Film Production

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...

Creating a visually appealing backdrop is an important part of building a good movie set. The backdrop you construct should blend into the scene, providing visual support without making itself...

When creating a television, film, or web video production, it is vital to remember the importance of lighting. Without appropriate lighting, the ambience of your scene will be lost, or worse: the...

Claymation may be considered an obsolete way to create animated movies, but the style and look are still preferred today by movies like "Coraline" and "9." While the effects and quality have...

Animated movies have been around for decades and are so important to the film industry they have their own category at the Academy Awards. For novice filmmakers, animation may seem like a huge...

Lighting is a crucial aspect of television production. Without proper illumination, your subjects will appear lifeless and flat, or worse: the audience won't be able to clearly see the content as...

An independent film production takes a lot of work and time, especially if you do not have the resources found within a major studio production. Organization is the key to creating a smooth and...

The behind-the-scenes production of any film, large or small, relies on the work and careful detail of several key crew members who help make the production possible. Among that crew is the...

The beginnings of film featured animation techniques that are still being utilized and developed today. One of the earliest forms of animation was stop-motion claymation animation. It began with...

When filming ends, the editing process begins. Editing goes through several stages, ranging from the rough cut all the way to the final cut. There are certain ways to streamline the rough-cut...

Putting together a film reel is basically selling yourself. To do this you need to be fast and elegant in your presentation, but the key is to show your skills and talents off in the best way...

Kung fu movies have been popular for many years now, and remain a favorite among both action and martial arts fans. Many dream of writing, directing or starring in their own kung fu movies. With...

Formatting the screenplay is not hard, but writing a selling screenplay is the achievement of a lifetime. The two types of scripts are the shooting script and the submission script. The submission...

The following is everything you need to understand and have at your fingertips to start making your first short film.

Lighting is one of the key elements of film production. It helps establish the mood and atmosphere of the film, which can affect the entire viewing experience. The lighting setup can be simple or...

We all love going to the movies for their entertainment value, but don't forget that this visual medium also expresses a creative side. Viewing film as art is a very involved, but potentially...

Shooting a movie scene can be very challenging. So many things need to be taken into consideration, and shooting a poor scene can wreak havoc on the movie. Here are some basics to keep in mind...

Storyboards are essentially a visual guide to the script in a movie, a vital part of the process. Animated films use storyboards extensively; these are among the biggest components of bringing a...

Planning a movie shoot takes a lot of effort, but it is the most important part of the filmmaking process. A successful and well-structured plan sets the stage for a good movie. Scheduling a film...

Film and television studios and producers need to see comprehensive budgets and shooting schedules before they can commit to or raise money to shoot. Before a script can be budgeted and scheduled,...

Communication is the lifeblood of production. One hand has to know what the other is doing. “When...” is as important as “How...” when it comes to running a production...

The clapboard, or film slate, is a commonly seen item in film. It's the little board with the black arm on top that slaps down when someone yells "action." These slates are very important in film...

Steven Spielberg, Sam Goldwyn, [insert your name here]. Producing a movie used to be the province of only a lofty, chosen few, who spent years fetching coffee, carrying cable, running...

Almost anybody can make a movie at home. No, you can't have big name stars or stellar locations, but what you can have is your own creative voice heard when you get your film out to people. But...

Learn how to import, add, and use the filmmaking software iclone machinima in this free video. Get 3D Computer animation tips from an expert.

Learn how to import, add, and use the filmmaking software iclone machinima in this free video. Get 3D Computer animation tips from an expert.

Film lighting doesn't allow for error; it's not as easy to create or as user-friendly as digital technology. Of particular importance is key lighting, the main lighting that mimics the light...

Film lighting is very tricky, but it can make or break a scene. A beautiful, well-shot scene can make up for poor acting or writing, but poor lighting will overshadow even the best performances....

Professional advice on filming your own documentary! Learn about scene transitions and how to produce a documentary film in this free video.

Storyboards are a great way to visually show an entire scene or film. It helps other members of the crew, besides the writer, director and cinematopher, understand what will be going on during the...

EP Scheduling uses a one entry system to track important elements across all departments for feature film making. Once you enter the information, you can generate production forms and breakdown...

When you combine shots in video editing, you basically put together a series of different shots to achieve some purpose or send a message. Many television programs are made this way. Editors...

Fights and punches are included in a lot of movies. It is important to remember that these fights and punches are in a controlled environment. The cast and crew film the punch in a way that gives...

Directing an independent film can be one of the most difficult things to achieve, however, at the same time it can be the most rewarding. Most independent films have very low budgets which force...

One of the largest advancements in movie production during the 20th century was the use of animation. Many film directors brought together some of the most unique ideas from cartoons and made them...

Planning your independent film in pre-production is not a step to skimp on. If you have a small budget and can’t afford a story-board artist, you can cheaply create your own with some small scale...

If you are shooting a film that requires the presence of background people, you may need to put out a call for extras. Extras are a very important aspect of films in many cases, as they add a...

Figuring out what camera angles and styles to film a certain scene can be very tricky. Overdo it and audiences will notice. Underdo it and they will be confused. Getting it just right is what...

The best way to start learning about the inner workings of film, especially if you want to be a director, is to break down a scene in a movie and analyze the choices made. It's a good way to focus...

To know how many days a film shoot will be and to schedule it accurately, you must first do a script breakdown. This is a very important step to complete as soon as possible in pre-production, as...

Daily call sheets are imperative to organizing a film shoot. They help your crew and cast to be organized, on time and prepared, and help keep your production on schedule. Essentially, it is your...

Read a novel from beginning to end, and unless it is in another language, you will understand most of the plot lines and characters. However, you must learn to read a dramatic screenplay in a...

Before going into production it is vital to plan out how the movie is going to be shot. While directors and directors of photography have their own methods for planning out the movies shot...

Directing a video can be as complex or simple as you want to make it. The quality and impact of the video depends on the amount of planning and preparation. Diligent pre-production helps reduce...