You are here: / / Recent Blog Posts
Shane Hurlbut’s Wireless ‘Helicopter Rig’ for Vehicle Cinematography
, ,

Shane Hurlbut’s Wireless ‘Helicopter Rig’ for Vehicle Cinematography

In vehicle cinematography, one of the most difficult challenges for a Director of Photography is "motivating" the environment. When you are filming a character driving through a city like downtown Los Angeles, the realism of the scene depends entirely on the interactive light. If the background plate…
The Look of Frankenstein Netflix Original Film - Thumbnail
, ,

The Look of Frankenstein

“And thus the heart will break. Yet brokenly live on.” –Lord Byron  There is a persistent warning in the film world that artists should avoid realizing their “dream projects,” lest the reality fall short of the decades of imagination that preceded it. But for Guillermo del Toro, his 2025…
Myron Kerstein, ACE - Musical Storytelling and Wicked
,

Editing Musicals like Wicked with Myron Kerstein, ACE

Editing has often been regarded as one of the most stressful professions in the world — maybe ranked second only to neurosurgery. For Myron Kerstein, ACE, that stress becomes his fuel. From the indie-cool of Garden State to the massive, operatic scale of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked and Wicked: For Good,…
Hi-Hat: Why the Hat Trick is a Must-Have for Low Angles - Thumbnail
, ,

Ditch the Hi-Hat: Why the Hat Trick is a Must-Have for Low Angles

For decades, the grip world has been defined by the "Century" rule: if a piece of equipment like the C-stand has lasted a hundred years, why change it? But as camera systems get smaller and production schedules get tighter, the traditional hi-hat and low-hat have started to feel like relics of a slower…
The Look of Marty Supreme - Thumbnail
,

The Look of Marty Supreme

“I've met many Marty Mausers over the centuries. Some of them crossed me, some of them weren't straight. They weren't honest. And those are the ones that are still here. You go out and win that game, you're gonna be here forever, too. And you'll never be happy. You will never be happy.” –Milton…
How to Extend Twilight Magic Hour on Film
,

How to Extend “Magic Hour” on Motion Picture Film

Every filmmaker loves "Magic Hour." That fleeting window just after sunset provides the most flattering, ethereal light known to cinema. But when you are shooting on film, this time of day is terrifying. As the sun dips below the horizon, your light levels plummet by the second. On a digital camera,…
Indie Film Guide to Short Ends and Recans
,

The Indie Film Guide to Short Ends & Recans

Shooting film remains the holy grail for many independent filmmakers — a medium that imparts a texture, depth, and discipline that digital sensors struggle to replicate. But the barrier to entry is often a single, daunting number: the price per foot. When a 400-foot roll of fresh 16mm stock costs…
Motion Picture Film for Beginners: Introduction - DNA of Filmmaking
, ,

Motion Picture Film For Beginners

In 1888, photography underwent a revolutionary transformation. American entrepreneur George Eastman introduced flexible celluloid film, replacing the heavy, fragile glass plates that had dominated the art form for decades. This innovation was a transparent, flexible base coated with a light-sensitive…
The Cinematography of Wake Up Dead Man - Steve Yedlin, ASC and Rian Johnson
,

The Cinematography of Wake Up Dead Man

In modern cinematography, there is a pervasive tendency to attribute the "look" of a film to the tools used to capture it. We talk about the "color science" of a specific camera brand or the "magic" of a specific film stock as if they are ingredients that simply need to be bought and mixed. Steve…
Tony Scott Effect: ND Grad Filters
,

The “Tony Scott” Look: ND & Color Grads

In the digital age, we have become accustomed to fixing exposure problems in the color grading suite. If a sky is too bright, we simply draw a Power Window, track it, and bring down the highlights. But when you are shooting on film — or even pushing a digital sensor to its limits in a backlit scenario…
Super 8 Film vs. 16mm Film vs. 35mm Film
,

Super 8 Film vs. 16mm Film vs. 35mm Film

In the digital world, we often talk about sensors in terms of technical specs: resolution, dynamic range, and low-light sensitivity. But when you shoot on celluloid, you are selecting a capture format as much as you are selecting a personality. The gauge you choose — Super 8, 16mm, or 35mm — acts…
Exposing Film in Harsh Sunlight with Shane Hurlbut, ASC
,

