A news aggregator from various RSS feeds, like technology, gaming, development and general news sites.
This whole week, we have been picking 40 films that we think shaped America as we know it.The movie is a masterpiece of paranoia.Dee Rees co-wrote and directed this sweeping adaptation of Hillary Jordan's novel.
One easy way to add an extra level of depth and sophistication to your shots is by adding some affordable and easy ND filters to your shooting process.That's why, for our "Deals of the Week" roundup, we have a set of variable ND filters from Tiffen that are all on sale and all ready to help you maintain better control of depth of field in your compositions.So check out these deals below.
Backrooms: Everything Must Go Edition adds 15 minutes of footage and an exclusive post-credits scene, and it lands as Kane Parsons' film closes in on $330 million worldwide.If you've somehow missed the conversation, the movie follows an unwitting furniture store owner who discovers another plane of reality underneath his building.The empty rooms in David Lynch's Twin Peaks: The Return work this way.
“There's no such thing as an anti-war movie” is a quote attributed to French filmmaker François Truffaut, and Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of John Rambo, particularly in the first film of the franchise, First Blood, is probably the best example of this, as the slow-burn lessons of the film’s thesis are ultimately turned on their head as the series rages on.Sylvester Stallone in 'First Blood'First Blood is a brooding, slow-burning action thriller that has more to say about what it means to be an American than you might remember.
Today, I wanted to go over ten Jack Lemmon roles that I think are his personal best.This is probably one of my ten favorite movies of all time, and I think one of the ten best movies ever made.He's holding his own next to Henry Fonda and James Cagney.
Roland Emmerich's 2000 Revolutionary War film was written by Robert Rodat.It follows Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) as he goes from reluctant farmer to militia leader after his family is torn apart by the British.A Reluctant FighterAuberjonois plays Oliver as soft for most of the film's first act.
Tilta has released a new collection featuring lens mount adapters.Tilta T-Mount Lens Mount Adapters for iPhoneThe full collection is set to include a 10X Macro Lens, a 40mm Telephoto Lens, an 8mm Fisheye Lens, and a 16mm Wide Angle Lens.
Traditional grading systems tend to organize work around tools. You stack effects, build node graphs, layer LUTs, and route images through increasingly complicated correction structures. Those systems can be powerful, but they also become fragile as you move along in your editorial. Sometimes sequences change, and you have new shots that entirely change a scen...
PolarPro has released several new filter sets, which are set to be available for the Osmo Pocket 4P if and when you can get your hands on one.PolarPro Filter Sets for DJI Osmo Pocket 4 ProThe set includes an ND8, an ND32, and an ND128 CINE filter to cut light hitting your sensor by 3 to 7 f-stops.
These 40 films peer deep into what America is and who gets to belong in it.Each of these filmmakers made a choice about how to mirror America and its people.Sidney Lumet directed Paddy Chayefsky's satire and then insisted it wasn't satire at all.
What do Katy Perry, Charles Dickens, and the Bible have in common?According to writer Mark Forsyth, they're all leaning on the same handful of ancient formulas or patterns of language that have been making memorable lines for millennia.Forsyth laid out his case in conversation with David Perell, and while h...
For me, HBO’s Band of Brothers is the greatest TV miniseries of all time. It was executive-produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg and took on Easy Company's march from D-Day until the end of WWII.We follow them through Europe as they attempt to free it from Nazi control.The show was sprawl...
I love Sergio Leone, and I feel like he's actually still somehow underrated as a director. The guy knew how to take his time with a story and to shoot a landscape. It seems thosel ong shots also knew how to build character and tension, especially with villains we're waiting to see act.The guy directed some of the most im...
Big news for ARRI shooters: the company has announced a new SUP 1.2.2 update that is set to add performance boosts for those working with NIA-1 interface adapters and the Hi-5 and Hi-5 SX hand units.These latest Software Update Packages are part of a coordinated firmware release designed to ensure that all new features and fixes are available a...
Filling a gap that used to be vacant, but now has a handful of nice and helpful options for pre-production planning, storyboarding, shot-listing, and a bunch of other pre-pro features, Artemis Studio is another fun option to consider that gets a boost from being a companion app to the popular Artemis Director’s Viewfinder app.And while the...
From dropping hints about the twist everywhere you look, to switching main characters almost halfway through, even 66 years later, the film leaves us with some really substantive lessons on screenwriting.There are contradictions to Norman’s story splattered everywhere in the film.The first is obviously Anthony Perkins’ iconic, terrifying performance.
It’s been around a week since Blackmagic Design released a new update for DaVinci Resolve, so we figured we’d be due for an update here soon. And, as we expected, we have another minor but important update for DaVinci Resolve.DaVinci Resolve 21.0.2 is here to follow up on its 21.0.1 update,
The company has announced that the CineVew M7 Series will further enable crews to review, manage, and upload footage directly to Frame.io Camera to Cloud with this new integration, serving as an even more capable on-set hub for productions of all scales.Accsoon CineView M7 Series Adds Frame.io IntegrationTo pull this off, you’ll first need an Accsoon CineView M7 Series smart monitoring device or a SEeMo series device.
Iannucci has spent three decades making political dysfunction funny.He also gave us The Thick of It, Veep, and The Death of Stalin.It's just that they have a comedy brain."
However, there was one action hero who served more as a prototype for the superhero films of the 2000s and 2010s than he did for the 80s ultimate action era.Steven Seagal stands tall on the shoulders of the Supermen who came before him as an example of the action movie hero who never gets hit.Steven Seagal: The Unassailable Action Hero
Perhaps one of the best to ever do it was Michael Byrne. Today, I wanted to go over five of his performances that prove you don't need top billing to leave an unforgettable mark on a film.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) - YouTube www.youtube.com Director: David YatesWriter: Steve Kloves (based on the novel by J.K. Rowling)Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Michael ByrneOne scene.
Singleton became the youngest person and the first Black filmmaker ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. The Last Picture Show is about a town dying out.Peter Bogdanovich shot this adaptation of Larry McMurtry’s novel in stark black-and-white.
Wade Patterson is a cinematographer, writer, and producer who recently shared his experience making shorts and features with Film Courage. His projects include Death Cipher and the shorts Bare Knuckle and Freedom Figh...
Star Trek was one of those wild, philosophical shows that I wish we still greenlit. I guess now we do, but they're all kind of twisted lessons, where Star Trek really was earnest and about a hopeful future.Anyway, the show was so successful that it spawned many movies, which I do think honor the heart of the original se...
