Whether you need a great lighting setup for Twitch streaming or you anticipate using Zoom, Meet or Teams a whole lot more in the coming year, we have everything you need to know to get your webcam lighting setup just right. Getting your setup right Before you start thinking about your light

Cameras have never been better or cheaper than they are today. Additionally, filmmaking is more accessible than ever, and it’s never been easier to get your work out there and seen. So, what’s stopping you? No matter where you are in your career, count yourself lucky to live in

This post contains major spoilers. Read at your own risk. The opening monologue of Trainspotting, one of the most iconic films of the 1990s, which celebrates its 25th anniversary, begins with a supposedly life-affirming message: “Choose Life; Choose a job; Choose a career; Choose a

Choosing a new camera can feel a little overwhelming. Every time you go to YouTube, you’ll find it’s swamped with uploads of reviews on all the new, shiny cameras being released almost daily–each claiming to be the ‘perfect mirrorless camera for you.’ The truth

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’re taking a look at the work of 7 brilliant women directors and seeing how they each give a unique look and feel to their work. Of course, there are many more than just 7 amazing women directors out there, but we have to start somewhere! Kathr

As part of our celebration of International Women’s Day, we’ve put together a list of some women creators you might want to watch out for. You might know some of them already, or you might recognize some from their acting rather than their writing, producing or directing. But all of them ar

Natasha Mynhier is a Los Angeles-based writer and director. In 2011, she founded the production company 37 Laines, which produces high-quality creative work for clients across the US, including commercials, short films, music videos, digital content, web-series, live events, documentaries a

In almost any film, music video, TV advert or YouTube video, there is always an opening shot. A piece of footage that introduces the action and location, but also sets the overall tone of a scene or even the entire motion picture. In filmmaking, this opening shot is called an “establishing

If you’re reading this page, that means your script is finished and greenlit for production. Congratulations! Whether you’re writing a short film or making your first feature, this means that only a few steps lie between your most recent draft and on-set production. You’re that much closer

Things are getting a little confusing over in the world of Sony digital cameras. Until now, those of you filmmakers who had just purchased the brilliant Sony a7S III were probably feeling very satisfied and secure in your camera choice. With reliable autofocus, buttery-smooth image stabiliz

Filters are a relatively affordable and easy way of bringing some versatility to the cinematic lenses in your kit bag. Adding a specialized piece of glass to your lens can help you cope with a range of different shooting conditions or bring special effects to your scenes with relative ease.

Even if you’ve never heard of a tracking shot, chances are that you’ve seen it dozens or maybe even hundreds of times over the years. Instead of being static, a tracking shot is a type of camera movement where a camera moves through space, following a character or moving object

Transforming your screenplay into a shooting script means you’re that much closer to bringing your vision to life. This also means that you get to start thinking in terms of a producer and cinematographer. That means that you get to turn your drafted screenplay into a shooting script. What

The 180º rule–not to be confused with 180º shutter angle, and sometimes called just the 180-rule–is there to help you with your camera placement when you have two or more characters interacting in a scene. It was devised to maintain consistent eyelines, which helps your story flow and your

As Coen Brothers’ Fargo turns 25, let’s take a look at some of the elements that make this dark crime comedy so memorable and how its cleverness lies in its deceptive simplicity. The “so-called true” story follows car salesman Jerry Lundegaard from Minnesota (William H. Macy), who hires 2

Recently, you may well have seen many videos in your feeds covering the latest volcanic eruption in Iceland. As if the eruption and the sight of lava weren’t exciting enough, some of the drone footage we’ve been seeing is crazy. The cameras are getting so close to the lava that it feels lik

There’s a mantra you should repeat every time you feel like rushing into your production: “Whatever you don’t prepare for, you pay for in the performance.” You feel the script is on fire, and this project is ready to jettison your career. Not so fast! Pre-production is not just one of the s

In case you didn’t know already, FPV (first-person view) drones are all the rage right now. Perhaps you’ve already read our introduction to the world of FPV drones. Unsurprisingly, with the rise in popularity of this new drone technology, DJI has now finally jumped on board, releasing their

Whether you are shooting stills or video, there are a few fundamentals that you need to know in relation to how your camera and its optics work. One of those is aperture. So if you’ve ever wondered ‘What is aperture?’, or indeed anything else related to camera aperture, we’re here to walk y

Using different camera angles is an effective way to bring a different tone to your storytelling. Depending on where you position your camera and how you shoot your subjects, you can make your audience feel entirely differently about them and your story. Getting to grips with your camera an