What is screen direction in film? Why is it important? And how can it be used creatively? We’ll be answering all of these questions and providing you with everything you need to know about screen direction. We’ll get started with a comprehensive definition, then drill down deeper into the various techniques and applications associated with… Continue reading What is Screen Direction in Film — How to Preserve Continuity
Film editing is an underrated art form, and oftentimes under-appreciated. Editing is the backbone of filmmaking — it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to the craft, including developing one’s own unique editing style, and breaking the rules. Let’s examine one of Hollywood’s most accomplished and notable film editors, Thelma Schoonmaker, and discover… Continue reading Thelma Schoonmaker Editing Style & Working with Scorsese
If you find yourself asking, how can I speed up my video? We’re happy to provide the answer, no matter what platform you’re on. The details will vary depending on the particular editing software being used, the method of shooting, and what platform you intend to upload on. For professional video projects, we recommend a… Continue reading How to Speed Up a Video — iOS, Android, Instagram & Premiere
Becoming highly-skilled at any craft always starts with learning and honing the fundamentals. So of course, if you want to become a photographer, knowing how light interacts with your camera and how to use that light to produce well-exposed images, are good first steps. In this post, we’ll lay out a few examples to answer… Continue reading Underexposed Photography — Editing in Photoshop & Lightroom
Film cuts are some of the most important elements in all of filmmaking. But what are the different types of cuts in film? And how are they used by editors to create seamless, jarring, or disruptive flows? We’re going to explain the different types of cuts in film with examples from iconic films. By the… Continue reading What is a Film Cut — Editing Cuts and Transitions Explained
We’ve discussed the basics of exposure — overexposure, underexposure and what camera settings control it. But what is double exposure? It isn’t a difficult technique to master, it just takes a little practice. In this post, we’ll cover the basics behind this style with some tutorials on how to do double exposure in Photoshop. Let’s… Continue reading What is Double Exposure? Techniques in Photography and Film
The Academy Award for Best Original Score is one of the most prestigious honors a composer can be given. Over the years, some of the world’s most acclaimed composers, like John Williams and Max Steiner, have won the award. We’re going to list every Academy Award for Best Original Score winner, then rank some of… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Original Score: Top Winners Ranked
What are some of the most iconic sounds in cinema history? Sure two lightsabers clashing or even the suspenseful score of Jaws make that list. However, one sound effect has been used throughout movies of all genres for over fifty years. It is none other than the iconic Wilhelm Scream. You may have heard it… Continue reading What is the Wilhelm Scream? Origins and Iconic Examples
What is chroma key? The use of this technique has become integral to modern filmmaking. Whether alongside the use of green screens or blue screens, chroma key effects have become the most commonly used VFX technique in the entire film industry. In this post, we’ll provide a chroma key definition, explain the importance of this… Continue reading What is Chroma Key Technology — The VFX Process Explained
The days of Avid Media Composer serving as the industry’s only standard video editing program are coming to a close. With David Fincher and Coen Brothers having turned to Adobe Premiere Pro for their post-production needs, the barrier to entry of professional-level video editing is shrinking. There are many reasons why one would want to reverse a… Continue reading How to Reverse a Clip in Premiere Pro — A Step-by-Step Guide
Eyelines in film help you tell a professional visual story better than most directing techniques and film gear ever will. The very basics of crafting an effective scene begins with the eyeline match. This is a filmmaking technique that, when done correctly, should go completely unnoticed. Nonetheless, it is an incredibly important technique that all… Continue reading What is an Eyeline Match? Definition & Examples for Filmmakers
Knowing how to properly expose your shots is an obvious first step for becoming a photographer or cinematographer. We’ll lay out examples and visuals to answer what is overexposure in photography. But we’ll also take a look at why overexposing photos with intention sometimes works (sometimes doesn’t) and the ways in which you can break… Continue reading What is Overexposure in Photography & How to Fix It
In the era of the digital format, many filmmakers utilize aspect ratio to help tell their story. Screening irregular aspect ratios onto traditional 16:9 screens both in theatres and on TVs requires letterboxing or pillarboxing. Creating your own letterboxes can be incredibly tedious. Luckily, there are free resources that make cinematic bars and letterbox templates… Continue reading Cinematic Bars — How to Add Black Bars to Video [Downloads]
Knowing how to add subtitles to a YouTube video is an essential skill for every creator. Whether you upload short films or video essays, YouTube subtitles help make your videos more accessible to a wider audience. But due to recent developments, it’s harder than in years past to get those captions made. Fortunately, with a… Continue reading How to Add Subtitles to YouTube Video to Boost Your Channel
Animation has undoubtedly opened countless doors in the stories filmmakers are able to tell. It has allowed worlds, characters, and adventures to seep out of the imagination of artists and onto the big screen. Many are drawn to the world of animation because of its limitless possibilities. If you are one of the many, at one… Continue reading Best Animation Software — 2D, 3D, Paid, and Free Options