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The Look of Dune

Dune is a space epic set 10,000 years in the future that blends medieval and sci-fi aesthetics. The film is an adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel. The plot follows the 15-year old Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and House Atreides as they accept the stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis…

Announcements

Our Favorite Black Friday Deals

There’s no better time in the year to score big on huge savings than Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday (which has expanded into an entire week!). Like a good filmmaker, you’ve waited all year for this moment, so now you can get what you need for a fraction of the cost. That’s why we at Filmmakers…

Decentralized Hollywood, Blockchain and NFTs thumbnail

Business, Technology

Decentralized Hollywood, Blockchain & NFTs

Filmmaking is expensive. For far too long filmmaking has remained an exclusive artform due to high costs and extremely limited opportunities. Even if your script impresses a cadre of executives, your final product will vastly differ from your original vision. That’s Hollywood. But, could the way we…

Business, Post Production

Should Film Festivals Better Compensate Filmmakers?

Film festivals serve an astronomical role for filmmakers in the filmmaking community. They provide the space to screen and premiere films and could even connect filmmakers with interested distributors. But, is just having your film screened at the big ball enough for filmmakers, particularly in lieu…

Announcements

Filmmakers Academy: A Complete Guide

Filmmakers Academy places filmmaking education directly at your fingertips. You can use our platform to unlock a whole new realm of creative possibilities from refreshing your general knowledge on specific gear and techniques to swift support for challenges that arise while in the throes of production.…

Film Theory

The Look of The Green Knight

The featured Department Heads and Technical Specifications behind the look of The Green Knight collaborated closely with the writer and director David Lowery. Featured Department Heads • Director: David Lowery • Cinematographer: Andrew Droz Palermo ◦ Editor: David Lowery •…

Production, Technology

Are Game Engines the Future of Filmmaking?

Since the earliest days of cinema, filmmakers have captivated audiences with movie magic. Similar to a magician and his hat, such visual innovations trick viewers allowing them to experience fantasy as reality. Today, with the advancements in gaming technology, amazing new workflows are transforming…

Lighting, Production

Where Should I Place My Key Light?

Light is to filmmaking what paint is to — well — painting. So, for anyone who might be thinking, “Where should I place my key light?” don’t worry, you’re in the right place. The way you place your key will have an impact on your mood, dimension, and color tones, but you probably already…

How To Write a Killer Logline - Filmmakers Academy

Pre Production

How To Write a Logline

Your logline is every bit as significant as your screenplay. That’s because a logline not only serves as the first glimpse at your subject matter but it also reveals its marketability while showcasing your writing abilities. With all this in mind, it’s absolutely essential to know how to write a…

Camera

Guide to Cinematic ND Filters 2021

When you’re just starting out as a cinematographer, understanding filters can seem a bit tricky. With all the different kinds of filters out there, it’s easy for filmmakers to slip up and use the wrong kind — or worse yet, fail to use one altogether. Especially when it could have enhanced your…

Pre Production, Production

6 Tips for Renting Equipment from a Film Rental House

Any seasoned filmmaker will tell you how their relationship with their local film rental houses is their lifeblood, allowing fthem to gear up for production without needing to spend thousands of dollars in purchasing expensive equipment. Yes, using a rental house can be expensive but it’s completely…

Directing, Film Theory, Pre Production, Production

The Art of Filmmaking Collaboration

The better you collaborate, the greater your chance for a successful film. That’s because, at its highest order, filmmaking collaboration occurs between various teams and departments to make a vision a reality. The goal is to work cohesively and work as a unit to boil down all the floating ideas, opinions,…

Camera

LUTs for Dark Skin Tones

Part of what shapes the look of various cinematic genres derives from the color grading process. Take Christopher Nolan’s latest film Tenet, for instance. The film is packed full of Nolan’s signature visual effects but its enrichment of the protagonist’s (John David Washington) dark skin tones…

How To Create Room Tone - Filmmakers Academy

Composition, Lighting, Production

How To Light Characters and Create Room Tone

Understanding how to light characters and create room tone is one of the most important and subtle tools you can use to take your storytelling to the next level. In fact, the nature of your ambient light hinges on how you light the background, mid-ground, and foreground. This video shows you a glimpse…

