The dew is settled upon the field, the villagers are dancing, and the demonic goats are screaming your name. Welcome to Folk Horror 101 for Content Creators. This week sees the release of Midsommar, horror wunderkind Ari Aster’s follow-up to Hereditary (insert tongue-click here). Midsommar r

Lighting a moving subject and staying out of frame is always difficult. The solution to this problem is easy: follow fill. The dilemma: you have to get the lights far enough back so they don’t appear in the scene yet close enough to make the subject stand out from the background. It poses an

Today, we’ll look at the three main reasons filmmakers use high-output lights on their set, how to harness this light, and what it’s good for. When people go behind the scenes on film sets and see giant light fixtures (like 10K or 20K Fresnels), they often wonder “What could film

In this write-up, we take a look at the rules and regulations of flying with batteries for your next filmmaking excursion. One of the most exciting aspects of being a filmmaker is discovering where your work takes you. However, these adventures often involve managing and travel with all the

There are several stylistic and technological approaches to communicate information at a distance. We look at two: the zoom and the punch In. The Zoom The zoom, of course, requires a telescopic lens to magnify the image. The camera is static so there won’t be any perspective changes. You can

So how can you position your lights exactly where you want them — without the shooting environment constraining your setup? To get soft, flattering light, you generally want to get your lights as close to your actor as possible, while hiding them from the camera. However, that can sometimes

In this showdown, we look at how these two powerhouse programs affect the user, specifically in regards to how much each program costs. If you read that headline four years ago, it would’ve been easy to assume that I have no idea what I’m talking about — or that this was a paid p

Michael Rowley’s 2019 Telluride Mountainfilm selection “Hurdle” dives head-first into a story of Parkour in an occupied conflict zone. Dallas-based filmmaker Michael Rowley stepped with care across roofs and ledges in Jerusalem to follow members of a Palestinian Parkour tea

The Electric Department is the backbone of any production. Let’s look at the roles, tools, and responsibilities behind safely powering a set. The Electric Department is one of the most important on any production. Today, we’re taking a look at the jobs available to Electrics, the

In recent years, working with a green screen has changed. Take a look at a few new factors that have made the process easier than ever. When I was directing TV commercials ten years ago, green screen was a much-used-but-incredibly-painful, process. Green screens were made of plastic, they we

Panavision recently announced its brand-new LCND filter. We took a look at what it is, how it works, and what to expect from ND filters in the future. Neutral density (ND) filters are some of the most commonly used tools on any production. NDs use darkened glass to reduce the light that ente

Color has long been one of the primary tools filmmakers use to communicate aspects of their characters and the worlds they live in. Bernardo Bertolucci and Vittorio Storaro used a striking and effective color palette in The Last Emperor, with each period of the protagonist’s life paint

While video games include cinematic storytelling, we have to wonder why they rarely translate into good movies. It seems to come down to delivery. If you Google 2019 films, you’ll see that, notably, many films are adaptations. From Stephen King’s novel Pet Sematary to Marvel’s comic sa

You can create dramatic compositions by bouncing hard light off something to make it soft, and create sharp edges and punchy, bold images. In general, filmmakers tend to light actors with soft sources, meaning using larger lights to create softer illumination. It makes things look beautiful,

Adapting short fiction for the big screen can be challenging. These writers and directors shared their ideas on what worked for them. Arrival | Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang Screenwriter Eric Heisserer insisted on a faithful adaptation of Ted Chiang’s understated sci-fi novella, thr

There is only one way to make money as a filmmaker and the vast majority of filmmakers don’t understand what it is. So, what is the answer? Some think that if they get good enough technically, or if their work is brave or beautiful or sensitive, they will be successful. Others are certain th

Establishing shots should be subtle, not only communicating location in time and space but also setting the tone for the story about to take place. How did establishing shots develop, and what can they do for the narrative in your film? Let’s take a look. Early establishing shots in s

Your location can make or break your film project. Here’s how to find the perfect spot to shoot when you don’t have a budget. Continuing from our write-up “First-Time Filmmakers: How Do You Build A Cast Without a Budget?“, let’s take a look at location elements

How much power do you need on set? Find out how to calculate it so you never run out. If you’re like me when heading to set, you’ll throw pretty much every battery you have in your camera case. But how much are you going to need, and wouldn’t it be great to know how much your camera co

The grip’s job is one of the most important and difficult on a film set. Let’s take a look at the details and see if gripping is right for you. Film sets use large, heavy, and expensive equipment — day in and day out. The grip department is tasked with building and securing this