Film Production

Adding music to your video can make it look and sound much more appealing. The equipment you use for both editing and filming will dictate the specific process you'll need to use to add music to...

A dolly is a piece of equipment used in film production which allows completely smooth camera moves along a straight line, creating a great effect and view of the action onscreen. Professional...

Achieving the right light for a movie set is always tricky, but never more so than when shooting a night scene. You need enough light that your audience can see the characters and scenery, but not...

A storyboard visually tells a story written in a script. It is a shot-by-shot plan of your film. Your storyboard must convey what characters are in a frame and how they move, what your characters...

Animation cameras are, in reality, just regular film cameras with the addition of a very important piece of equipment. A long cord with a button on the end of it called a "Remote Switch" allows...

Once used as a tool to capture still life on paper, the camera has turned into a necessary part of daily life. Cameras are now used in everything from photography to filmmaking, to surveillance...

Lighting is arguably the most important aspect of a film or video project for looking professional and conveying tone and sequence to the audience. Most seasoned pros and budding amateurs have...

Making videos is an easy process and doesn't require high-end, professional equipment and software. As long as you can get access to inexpensive equipment, you will be able to produce your own...

Just out in theaters is the motion picture Paranormal Activity. The special thing about this movie is that it is a ridiculously low budget film that uses one, relatively cheap, camera. No sets...

Steady cams, occasionally known as steadicams, are devices used by video and film camera operators to utilize handheld cameras, which are capable of navigating through small spaces, while...

ISO (International Standards Organization) was a term coined in the days when there was only film, so traditionally it refers to film speed and determines its light sensitivity. Similarly with...

The Steadicam is a camera stabilizing system introduced in 1976. It features a vest and a counterweight attachment for your video camera, designed to keep the camera frame as steady as possible as...

Do you dream of having your own web show? Do you have a creative spirit? Are you an actor? Do you have a lot of fun with your friends? You may have the makings of a popular web show. If you’ve...

As 35mm film naturally degrades and deteriorates in quality over time, it might be wise to consider transferring your old films to DVD. You could go to a professional service and pay hundreds of...

Film crews and photographers use jibs, also called cranes and booms, to elevate a camera for aerial shots. Jibs use a pivoting arm to bring a camera higher or lower while a tripod base stabilizes...

When the camera moves through space, the viewer experiences the most distinctly cinematic of the motion picture shots. The moving camera is perhaps the most difficult and often the most expensive...

The animation in "Nightmare Before Christmas," "Coraline" and "The Corpse Bride" may seem like impossible movie magic, but this particular animation, known as "Claymation," is one of the easiest...

The Shutter is a device inside the camera that rotates before the film, intermittently allowing it to receive exposure. It opens while the film is stationary, closes while the film is being moved...

Transferring 8mm film to VHS or another modern format is the perfect answer for filmmakers on a budget or anyone trying to preserve their family films against decomposition. With a few simple...

Many people think all you need to make movies is a camera and something interesting to shoot. This is true in many cases, but if you're looking to launch a filmmaking career, you'll want to add...

If you want to be famous, all you have to do is make a memorable You Tube video. If enough people watch it, you could be the next big celebrity.

Ready to have some fun? This is an easy project that lets you make your video short, just like the ones on youtube! All you need is a camera, computer, and some Lego, and you're all set!

From the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998) to today's Jet Li, ninja movies have flourished in both Asian and American culture. One of the major draws to ninja movies is the low budget...

Super 8 was the first film format to truly democratize film making. Finally there was a format simple enough for anyone to use. Super 8 has the advantage of standardizing the film cartridge,...

Whether it is on the local news, national news, a talk show, or other programming, the interview is a key part of television. If you are conducting a television interview lots of helpful hints can...

One of the oldest and most intriguing forms of animation is stop motion. Stop motion animation has been used to create special effects since the very beginning of cinema. Combining a number of...

Snowboarding is a fast-paced and exciting sport and while you spend so much time whizzing down the mountain, you may want to capture the experience on video. If you use the proper equipment and...

A "silent film" means a motion picture without dialogue, sound effects or a musical soundtrack. However, music almost always accompanied the original silent films from the dawn of Hollywood,...

YouTube is considered one of the world's largest peer-to-peer video sharing sites on the Internet today. The YouTube platform allows users to post videos for visual showcasing, marketing,...

One of the most important features of the Steadicam is its isometric arm, which separates the camera from the operator. The camera arm, like a human arm, has upper arm and forearm segments...

A great way to learn how to use a video camera is to read the manual or take it outside and start shooting with it. Become an experienced videographer by not being scared to head outside and shoot...

The basics of good camera work involves learning to keep a camera steady and knowing the moves and motions a camera person must do on a movie set. Learn about panning, tilting and other camera...

Camera shy interviewees in video interviews can be finessed and led through an interview. Learn to interview camera shy people from an experienced interviewer in this free film production video.

If you have access to a video camera and editing software and are looking to gain some producing experience, you should consider producing expert videos. There are websites that will actually pay...

In films or television, every now and then you will see what is called a swish-turn, or a whoosh effect, where the camera quickly pans around from Shot A and ends up in Shot B. Usually used in...

The Sony PD170 is a professional-grade video camera. Ideal for filming business videos or basic news productions, it is a solid and serviceable camera for the beginning filmmaker as well. Unlike...

If you make your own movies and would like to have the ability to create some amazing special effects, you should consider building a green screen studio in your home. A green screen studio will...

The Internet has made it easier to create and share home movies. Catch your family and friends at reunions, birthday parties and sporting events, then stream the images online. Major and start-up...

Machinima (machine cinema) has exploded into a prolific and varied sub-genre of animation. By using the graphics engines of existing games, amateur animators have found powerful platforms to...

The Sony HDR-FX1 is one of the first high definition video camcorders to hit the market. It sports all the advanced features of a professional camera along with the handheld versatility of a...

You may never be the next Spielberg, but if you've got a movie idea there is no reason why you can't try to make it happen right in your own home. You may not be able to afford explosions and car...

The warm, hospitable feel of a fireplace is a unique sensation, one that gently stimulates all of the senses. With the advent of more sophisticated heating systems, though, fewer people find...

Making a silent movie can be a fun weekend project. You can even choose to upload your movie to a video-sharing website such as YouTube. The best part is that all you need to make a simple silent...

With the technology available in today's digital cameras, anyone can make a digital movie, whether it's a simple home movie or a full-length feature. You can purchase a reasonably priced digital...

The tools are available for anyone to make a short film today, but there's more to making a movie than just pointing a camera and pressing "record".

Making your own film is a very enjoyable experience and an opportunity for you to expand your creative mind. As long as you have a camera and access to digital video editing software, your film...

We have all seen the scenes in movies where two characters engage in a physical fight. The actors clearly are not really hurting each other, but a very fine line exists between looking realistic...

Have you ever watched a film and thought to yourself, "I can do that"? Believe it or not, it's not just dusting off your camcorder and pressing record. However, with the advancement of digital...

To make stop-motion movies, take individual pictures with a camera or video camera while making small movements with an object. Learn how tedious making a stop-motion movie can be with information...

To charge video camera batteries, determine whether the batteries need to be drained before they are put on the charger. Consider getting smart batteries or digital batteries for a video camera...