Storytelling may start with an idea and a script. Along the way, it may garner tons of attention and praise for its directing and star-studded cast. But what can sound do for a story? Sound design involves much more than level dialogue and explosions. It’s highly technical, but requires an enormous amount of creativity. If done well, it can tell a truly powerful story. For the typical movie-goer, sound editing vs sound mixing can sometimes be confused with each other, but they are different. The two serve completely different purposes, and both are necessary for a truly cinematic experience.Continue reading…
What does deus ex machina mean? Writers work hard to put their characters into terrible situations to find new and creative ways to get them out. It’s entertaining and it’s a sign of a great, organic story. Conflict needs to live and breathe. But conflict also demands resolution. Catharsis. But for some writers, that catharsis comes cheap. This post explores the deus ex machina meaning in film with a few examples. Let’s jump in. Continue reading Deus ex Machina — Meaning, Definition & Examples
A strong foundation is the key to a successful film shoot. But the pre production process is not a straight path. Continue reading How to Produce a Movie: The Pre-Production Process Explained
Crediting one person and nailing the exact year of when the camera was invented isn’t that simple. Mainly because the internet gives a ton of different answers. It turns out, a quick history lesson solves the problem. So, if "when was the camera invented" or "who invented the camera" are questions that keep you up at night, you’ve come to the right page. Continue reading When Was the Camera Invented — Dates & Inventors Explained
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to scheduling your film shoot. In fact, every producer has their own tried and true method to scheduling their shoot. But for as many scenes that you create, there is an equal number of possibilities when it comes to arranging them. There are many ways to schedule your shoot, this post discusses what’s most important to consider, and why. It goes through the hierarchy of considerations to have the most sensible and cost effective production. Let's jump in. Continue reading Hierarchy of Considerations When Scheduling a Shoot
Unlike painting or writing, which are often done in isolation, making a film requires a team effort. Gaffers, Cinematographers, Best Boys, PAs — but who does what and why? There are few roles in film production more valuable than a 1st AD but what is an assistant director and what does an assistant director do? In this post, we'll detail the role and provide insight into standard assistant director duties to remind you just how important they are. Or, if you're looking to become an assistant director on set, this is your first step in that direction. Continue reading…
When countries are at war, every industry within them is also under attack. Or at the very least, is vulnerable to change. After WW1, German films became stranger and quite a bit darker. The control of the government banning foreign films also aided to their isolation. From there, German Expressionism was born. But what is German Expressionism in film? Let’s find out.Continue reading What is German Expressionism in Film? Defining the Style
Where can you download great B-roll footage online? Anyone with a camera can capture B-roll video, but that doesn’t mean it has the right frame rate, color correction, or have the right subject matter. It could be more affordable to just purchase your B-roll footage. Don’t worry because we’ve put together a list of the best websites for finding affordable or free B-roll footage online. We also provide websites for paid B-roll video just in case. Lezgo. Continue reading 24 Websites to Find Affordable or Free B-Roll Footage
Exposition in film or screenwriting is one of the most difficult aspects to master. It’s necessary for our audience to understand our characters and plot, but we don’t really want the audience to be aware of exposition, in and of itself. When that happens, it can jar the audience right out of our story. And it also just makes our writing look bad. In this post, we’ll take a look at ways to avoid the common pitfalls of clunky exposition, as well as some excellent examples of exposition that have been seamlessly integrated into the overall narrative.Continue reading 12 Secrets…
The answer to the title question is pretty obvious: screenwriters write screenplays, right? Well, yeah, but there's much more to the craft than the finished product. Every writer has their own process so let's hear from some incredibly talented and iconic screenwriters to see how they approach their stories. Once we get the full picture from those who do it everyday, we can better answer the question, what does a screenwriter do?Continue reading What Does a Screenwriter Do? The Fundamentals of the Job