We’ve all been there: you’re running late for a shoot and trying to cram your cameras and gear into whatever bags, backpacks, or bundles you can find. And, of course, something goes wrong. A camera is left behind, a lens slips out, or—even worse—you throw your darn back out in the process.While it’s easy to say this should never be...
When Apple announced that it was bundling its creative apps, like Final Cut Pro, into its new Creator Studio, it sure sounded like the company was going after Adobe with its Creative Cloud.And that idea is now reinforced as Apple has introduced more Adobe-esque...
One way to scare audiences in the horror genre is by turning the camera into a character itself. A famous example is the opening scene of Halloween (1978). The slow camera movements establish the chilling patience of Michael Myers.<...
Originally announced over a year ago, the Sirui Vision Prime Cine Lens series brought high-quality optics and a lot of versatility to the cinema lens market. We covered the lenses when they were first announced back in 2025, and we’re excited to see that more are on the way.The original set released in the ...
It's the week of America's 250th birthday and almost the Fourth of July, so what better time to look back on some of cinema's most iconic films? These 40 films peer deep into what America is and who gets to belong in it. They give us the factories that grind people down, the highways that promise escape, the coal mines that own your body, the Kansas farm yo...
A24 has long been one of the most respected companies in all of Hollywood. They have this vision of being a studio that makes singular movies by great auteurs. They brought us the uncompromising human visions of Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, and Celine Song, among many others. And their brand in Hollywood was as close to perfec...
Any time I need a moment of zen, I find myself putting on a Jeff Bridges movie and relaxing. Even in his most intense films, there's this layer of calm over him that allows me to lean in.Today, I wanted to go over ten of his performances that I think are his personal best. There are some great movies where Bridges is the star and shines. ...
One of the more unique and perhaps fun lighting innovations we’ve seen in quite some time, this new Covered Wagon with Frame from Chimera is a unique take on the “covered wagon” style of lighting setups.Designed to work with the majority of LED fixtures you might have on set, this Covered Wagon with Frame is easy to secure and ...
From monitors to focus control systems, is there anything your iPhone can’t be turned into these days? It certainly seems that if you can dream up something for your iPhone to be, someone has fig...
Now available for Sony E and Leica L mounts, along with Nikon Z, this new AF 135mm f1/8 MAX lens from 7Artisans is gunning to be a go-to telephoto prime for the right set of hybrid content creators looking for shallow depth of field, high sharpness, and capable of handling low light shooting situations.The 7Artisans AF 135mm f1/8 MAXThe lens is well-suited for isolating subjects from their backgrounds and for working in low-light conditions.
It's one of the most effective power moves in Western cinema.How Most Writers Would Screw This UpMany beginning writers would turn this into a shouting match or an automatic shootout, with both characters yelling, insulting, and trying to out-tough each other through dialogue.When your character tries to escape through dialogue, you have to cut off that escape route.
The time loop/time travel subgenre is one that has captivated audiences for decades. Whatever the genre may be, the concept of having to repeat some element of the story multiple times over the course of a single film makes for a special kind of watch. The elements of mystery, strategy, and ultimate annoyance that the characters feel ce...
While the film and video landscape is, of course, always changing, evolving, and turning over, it is a bit rare for one brand to venture outside of its comfort zone as much as GoPro has done with its new line of compact cinematic action cameras.The Mission 1 series, highlighted by the flagship Mission 1 Pro, is about as bold a...
Let's look at his running gags.He uses it over and over.Casting as a Running DynamicGene Wilder appeared in three Mel Brooks films.
Still, on Social Media and across the internet, one of the biggest topics of conversation is Nepo Babies, especially in Hollywood.If you want to have a long and successful career in Hollywood, you need to stop complaining about nepotism.Hollywood was built on a myth that if you work hard enough, you can make it no matter what.
As we wrote about when Chuck Norris, very sadly, passed away earlier this year, the actor’s legacy in the action film genre is god-tier. And for good reason: the accomplished martial artists helped define the ultimate action era of the 80s and 90s in their own im...
While not as prolific at releasing firmware updates as, say, Blackmagic Design, which seems to have an update for DaVinci Resolve almost every other week these days, when companies like Canon do decide to release firmware updates for some of their more popular cinema cameras, it’s usually because they have something good to share.And that ...
In particular, the Leica SL3-P announced last week is quite exciting and intriguing, and it’s also left brands like Atomos scrambling to get their gear and monitors ready to handle these new options.Luckily,, Atomos works quickly, and the company has a new AtomOS 12.7.0 firmware update ready for its Ninja RAW, Ninja TX, and Ninja TX GO systems, which will get the monitor/recorders ready to handle these new cameras.AtomOS 12.7.0 Update
Today, I want to go over the best Revolutionary War movies ever made and talk about what filmmakers can learn from each of them. The movie has the epicness and grandeur of Roland Emmerich at the top of his game.And Heath Ledger and Mel Gibson shine in a script from Robert Rodat (who also penned Saving Private Ryan), which frames a massive continental conflict through the hyper-focused lens of a single family’s survival and revenge.
They're neat little collector items that allow theaters to profit greatly and bring in cash.Case in point, a $49.99 popcorn bucket shaped like an IMAX camera, tied to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, sold out in about an hour this month.These buckets are not just for nerds but a bright spot for theaters that need extra revenue.
The scene is one of the most emotional goodbyes in film history. What Tolkien CarriedThe author of the source material, J.R.R. Tolkien, was a soldier in World War I."Not all tears are an evil" is one of the most truthful things a story can say about loss.
And now, he's taking on werewolves for Universal with his mythic picture, Werewulf. The first trailer has dropped, and we have it below for your enjoyment. Werwulf lands in theaters on December 25th 2026.
For decades, Westerns (i.e., the classic ones) were defined as much by their gritty soul as by their clean, high-contrast surfaces. That polished exterior fed neatly into the black-and-white moral divide between heroes and
Sometimes, you just need the warmth of a classic summer blockbuster to keep you entertained, and that's why I threw on Top Gun the other day.I am always in awe of Tony Scott's 1986 jaunt through the air force and zooming around the skies. You can get lost in the roaring adrenaline of the jet engines and the sun-d...
When Letterboxd asked four-time Oscar nominee Ridley Scott what his four favorite movies were, he didn’t hesitate. While many filmmakers who are asked the same question waffle about what their picks are going to be, Scott approached the topic with his typical candor, sharing mov...
