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1. 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
   
   
2. 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
   
   
3. Creating a Good Commercial Reel
   To get ahead and get jobs in the film or television industry, it is necessary to have experience and credits under your belt. How can you do this without having a job in the industry? You can't. You have to work and pay your dues before you start getting anything out of it. . . . keep reading
   
   
4. How To Tell If They Are A Good Actor
   We all want to have good actors in our films. They are the frontmen. They are the people who represent the film in a physical and emotional way. It's a Tom Cruise film, it's an Eddie Murphy film, it's a Marilyn Monroe film. You want to find someone who's appealing to the eye but not someone who is only appealing to the eye. This is where some directors go wrong. . . . keep reading
   
   
5. American Society of Cinematographers
   The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) is not a labor union or guild, but rather an educational, cultural and professional organization. Membership is by invitation and is extended only to Directors of Photography and Special Effects experts with distinguished credits in the film industry. . . . keep reading
   
   
6. What to Expect at an Internship
   One of the most important gigs to get before delving into the film industry is an internship. They usually don't pay, have nothing to do with your final objective in the industry and are sometimes nothing more than listening to people talk/getting food for the office. But they are an opportunity that doesn't come by once you are in the industry. . . . keep reading
   
   
7. 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
   
   
8. How To Film Kissing
   A family gathering, a first date, a sexy love scene. All of these scenarios may have different types of kissing in them and should be filmed differently. There are different kinds of shots, film and techniques to go by when filming a kiss depending on what type of scene and what type of movie you are shooting. . . . keep reading
   
   
9. Working with a Music Composer - the "Lingo"
   Scoring your film is a separate post-production task altogether. And finding the right composer to make your film come alive is daunting. Music composition is not a simple task. It is extremely important to find someone who is experienced and who has the right style for your film. . . . keep reading
   
   
10. 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
    
    
11. The Screenplay in Three Acts
    "Screenplays are structure." ---William Goldman . . . keep reading
    
    
12. 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
    
    
13. Creating Unique Story Ideas
    STUDENTS… UNITE AGAINST CRAP. We really mean it. Too many stories seem way too similar. Don't say, "It's all already been done." No, it hasn't. Fight against derivative scripts. . . . keep reading
    
    
14. 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
    
    
15. Add an Image to our Image Gallery
    This page shows how to create a image upload form . . . keep reading
    
    
16. 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
    
    
17. Creating the Best Press Kit For Your Film
    Press kits are an essential part of your film submissions to film festivals. Some festivals do not require it, but as a good, general rule of thumb, if you want your film to be watched and accepted, a press kit is a good entry way into the sight of judges. . . . keep reading
    
    
18. 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
    
    
19. 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
    
    
20. The Real Job of a Production Assistant
    Demystifying the job of an production assistant so you know what you are really getting into. . . . keep reading
    
    

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