scene and makes a sporting event, museum, street corner, or shopping mall feel real. This is where background actors come into the picture.Continue reading What is a Background Actor and How to Become One
Joel and Ethan Coen are filmmakers that play by their own rules, and they seem to delight in this defiance. The plots are never straight forward — they are either slightly confusing and downright impossible. The satisfying ending you were hoping for may or may not come. Who are the Coen Brothers? And what makes them such a singular voice in Hollywood? This is a list of the best Coen Brothers movies ranked — which ended up being quite a difficult task.Continue reading The Best Coen Brothers Movies Ranked (and Their Desk Motifs)
There’s no denying that Terry Gilliam’s films have left an indelible imprint on the landscape of cinema. Gilliam got his start as a cartoonist in L.A. before joining the Monty Python. While with the Pythons, Gilliam worked as an animator, writer, director, and actor. After the group went their separate ways in the early 1980s, Gilliam began directing his own films. We’re going to rank the best Terry Gilliam movies from both his time with the Pythons and on his own. Each film on this list is a feature either written or directed by Terry Gilliam. Continue reading The Best…
Imagine one day you’re writing movies or acting in a major studio’s film, and the next, you can’t find work anywhere. Such is the way of blacklisting. The practice, in one form or another, is still active today but not nearly as rampant as it once was. For an accurate Hollywood Blacklist definition, we need to go back to the '40s & '50s in Hollywood. But what does blacklisted mean and how much of an issue is it today? Let’s dive into the concept that upended the careers of Charlie Chaplin, Dalton Trumbo, and many others. Continue reading Blacklist Definition…
