Here are some great tips for taking your film on the road and successfully building your fan base in the modern digital age. In what has gone on to become an unlikely folk-hero type speech for the aspiring indie filmmaker, Mark Duplass’s keynote speech at SXSW 2015 might be the best motivati

Are DIY issues hurting your filmmaking projects? Here are solutions to five predicaments indie filmmakers encounter when shooting low-budget short films. We all know the life and trials of the low-budget (or often no-budget) indie filmmaker can be very difficult to navigate. For many, it’s b

The iPhone 11 looks to be a game changer for smartphone videography. Here’s how to truly unleash its filmmaking potential. The concept of using a top-of-the-line smartphone to shoot big budget narrative features meant to be shown on cinema screens is still pretty insane, when you think about

It’s time we highlight the importance of the rehearsal, as well as the actors’ performances, in your film and video projects. We live in a truly great era for film and video professionals. Not only do we have unprecedented access to cameras, gear, and equipment — thanks to a thriving m

This article will specifically look at the aspect ratios used in video and film, focusing on the two well-known aspect ratios of 16:9 and the wider 2.39:1. Cropping your 16:9 footage to a wider aspect ratio can instantly add a cinematic look to your work. This is especially true if shooting

A new documentary, Memory: the Origins of Alien, explores the filmmaking process behind the iconic sci-fi horror classic Alien. In some ways, things are odd for filmmakers who came of age around the turn of the millennium. Not only do we now have a whole new treasure trove of digital cameras

Let’s take a look at the five steps to help you find — and more importantly close — jobs and clients for consistent work you can count on. For everyone who’s ever worked in freelance or as part of a video production company knows, the constant chase and struggle of finding (and keeping) clie

Here are seven tips to keep in mind while on set to avoid injury — or developing unsafe and unsustainable filmmaking habits. I remember one of the very first professional video shoots I ever went on. It was right out of college, at the start of a short internship with a local production comp

Set your horizons straight with these quick, savvy tips for effectively correcting crooked footage in Adobe Premiere Pro. An age-old problem for both videographers and photographers alike — that tricky, straight-line horizon. While the human eye really does enjoy and is drawn to perfectly st

From camera selection to personal relationships behind the scenes, discover what you can learn from a director’s commentary. On directing, the great Stanley Kubrick once famously stated: “I do not always know what I want, but I do know what I don’t want.” Which I personally belie

Take your video editing skills to the next level by working with source patching in the timeline panel in Adobe Premiere Pro. Whether you’re new to Premiere Pro or simply switching over from another NLE, the timeline panel can be a bit intimidating. One of the first things you’ll want to lea

A look into how digital cameras are continuing to change the landscape of the film and video industry, both nowt and into the near future. If 2018 was the year of the mirrorless camera (in that digital mirrorless cameras finally overtook the popular DSLR camera design), 2019 is shaping up to

While many debate the value of film school, let’s take a look at a few useful lessons you can definitely take away from the experience. The merits of film school is an ongoing debate in the film and video community. And while a college education is never anything to scoff at, it’s also

Here are some common sense tips to consider on how to relieve stress and save time on your next adventure as a filmmaker. Stress is the ultimate enemy for a solo filmmaker. Whether it’s a wedding, a music video, or even a passion project you’re making by yourself, nothing can cripple your wo

Documentary film is only as good as its story. Consider the following filmmaking advice when capturing documentary exposition. To tell a good story, you have to get really good at exposition and setting things up. For documentaries, in particular, this can be tricky because you’re often deal

What the Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbusters mean for filmmakers and the ongoing development of the industry. In a great think piece on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), film critic Matt Zoller Seitz argues that Avengers: Endgame “represents the decisive defeat of ‘content’ by ‘cinema.

Let’s take a look at some creative and affordable options into finding, purchasing, and utilizing vintage lenses in your film and video projects. I recently went to a filmmaker meetup in Austin, Texas, to chat and hang out with some other videographers, documentarians, and film profess

Here are 5 of the biggest mistakes filmmakers and videographers make when shooting B-roll — and how to avoid them when you’re on the run. It’s sad to admit, but for many of us, B-roll is often an afterthought. Whether you’re shooting documentary content, corporate or commercial video work, o

It has been said that the best way to learn an art form is through imitation. But, the true way to master an art form is to mock it. Documentary filmmaking is no easy task. It takes years of work honing your chops and practicing the skills needed to produce, shoot, and edit meaningful storie

Here’s a bit of advice on breaking down how to create that “cinematic” look — including some helpful and creative resources. First and foremost, let’s talk about what a “cinematic” look even means. In the past, “cinematic” might have simply been used to describe