What is film noir and how can you use its iconic cinematic tropes in your next production? Let’s take a little journey through noir history. As far as distinctive film looks go, one of the most iconic and recognizable in film history is the harsh black and white silhouettes of film noi

Dealing with annoying audio quirks? Check out these inventive and practical silent film props that keep sound mixers happy. You’re on set — today it’s a crowded pool hall — and you’re preparing to capture an intimate conversation between your two leads. The lighting, the atmosphe

Discover how Charlotte Bruus Christensen uses her cinematography to empower strong characters, develop signature looks, and create sound in her images. When looking at the industry’s most prominent film cinematographers, Charlotte Bruus Christensen stands out, not just as someone who h

Discover how cinematographer Robert Yeoman keeps his comedies light and helped develop Wes Anderson’s quirky aesthetic. As anyone who’s ever been a part of a high school film club or stepped foot into a film school classroom will tell you, one of the most distinctive looks in modern film are

Exploring the deceitful history of unreliable narration in film, and how you can use it to subvert audience expectations in your projects. What if I told you that not everything you’re going to read in this article is true? Sure, it’ll be well-researched and well-informed. And, yes, we’re go

As the longtime collaborator of Steven Spielberg, Janusz Kamiński has been instrumental in bringing a wide range of cinematic classics to life. If there’s one thing that stands out about both Janusz Kamiński’s career and cinematography, it’s the sheer magnitude and range of his abilities. St

While Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece films will always remain an enigma, his go-to cinematographer John Alcott offers a revealing lens into his films. During the waning days of production on one of the most famous and acclaimed films of all time — Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece 20

Let’s take a dive into the creative, experimental, and highly subjective cinematography of renowned DP Matthew Libatíque. At the age of twenty-five, while finishing his MFA in cinematography at AFI Conservatory, Matthew Libatíque partnered with fellow AFI student Darren Aronofsky on a

Here’s your all-in-one cinematic guide to filming yourself with no crew, no help, and just you as a one-person band. Let’s take a look. In the current collaborative climate, having a crew to produce your next project is becoming a challenging task. Rather than being hindered by t

It’s impossible to run a set like a flat organization. Here’s why hierarchy matters, and how you can use it to your advantage. Just like a tightly-run ship, for a film or video set to operate smoothly, you need to have a clear chain of command everyone is comfortable with and fol

Explore the dark, beautiful, and personal cinematography of DP-turned-director Reed Morano. In reviewing the career filmography of cinematographer and director Reed Morano, one feels a very intimate relationship with the characters in her films, as well as a deep and personal connection with

From Groundhog Day to Looper to Palm Springs — how do you actually film a movie that repeats itself every day? Let’s take a look. From Groundhog Day to Looper to Palm Springs — how do you actually film a movie that repeats itself every day? Let’s take a look. 🥁 Okay, but seriously though —

Two of the best-known names in the film and video industry are taking big steps to survive past failures and navigate uncertain futures. Two legacy brands established in the earliest days of film, video, and photography have just announced big shake-ups related to factors like poor sales, ma

Knowing how to quickly and safely solve problems on set can save an entire production. Here are the critical areas to focus on. Let’s face it, when working in film and video production, there are going to be problems that pop up on even the most tightly-run sets. It just comes with the terri

We see their names roll by in the credits. We’re familiar with some of the bigger producers in Hollywood. But, what does a film producer actually do? A film begins and ends with the producer. The producer is the catalyst for a project coming together, its complete production cycle, and its e

In the wake of a pandemic, traditional movie theaters are struggling, but a sudden resurgence in drive-ins just might save the film industry. For many of us who were born long past the drive-in movie theater’s heyday in the 1950s and ’60s, our only experiences with this movie-goi

Let’s take a look at how Deepfake and CGI are shaping a bold new future for filmmakers. Here are some vivid examples of what Deepfake and CGI can produce. There was a time when Adobe Photoshop seemed like actual magic. Upon its release, the software shook the news, entertainment, and a

Let’s look at genre theory, what it entails, and how to start utilizing genres with a bit more practicality and creativity in your own projects. One of the few rare things that one can actually learn in film school is the simple trick of taking a step back to view something you already k

Ready to go your own way? Here’s the best way to build a successful video production company in the 2020s. A lot of people start their journey into the the film and video industry the same way — they put boots on the ground and get out there and start working for themselves. If that

Stuck inside? Here are seven online film festivals and challenges that filmmakers can complete from home. Try them out and maximize your creativity. At its heart, filmmaking is the art of overcoming challenges. From logistical to pragmatic to creative, creating film requires a great deal of