“I don’t have 18Ks. I don’t have M40s. How can I create cinematic lighting?” It’s one of the most common challenges filmmakers face. The great news is that powerful storytelling isn’t always about having the biggest lights. It’s about creatively shaping the light you already have. In this exclusive lesson excerpt, we provide a detailed […]
“I want to be a filmmaker. Where do I start? What camera should I use?” This is one of the most common questions cinematographers like Shane Hurlbut, ASC, get from aspiring storytellers. His answer is often surprising: start with the powerful cinema camera already in your pocket. Modern smartphones, especially the iPhone, have incredible imaging […]
For the thousands of California film industry professionals navigating a landscape of empty soundstages and uncertain futures, a crucial piece of news has finally arrived. On June 24, after intense negotiations and vocal advocacy from some of Hollywood’s top creators, state lawmakers approved Governor Gavin Newsom’s landmark proposal to allocate $750 million annually to the […]
How do you build a sustainable career as a director? It’s the question every filmmaker asks, a journey filled with passion, detours, and immense challenges. How do you navigate from a personal passion project to a studio feature? How do you overcome imposter syndrome when you finally get your big break? And crucially, how do […]
Let’s talk about the real backbone of any film set. It’s not the multi-thousand-dollar camera or the vintage anamorphic lens. It’s the gear that holds it all together — literally. We’re talking about grip clamps. These humble, often overlooked pieces of metal are some of the most crucial tools in a filmmaker’s arsenal. They are […]
As filmmakers, we are constantly in a dance with light. We shape it, diffuse it, flag it, and bounce it. While powerful lights create our key, the subtle art of the bounce is often what brings an image to life, especially when working with actors in challenging lighting conditions. How do you fill in shadows […]
After exploring the foundational colors of cinema, our Movie Color Palette series now turns to a hue defined by its compelling duality: CYAN. It is the color of life-giving serenity — think of clear ocean lagoons and icy glacial caves. Yet, in cinema, it is just as often the color of cold, sterile detachment — […]
Limitations don’t easily deter Jessica Lee Gagne. From her early days navigating the endless aisles of her father’s Quebec City video stores to her directorial debut on the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series “Severance,” Gagne has consistently demonstrated a knack for transforming constraints into compelling visual storytelling. This episode of the Finding the Frame Podcast […]
Lighting is far more than just making actors visible. In fact, lighting emotion is a powerful narrative tool that can convey the character’s internal world. In this excerpt from “Actor Blocking with Practical Lighting” – the fourth installment of our On Set Series: Cinematic Light Sources – cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC, demonstrates how to masterfully […]
Adam Newport-Berra isn’t your typical Hollywood cinematographer. Emerging from the raw energy of Oregon skateboarding videos, his approach to visual storytelling is often described as “punk” — stripping away the excess, embracing simplicity, and fearlessly diving into the heart of the story. This ethos is on full display in the wildly popular AppleTV+ series The […]
In a world saturated with color, what draws filmmakers back to the stark embrace of BLACK & WHITE? Having explored the individual voices of RED, BLUE, YELLOW, GREEN, MAGENTA, ORANGE, and BROWN in our Movie Color Palette series, we now consider a palette that achieves its power not through what it shows, but often through […]
For over a century, the name Kodak has been synonymous with the very fabric of cinema. That iconic yellow box held more than just film. As a medium through which countless stories were captured, emotions evoked, and visual worlds brought to life, it held possibilities. From the birth of the industry standard 35mm format to […]
What’s the deal with Streaks ‘N Tips as a lighting technique? Well, as cinematographers, we’re constantly battling and embracing light. Practical light sources — those lamps, bulbs, and fixtures that exist within your scene — can add immense realism and atmosphere. But they can also be unruly, creating unwanted lens flares or spilling light where […]
In filmmaking, one truth stands above all: performance is your reel. The most stunning visuals or intricate plot can fall flat without compelling, believable performances that connect with the audience. But how do you consistently elicit those powerful moments from your actors? How do you navigate the journey from an initial casting idea to a […]
Practical lights — those lamps, fixtures, and light sources visible within your frame — are the unsung heroes of cinematic realism. From table lights and barrel shades to goosenecks and bare bulbs, these elements, often provided by the Set Decoration department, are crucial for grounding your scene in reality and establishing mood. However, as any […]
You’ve made it to the next color in our Movie Color Palette series, a kaleidoscopic adventure full of chromatic twists and turns. We’ve journeyed through the primal power of RED and waded through the cool depths of BLUE. Then, conjured the vibrant energy of YELLOW and explored the complex nature of GREEN. All before harnessing […]
We’ve explored the build, specs, features, and controls of the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF in the previous parts of our deep-dive demonstration. (Check out Parts 1, 2 & 3…) Now, we arrive at the crucial test: How does this camera really handle light? In this final segment, Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and senior colorist Dave […]
Firelight. It’s primal and evocative. It can instantly infuse a scene with unparalleled atmosphere and realism. Yet, taming its wild flicker and translating its raw beauty into a controlled, cinematic image presents a unique set of challenges for any filmmaker. How do you harness that organic glow? Or capture that dancing shadow play? All the […]
Why do some films feel immersive, pulling you directly into their world, while others feel distant or artificial? Often, the secret lies in the masterful use of depth. A flat image, where everything seems to exist on a single plane, can feel lifeless, lacking the dimensionality we experience in the real world. Conversely, an image […]
Having examined the core specs and put the sensor through its paces in Part 2, Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and Blackmagic’s Tor Johansen now turn their attention to the practical realities of using the URSA Cine 12K LF on a professional set. How easy is it to control? How does it handle? What are its capabilities […]