A cinematographer (director of photography, DP or DOP), is responsible for recording a film, television production, documentary, music video or any other kind of motion picture piece. Essentially, it’s up to them to translate the script into usable footage. Their primary goal is to capture th

Composition and framing are two essential elements worth considering when constructing a shot for your film project. The way you block your subject, in association with the background, will help your viewers focus on key parts of the frame. Professional filmmakers use a technique called leading lin

Most video cameras have lenses capable of silky-smooth zooms. So why is zooming so scarcely included in professional video production? The answer lies in the human experience. With the occasional exception of superheroes, human beings are incapable of zooming with their eyes. Since it’s no

Back in the good old days of video production, the biggest decision you had to make was what camera to use and what videotape format will you shoot on. With the introduction of digital video formats, those decisions are more complicated. Formats, containers and CODECS are part of the new video prod

In a nutshell The rule of odds states that odd numbers of subjects are visually more interestingSubjects can be people, animals, objects or even empty spaceThe rule of odds is even applicable for live events The rule of odds is a compelling and often subconscious technique in film. It is a ru

Learning how to apply the theories of graphic design into your video using the real world techniques can help take your projects to the next level. Creating Titles & Graphics explores different ways to improve your skills using a variety of methods. This webinar covers topics such as lower thir

In a nutshell Mise-en-scène is every element that’s in the shot — visual and auditoryMise-en-scène includes framing, lighting, set design, blocking and soundThe sum of your mise-en-scène amounts to your artistic style as a filmmaker What is mise-en-scène? That’s probably the question th

If you’re a writer and have a screenplay you’re passionate about, a very real and understandable fear is that your script or idea may be stolen. Unfortunately, there are plenty of stories about this happening, so it’s easy to want to be protective. The reality of this situation is that you

Chances are, if you’re a filmmaker, you have plenty of ideas you want to be made into a movie. However, getting funding behind your projects and collaborators attached can be extremely difficult. Even if you’re looking to sell an idea, it can be difficult to illustrate to others the concept

Any filmmaker, writer, or producer looking to sell an idea or get people interested in their work will need to be comfortable writing a film treatment and pitching your ideas. But what exactly is a film treatment? What is a film treatment? A film treatment is a document tha

Depending on the type of film you’re writing, the movie’s length related to the screenplay can vary. For example, how elaborate an action scene is described in detail dramatically changes the script’s length. After all, there’s a big difference between writing “the two dudes get into a fig

Branding is one of the most important aspects of creating video content that you need to keep in mind. After all, strong branding is what turned the iconic Nike ‘swoosh’ logo into an icon recognizable across the entire world. A major attribute of successful video content is proper

Everybody loves a good hero like Captain America or Superman. Each choice they make is unwaveringly brave and morally acceptable.  But, what about the heroes in movies without these admirable qualities? Are they the heroes or the villains of the story? The answer is neither; they’re the

During the development process of a movie, the division of roles can become blurred. While having levels of bureaucracy can increase efficiency, there are times where we as filmmakers don’t want to have to sacrifice creative vision. A huge example of this is screenwriters selling a script b

Last month we answered the question, “Can A Screenwriter Be A Director?” Now it’s time to answer whether or not a screenwriter can be an actor. The simplest answer is yes, a screenwriter can also be an actor. Sometimes a screenwriter even act in their own movies, and there are many examples

We’ve all heard the terms protagonist and main character, and they are frequently used interchangeably. Oftentimes they appear synonymous, especially in stories where there is a clear leading character that the plot revolves around them. While these terms are closely related, they are not t

When you are coming up with a story, it’s important to have a plot that moves forward at an engaging pace. Oftentimes, movies will have an object, goal, or person that serves as motivation for the characters or is something they pursue. This object is called a MacGuffin. Essentially,

There are a lot of ways to come up with characters when you’re writing a screenplay. Some may be inspired by people you know or yourself, and other times these characters will be fictional. Either way, it’s important to flesh your characters out completely, and a great way to do this is to

When writing a screenplay, one of the most important things to understand is story structure. Knowing how to formulate a beginning, middle, and end into a compelling script is essential to keeping you on track as you write and integral to keeping readers interested. Because of this, many di

Three photographers discuss the art and craft of intimate spring photography, and how to make your images stand out from the rest, with Claire Gillo Now that Spring is upon us, why not try getting creative with your landscape and nature photography? Photographers Charlotte Gibb, Mark Gilligan and J