On low-budget documentary shoots, protecting the environment means careful use of natural light. But what if timing ruins a moment the crew can’t recreate? Live music performance videos have much to teach filmmakers about balancing spontaneity with clear images. Before impeccably lit,

Need to (safely) coordinate some stunts for your next project? Here’s what you need to know to get started in the wild world of stunt coordination. First and foremost, stunts are dangerous. All stunts. Whether it’s running from a giant explosion or slipping on a wet tile floor, stunts

Effective fight scene choreography ties together filmmaking principles, safety protocols, and proven production techniques in a seamless dance. Choreographing and directing a fight scene is no easy task. There are many moving parts involved, and it all has to sync up and look believable. Eve

In this article, we take a look at the basics of HSL qualifying and keying — and how to incorporate it into your next masking job. Masking is one of the fundamentals of video editing, but masks used in isolation have a lot of drawbacks and limitations. The most efficient way to improve the q

We’ve all been there: staring at the timeline with no idea what to do next in an edit. Here are three ways to get things moving again when you’re stuck. We’ve all been horribly stuck on an edit at some point or another. There are many different types of edits, and they all

Good video editing is all about managing your time. And that begins with keyboard shortcuts. Here are three that every editor needs to know. Video editors need efficient shortcuts. Always. There are plenty to learn, but let’s start with these three. If you’re not using J, K, or L as ed

A good shoulder mount is a cinematographer’s best friend. So what should you consider when looking for one? When I first started out in film and video production, it felt like all my projects were either handheld or on a tripod. This, of course, meant that every shot was either incredi

Don’t blow your entire budget on an expensive camera! Let’s explore the best video and filmmaking cameras under a grand. If you listen to any notable indie filmmaker or auteur director speak, they’re going to talk about an undeniable passion for film. You’ll also probab

In this genre tour, we breakdown some of the best-known sub-genres for tips on how to improve your own horror filmmaking endeavors. Suppose your friend suggests seeing a horror film this weekend, let me ask you: Which genre comes to mind? Psychological? Paranormal? Monster? See, whil

We interview the DP behind the latest installment of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise about his new styles for tackling classic horror. It’s a tale as old as time itself—a group of friends visit an old homestead and fall victim to a group of cannibals along the way. Oh wait, maybe t

From Tron to Apollo 10 ½, let’s explore the fascinating history of rotoscoping, a classic and achievable animation technique. I just caught the upcoming Apollo 10 ½ at SXSW. It uses a similar rotoscope animation style to Scanner Darkly and Waking Life, so I’d like to explore if thi

Keep your skills sharp by tuning into these inspirational YouTubers, and the videos they create. You won’t regret it. For me, I’ve always found myself to be most creatively inspired simply by surrounding myself with creatively inspiring people. Sure, there might be those who work b

Angles, geography, storyline. Learn how to set every scene with this in-depth look at the establishing shot. The establishing shot is one of the core shots in cinematography. Typically, a wide shot and the opener of a scene tell the audience where (and sometimes when) the next scene

Filmmakers can draw inspiration from a number of sources. Check out these recommendations to broaden your horizons. In Stephen King’s book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, which is part biography and part reference book for aspiring writers, he says, “If you want

Genre conventions help audiences know what to expect, but there’s a fine line between expectations and making something truly innovative. Swinging saloon doors, grizzled men drinking whiskey, a lone stranger wandering into town on horseback seeking redemption accompanied by a haunt

Let’s explore what the iPhone 13’s cinematic mode actually offers, and discuss how it might be suitable for your film and video project needs. Not to bury the lede here too much, but it might be essential to get this out of the way. No, the iPhone 13 (regular or Pro) isnR

Improve your establishing shots—and lure your audience into the mix—with a few principles of still photography. We recently published an article titled The Filmmaker’s Guide to the Establishing Shot, which deconstructed one of the core shots in cinematography. However, due to its s

Debate aside, here are three examples of smartphone videography that might make sense for you filmmakers out there. You can debate it as much as you want, but regardless of whether you’re “for” or “against” smartphones being used for film and video production—it’s gonna happen nonetheles

Iké Boys director Eric McEver discusses tips and tricks for blending anime-style animation sequences with a live action narrative. As usual, the films from Fantastic Fest continue to amaze and blow away any expectations as to what films could or should do. From this year’s fest in Austin

Let’s take a look at this trendy new appropriation of the classic 4:3 aspect ratio and explore whether it’s right for your projects. Before we dive into exploring the 4:3 aspect ratio, I do want to say this at the front. There’s a reason why the majority of film and video projects