Best Movies on HBO Right Now — Filmmaker Playlist (Oct 2020)

Though best known for producing many of the best television shows of all time, HBO is also home to many excellent films. HBO caught on quick that streaming was the way of the future, and got into the only media game early. We’ll be taking a look at what movies are on HBO right now. HBO-Go is home to not just every great HBO original series, but also hundreds of films ranging from all-time classics to new releases. Joining us in counting down the top 50 HBO movies available right now.Continue reading Best Movies on HBO Right Now — Filmmaker…

How to Use Color in Film like Kubrick: Mise-en-Scène Elements Explained

Mise en scene plays a huge role in communicating the tone of a story -- but what is mise en scene? In classical terms, mise en scene is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play or film. Today, mise en scene is regarded as all of the elements that go into any single shot of a production. Four of the most important aspects of mise en scene are: sets, props, costume/hair/makeup, and lighting. We’re going to show you how master filmmakers apply color to these four aspects of mise en scene with examples from films by Stanley…

The Wes Anderson Color Palette: Bright Colors Meet Dark Subjects

You can tell a lot about a movie based on its color palettes. Color evokes mood and tone. And few directors understand this quite as idiosyncratically as Wes Anderson. In pretty much all of his films, you could take any single frame and learn so much about the characters or plot. And it all comes down to how he uses color. For this blog, we’re breaking down a single Wes Anderson color palette from each of his movies to see what we can glean across his filmography and how his use of color plays with costumes, character development, and themes.…

Ultimate Guide to Camera Gear — Every Type of Camera Rig Explained

Shot SizeShot FramingCamera AnglesCamera FocusCamera GearCamera MovementCamera Lenses When faced with a blank canvas, a painter must first choose their brush, colors, and subject before they even make a single stroke. Similarly, a filmmaker approaches a shot by first choosing the right tools that serve their story. Some of the most impactful tools to how a shot both looks and feels are camera rigs.Camera rigs are camera support systems that help cinematographers add specific movement to a shot. However, they can also be camera gear that move a camera in a completely unique way. We’ll break down the most fundamental…

Best Animated Movies of All Time — From Aardman to Zootopia

Over the years, animated movies have changed the landscape of cinema with fantastic imagery, other-wordly stories, and sobering morals. We all remember watching animated movies when we were children, whether it be the work of Disney, Pixar, Studio Ghibli, Dreamworks, or another production house - but there’s so much more to animated movies than what we saw as children. In this article, we’re going to rank the best animated movies of all time - from Aardman Animations to Zootopia.Each film on this list was selected because it offers something extraordinary to the world of animated cinema, whether it be for…

Best Movies of the 2000s — The Entire Decade Ranked

The 2000s were a weird time for cinema -- kind of sandwiched in between the indie 90’s scene and the blockbuster 2010’s scene. But there are so many great movies that came out between 2000 and 2009, that we thought it would be interesting to look back at what made them so great. So without further ado, this is our list of the best movies of the 2000s.Continue reading Best Movies of the 2000s — The Entire Decade Ranked

What is a Whip Pan or Swish Pan: How to Shoot Whip Pan Transitions

Whip pans, swish pans, whip shot — whatever you call them, they are a great tool for creating seamless cuts and cool effects in your videos, but understanding how to build an effective whip pan is equally important. Continue reading What is a Whip Pan or Swish Pan: How to Shoot Whip Pan Transitions

The 10 Absolute Best Stop Motion Movies

  Stop motion movies are no easy feat. When it comes to animating features, creating and manipulating frame by frame, giving us the appearance of movement, takes years to complete. But the final product can bring a story to life in ways never imagined with live-action. Stop motion movies have such an appeal that even the most dramatic of writers have delved into giving them a go. Here is our list of the 10 best stop motion movies to date. Continue reading The 10 Absolute Best Stop Motion Movies

The Best Movies of 2014 — The Year in Review

Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2014 was a year of innovations. Boyhood was shot over the span of 12 years to show the young actor growing up in real-time. Birdman brought the concept of a one-shot (or seemingly one-shot) film to the masses. But it was also the year where entertaining blockbusters (Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to name two) held artistic merit and were worthy to stand among Oscar contenders.Looking back on the past decade, 2014 was a great year at the movies. As part of StudioBinder’s ongoing series to examine films of the…

The Best Movies of 2012 — The Year in Review

Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2012 has one of the most eclectic lists in StudioBinder’s series on the past decade. From raucous comedies to quiet introspections on political figures to superhero movies, 2012 had it all. No matter what kind of cinephile you consider yourself, there was plenty to choose from at cinemas. Chances are good you’re number one pick of 2012 is vastly different from anyone else’s.Welcome to the next blog of an ongoing series to rank and review movies from the 2010s. The best movies of 2012 have been gathered here for your convenience. If you ever want to take a…