The 1950s and 1960s saw the end of the Golden Age of the studio system, the end of the Hays Code, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. Nihilism and violence were on the rise, as were the filmmakers of New Hollywood, who helped define auteur filmmaking.While all the filmmakers on this list made films before or after the 1970s, these are 20 of the best directors whose work defined the decade, in order of when their first film of the 1970s premiered.1. Ingmar BergmanSelected Filmography: Cries & Whispers (1972), Scenes from a Marriage (1973), Autumn Sonata (1978)While Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman directed iconic classics from basically every decade in which he worked, he generously gifted the 1970s some of his most towering achievements, including the television miniseries Scenes from a Marriage, which was later edited into a three-hour feature that debuted in 1974.
The film is available now to rent on demand. The fourth film in the zombie franchise focuses on the zombies the least in the franchise thus far.The film is beginning its limited theatrical run in the United States on June 19th, as well as in its home country of Australia on June 18th.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins talks with writer, director, producer, assistant, and Not Your Daddy’s Films co-founder Vika Stubblebine about building a sustainable film career through assistant work, mentorship, community, and creative self-advocacy. Vika traces her path from acting and theater at UCLA to working in TV production at Sony, becoming a writers’ assistant, writing episodes of S.W.A.T., and helping build Not Your Daddy’s Films into a Los Angeles community for women and non-binary filmmakers.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
That technology is about to get a level up as Pelican has introduced its new Protector 2.0 series of high-performance protective cases.Pelican Protector 2.0 SeriesThe core of the Protector 2.0 lineup is out now and features 1400, 1510, 1560, and 1650 models in various sizes.
Spenser Sakurai is a commercial cinematographer who's shot for Adidas, T-Mobile, ESPN, and Google.In his video on lighting fundamentals, he argues that lighting isn't complicated.Put something in front of your light to make the source bigger and the shadows softer.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins is joined by filmmaker Joe Burke and actor-writer-producer Oliver Cooper to discuss the making and release of Burt, a black-and-white micro-budget feature inspired by real-life musician Burt Berger. The conversation covers how Burke and Cooper built a narrative film around a non-actor, shot the movie in seven days for $7,000, used a tiny crew to preserve authenticity, and pursued a self-distribution strategy through Filmhub after the film gained momentum on the festival circuit.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
Then, last night, I went to the Academy Museum for a special screening of Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious.His presentation at The Academy Museum was happening because he wanted to do a talk on pure cinema, and who better to break down than the master of suspense?Above all else, the night was a reminder that it was okay to love Hollywood, even with her flaws.
Thus, we were excited to get the chance to have a conversation with casting director Manuela Romero Samacá.With a background in theater and a strong passion for diversity in projects and collaborators, Manuela's approach to casting is a careful collage of her experience in theater, her creative principles, and the abundant limitations that come with independent filmmaking.Her most recent project, Daddy's Little Meatball, will be screening this June at Tribeca.
When you look back at Rowdy Herrington's 1989 ode to manliness and throat rips, it's easy to get lost in the gravity of Patrick Swayze's zen-infused performance as Dalton.The Scene in QuestionRoad House is a study in heightened genre action.Sam Elliott is amazing in this movie, and he treats the smoky bars like they're a stage on which he's performing.
When you look back at Rowdy Herrington's 1989 ode to manliness and throat rips, it's easy to get lost in the gravity of Patrick Swayze's zen-infused performance as Dalton.The Scene in QuestionRoad House is a study in heightened genre action.Sam Elliott is amazing in this movie, and he treats the smoky bars like they're a stage on which he's performing.
Long one of the biggest and most popular brands in the mobile lens space, Moment is back with a new Mobile II collection of lenses that aim to be the next generation of mobile optics.Moment Mobile II LensesThat technology has now taken a step forward with the release of the new Mobile II lens collection.
However, for those born in one particular era of Bond films, Pierce Brosnan has a strong case to be the second most iconic Bond actor thanks to his series-reviving portrayals in GoldenEye and three follow-ups.Pierce Brosnan as Taffin“Maybe You Shouldn’t Be Living Here!”
Pacing is one of those intangible writing elements that can be so hard to nail. Basically, you want your story to move well in a clear direction, and not too fast or too slow. So it requires a lot to work—is your character's goal clear? Are they working toward that goal and meeting obstacles?That's on the page. We're not even talking about how...
We know, it’s the age of AI. We’re all very excited for it. And we’re also all bracing ourselves for the ramifications. Not just in terms of workflows and generative and agentic developments, but also with how the AI wars are causing storage and memory card prices to skyrocket.We’ve seen it with Apple and others, and ...
Eastwood, like many filmmakers of his age, cited Hitchcock as an incredibly influential figure on his own work. Alfred Hitchcock planned to cast Clint Eastwood in a planned late-career adaptation of Ronald Kirkbride’s novel, The Short Night. However, the piece of advice Hitchcock shared with Eastwood turned out to greatly influence Eastwood’s filmmaking style.
John Singleton studied screenwriting at USC and fought to direct his Boyz n the Hood screenplay, so he could ensure that the movie maintained the proper verisimilitude.In spite of his young age (he was only 24 when he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Director for Boyz n the Hood, and he still holds the record as the youngest-ever nominee in that category), the success of Spike Lee’s similarly themed Do the Right Thing in 1989 encouraged Columbia Pictures to be the company that said yes to that request.Ryan Coogler admits that he was “probably too young” to watch this movie and Boyz n the Hood, but he is grateful that his father took him along to see them in the theater.
The following queer horror films can terrify with safe scares or empower the LGBTQ+ community to face vampires, slashers, and other monsters.With Boris Karloff’s brooding role in The Old Dark House, it feels like a test run for Whale’s style of creating gay undertones through camp that felt polished in Bride.For a double feature, the 2019 documentary Scream, Queen!
Editor Josh Land worked closely with Wall and Sterling from the start, acting as both a Digital Imaging Technician during production and the only editor in post.After rough-cutting all the scripted scenes on his own in Premiere, Land worked with the directors to weave in the funniest improvised takes throughout, while still staying true to the original plot.Read more about the making of That Friend below.
Julia Swain arrived at her first major studio feature with indie superpowers at the ready. The cinematographer is an ASC Rising Star who helmed the camera on Leah McKendrick's intimate 2024 film Scrambled. More recently, she DP'd Voicemails for Isabelle with the kind of pedigree that comes from moving fast, improvisi...
I was talking to a friend earlier this week about revisions and how we approached them. He asked me what kind of notes I like to get as a writer, and I don't think I had a preference on that—we're always searching for the note behind the note, right? So whatever we're told, it's usu...
