The independent film landscape has monumentally shifted since Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, and Steven Soderbergh were the collective mavericks of independent cinema. And what qualifies as independent is still changing. What is an independent film? Even though the definition fluctuates with time and fashion, key characteristics persist. No matter how top independent films are financed,… Continue reading The Best Independent Films to Inspire Your Craft Right Now
Nowadays, there are many kinds of media you can consume to get new information about your favorite topics, or just to enjoy pure entertainment. Besides blogs or YouTube channels, podcasts have been gaining a lot of popularity during the last few years.Continue reading The 12 Best Filmmaking and Screenwriting Podcasts of 2023
Before The Walt Disney Company owned a bunch of companies, and before other film studios and companies were being bought by other big companies, there was the classic Hollywood studio system. What is the studio system? While it would be easy to simplify it as the time when movie studios owned the theaters that would… Continue reading What is the Studio System — Hollywood’s Studio Era Explained
From Sri Lanka to ancient Greece, the myth of the vampire has permeated virtually every society throughout history. The myth typically arose to explain sudden deaths caused by illnesses but attributed those tragedies to a horrific creature of the night. Over the years, vampires have gone on to symbolize the darker side of humanity and… Continue reading 30 Best Vampire Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers
The best scary movies stay with you. They follow you home from the movie theater. They are right behind you as you walk alone at night. They are with you no matter how deep under the covers you go. Like the videotape in The Ring, once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. The best scary… Continue reading 10 Best Scary Movies That You Need to Watch Right Now
From the 1930s to the modern era, zombie movies have terrified audiences. They’ve also occupied a unique position in the horror genre in that they can serve as sociopolitical allegories. But of course, there are some zombie movies that exist solely to make you laugh. For this list, we’re ranking the 30 best zombie movies of… Continue reading 30 Best Zombie Movies Ever (and Where to Watch Them)
The Elements of Composition in Art, Photography & Film (FREE Ebook)A comprehensive and accessible guide for artists, photographers and cinematographers looking to master the elements of composition.We’ll cover over a dozen elements of composition like lines, shapes, balance, and including various compositional techniques within each. Download Now Composition in ArtWith these elements of composition in… Continue reading Elements of Composition in Art, Photo & Film (Free Ebook)
How to Use Color in Film: 50+ Examples of Movie Color PalettesLearn how to pick the right color schemes to create and memorable and meaningful visual aesthetic. Download Now How to Use Color EbookUnderstanding color schemesIn this ebook we explore the various color techniques, and provide color scheme examples from noteworthy films that utilize color… Continue reading How to Use Color in Film – FREE Ebook Download
⌂ Types OF IronyVerbal IronySituational IronyDramatic Irony We encounter irony every day: in our favorite movies, TV shows, and in our own lives. Most people have a general understanding of irony but there are also a lot of misconceptions about it. For example, were you aware that there are 3 different types of irony? In this… Continue reading 3 Types of Irony Every Storyteller Should Know (with Examples)
What is slapstick comedy? Is it the same thing as physical comedy? And where does the name come from? We will be answering all of these questions, plus taking a trip through the history and evolution of slapstick, and looking at a number of great slapstick comedy examples from classic and modern movies. First, let’s… Continue reading What is Slapstick Comedy — Movie Genres Explained
It was not long ago that the idea of virtual reality seemed to only be realized in science fiction. But now, VR technology is becoming increasingly popular on Christmas wish lists, office spaces, and viral videos. With its increasing popularity many fear it, others embrace it, and some simply wonder, “What is virtual reality?” In… Continue reading What is Virtual Reality — Games, Movies & Storytelling
Color BasicsOpen menu Insert Image Color Grading vs. Color Correction Insert Image What is Color Space Insert Image What is Color Temperature Insert Image What is a Vectorscope Insert Image What is LUT Insert Image What is a Colorist Insert Image What is a Color Checker Insert Image What is Technicolor Insert Image First Color… Continue reading What Was the First Color Movie? — It’s Not What You Think It Is
What is body horror? Even hardcore horror fans might have trouble translating body horror movies into words. It’s a little bit of a “you know it when you see it” kind of thing. In this post, we’ll be providing a body horror definition, digging into the history of the genre, and examining its place in… Continue reading Body Horror Explained — Inside the Best Body Horror Movies
BasicsOpen menu What is Sound Design What Does a Sound Designer Do Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing What is Voice Over What is a Foley Artist What is Diegetic Sound What is Non-Diegetic Sound What is a Film Score What is Asynchronous Sound What is Music Licensing TechniquesOpen menu Ultimate Guide to Sound Recording Filmmaker’s… Continue reading What is Dolby Stereo — History of Game-Changing Sound in Film
What is realism in film? We hear the term “realistic” all the time, but how do we know if something is realistic when realism is so subjective? Well, in storytelling, there is an objective way to tell whether or not something is realistic. We’re going to explore what realism is and how it’s used in… Continue reading What is Realism in Film? Cinematic Realism Explained
Color BasicsOpen menu Insert Image Color Grading vs. Color Correction Insert Image What is Color Space Insert Image What is Color Temperature Insert Image What is a Vectorscope Insert Image What is LUT Insert Image What is a Colorist Insert Image What is a Color Checker Insert Image What is Technicolor Insert Image First Color… Continue reading What is Technicolor? Definition and History Explained
What is an experimental film? This elusive and niche genre can be difficult to define, and there are many common misconceptions about experimental filmmaking, but we’ll be sorting through the fact and the fiction to provide a comprehensive overview of what it means for a film to be “experimental”. We’ll get started with a definition,… Continue reading What is Experimental Film — History, Examples & Movements