What is film theory? Is it just the theory of film? Or is it something more? Fear not, we’re going to answer the question “what is film theory?” with a film theory definition. We’re also going to examine a variety of different aspects of film theory, both technically and theoretically. By the end, you’ll know… Continue reading What is Film Theory — How to Study Film (And Why)
Best Horror MoviesOpen menu Insert Image Best Horror Movies of All Time Insert Image Best Christmas Horror Movies Insert Image Best Zombie Movies Insert Image Best New Zombie Movies Insert Image Best Vampire Movies Insert Image Best Jump Scare Movies Insert Image Best 1980s Vampire Movies Insert Image Best Werewolf Movies Insert Image Best Stephen… Continue reading Body Horror Explained — Inside the Best Body Horror Movies
Directorial DepartmentOpen menu Insert Image What Does an Assistant Director Do Insert Image What Does a 2nd Assistant Director Do Insert Image What is a Casting Director Insert Image What is a Second Unit Director Insert Image What Does a Director Do Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions If you’ve ever heard the terms ‘second… Continue reading What is a Second Unit Director & What Does a Second Unit Do?
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
EssentialsOpen 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 What is a Film Composer What is a… 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
EssentialOpen menu Insert Image What is Creative Commons Insert Image What is Fair Use Insert Image What is Public Domain ResourcesOpen menu Insert Image Creative Commons License Pros and Cons Insert Image How Copyright Free Music Works Insert Image How to Copyright a Script Insert Image How to Find Award-Worthy Script Ideas from The Public… Continue reading What is Public Domain and How is it Used? A Guide for Creators
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
In a world where digital photography has become the norm, there is still a place for those who want to use physical film stock. While digital technology has made it easier to be a photographer, physical celluloid still has a charm and texture that no digital camera can ever fully replicate. And above all else,… Continue reading What is Film Stock — Various Types of Film Stock Explained
Look at your mobile device, your high-definition television, or laptop computer; what do you see? Most likely it’s a rectangular widescreen, with a lot of the video you watch on it filling the entirety of the screen. We are of course talking about the 16:9 ratio, which has been the current standard in television and… Continue reading What is 16:9 Aspect Ratio — Origins of the Widescreen Format
Years and years ago, when not every movie was a sequel, remake, or reboot, people usually left the movie theatre by the time the end credits rolled. These days, if your movie is a big deal, some people might stick around to see if there’s anything after the credits. These “after credits” scenes are popularly… Continue reading What is a Post Credit Scene — The Movie Stinger Beyond Marvel
Have you ever watched an old black and white movie, maybe starring Humphrey Bogart or Katherine Hepburn, and thought some of it was a bit tame? Even when the movies are great, they seem to play it safe? Most of this is a direct result of what is popularly known as the Hays Code, which… Continue reading What is the Hays Code — Hollywood Production Code Explained
The goal of cinematic storytelling has always been empathy; to move the viewer as close as possible to the story. First, we used moving pictures, then color and sound, 3D, IMAX, CGI, and animation. Now filmmakers are looking towards virtual reality as a way to further immerse an audience. With this technology, the viewer moves… Continue reading What is VR Film — The Future of VR Movies Explained
Animation BasicsOpen menu Insert Image What is Animation Insert Image What is Pre-Production in Animation Insert Image What is Cel Animation Insert Image What is Pixilation Animation Insert Image What is Tweening in Animation Insert Image What is Anime Insert Image What is Claymation Insert Image What are Keyframe Insert Image What is Persistence of… Continue reading What is Persistence of Vision? Definition of an Optical Phenomenon
Music is an unsung hero of film. It can evoke emotions without words, create a unique aesthetic and style, and connect an audience to a film. In this post, we’ll explore the various ways you can use music to create meaning and utterly, unforgettable film moments. Continue reading How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with… Continue reading How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with Music
As you may have experienced, securing the perfect film location isn’t always easy, and it’s rarely affordable. However, great filmmaking is not just about location, it’s also about how you set the scene. The impact a setting can have on the scene it supports is monumental. Let’s take a look at how Oscar winning films… Continue reading How These Oscar Winning Films Use Doors To Tell Better Stories
The first shot in a film may not be the flashiest, but it’s packed full of vital information for viewers. In this post, we’re going to explore some powerful opening shots in cinema, and how to create them in your own films.Continue reading How to Create Powerful Opening Shots — It’s Easier Than You Think
ProcessOpen menu Insert Image How to Make a Short Film Insert Image How to Write a Short Without Dialogue Insert Image Short Film Schedule Tips Insert Image Write a Short That Gets Noticed Insert Image Making a Short Film Insert Image How to Storyboard a Short Film Insert Image Phases of Short Film Pre-Production Insert… Continue reading The 49 Best Short Films of All Time That Every Filmmaker Can Learn From
There is no shortage of the best film schools out there, but it seems like everyone has an opinion on where you should get your film production education.Continue reading 21 Best Film Schools Every Filmmaker Needs to Look At
We often hold writers, directors, and cinematographers, responsible for movie masterpieces. But who made this possible? It turns out discovering who invented the movies is actually more of a question of when, because there were different inventors at different times in history, and all had a hand in innovating the motion picture. Let’s look at… Continue reading When Were Movies Invented? A Brief History of Motion Pictures