Announced as a new, patent-pending macOS app, Soundstripe LIVE is an AI-powered music assistant that can literally watch you as you work and make suggestions for royalty-free music tracks to add to your scenes as you go.The goal is to unlock faster workflows that don’t break an editor’s flow. The app, which is included with the company’s subscri...
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with production designer Vivian Gray about building the visual world of Obsession, from Southern Gothic references and texture-heavy interiors to practical blood gags and micro-budget problem-solving. They discuss what a production designer actually does, how Gray collaborated with the director, cinematographer, costume designer, and art team, and why color, texture, aging, and window treatments can make a major difference on an indie horror film.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
So much so that, beyond just that magical time when Amazon has some discounts, we're looking for deals for y'all year-round.And while Prime Day may come and go, these deals are a bit longer lasting and updated every week as part of our "Deals of the Week" roundups.So, if you're looking for some tasty deals or smart steals, here are some top cameras and gear options for this Prime Day and beyond.
That's Frank Capra’s 1934 masterpiece, It Happened One Night.It's also a fun film to study, because the making of the movie was chaotic and hilarious.According to a deep dive into the archives by Turner Classic Movies, it was a study in how creative friction, happy accidents, and intense limitations can lead you to cinematic gold.
Last night, I settled onto my couch and turned on an absolute classic of a cop movie: Training Day. When you look back at Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 masterpiece, it’s easy to get lost in the sheer, explosive gravity of Denzel Washington’s Oscar-win...
More AI is on the way, y’all. Not that more AI isn't going to be on the way, whether anyone likes it or not, but specifically for Adobe, the company has announced an agreement to acquire Topaz Labs, an AI company specializing in industry-leading video and image enhancement models.Adobe has not been shy about moving into AI over the p...
The studio behind Peppa Pig has been allegedly pushing child voice actors on the series to sign away their voice rights to artificial intelligence (AI).The "Take It or Leave It" UltimatumAccording to industry insiders, Hasbro has allegedly introduced new contract terms requiring child voice actors to agree to comprehensive AI clauses. The Agents of Young Performers Association (AYPA) is fighting back.
Blackmagic Design has released its 21.0.1 update for DaVinci Resolve, which adds a decent number of new features, improvements, and minor bug fixes worth checking out and exploring to see how they could tweak your Resolve workflows.DaVinci Resolve 21.0.1 UpdateThe big news here is that Resolve is getting more accurate DNG and Apple ProRAW decoding options for consistent image color and brightness.
The Leica SL3-P is set to feature a 44MP BSI sensor capable of recording 8K Open Gate, ProRes, and more, which should be quite appealing to video professionals.The camera will also feature a fast hybrid autofocus system and some of the most advanced video capabilities ever integrated into an SL camera.And, alas, so does the price as the camera is set to retail for nearly $7k here at launch.
Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr., who was the highest-paid actor of the year for three years running starting in 2013, has earned more than $14 billion worldwide with his collected filmography.40 years ago this month, Back to School debuted on June 13, 1986, becoming the star’s first-ever movie to open at No. 1.Enter Back to SchoolRobert Downey Jr. had just starred in a John Hughes movie, for crying out loud.
This was a film that would change animation forever.Toy Story's Origin Story Long before existential battles between analog imagination and modern technology, a small group of computer scientists and animators in Richmond, California, were trying to figure out a story that would get an audience to care about some plastic toys.Writing From Internal NeedToy Story changed animation because of its technical prowess, but I think it changed the world and viewership because of its incredible story.
The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VCThe lens features a fast f/2.8 constant maximum aperture that works well in many lighting conditions and provides solid control over depth of field for those looking for a more cinematic style.Already available for Sony and Fujifilm cameras, the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC is now set to be available for Canon RF and Nikon Z mount options, with units expected to start shipping soon.
Taking the point of view of "The Enemy" as an extremely bold choice for Clint Eastwood's companion piece with Flags of Our Fathers. The Thin Red Line is a deeply philosophical, poetic meditation on nature, divinity, and the absurdity of violence juxtaposed with a flawed humanity.What are your favorite WWII movies?
It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since director Roland Emmerich unleashed Independence Day onto the world, but it's kind of that ultimate summer blockbuster everyone has been trying to capture since.Today, I want to look at the screenwriting, practical effects, and pacing choices that keep this alien invasion classic completely timeless.Independence Day opens with aliens arriving on Earth and keeps its foot on the gas pedal from then onward.
In one video, he focuses on dialogue and breaks down a five-step process he calls the "iceberg method."But when you know what your character is trying to do in a scene, the dialogue practically writes itself.Once you have that rough dialogue, figure out what the scene is actually about.
In the legacy of over-the-top action movies, Bloodsport has a spot secure in the ultimate tier.Not only did the film launch the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme as a martial arts action star, but it also can be credited for spurring the rapid rise in popularity of martial arts and karate in general, as the film was a direct inspiratio...
I'm sure as writers we all feel the pressure of The Big Scenes—and we know when we're coming to them. Usually, they approach like a landmark in the writing process, if you visualize writing a script like traveling the Oregon Trail. You have to reach them and make sure they count. These scenes are usually huge, pivotal character moments or the big con...
ARRI Announces Luka Unreal Engine Pluginer, now the Lakers) is that the plugin has an extensive, ever-growing catalog of ARRI luminaires, lighting accessories, cameras, recording formats, and lenses for users to explore—as well as options for inputting their own custom and third-party hardware as well.The plugin is available to try for free with a trial license;
In addition to Productions in Premiere, he relied on the Matrix Audio tool to creatively experiment with sound effects.Croda walked us through the ins and outs of editing Sara Bareilles: Good Grief.Armando Croda: Good Grief is a documentary film about singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, who hasn't been back to the recording studio in seven years.
But this past Sunday, in the House of the Dragon spinoff, we got one of the biggest battles anyone has ever done on TV, and this one takes place entirely on the water. In a recent behind-the-scenes featurette for the House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere, the HBO production crew broke down exactly how they brought the infamous Battle of the Gullet to life.Dry Tank vs. Wet Tank The House of the Dragon team took inspiration from some crew members who worked on James Cameron's Titanic.
It is one of my dreams to write a Western movie. I love the genre so much, and I find the stark landscapes, moral ambiguity, and the thin line between civilization and savagery to be a veritable playground for characters and plots.That's why I am leaving these 101 Western writing prompts in your corral.But before you dive ...
