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Directors Department A film director is a person who directs the making of a film. A film director visualizes the script, controlling a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of his or her vision.
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Film Crew Positions and Responsibilities Part 1
When the credits roll on a movie, you will notice that there are many names and many different jobs. Understand while there are union rules associated with movie titles and who gets what, there are no laws on the books about them. If you make the movie, you can be "Grand Poobah" of the movie if you want. The thing to remember about these titles in regard to your production is that giving out a title is FREE. So, if you need to placate an investor or get a restaurant owner to let him use your place, you can always give him a credit on the movie for something. . . . keep reading
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Film Crew Positions and Responsibilities Part 2
Continued from part 1, this finishes up the jobs and responsibilites of your film crew. Just like the cinematographer is in charge of the look, Sound Guy is in charge of all the sound in the movie. He chooses the microphones, the placement and supervises all aspects of sound. Just like the DOP and the Camera Operator, he has his own little crew underneath him. . . . keep reading
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Dubbing: Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR)
In filmmaking, dubbing or looping is the process of recording or replacing voices for a motion picture. The term is most commonly used in reference to voices recorded which do not belong to the original actors and speak in a different language than the actor is speaking. "Dubbing" can also be used to describe the process of re-recording lines by the actor who originally spoke them. This process is technically known as additional dialogue recording, or ADR. . . . keep reading
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Art Films
An art film (also called an "art cinema", "art movie", or in the US, an "independent film" or "art house film") is a typically a serious, noncommercial, independently made film that is aimed at a niche audience, rather than a mass audience. Film critics and film studies scholars typically define an "art film" using a "...canon of films and those formal qualities that mark them as different from mainstream Hollywood films." Art film producers usually present their films at specialty theatres (repertory cinemas, or in the US "arthouse cinemas") and film festivals. . . . keep reading
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Above the Line / Below the Line
In the movie industry, above-the-line expenditures are those that are negotiated or spent before filming begins. These costs can include rights for the material on which the screenplay is based, the salaries for the screenwriter, director, producer, and actors. It also covers Assistants to Directors, Actors and Producers (not to be confused with Assistant Directors). . . . keep reading
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180 Degree Rule
The 180° rule is a basic film editing guideline that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. . . . keep reading
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Pre-visualization 101
A technique in which low-cost digital technology aids the filmmaking process. It involves using computer graphics (usually 3D) to create rough versions of the shots in a movie sequence. Usually, this is only done for the more complex shots (visual effects or stunts), as the benefits are fewer for simple scenes such as dialogues. . . . keep reading
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Storyboarding 101
A storyboard is essentially a large comic of the film or some section of the film produced beforehand to help film directors, cinematographers and television commercial advertising clients visualize the scenes and find potential problems before they occur. Often storyboards include arrows or instructions that indicate movement. . . . keep reading
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Why You Must Have Production Insurance
Production insurance is one of the essential pieces of paperwork a filmmaker must have before they begin shooting their film. It will cost a lot of money but it will also cover a lot of expenses if anything unexpected happens on set. It is important in every logistical aspect of production such as getting permits, equipment, even insuring the crew and actors. . . . keep reading
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Domestic Violence in Motion Pictures
Motion pictures can be an expression of an artist's life, a classic story that needs to be told, or a social commentary. Some of them can even be made to open people's eyes to the cruelties of the world. And maybe if that happened, there would be less tragedies happening in our society. Domestic violence rears its ugly head in films because it is a staple in the world. It happens everywhere around us and is sometimes missed by those who are friends or family of those abused. . . . keep reading
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Proper Phone Etiquette
In the entertainment business, you spend a lot of time on the phone. Even when you're as low on the show business totem pole as I am, I find myself losing whole days to the phone. For years, I resisted the urge to get a cellphone until my associates finally pinned me down and said, "You have to get a cellphone so I can reach you." Entertainment is dynamic and part of the excitement is the chaos that ensues around it, without a phone you're lost. . . . keep reading
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How to Keep Continuity
In the cold light of day, keeping continuity in your movie is as easy as watching a movie and saying, "Hey, that guy had a hat one when he went out the door. Now the hat is in his hand. Stupid director! How did he miss that?" As my favorite evil college dean character said, "You'll get your chance smart guy!" It happens to everyone. . . . keep reading
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Shooting Video vs. Film: Pros and Cons
Ever since the first video cameras were made portable, the debate between shooting video or film has raged. At first, it was no contest. Video equipment was bulky, unreliable and its images flat and lifeless. By the 1980's, videotape cassettes made shooting television easier, but the images were still unable to touch film. Videotapes quickly degraded if copied or archived for long periods. With the advent of digital images, computers allowed video to compete with film. Here are some of the pros and cons: . . . keep reading
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Cults in Motion Pictures
Since the 1940's, motion pictures have been depicting cults on the big screen. A cult is an organization that deviates from "normal" society and endangers its members by brainwashing them with irrational ideas or controls them unwillingly. Cults have been prevalent in society probably since the beginning of man or other religions. They mostly sprout from religious beliefs that are far from the religion they claim to be a part of or they come from individuals who form an organization to get away from societal norms. . . . keep reading
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A Guide to Costume Design
Making a film involves more people than just the director and the actor. One has to consider the lighting, the camera work, the production design, the sound, the locations, the costumes, etc. Every little detail can mean something big to your film. Costume design is one of the major visual aspects of filmmaking. The clothing for a character can tell a story just as the kinds of t-shirts a biker wears or the kind of elegant dress a princess wears can tell their story in real life. . . . keep reading
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Write a Great Plot
The plot of your movie is a series of events that drive the story forward. (This is not the same as the Acts discussed in a previous essay.) The Acts are a format for your plot. The plot itself is what drives your story. So think of the Acts as the chassis of your race car and your plot as the driver. . . . keep reading
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Benefits
Deals and Discounts
