Cinematographers are only as good as their crew, so let’s discuss what each crew member does to help them get to the finish line. Today we’ll be discussing the crew members from the grip and electrical department on a film…
The Western is all about taming the Frontier. Let’s unpack this cinematic genre and discover how deeply it is rooted in our psyches. On the one hand, the Western, in its simplest expression, is one of the purest forms of…
The impulse response is a room’s tone after some big sound happens. Here’s how you record it properly. Having your very own impulse responses can be rather handy, especially in the world of filmmaking. You have a specific space to…
Comedy is more than telling a few jokes. In this article, we’ll take a look at the various types of comedy you’ll find in film. One thing you’ll consistently hear about comedy is that it’s hard — timing is everything,…
In this write-up, we’ll take a look at what we mean when we talk about “action films.” Look, every story ever told is a story of conflict. Whether we’re talking about a bunch of guys showing up on a beach…
Cinematographers use a variety of shots to tell visual stories. In this article, we explore one of the most common — the medium shot. Shooting a film is both an exercise in creating a fully realized world and lying to…
Need to clean up your audio? Here is a round-up of the best plug-ins for the job. Obtaining crystal clear audio isn’t always so easy. The dreaded rife of noise can make an unexpected appearance if the conditions aren’t perfect.…
There’s a invisible wall between the audience and the story they are watching. Let’s look at the impacts that breaking this fourth wall can have on your film. Let’s talk, you and I, about how storytelling works. We’ll use some…
Let’s take a look at the history of the ratings system and explore where these ratings are today. In the early 20th century, as moving pictures became a new attraction, politicians and community leaders in larger cities became concerned about…
Reality gets pretty thin these days, and it’s no surprise that filmmakers have gotten creative with the documentary format. Here are some things to remember when making your own mockumentary. Early on, you have to decide which approach you’re going…
The future arrived in the ’80s, so let’s take a look at the visual aesthetics that were born there. The 1980s were a decade filled with technological innovation, Cold War paranoia, and padded shoulders. New Wave was sweeping the shores,…
Retrofuturism is the design trend that is always on the cusp of arriving but is never out of date. Here the key elements of retro-futurism. It’s always been difficult to pin down exactly when the future is going to arrive,…