We never need an excuse to revisit David Fincher, but it just so happens that Criterion recently posted an excerpt from the 1997 commentary track of The Game. So, of course, we materialized out of the fog like a mysterious organization ready to ensnare an unsuspecting film fan in a web of lies.Fincher is joined on the commentary by the film's...
To have a successful career as a filmmaker or motion artist these days, more than anything, you need a space and community to be a part of as you learn, develop, and grow. In the past, there have been online homes for this, but those spots have dried up, and there hasn’t been a major force to replace them as of late.However, a new company is on the s...
It’s always a nice day when new full-frame 1.5x anamorphic lenses are announced and made available to the filmmaking public. If you’re familiar with the Sirui IronStar line of full-frame anamorphic primes, which already includes 35mm T1.9, 45mm T1.9, and 60mm T1.9 options, then you’re likely going to be quite pumped to see three new lenses added t...
In the ever-changing landscape of AI, it feels like major updates and breakthroughs often come in waves. We’ll have a few weeks or months of downtime where everything returns to normal, and the AI companies and their fans kind of mind their own business, then bam—we get a bunch of announcements all at once.Following news that
I've been lucky enough to live in a lot of cities that have really cool places to watch movies. In State College, I'd go to The State Theatre. In Boston, I was a regular at the Coolidge and the Brattle, and now, in Los Angeles, you can find me all over, seeing stuff at the Aero, New Beverly, Vista, Egyptian, and many more...
I truly believe that great dialogue is impossible to teach; you have to just listen intently and see how people talk. And then write them even better than that.Movies are a visual medium, but the dialogue is pretty important too. It's what made talkies change how we see feature films, and some l...
If you grew up in the late '80s or early '90s, you know the feeling of looking through your movie collection, picking up one of those clunky cases or slipcovers, and shoving a tape into a player. And the tracking issues. Or the wait for the rewind.But there was something magical about the whole process, then sitting down to enjoy your fav...
For those looking to better streamline their focus-pulling workflows, whether it's for a gig you’re on or a project you’re managing, this new app could be a nice option to consider. The idea is simple, according to the company: the new LidarAC app aims to bring tools normally found on high-end handheld units to the Nano by using the item already in your poc...
While this might not be the biggest financial deal ever announced, news of a new research partnership between A24 and Google is sending shockwaves through the film and video industry. And for good reason, too, as it has to do with everyone’s favorite two letters: AI.The deal, worth roughly $75 million, is tied to an AI research partnership th...
After living out their teenage years on one of television’s most popular shows of the time, Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong reunited to launch a podcast that revisited their experiences in the spotlight and the making of the iconic show, Boy Meets World. What the trio didn’t anticipate when they premiered their first episode...
Every aspiring filmmaker, cinematographer, or hybrid-multi-hyphenate creator needs to start somewhere. And, for better or worse, that’s not often with cinema prime lenses. It’s usually with stock or kit zoom lenses, or, more often than that, with smartphone cameras.Still, as filmmakers move through the levels, they’ll eventual...
Somehow, 30 years in, the Toy Story franchise is still in the business of making you feel things you weren't prepared for. Toy Story 5, in theaters now, introduces a new rival for Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), and Jessie (Joan Cusack). The fresh arrival is a tablet named Lilyp...
Looking back at action movie history, there are many films from the era of ultimate, over-the-top action in the '80s and '90s that have spawned huge franchises chock-full of sequels, reboots, spinoffs, and crossovers, along with piles of toys, games, and comic books.Yet, behind each of these franchise-launching success stories i...
Last week, I covered a famous line from Casablanca, and in that article, I embedded a clue. Among some of the other quotes from the movie, I wrote: "Play...
When you need to relax and take something off your mind, or maybe you want to ponder the ways of the universe, then it might be time to put on The Big Lebowski.This is a movie that is steeped in many different ways of thinking. And we're guided the whole t...
It's kind of crazy that a simple line became the most memorable quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger's career, but here we are 40+ years later, and we're still talking about "I'll be back."But The Terminator is one of those movies that starte...
Robert Altman is one of those directors who created his own rules and visual language, and asked you to come with him on a journey and to embrace them. When you encounter an auteur like that, it's kind of hard to believe they watched other movies or ...
SmallHD’s advanced software toolset, PageOS, is back with another firmware update that is set to offer not a major redesign or anything, but some more quality-of-life improvements and updates for compatible monitors in its ecosystem.This PageOS firmware version 6.3.4 update builds on the PageOS 6.3 version
Who doesn’t love a good, lightweight, handholdable, yet powerful-enough LED lighting option to consider for their run-and-gun projects? While it might not be an ideal solution for bigger projects or crews (but you never know), it is nice to see yet another portable LED lighting option hit the market, giving filmmakers, videogr...
Titan filmmaker Martin Scorsese is known to be a cinephile above all else. In the truest sense of the word, he just really loves movies, especially ones that he’s not making. Often critical of his own work, he isn’t shy about citing his in...
Long before the It Ends with Us hullabaloo, Blake Lively was an actress trying to find her footing on the big screen after the end of a massively successful TV show. Her first post-Gossip Girl movie was the 2015 romantic drama The Age of Adaline, which was a middling success, but she followed that with t...
The 1980s as a decade is one that is traditionally criticized by many scholars and historians for having too much of a focus on overly-commercialized forms of entertainment. Similar to the 2010s, it faces backlash for too many hokey blockbusters, sequels, and reboots. Especially in comparison to the decade prior and the...
The jump scare is perhaps the most famous scare technique in the horror genre. It’s almost impossible nowadays to watch a horror film that doesn’t have one. Whether...
In debuting director Curry Barker’s critical and commercial smash hit horror movie Obsession, a young music shop employee named Bear (Michael Johnston of Slash) buys a product called a One Wish Willow and, not fully be...
I've run into writers who are absolutely terrified that the world is out to steal their script ideas or their scripts themselves. It's like they imagine they're two steps away from becoming the paranoid John Shooter from Secret Window: "You stole my st...
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with Kanopy’s Erin Spears and Matt Lewis about curation, film discovery, and how independent films find audiences in a streaming landscape shaped by algorithms. The conversation covers Kanopy’s library- and university-based mo...
A great option for filmmakers and producers deep in the art of pre-production, or also an option for directors and crews looking for some budget-friendly monitors or lighting controls, the iPad is no longer a gimmick when it comes to filmmaking and video production.That's why for our "
Jeff Kitchen is a screenwriting consultant whose work centers on what he describes as seven dramatic tools for building a story. In a Film Courage video, he works through a pitch in real time with a writer who has the bones of a thriller.The story pitch follows Derek, a bored IT security chief at a Fortune 500 company, who falls for Skyler, a w...
