Why is Canted Framing in Film Used?

In filmmaking, a variety of camera movements and positions are used in order to create the desired composition on screen. Sometimes, the camera will be positioned so that it is balanced and forward facing without any real tilting or movement while other times, a camera might be angled in such a way that it produces […]

What is Vaudeville and How Did the Film industry Impact It?

During the turn of the century, America would undergo many different changes as attractions and entertainment would quickly become prominent throughout major cities and states. As many community members sought to get out of their apartments and engage with others, Vaudeville acts would become incredibly popular. In fact, Vaudeville performances in many ways gave rise […]

Film Score vs Soundtrack What’s the Difference?

When music is composed for a film its purpose is to heighten the emotional connection that is made between the film and the audience while supporting or complementing the existing visual representation of a scene. Film sound includes a variety of sounds that may include diegetic sounds, non-diegetic sounds, dialogue and music. Much of the […]

What is a Turnaround Film and What Does it Mean When a Film Goes into Turnaround?

As members of the film industry know all too well, nothing is guaranteed, and things could change in an instant. This is true in a lot of different scenarios in filmmaking, but nothing is more difficult to accept than when a film becomes a turnaround. You might have heard the term “turnaround film” expressed in […]

What Does Underscoring Music in Film Mean and How is Underscore Achieved?

As all of the visual and audible elements of a film begin to come together it becomes evident that certain sounds are important to creating the desired finished effect. For many films, the goal of additional music is to create scenes that the audience can become immersed in, for which they will almost forget that […]

A Simple Process Shot Film Definition

The process shot represents a unique camera technique which was and still is incredibly popular. You might recall the process shot by a more familiar term known as green screening? Whether you know it as the process shot or as green screening, this process is a cinematic technique that involves the use of pre-filled backgrounds […]

What are Pastiche Actions in Film with Examples

Some of the most notable filmmakers, particularly Directors that engage in the production oversight and general artistic direction of films worldwide, will admit that they steal for a living. Well, maybe not exactly, but when it comes to the use of pastiche actions in film, many directors steal ideas from previous filmmakers, and they do […]

What are Pastiche Films?

Pastiche films represent a particular form of motion picture in which the cinematographer is mimicking the work of a prior filmmaker, but what are pastiche films, exactly? Pastiche represents a technique in which a filmmaker pays homage to another filmmaker’s style by mimicking the work through the use of distinct cinematography techniques. The influence of […]

Filming in the Snow: White Balance Correction for Filmmakers

When filming in the snow, correcting white balance can be tricky, particularly as some camera settings can leave your footage appearing gray or overly blue. If you’re a beginning cinematographer that’s just starting out, you might be tempted to use the various presets that your camera has to achieve proper white balance while you’re filming […]

What are Indigenous Films?

Indigenous films are an essential element of culture, storytelling, and history, but what are indigenous films? Indigenous filmmaking has a strong place in culture and history, but what exactly do we mean when we mention an indigenous film? Indigenous films, produced by the communities of Native Americans and indigenous people worldwide are absolutely vital to […]