Exposing Film in Harsh Sunlight Backlit Scenes

When shooting on film, you don't have the luxury of a high-resolution monitor or waveform to check your exposure. You have your meter, your eye, and your knowledge of the craft. One of the most beautiful yet challenging lighting scenarios is the classic backlit sun shot. It creates separation, a stunning…
Shane Hurlbut, ASC explains 35mm vs 16mm, Kodak Vision3 stocks, and the science of analog exposure in this guide with Shane Hurlbut, ASC
,

Exposing Film Stocks: 16mm Film & 35mm Film

In an age dominated by digital "fixes," false color overlays, and the ability to change ISO with the scroll of a wheel, the true, hands-on craft of exposing celluloid has become a rare and vital skill. We see the "film look" imitated everywhere. Grain overlays, halation plugins, and LUTs designed to…
Why We Still Shoot Film in the Digital Age - Thumbnail
,

Why We Still Shoot Film in the Digital Age

In an industry obsessed with the latest sensors, 8K resolution, and AI-driven workflows, a quiet but powerful movement is growing. It's a return to the chemical, the tactile, and the analog. Filmmakers, from studio auteurs like Christopher Nolan to independent visionaries, are increasingly choosing to…
2025 Movies Shot on Film - Thumbnail
, ,

2025’s Standout Movies Shot on Film

For the first time in the digital era, 2025 has proven to be a year of resurgence for the organic, unpredictable, and deeply human texture of celluloid. The numbers tell the story. Kodak surges in 2025, selling as much film since 2014 when motion picture film took a downturn due to the digital revolution.…
Cinematic Light Quality - The Rosco Opti-Sculpt Technique
,

The Rosco Opti-Sculpt Technique: Cinematic Light Quality

It’s a classic, high-stakes problem. You’re on set, trying to light a large interior. The director wants to see the bright, beautiful exterior through the windows, but the room itself is falling into shadow. You know you need a massive amount of power to balance that interior exposure with the…
The Look of Die My Love - Thumbnail
,

The Look of Die My Love

“I’m stuck between wanting to do something and not wanting to do anything at all.”  What if the only thing more terrifying than a monster in the dark is the crushing, hollow weight of a life you’re supposed to want? This is the paralyzing, intimate territory of director Lynne Ramsay. More than…
Best Sports Films - Thumbnail
,

The Best Sports Films Ever Made

What is it about sports movies that makes them so enduringly powerful? On the surface, they are about a game. But at their core, they are a perfect, concentrated metaphor for the human condition. The field, the ring, or the court is a stage where the highest of human dramas play out: loyalty, betrayal,…
Saturation.io - Finally, a Cloud-Based Production Tool Made for Filmmakers
, ,

Finally, a Cloud-Based Production Tool Made for Filmmakers

I’ve been thinking a lot about something Shane says: “You have to protect the creative.” Now, he’s usually talking about lighting, blocking, and camera movement. But I think budgeting, expense tracking, and production actualization are part of that craft. These are areas where many filmmakers…
Center Moonlight
,

Cinematographer’s Tip: Cinematic Moonlight Placement

We've all seen night exteriors that feel flat, overlit, or just plain wrong. Of all the lighting scenarios a cinematographer faces, "how to light the night" is one of the biggest challenges. It's an art form that requires balancing technical skill with a strong creative vision. Where you place your moonlight…

Newsletter Signup

Trustpilot

Filmmakers Academy Master Your Craft logo

Ready to join?

BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN

CONTENT

Blog
Podcast
Content Library
Shane’s Kit
Glossary

STORE

Courses
Private Coaching
Buy a Gift Card

ABOUT US

Our Story
Our Mentors
FAQs
Contact Us
Become Affiliate

DOWNLOAD

Filmmakers Academy, Los Angeles, CA Born in Los Angeles, CA.

Terms Of Use         Cookie Policy         Privacy Policy

2026 © Hurlbut Visuals, All Rights Reserved.