I don't know about you, but to me, it feelsl ike every summer we're fed movies that are around three hours long. When you factor in trailers and credits, you're basically at the movies for four hours.That's a marathon.Back in the day, these long movies usually came with intermissions. They were strategically placed to encourage y...
In many ways, despite all the headlines and viral videos online showcasing the capabilities of the latest generative AI video models over the past few years, we really haven’t seen many projects stand out in what has been promised as the bold new frontier of content creation.To many, this might be proof that it takes more than a promp...
Charles Bronson is an actor with one of the most historic filmographies of all time. Born to a coal mining family in rural Pennsylvania and serving as a bomber in World War II, Bronson broke into the film industry with iconic roles in war, mob, and western classics like Drum Beat, Machine-Gun Kelly, and The Magnificent...
I was scrolling through my HBO Max app the other day and felt like something was just... missing. Not the superhero franchise or the $200 million effects extravaganza. Those are doing just fine. I realized what it was when I saw a childhood classic, Rookie of the Year, pop up.Where are the mid-budget dramas built around an athlet...
Fresh on the release of OffShoot Reports, Hedge is back with another update for OffShoot, the industry’s “de facto standard” for creating copies, backups, and archives of media,
What movie has the greatest dialogue ever? Well, for me, it's Casablanca. And there's not a close second place. It feelsl ike sp my lines from this movie ripple off the screen and stick to your bones.Now, I was not alive in 1942 when Casablanca hit theaters, but I can picture audiences sitt...
What happens when you agree to make and market a movie, and then discover it goes against the business interests of what your parent corporation believes? Well, that's what the people behind the Sam Altman movie are learning in real time, as Amazon MGM Studios has officially shelved
Starring Zach Braff and Esther McGregor, Clean Hands draws much of its power from unscripted moments—real women in treatment, an actual counselor from the recovery mission Simmers went on to found, and a wordless scene of a father and daughter that says everything the film needs to say. Editor Owen Jackson, a longtime collaborator of Allyn’s...
Before I got to film school, I was still a bit of a nerd. I loved watching old movies with my Dad and checking out all of the classics. But once I got into film school, I was able to take a bunch of curated classics and really dig into the foundations of Hollywood and storytelling, not just from an American per...
The invisible hand behind some of television's most addictive TV shows belongs to the editor. For Chris Rodriguez, ACE, the path to shaping the cultural zeitgeist comes from the sweaty, chaotic DIY punk and metalcore garages of Orange County and somehow found its way into his edit bay today.Whether he is capturing the rapid-fire, overlapping co...
If anything, Chuck Norris's legacy continues to grow.Chuck Norris in 'Invasion U.S.A.'But it stands tall as one of his best and serves as a flashpoint for when action movies became the ultimate style of the time.
The findings indicate that the push for inclusion in direct-to-streaming films didn't just slow down; it took a massive nosedive and set us back years.But gender and racial diversity have dropped in streaming, and the numbers were kind of shocking. Behind the Camera: The share of direct-to-streaming films directed by women is down to 23.6%.
Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at 89. We've spent time since then revisiting his best films and his Sundance legacy. He's an absolute legend, no...
Sam Elliott’s voice carries the weight of the world on its shoulders. Yes, his voice is so muscular and baritone that it has shoulders.When he speaks, you don't just listen to the words; you feel the dust, the leather, and see the frontier pass before your eyes.We've gone over some of
Obsession has grossed over $290 million worldwide on a budget somewhere between $750,000 and $1 million. Its driving scenes look like something shot on a major studio stage. They weren't! They were lit inside an LED vo...
While it doesn’t get as much love as cameras, lighting, and gear, audio is always an important part of the filmmaking process. However, while it’s often ignored, one way to get people excited is to give it a boost with an “AI-powered” tag and voila—you got yourself a new product.Set to launch soon via a Kickstarter ca...
But for now, we simply know they’re coming as companies like Adobe have announced a major expansion of its creative agents across Firefly and legacy Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere.Let’s look at how Firefly and Premiere, in particular, are set to add more agentic capabilities and enable creators to access AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, and more in their creative workflows.The company has announced that it is rolling out its creative agents across Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Frame.io, all with the goal of giving creative professionals an AI Assistant that can orchestrate multi-step workflows based on outcomes as the user describes.
However, everyone has to get their start somewhere, and Pacino’s career was almost derailed at the very beginning when he was almost fired from the 1972 classic The Godfather.When he got The Godfather, it was by far his biggest role at the time.Sound off in the comments below about your favorite Al Pacino movie, which might never have existed if he had been fired from the 1972 classic.
Adam Wingard’s Career Trajectory Adam Wingard’s filmmaking career has been quite an interesting one to follow.Onslaught marks his first original, non-IP-related film since 2014’s The Guest, with him having directed Blair Witch and the controversial Death Note adaptation prior to his Monsterverse films.Also starring in the film are MMA superstar Alex Pereira, Rebecca Hall, and Drew Starkey.
brings together an all-star comedic cast featuring John Reynolds, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Carmen Christopher, Jo Firestone, and Gary Richardson in a coming-of-age (again) story centered on heart and homecoming.Director Marty Schousboe entrusted his long-time collaborator Whit Conway to co-edit this project, sharing in their philosophy that comedy is most successful through iteration.We chatted with Conway to learn more about the making of the film, premiering at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
I wanted to assemble some genre movie ideas that can help you on your journey to becoming a writer and set you up for success. 101 Genre Movie Writing Prompts Writing prompts are not a fix-all panacea.These 101 genre-specific writing prompts are designed to get your fingers moving and break you out of the block.
Designed for professional film and broadcast workflows, this new multicam SDI-to-ProRes recorder app is now available for macOS. Developed by Editor Han and available on his website, and now on the Apple App Store, this app is called First Rush and looks quite robust and potentially very helpful for on-set editors.While not the...
Now available for L-mount systems, as well as Fujifilm X-mount, Sony E-mount, and Nikon Z-mount cameras, the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 Chip Lens has already proven to be a popular, tiny, and affordable pancake lens that can easily fit into your camera bags and budgets.While not reinventing the wheel here, this AF 28mm f/4....
