What was the Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance was a landmark art movement that changed the course of music, literature, and culture. We’re going to explore the history of the Harlem Renaissance by looking at its pioneers. By the end, you’ll know how the Harlem Renaissance started, how it ended, who its leaders were, and why it was so important. Continue reading What Was the Harlem Renaissance — And Why It Mattered
How do you write an action scene in a screenplay? How specific and technical should you get? Or, is it better to leave the action description simplistic with the knowledge that a director, choreography, and stunt coordinator will be working out the details of the action? Different screenwriters answer these questions in different ways, and there is no ONE correct answer. Since action can be approached in a multitude of ways, let’s learn through examples and look at scripts that tackle action through three distinct methods.Continue reading How to Write an Action Scene in a Screenplay — 3 Methods
What is lens flare? It’s probably appeared on some of your photos or footage. Sometimes it ruins images, and sometimes it surprises you and makes you feel like you are the greatest photographer in all the land. If you’re an aspiring photographer or filmmaker, though, you’ll probably want and need more control over your images. So, once we determine what is lens flare, we’ll provide some suggestions for how to avoid it and how to capture it.Continue reading What is Lens Flare? How to Get It & How to Avoid It
Selling the action of a fight sequence relies on many things from the actor’s performance to the choreography to the set dressing and design. However, an unsung hero of epic fight sequences is the cinematography. Cinematographers prepare to shoot incredible fight scenes by using shot lists and storyboards. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to create a shot list, how to storyboard a fight scene, and the most important things to consider and include in them. Continue reading How to Storyboard a Fight Scene — Tips & Examples
Do you hear any disembodied voices right now? How about when you’re watching a movie, show, or commercial? Have you considered that what you’re hearing is known as a voice over? They show up all over media, either for entertainment or informative reasons; from your television to even your phone when you’re put on hold. So what is voice over, where have you heard it, where did it come from, and what does it mean today?Continue reading What is Voice Over — Definition and Examples in Film
To understand appropriate sentence structure is to understand the grammatical building blocks of the English language. By having a strong grip on the structures of your sentences, you will be a more versatile writer. In this article, we’ll break down what sentence structure is, what the four types of sentence structures are, and how to use them.Continue reading What is Sentence Structure — Examples and Tips for Writers
Although we often overlook it today, the breathtaking clarity of cinematography is a relatively recent development. Not too long ago, the images that graced the screens of cinemas and our homes were often filled with graininess and blurriness. However, everything changed with the advent of high-definition technology. High definition, or HD, is therefore not just a buzzword but a significant leap in visual fidelity. But what is high definition, and what is the science behind the technology?Continue reading What is High Definition — History, Types & Impact
While cinema is known for being a primarily visual medium, there is no doubt how much of an impact music can have on a film. Some of the most iconic scenes in history are remembered with a song attached. Sometimes the music choices are left to a director far after the screenplay is written. However, other times music is baked into the screenplay itself and how a scene may operate. In this article, you’ll learn when and how to write music into a screenplay so that you can create unforgettable scenes through music.Continue reading How to Write Music into a…
Shooting a documentary is very different from shooting a narrative film. In many ways it can be on the cuff, guerilla style shooting. Documentaries can also be made of properly planned and composed shoots. Great documentaries are made of both and thus require an organized documentary shooting schedule. Creating a documentary shooting schedule is an effective way to ensure that you get the everything you need to piece together a compelling documentary. It will also help our production stay organized, efficient, and streamlined. Let’s dive into how to create a documentary shooting schedule. Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Shooting Schedule
 Shooting documentaries can be incredibly spontaneous. However, this does not mean that they do not require preparation to shoot. Creating a storyboard for a documentary is a great idea for various reasons. The process of storyboarding can help you curate the visual tone, style, and story of your documentary. In this article, we’ll dive into the reasons why storyboarding a documentary is a good idea and how to create a documentary storyboard for your project. Continue reading How to Create a Documentary Storyboard — Free Template
