If you’re familiar with David Fincher movies, you know they focus on serial killers, robbers, brawlers, and murderers alike. You might also know that he has a reputation for being an exacting, obsessively technical director. However, dark subjects and visual meticulousness belie Fincher’s overlooked secret weapon: his ability to connect with actors on a human level to draw out authentic and defining performances. This humanity, this messy warmth, doesn’t simply transcend Fincher’s bleakness and robot-like technical rigor: it exists because of it. That’s the genius of David Fincher films.Continue reading The Directing Style of David Fincher
The idea for The Lion King came in late 1988 when Roy E. Disney, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Peter Schneider had the idea to have an animated film set in Africa. The screenplay went through numerous stages, and over time, it became the classic film millions of people love today with heartfelt quotes, lovable characters, and an emotionally-satisfying ending.What can we learn from The Lion King script?Continue reading The Lion King Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
Every time I finish a film, I always hear this question: “What are your next short film ideas?” Whenever I hear it, my brow furrows, my palms start to sweat, and I squeeze out an apologetic shrug. Continue reading Finding the Best Short Film Ideas that Level Up Your Career
The Godfather is rightfully one of the greatest films ever made. Everything works magnificently together. But one of the most overlooked aspects of the film is how well the blocking and staging are. Today for our film analysis of The Godfather, we’re examining a pivotal scene in the character development of Michael Corleone. In particular, we’re focusing on how the actors’ movements and camera direction help tell the story. Be wary of oranges, and let’s dive in!Continue reading The Godfather: Analysis of a Scene — Director’s Playbook
Want to make a commercial for flaming hot cheetos starring Jim Carrey as The Mask? Maybe that’s just me. But if you’re trying to break into commercial directing, you’re going to need a great spec ad under your belt and in your reel.With countless other filmmakers putting out spec commercials to get noticed, it’s more important than ever to give your specs some edge.Continue reading 8 Ways To Make Your Spec Commercial Stand Out [with Spec Ad Examples]
Finding the right lens for your camera can vastly improve your images and overall production, but learning what you need to know about video and photo camera lenses can be expensive and time-consuming. Continue reading Camera Lens Mounts Explained: Types of Lens Mounts and Adapters
A model release form is important to protect photographers from liability and licensing claims that may arise down the road. In this post, you'll learn how to maximize its protections and download a free model release form template to help you get you started.Continue reading The Best Free Model Release Form Template for Photography
Footage is a term that’s become synonymous with film – but what is footage? And where did the term originate? Today, we’re going to get to the bottom of those questions by exploring the history of the term and by outlining a definition. By the end, you’ll know where “footage” came from and what it means.Continue reading What is Footage — Definition, Origins & Types Explained
Past. Present. Future. These are the three tenses that structure time. But what are the tenses of a verb? And more simply: what is a verb tense? Fear not, we’re going to answer those questions, as well as break down all twelve types of verb tenses. By the end, you’ll know what a verb tense is and how to identify the correct one for each use-case.Continue reading Verb Tenses — Ultimate Guide to Past, Present & Future
Sets are crucially important to a film’s success. A great set can inform a character, story, and mood all at once. But great sets don’t just appear out of nowhere– they arise out of a keen attention to detail and tons of hard work from a set dresser. So what is set dressing, and what does a set dresser do?Continue reading What is Set Dressing — How Film Sets Are Brought to Life