One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson's action drama, shot by cinematographer Michael Bauman in VistaVision, is one of the best-looking films in recent memory.But cinematography YouTuber cNOMADIC (Chris Tinard) took a different pass at the film, zeroing in on how Bauman uses practical lights as the foundation of an entire exposure strategy.If you're running into issues with your practicals, check this video out and learn how Tinard recreates some of the moody lighting we see in One Battle After Another.
The film is also a standout entry in the middle-of-the-'70s film Renaissance that gave us some of the best movies of all time.Sydney Pollack directed the thriller.Robert Redford starred as Joe Turner, a CIA analyst whose entire job is reading books, magazines, and documents in multiple languages, scanning for anything that might matter to the agency.
That's why UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a sweeping ban prohibiting children under 16 from using major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube.This will go into effect by Spring 2027; the law shifts the burden of age verification entirely onto Big Tech, threatening multi-million-dollar fines for non-compliance.But a ban on social for 16-and-unders is going to really make Hollywood and Content Creators feel a hit.
One of the things I enjoy writing al ot is a two-hander. You get two characters with big voices and actions who can either butt heads or unify to achieve a goal. Well, there are a lot of these kinds of stories in the Western genre. And I'm not just talking abou...
I think we can all agree that we should own our own image and likeness. And that when other people use our image and likeness to sell things or for nefarious reasons, there should be repercussions. Well, that common-sense emotion is about to become law...if Congress listens to the more than 16,000 performers who have officially signed a SAG-...
Similar to the miniature, wearable broadcast cameras that you might have seen on the referees during this year’s World Cup matches, these mini “lipstick-style” cameras can actually be quite useful.They also just happen to look like the cyberpunk cameras worn by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren in the 1992 sci-fi actio...
Aputure has a pretty major update for its popular pro wireless lighting control app, Sidus Link Pro. This new update, version 2.4, is set to add Mac compatibility and support, a much-requested update in itself that can enlarge a user’s programming window to a desktop monitor and allow for more precise keyboard and mouse control.
Both based in upstate New York, the two were able to work together in person while the rest of the post team was elsewhere, relying on Productions in Premiere for seamless remote collaboration and Frame.io for cuts and dailies review.We sat down with Fine to hear more about his collaboration with Vlack and the making of The Revisionist.Tell us about a favorite scene or moment from this project, and why it stands out to you.
All this comes together thanks to editor Lauren Connelly, ACE.We sat down with Lauren to discuss the collaborative alchemy of the BEEF editing bay, the secret "rubric" used to track character perspective, and what happens when you have to edit your real-life Olympic heroes.I can’t say enough about what a dream it was to edit Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Cailee Spaeny, and Charles Melton.
Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader, the shark from Jaws."Man" is the hunter from Walt Disney's 1942 animated feature Bambi, and it's the only character across all 100 entries on either list who never appears on screen. The Library of Congress added Bambi to the National Film Registry in 2011.
The Scene in QuestionThe Wizard of Oz is an undisputed masterpiece that feels incredibly alive every time you revisit it.If you want to write your own turning point scene like this one, here are a few tips:Anchor the spectacle in character: The bigger your effects or plot twists, the more grounded your character's reaction needs to be for the audience. Let me know your favorite classic film lines in the comments below.
Ahsoka Tano is one of Star Wars' most unique characters. When Dave Filoni introduced her in the 2008 Clone Wars film, she was already an anachronism—a Padawan nobody had heard of, standing beside a master we'd watch fall. But she became a force in the fandom and one of the m...
From the Fujifilm GFX ETERNA 55 to the ARRI ALEXA 265 to the Blackmagic URSA 17K 65, filmmakers are in the midst of a large-scale revolution.The latest comes from Angénieux: the company’s new EZ 65 Series, set to feature two LPL-mount large-format zooms.The New Angénieux EZ 65 Series
If you’re trying to understand the current state of Hollywood, look no further than Ben Affleck’s recent breakdown on the All The Smoke podcast for the answers to your questions.I've said it before, but Affleck is like the best podcast guest ever.He breaks down complex things into bite-sized chunks, and if you want to understand modern Hollywood, his take here clears the air for you.
Today, I want to go over the five Sam Elliot performances I think are his best.He plays the fiercely protective older brother of Bradley Cooper’s spiraling rock star, Jackson Maine.It's the original of the Sam Elliott mythos.
Backrooms has become more than a viral video now, though, as it's a bona-fide box-office breakout story that’s launched its director, Kane Parsons, to the highest levels of indie horror and YouTuber-to-mainstream success.And as we’ve covered in the past, Parsons’ story is full of lessons, inspiration, and, pretty much, the new roadmap for how a young, creative, and hungry creator can launch a career from his or her bedroom.Make Your Own Backrooms Videos
Designed for shooting and capturing everything from architecture to portraiture, the Blazar Sentinel will feature a 1.33X squeeze that adapts naturally to any shooting scenario and provides coverage without needing to swap glass.Let’s check out this new Blazar Sentinel 35-60mm 1.33X FF Anamorphic Zoom and see what it has to offer for your full-frame projects.The Sentinel 35-60mm 1.33X FF Anamorphic ZoomEngineered by Blazar to fully cover shooting with full-frame sensors, the Sentinel, with its 35-60mm range, should deliver a wide, immersive field of view that provides rich cinematic depth across the entire zoom range.
Directed by legendary Italian filmmaker Mario Monicelli, the 1958 film received an Academy Award nomination, representing its home country in the International Film category.Famously, the film took over six months to be dubbed for the United States after its initial completion due to the high costs for the technology of the time.The dubbed cut of the film eventually made its way to American cable television in the early 1960s.
In fact, it landed at No. 63 above a number of all-time classics, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saving Private Ryan, All the President’s Men, The French Connection, and Spartacus.The majority of the production numbers take place in the Kit Kat Klub, a cabaret theater in 1931 Berlin.If you have seen Cabaret, do you feel that it has merited a mention on the AFI list?
I Love Boosters follows a group of women in the Bay Area who steal high-end clothing for resale.The film is funny and anti-capitalist and creative in the most surprising ways.CG: The slanted, Christie Smith's penthouse studio, was written as a 45-degree slant, which is actually a big slant.
Outside of a fun, albeit not major, update like a global audio mute, Adobe has rolled out a sizable amount of new features for several of its top creative apps. Along with updates to Lightroom and Photoshop, Adobe has some new features in Premiere and After Effects that you should know about.The updates for Premiere include faster AI masking, new effects, smarter audio controls, and tighter connections to Stock and Firefly.For After Effects, Adobe is rolling out some improvements to everything from rotoscoping to 3D rendering to vector files.
