Walking into a video production set without a lighting plan can throw your production schedule out the window. Here are some things that can help your shoot run smoothly. All images via Nick Utter Even though it might be a bit more work on the front end of your productions, taking the time t

Crossfading audio tracks is exceptionally quick and easy in both Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X. Here’s how to go about it. When you’re mixing sound effects, dialogue, or music, seamlessly blending multiple audio tracks is crucial for not distracting the audience. Whether you&

Every lens kit needs a good walk-around and all-purpose lens. The recently released Canon 24-105 L II just might be the glass you’ve been looking for. As a documentary filmmaker, having a lens that can work in a variety of situations is invaluable. For the last few years, the Canon 24

Hollywood product placement pro Marsha L. Levine opens up about the ins and outs of working with consumer brands in big-budget productions. Top image: Furious 7 via Universal Pictures We’ve previously covered the history and evolution of product placement in film and television, and si

By dividing the work and sharing the load, the editing partners behind the films of J.J. Abrams have cut an unconventional path to Hollywood editing success. Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey have been go-to editors for J.J. Abrams since Alias, all the way back in 2001. The long-standing t

Master the fine art of Time Remapping in Premiere Pro by controlling and manipulating Speed Keyframes. As you’ll see in the following video tutorial, altering the flow of time is exceptionally easy in Premiere Pro. By learning how to utilize Speed Keyframes, you’ll be slowing dow

Want to get your DSLR video to look like vintage 16mm black and white? Let’s explore how to retrograde digital footage with the editors of the mockumentary IFC show Documentary Now! There are plenty of reasons for retrograding footage to make it look like it was shot forty years ago an

It seems more trailers than ever are featuring footage that’s not included in the final film. Is this deceitful marketing? Or does it even matter? Star Wars images via Disney Warning: This article contains spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Captain America: Civil War! The re

These pro food styling tips are the secret to cooking up delicious-looking video of the perfect holiday meal. Just remember not to eat the food! RocketJump Film School put together a great piece on food styling, specifically for putting together a picture-perfect Thanksgiving dinner. ItR

Today’s top mirrorless and DSLR cameras may seem daunting at first, but with a little help from the pros, you’ll quickly learn the ins and outs of these fantastic cameras. One of the challenges we face as filmmakers and videographers is learning how to use a new camera. With the

Corporate video doesn’t have to suck the life out of the room. Here are seven simple ways to make your corporate video as entertaining as it is informative! Corporate video production has been a mainstay of the film and video production world for as long as cameras have been around. H

In which your pals at PremiumBeat reflect on 365 days of film and video news, tips, talking points, hacks, freebies, and more. Did your favorite posts make the list? It was a big year for PremiumBeat’s blog. We wrote a ton of articles in 2016 — 445 including this one. We gave away hun

Are you an up-and-coming filmmaker looking to make your first independent feature? The coming-of-age film may be your best bet to break into the mainstream. For those who might have missed it, one of the most talked-about films from 2016’s SXSW Film Festival was Clay Liford’s coming-of-age

Everyone starts somewhere. Before they found big-time Hollywood success, these directors were making the most out of small budgets and developing their techniques on the sets of music videos. Image via Annapurna Pictures There are plenty of paths into the larger world of filmmaking. Corporat

When looking to keep focus in difficult shots, it’s important to have the right tools for the job. Here are some of the best follow focus options to consider (that won’t break the bank). Focus, like many elements of cinematic composition, can be an important element in telling a

It’s that time of the year. Let’s look at some of the best and brightest demo reels from 2016, and get those creative juices warmed up for 2017. 2016 has been a great year for those in film and video. Cameras are continuing to get better and better (while their old models get che

The holiday season is upon us. Here are some cheap and practical gifts to get for your filmmaking friends — or for yourself! For those of us in the film and video production business, shopping for film-related gifts can be tricky. Yes, there’s tons of stuff we all want and need, but we

All film school students are guilty of these seven clichés. Here’s how to avoid them and make your beginner film projects stand out. Top image: Groundhog Day via Columbia Pictures No judgment here. Everyone has to start somewhere. Whether you’re in film school or just shooting on weekends wi

Composite Modes make it incredibly easy to edit overlay effects and elements in DaVinci Resolve. Just follow these three simple steps! I was experimenting with DaVinci Resolve’s editing capabilities using RocketStock’s Corruption effects pack when I realized I had a little troub

The Snap Zoom may feel like a cliché these days, but this once-ingenious filmmaking technique deserves to be used in new, inventive ways. One of the more popular trends of the current mega-blockbuster era is a clever (if a bit over-used) technique that, when executed properly, can yield stu