Why do filmmakers need to know about 3 point lighting? It's great for picture-day photography, but what if you’re looking for an explanation of how 3 point lighting works for film and video?We’re going to show you why 3 point lighting is important for filmmakers, but also take you deeper into some advanced techniques, and how you can use it to effectively light large scenes.Continue reading Three-Point Video Lighting: Key, Fill, & Backlight Setup Guide
Soviet Montage Theory is one of the most technically influential film movements of all time. In this article, we’re going to define what Soviet Montage Theory is, then break down the five different types with examples from Russian cinema history. Continue reading Soviet Montage Theory — Definition, Examples and Types of Montage
The Austin Powers opening scene is one of the most memorable comedic set pieces in film history. With skydiving, motorcycles and exploding helicopters, it’s an incredibly detailed shoot, and the only way the Austin Powers 3 opening scene was even possible was with detailed storyboarding. In this co-production with Sundance Co//ab, Director Jay Roach shares his original storyboards and explains how he used them to shoot such a complicated scene while balancing action, comedy, tone, and contrast. We’ve imported the original storyboards that were used for the Austin Powers intro into StudioBinder’s storyboard software to provide useful tips you can…
Online storyboard creators give your projects a clear visual plan that communicates your creative goals for your story. In today’s post, we’ll take you step-by-step on how to make a storyboard in an online storyboard creator. Then we’ll show you how to use free storyboard software to upload your sketches and reference images into ultra-clean layouts while customizing display options as you go.Continue reading StudioBinder Storyboard Creator: Step-by-Step Guide
Music is an unsung hero of film. It can evoke emotions without words, create a unique aesthetic and style, and connect an audience to a film. In this post, we’ll explore the various ways you can use music to create meaning and utterly, unforgettable film moments.Continue reading How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with Music
Using lower thirds in Premiere can add crucial context to your videos. But there’s a plethora of creative lower thirds to choose from out there. It’s all too easy to get overwhelmed. Don’t worry. As with any part of video producing, just focus on what’s right for your project. And keep in mind some tried-and-true principles of creating lower thirds in Premiere to stay on track.Prepare to be inspired by the great examples we found. And, because we’re so darn nice, we also designed a free lower thirds template just for you. So download and get started on those titles…
Choosing to work with Hollywood’s unions is a major decision for any filmmaker or producer. There are pros and cons to joining or not joining. The choices you make at the start could have far-reaching consequences for your film. If you make the wrong decision, you may find yourself in unchartered waters. Your crew members may start to dictate demands of their union. I have been on both sides of this and believe unions are a necessary part of filmmaking, so it is critical to understand how they operate. Continue reading Ultimate Guide to Working with Unions: Grieved and…
There’s an old film school thought experiment that asks about a character, “What does he have in his refrigerator?” In this post, we’re going to practice that experiment.We can learn plenty about who a character is from the things they say, as well as the things others say about them. But we also learn who a character is by scores of other little details in the text of the script.Now we’re going to talk about how to actually use the Breakdown Summary, along with the text of the script itself, to flesh out who a character is from the perspective…
Writing dialogue is the best part of writing a screenplay. It’s the part of the writing where you get to be an actor for a while and cast powerful magic spells, or save an innocent man from prison, or lead an army into battle - at least in your mind.But dialogue is also something a lot of screenwriters struggle with. So, in this post we’re going to talk about how to write realistic, natural-sounding dialogue. We’ll give you some good examples from different genres, and we’ll show you how to properly format dialogue using the StudioBinder's free screenwriting software.Continue reading…
How often do you find yourself scrolling through Netflix for an hour trying to find something to watch? The next time that happens, put down the remote for a second and bring up this list.We’ll be updating this guide to the best movies on Netflix monthly, so all of you aspiring filmmakers out there can keep up with what you need to watch next.From horror to comedy and everything in between, it’s all gathered right here. We’ll rank each film based on its acting, filmmaking, writing, and overall entertainment value for people bored on Friday night.Of all the top Netflix…
