What are Ancillary Rights in Film & Why Are They Important?

Negotiating the purchase of film rights for intellectual property such as a book, story, or some other published work will represent the foundation of your film project, a starting point at which the rest of your production will build from. During your negotiations, you’re likely to come across something called “ancillary rights in film”. But […]

How to Structure a Short Film

Learning how to structure a short film can take a little bit of practice, especially if you’re new to script writing. Short film structures typically take on the common three-act structure that is accepted by most filmmakers and screenwriters, but if you’re not familiar it essentially means that your film will have a beginning, a […]

A Beginner’s Guide to Working Conditions for Film Directors

Film directors represent some of the most engaged and involved of the film industry. They’re responsible for turning the written words of a script into the elaborate and amazing visuals of a motion picture film. The backbone of quality, the film director acts as the eyes of the film. Ensuring the final product is one […]

What is Shot Blocking in Film?

When you hear the term “shot blocking,” do you think about preventing a shot from taking place? If you’re a basketball player, you certainly do. But as a filmmaker, the mind might take a different approach. In film, various terms are used to describe processes that involve the camera movements, position, and use of equipment […]

Are All TV Shots Voiced Over in a Studio After Filming?

Are All TV Shots Voiced Over in a Studio After Filming? Shooting a television show is certainly a process. It’s a bit different from what you might have seen in filming a movie. But not so much that the entire production process is altered. In fact, much of the process during production for a television […]

Understanding Foreground, Middleground, Background in Film Composition

When looking at the composition of a shot, the filmmaker is faced with a layered scene. In which there is essentially a foreground, middleground, and background in film. Each of these areas, respectively, represents a very important area of your focus. In which, together, the foreground, middleground and background are combined to produce the desired […]

What is Omniscient Point of View in Film?

The point of view (POV) that you use in storytelling plays a key role in how your audience will experience the description and visibility of the world you’re creating for them. Throughout filmmaking, the use of third-person omniscient point of view is common. Allowing a glimpse into the character’s story. But exactly what is the […]

Recognizing Symmetry in Film: What is Symmetry & What Does it Mean?

Throughout the world of filmmaking, the use of various forms both of symmetry and balance frequently come up in discussions of composition and how to engage in the art of visual storytelling. The use of symmetry in film composition represents one of various forms of expression that a filmmaker can control. While delivering the desired […]

What is Post Synchronized Sound in Film?

Sound is used in filmmaking for a variety of purposes. We hear a mix of sounds in the films we enjoy, including dialogue between characters, music, and sound effects. While sounds in filmmaking provide a mix of audible experiences of all types. Many of the sounds that are incorporated into a film are purely for […]

How to Write a TV News Report in a Screenplay

Whether you’re new to screenwriting, or it’s something that you’ve been practicing for a while, there’s a chance that you’ve crossed several paths in which questions have come up about different scenarios and how to write them into your screenplay. For example, do you know how to write a TV news report in a screenplay? […]