Camera, Production

Commercial Cinematography: Owning the Night

Lighting cars at night can be a challenge, especially for commercial cinematography. You want to make a great impression and get the job done right. There are a lot of questions you first need to ask yourself. Namely, what camera and lenses should you choose? Then, how do you light fast-moving shots…

Film Theory, Post Production

Musicbed: Timeless Films Need Cinematic Soundtracks

Part of what makes a film so timeless is the complementary nature it has between its visuals and cinematic soundtrack. Just imagine that iconic scene in Interstellar when Cooper (played by Matthew McConaughey) returns to the spacecraft Endurance from the ocean planet only to find that 23 years had elapsed?…

Business, Production

Start Your Career in the Film Industry with Artisha Mann-Cooper

Changing career paths is never an easy task and it can prove a bit daunting at first, especially if you’re switching to a passionate profession like filmmaking. But rest assured that it’s not nearly as big of a long shot as you might initially think. In fact, even if you work in an entirely different…

Business, Directing

Directing Your First Documentary Film with Alana Maiello

Alana Maiello is a documentary filmmaker with a fresh perspective. Her award-winning short film Esfuerzo appeared as part of the Court Métrage Short Film Corner at the 2018 Festival de Cannes while also winning the Audience Choice for Best Picture at the Oceanside International Film Festival. Presently,…

Announcements, Camera, Composition, Directing

Inspiring Cinematography with Pow Shilo

Inspiration is the best source of motivation. When I land a new project, one of the first things I do to get the creative juices flowing is search for inspiration. This brings me to a variety of materials like photography books, paintings, classic films, and the work of my fellow peers. Of course, I…

Camera, Composition, Production

Discover a Worldwide Filmmaking Community with Hurlbut Academy

Filmmaking is one of few art forms that actually necessitates an entire village to see a particular project through to the end. From working with storyboard artists in pre-production to the many departments and skilled artists in production and post, there are a ton of creative forces working towards…

Post Production

Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Workflow – Disney+ Safety

DaVinci Resolve revolutionized our post-production workflow for the Disney+ film Safety. Owned and developed by Blackmagic Design, DaVinci Resolve is a non-linear editing application that also specializes in color correction. But, its features and abilities go far beyond that. It puts everyone on…

Camera, Production

RED Gemini: Innovations for Disney+ film Safety

RED Digital Cinema hit the market in 2005 and ever since the world of filmmaking has never been the same. RED was a major factor in revolutionizing the industry by making digital cinematography the standard for motion capture. And, trust me, I know a little something about that major turning point in…

Pre Production, Production

Blueshape Innovations for the Disney+ film Safety

There are a million different factors that go into making a film. And if one of those factors goes wrong, like say your battery gives out during a crucial moment, it could prove to be the difference between a successful shoot or spending a treasure trove of money on reshoots. That’s where Blueshape…

Camera, Lenses, Production

Tiffen: Innovations for the Disney+ film “Safety”

One cannot simply stress the significance of color and what it means for the emotional experience of a film. This is especially the case for Disney and its vast vault of memorable films that transcend both time and space. That’s why I realized early on in pre-production for the newly released movie…

Camera, Pre Production

Insta360: Virtual Scouting for the COVID-19 Era

The future is officially upon us with Insta360 and location scouting will never be the same. As we move forward into the COVID era, ensuring the safety of our industry professionals is our primary concern. The people who are on the ground grinding day in and day out are the glue that’s holding everything…

How to shoot sports action cinematography

Camera, Pre Production, Production

How to Shoot Sports Cinematography

The magic of cinema evokes emotion through feeling visceral moments that put you in the headspace of the protagonist.

Announcements, Film Theory, Pre Production

Shane’s Cinema Prep Kit Part 1

This Cinema Prep Kit has been built to help you to beat the boredom while you are isolating. Beginning with Shane's favorite books for inspiration, he will take you through the best cinematography books, apps and further lessons that we have made available for free as part of this kit!