What is Internal Diegetic Sound in Film?

Sounds are one of the many elements of a film that can add life to the story and draw the audience in creating a unique connection to the characters, environment, and overall theme of the film’s story. You can generally divide a film’s sound into the following categories: speech, music, and noise. Of these sound […]
What’s the Difference Between Hard Light vs Soft Light in Film?

In filmmaking, the lighting that is used to create the scene plays a key role in the mood, emotions, and visual connections between subjects on the set. Soft light can produce smooth shadows that minimize dimension and depth whereas a hard light may create deep, harsh lines that are incredibly powerful. Depending on the look […]
What is Persistence of Vision in Film?

During the production of animated films, the illusion of movement is frequently referred to as the persistence of vision. This phenomenon is said to result from the residual image. Which is ingrained within the retina of the eye as the next image is shown creating an optical illusion. Causing the brain to perceive motion in […]
How do We Define Block-Booking in Film History & Why Was it Outlawed?

The film industry has seen a lot of change over the years. With many different steps having been taken to ensure the safety and efficacy of business owners. Particularly theater owners in this case. Historically, block booking is a practice that was outlawed nearly 100 years ago. But how do we define block-booking in film […]
Quick Tips on How to Block Out Windows When Filming

Blocking out windows when filming on location is something that an amateur filmmaker may not immediately think about. But this does not mean it’s not important! Figuring out how to block out windows when filming is important for continuity purposes. But also to ensure that you can maximize use of the lighting you bring onto […]
How Do Film Crews Block Off a Street?

As a student filmmaker, you’re probably elated at the idea of your first “real” professional film shoot. You can’t wait to be there, but when you see the address there’s a bit of confusion. The address lists an entire city block for the shoot, but how could that be? How do film crews block off […]
What is Diegesis: A Film Definition for Independent Filmmakers

In story writing and filmmaking, various rules and stylistic techniques are tools to produce the elements of the fictional worlds that characters are a part of. In the film world, diegesis is a term that is frequently used to describe the unique made-up worlds within a story. Essentially, a diegesis film definition would make sense […]
What is Direct Cinema?

Throughout the history of motion picture making which began more than 100 years ago there have been a variety of genres and styles to develop as filmmaking has progressed year to year. Documentary films, in particular, have evolved in many ways to overcome the amateur, “home movie” style and quality that some of the earliest […]
Visual Storytelling: What is Shot Blocking in Film & How Does it Tell Your Story?

Have you ever noticed that some of your most favorite movies are the result of a combination of amazing dialogue between characters? Sophisticated action sequences and cinematic experiences like nothing you’ve ever visualized before? So much goes into producing a film. Specifically when it comes to shot blocking or blocking the scene. But what is […]
What is a Non-Diegetic Insert Technique in Filmmaking?

When a Director has created a film “world” or story world in which a film takes place we call the diegesis. Thus, everything that takes place within the story world is diegetic. Whereas the events which occur outside the story-world are called non-diegetic. A filmmaking technique that combined shots and scenes from outside the story […]