The Essential Music Video Credits Format Guide [with FREE Template]

Credits are crucial in music videos. At the dawn of music video, lower thirds stamped the beginning and end of each video. But that was the 80’s. With all the ways to watch video nowadays, how do you give credit where it’s due?Thankfully it’s easy to master the music video title format. Just keep the end goal in mind: to credit your creatives and crew in an engaging way. We’ll show you what credits you need and how to present them. And we’ll also hook you up with a great music video title card template to use for your own…

ASC Celebrates 100 Years with a Best Cinematography Films 100 List

Earlier this year, the American Society of Cinematographers celebrated its 100th year anniversary. The ASC’s mission is to not only tell incredible stories, but to preserve the history of those that it made it possible. So what’s a better way to celebrate than with a really, really long list of the best cinematography movies of all time! The society voted and did an amazing job. But did the democratic system fail them? Just kidding, it’s an incredible list, but there are a few other insanely influential films that we think they might have missed, (and we may have added the).…

How to Overcome Stage Fright — Jenny Slate & Other Comedians Share

Ican’t imagine what it must be like to be a comedian. You work for hours, days, or even months, to get a tight 10 or 15-minute bit. As you bring your hard work onto the stage, you pray the audience doesn’t deafen you with their silence. If success on the stage is measured by the lack of objects being thrown at you, it’s no wonder why even famous comedians experience stage fright. Because even if you’re absolutely hilarious, there might be a night when you bomb, because you’re also, absolutely human. Continue reading How to Overcome Stage Fright — Jenny…

VFX: How to Use a Green Screen Like a Pro in 4 Easy Steps

"Ahorse walks into a gym" is not the opening of a bad joke. Not for me. See, for me it was the reality I faced in scheduling a complicated VFX composite shot. We had to get a horse on a treadmill in a crowded health club. Just another day for an AD. What is VFX like on a practical level? How do you create cool video effects? I’ll show you how to use VFX, how to use a green screen, and how to plan a composite shot on a deadline. Whether you need a horse on a treadmill for an…

Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek: Should This Be Tarantino’s Last Movie?

Best Tarantino MoviesQT's Directing StyleQT Directing Tips QT DialogueOnce Upon a Time AnalysisBasterds Breakdown Speculation about Tarantino's last movie has now reached full tilt — but are we really ready for Quentin Tarantino's Star Trek? There is only one final film to go before we find out if QT was bluffing or not. But what should it be? For us fans, what would be a satisfactory swan song?Quentin Tarantino movies are special — we know this because Tarantino lets us know how special they are. It all started with Kill Bill Vol. 1 when the poster informed us that this…

Famous Movie Cars: A List of the Most Iconic Movie Cars of All Time

Nothing says movie nostalgia quite like the cars the characters drive, especially when the film involves racing of any kind. In many cases, these vehicles can become the visual icon for the entire film. They also become extensions of the characters themselves — they're not just props, they become key elements of the character development. And you don't have to be a gearhead to appreciate just how cool some of these vehicles are. So, without further ado, here is our curated list of the most famous movie cars in cinema history.Continue reading Famous Movie Cars: A List of the Most…

What is Branded Content? Examples from Successful Campaigns

Branded content is a powerful marketing technique that can elicit emotions in its consumers, build trust between consumer and brand, and increase brand revenue. If done well, it can be extremely effective, but it often receives a negative connotation as skeptics wonder if the hyper-dramatized content often associated with it, is working only for the better of the brand. But is that always the case? What is branded content and can it do for both the brand and consumer? Continue reading What is Branded Content? Examples from Successful Campaigns

VFX in Netflix’s Mindhunter: Matte Paintings, Composites, and 3D Tracking

When I watch the Netflix series Mindhunter, I’m blown away by how accurate the production design seems to portray the time period. I think to myself, “How do they find these places?”The short answer… they don’t. They find locations that have the right skeleton, and then collaborate with a skilled VFX team to enhance scenes with CGI like matte paintings, 3D tracking, and composites.Take a look at the Mindhunter VFX in the video below:Continue reading VFX in Netflix’s Mindhunter: Matte Paintings, Composites, and 3D Tracking