Christmas is a time of year associated with presents, good cheer, and depending on who you ask, a great deal of gore and monsters. There’s just something about the jolly holiday season that makes for excellent juxtaposition with the horror genre. There have been plenty of mash-ups and slasher flicks that take place around Christmas, and while most have schlocky, B-movie qualities, there are some diamonds in the rough. Here’s StudioBinder’s rankings of the best Christmas horror movies of all time!Continue reading 20 Best Christmas Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked
In cinema, there exists a niche that often goes unnoticed by the mainstream yet holds a magnetic allure for those who discover it: the realm of cult classics. These films may not have garnered immediate acclaim or box office success, but over time, they've managed to carve out their own dedicated fanbase. Continue reading What is a Cult Classic — The Allure of Fringe Films
If you’re an aspiring cinematographer or director, you know that the camera is your primary storytelling tool. How you move the camera or how you frame a subject communicates intangible information to the audience. The zoom shot is just one of these techniques and adds a very particular and nuanced message. Knowing what this message is is critical to deciding when to use it. So, what is a zoom shot?Continue reading What is a Zoom Shot and When You Should Use One
Horror movies have become subject to some of the most predictable devices and tropes in cinema. While unique filmmakers like Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, and Jordan Peele continue to innovate the genre, new horror films are riddled with horror movie tropes. Although they can still be effective horror storytelling devices, they can also become unremarkable cliches in a film. Let’s take a look at fifteen common horror movie tropes. Fair warning, spoilers ahead!Continue reading Horror Movie Tropes — Top 15 Tropes & Why They’re Effective
There is something incredibly satisfying about symmetrical balance in art. While you may not be able to define it (yet), most people know it when they see it. From architecture to paintings to photography to cinema, symmetrical balance is a tool used by artists of all mediums. Why is the technique used, beloved, and sometimes avoided by artists? What is symmetrical balance in art and composition? Let’s find out.Continue reading What is Symmetrical Balance in Art — Composition Techniques
Have you ever seen a photograph or a shot in a film and found your eyes wandering across the frame only to land at something significant? Odds are, leading lines were used to direct your attention. Photographers and cinematographers alike use various types of lines to lead the viewer’s eyes and tell a story through an image. What are leading lines and how can you use them? Let’s take a look at how this technique can benefit a shot’s aesthetic and function and how you can use them in your own compositions. Continue reading What Are Leading Lines — Composition in…
The Inception hallway scene is one of the all-time best cinematic action scenes – but how did director Christopher Nolan and his production team make it? We’re going to take you behind the scenes to show you the technical ingenuity of the Inception hallway scene. A sequence that not only boggles the mind but was executed without the use of CGI. By the end, you’ll know how the scene was made, and why it’s such a remarkable example of practical effects.Continue reading Inception Hallway Scene — How They Shot It Without CGI
Any great director has fans and detractors, lovers and haters. But few filmmakers inspire division as extreme as comic book, movie maestro, Zack Snyder. Frivolous hack, or pop art genius? Stylist without substance, or masterful cinematic storyteller?Even Snyder’s critics admit that what he does well, he does better than anyone. Snyder's kinetic action sequences can pull viewers into a heightened, tone-rich fray. This guide to Zack Snyder’s directing style focuses on his on-screen wins and how he achieves them. We'll examine Snyder's techniques and see how he creates his undeniable visual mood and energy. Let's dive in.Continue reading Zack Snyder’s…
Tripods in filmmaking used to be a necessity due to the weight of older cameras. As cameras have become lighter and lighter, many new age filmmakers jump to the handheld shot immediately. And while there is a time and a place for the handheld shot, many critics have pointed out its overuse in cinema today. That being said, there has never been a better time to go back to basics and learn about the fundamentals of the tripod.Continue reading What is a Tripod — Definition, Types and Functions Explained
Screenplays, as well as script treatments, are well known as the foundation for any movie. People in the industry also know that there are so many screenplays out in the wild that have not been produced. But what about those that are chosen for production? Well, they evolve to become shooting scripts. What is a shooting script, you ask? If you’ve been on the internet researching scripts for famous movies, it’s possible you have already seen one.There is a fine line that exists between what is a regular screenplay and what is a shooting script. We’re going to make sure…
