Movies & TV

Public access television is important because it gives communities whose concerns are not often presented on mainstream television a voice. In addition, public access channels provide an outlet...

The music in movie trailers can often be misleading. It's typically inserted to provide a specific mood, but since the trailers go out before the movie's soundtrack is completed, the music doesn't...

Few things are more important to a movie than proper casting. With the right actor in the right part, the production can become exactly what you hoped it would be. Cast a part badly, however, and...

Becoming a successful distributor of a major motion picture requires not only financial acumen and the ability to effectively market creative materials, but also the ability to develop...

Using a television as a computer monitor can be cost effective and may also become your preferred method of computing. Making this connection may seem complicated, but it often requires little...

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 DVR (Digital Video Recorder) can come in handy for recording your favorite shows if they air while you're away from the house or if you want to watch one show and record another that is airing...

According to the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, cable television was first introduced in the United States in 1948. The purpose of the system at this time was to enhance poor...

Making your own video production equipment can be as simple as modifying or employing existing equipment for use in video production. Equipment produced specifically for video use is pricey and...

Back in the heyday of the VCR, millions of VHS tapes were sold. Some tapes were hot movie releases and others were blank tapes meant to hold home video memories. Digital video has taken over as...

Most of Pixar 3D's computer animation is entrenched in stop motion animation of 3D models or frame by frame animation of 2D illustrations. Currently, Pixar builds digital 3D models harnessed with...

Boom operators work with the sound department to assist the production sound mixer for films and television shows. They operate the boom microphone to record ambient sound, effects and dialogue....

DirecTV is one of the most popular satellite-television providers. However, if you are looking to switch from DirecTV or are researching to find comparable service providers, there are a few other...

Reality shows, which are popular among viewers and cheaper to produce than scripted TV shows, can be found on most major TV networks. They range from the most inspirational to the most ridiculous,...

"Gran Torino" is a 2008 movie starring and directed by Clint Eastwood. Eastwood filmed the movie in the state of Michigan.

"West Side Story" is an award-winning musical film. Adapted from a hit Broadway play and released in 1961, the film won a total of ten Academy Awards, including one for Best Picture.

Film company incorporation--as opposed to a limited liability partnership or sole proprietorship--is best suited for large-scale, multi-million dollar productions that deal with exclusive talent...

The green screen technique is a method used in both cinematography and still photography to composite images. The technique is generally used to superimpose a model or actors over either a painted...

The lapel pins worn by Fox Sports commentators during major televised sporting events are part of the Fox Sports Supports initiative. Fox Sports Supports began in 2007 in an effort to raise money...

The group of French film directors called "New Wave" ( "La Nouvelle Vague") developed distinctive, experimental, individual cinema style in the late1950s and 60s.The most important filmmakers...

Steadycam shots can add a layer of gloss to an otherwise quick and dirty production. Unfortunately, they are prohibitively expensive for a truly low budget project. A similar effect can be...

To fans, topflight female actresses like Demi Moore, Meryl Streep and Signourney Weaver represent Hollywood at its best--yet a different reality persists behind the red carpet glitter and glitz....

Now that high definition is the new standard in television and home theater video equipment, you may want to know what can be done to keep your old movies looking their best. High definition...

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...

Monsters, Inc., is a film released in 2001 by Disney/Pixar. It uses computer-generated animation to create characters and a fantasy world of monsters. The film has a star-studded cast of voice...

Children begin learning the alphabet as soon as they start to recognize sounds. Soon, they can memorize the sounds of the letters, and later learn to identify the letter on sight. Once they...

As the Internet and computers become faster and faster and more and more people begin to watch things on the computer, it is only natural for televisions and computers to become integrated. In...

An infomercial is a commercial shot to look more like a television program. An infomercial can last anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours, with typical infomercials running for 60 minutes....

One of director Tim Burton's most iconic and unusual movie characters, Edward Scissorhands is a popular subject for Halloween and costume play outfits. While most people would consider Edward's...

From complex virtual worlds to life-like characters, computer animation offers breathtaking imagery that can enhance a film or television production. But perhaps you have more modest plans in...

Mounting a flat-screen television to a wall can open up a great deal of space in a room while offering an ideal location for entertainment purposes. Many flat-screen units come equipped with...

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...

3-D art for stereoscopic glasses investigates many of the parameters of the relationships between perceptions of physical and anaglyphic reality. Stereoscopic glasses, with red and blue lenses,...

Vancouver Effects & Animation Festival showcases 2D/3D animation, stop-motion animation and special effects. The six-day festival was founded in 1999. The event welcomes first-time efforts as...

The movie soundtrack typically refers to the music recorded for a film. It can be a score (orchestral music played over the action), songs performed as part of the film (such as in a musical) or...

Most information about keying and compositing using either blue or green screens on set deals with post techniques, but there are in-camera basics that will reclaim hours of your sleep later when...

Since its beginning in the mid-1990s, "Modern Marvels" has been an essential part of programming on the History Channel. Like other shows on the channel, "Modern Marvels" sets out to entertain...

OMG! First the Eggo waffle shortage and now Oprah announces the end of her network TV show! How will we ever survive? "I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know...

It is the ultimate weapon of the Jedi warrior, made famous by the iconic Star Wars movies. And now, with a few simple steps, you can make one on your own! Sure, it won't cut through anything or...

Netflix's Instaview movies, found under the Watch Instantly tab at the Netflix website, are a handy way to catch up on TV shows and see movies without waiting for them to be delivered. But many...

Home Box Office (HBO) is an award-winning cable television channel that is broadcast to more than 40 million U.S. subscribers, according to its parent company, Time Warner Inc. The company does...

"The Oprah Winfrey Show" is a talk show that has been on the air for over 20 years. Oprah discusses a variety of topics on her show, including politics, relationships, and health matters. Oprah...

"MythBusters" is a reality television show that is aired on the Discovery Channel and is comprised of, among others, Jamie Hyneman, Adam Savage, Robert Lee, Kari Byron, Tory Belleci and Grant...

In television programs and movies, a steadycam is used almost every time the camera follows a person. It is an attachment for the camera that allows the operator to capture smooth video when in...

Netflix has become one of the leading video rental providers in the United States today, due largely to its extensive library of movies and in-home convenience. Netflix also allows subscribers to...

Netflix has reinvented the video rental industry with its swift home delivery service of the latest blockbusters and classic films. While receiving your favorite movies within a few days after...

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...

The Star Wars universe is vast both in terms of size, time and the creatures that inhabit it. From Jedi warriors to massive living sand pits, fans experience characters drawn straight from...

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...