According to Guinness World Records, the sequence in City Lights where the blind flower girl, played by Virginia Cherrill, sells Chaplin's Tramp a flower under the mistaken belief that he's wealthy, took 342 takes, making it the official record for most retakes of a single scene.Ninety-five years after the film's January 1931 release, nobody has come close to touching it.Their climactic reunion is one of the most emotional moments of silent film history.
Kripke showran the Amazon show The Boys, which was one of the highlights of my last five years of TV viewing.There are lots of lessons writers can learn from the pitch doc he just tweeted out, so let's take a look.This is a show about the powerless vs. the super-powerful in conflict.
Sometimes, it can be good to pick a genre no one is doing and do it so well that it blows readers' or viewers' minds and takes a surprising turn in a genre people once thought was dead.These kinds of cycles have recurred throughout Hollywood history, and today I want to look at five films that helped revive genres we thought would disappear forever. Then Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven stepped up and made a movie that attacked slashers for their rules, and flipped them on their heads.
Released a calendar year after The Terminator, Commando is everything that James Cameron’s sci-fi action epic was not.From memorable one-liners, over-the-top stunts, and a never-ending amount of action and carnage, Commando might not be remembered as Arnold’s best or most iconic roles, but for action film fans and historians, it’s a forgotten classic that might be the most important for developing Arnold’s ultimate legacy.The Future of Ultimate Action
Inside the Corleone War RoomOne of the many reasons The Godfather succeeds as a three-hour epic is that it behaves like an intimate family drama where every line and person matters.The line "go to the mattresses" comes into play during a mob war.The idiom came from real-world mob history before Mario Puzo popularized it in his 1969 novel.
Yet another addition to our “big if true” file of camera rumors we’ve seen over the years, according to reports online, Sony is currently developing a new sensor capable of recording 4K 12-bit video at up to 502 frames per second.indicate that the company is working on a new Type 1.8 CMOS image sensor that will leverage Pregius S global shutter technology.Sony already developed global shutter technology for the a9 III, which is awesome to have available for video pros in a mirrorless camera.
Hollyland Astra P1 PTZ CameraThe Astra Pa is equipped with a built-in 1/1.8" high-quality 8.42MP CMOS sensor and is wired for HDMI and 3G-SDI connectivity.The camera is quite capable, with 30x optical zoom and 16x digital zoom; it also supports AI auto-tracking, intelligent face detection AE, and NDI HX3, and can capture up to UHD 4K at 60 fps.
The decade saw both the birth and the dominance of several artists that the modern landscape considers to be the greatest of all time.4 Directors Who Defined Cinema in the 1960sStanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick was already somewhat of a well-known figure by the 1960s.However, the four films that Kubrick directed in the 1960s are the ones that cemented his status as a filmmaker who was not to be underestimated.
to Disclosure Day, these movies get everyone talking and can be polarizing at times.The Act Three reveal is that Daniel and Margaret weren't just random targets; they were abducted as children in 1996 by the aliens to serve as translators for this exact moment of disclosure on the world. The consensus among critics is that the abrupt ending is entirely the point of the movie.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with BAFTA-winning director Marc Munden about directing the new Netflix adaptation of Lord of the Flies, written by Jack Thorne. Munden discusses revisiting William Golding’s novel, shaping the series’ visual language, filming on a remote island in Malaysia, working with 36 young actors, and how limitations around child actors’ schedules helped inspire the show’s hallucinatory nighttime look.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
The Scene In Question Pulp Fiction is one of the greatest movies of all time.When Jules brings up having a "Moment of Clarity," it also highlights the tragic irony of the movie's non-linear structure.This is a film about reactions and choices.
That's why for our "Deals of the Week" roundup, we have several camera-mounted wireless audio options for you to consider to up the game for your live productions, broadcast streams, or more general film and video needs.Let's look at these three wireless audio setups from Sennheiser, which are on sale and ready to check out.Sennheiser EW 112P G4 Camera-Mount Wireless Omni Lavalier Microphone System (A: 516 to 558 MHz): $599Sennheiser EW-DP 835 SET Camera-Mount Digital Wireless Handheld Microphone System (R1-6: 520 to 576 MHz): $649Sennheiser EW 100 ENG G4 Camera-Mount Wireless Combo Microphone System (A: 516 to 558 MHz): $799You can find more filmmaking deals here.
Pale ShelterPale Shelter centers on a homeless man investigating a series of murders among LA’s unhoused population.It is my humble entry into the film noir canon.Befriend An Actor I truly love Jonathan Medina (star of Pale Shelter, Primo, For All Mankind, The Purge, and so much more) both as an actor and as a dear friend.
He created Fargo for FX, turned Legion into one of the stranger superhero shows on TV, adapted the Alien franchise for Hulu with Alien: Earth, and has written novels on the side.Theme is the question your story is debating from page one.A Writers' Room Runs on Plot—Push It Toward ThemeHawley has a complicated relationship with writers' rooms.
Gee also points to something called the "fundamental attribution error," in which people overrate the role of personality in someone's success and underrate the role of context.It's a form of cognitive bias."The personality of an auteur is like a luxury good.
It’s also just gotten a nice upgrade with a new Fly More Combo, which adds a new touchscreen remote with a built-in 5.5” display.SKYROVER X1 Fly More ComboIt weighs under 8.8 oz, so it doesn't need registration in the US, and it's packed with AI-based flight modes, subject tracking, and automated return to home functionality.
The battle wages across several different fronts at this point as both companies have drones, action cameras, smartphone gimbals, and more.And this battle is about to get more ugly as DJI has filed new patent infringement lawsuits against Insta360’s Luna line of products, including the new Luna Ultra, which the latter just announced this week.This latest lawsuit focuses on the similarities between the DJI Osmo Pocket series and the Insta360 Luna series.
To celebrate these classic VHS movies and nights, let’s take you down memory lane as we look at some of the forgotten action stars of the action VHS era.Michael DudikoffBest known for helming the American Ninja franchise alongside Steve James, Dudikoff helped introduce audiences worldwide to the machismo of this style of martial arts action cinema.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial managed to remain in the theatrical Top 10 and gross over $1 million for 44 consecutive weekends.Another way to look at it is that for almost an entire calendar year, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial stayed in theaters and made money.The Anatomy of an Untouchable RunWhen E.T. opened on June 11, 1982, it didn't smash records.
Martin Scorsese did it with Killers of the Flower Moon, James Cameron did it with Avatar: Fire and Ash, and now Steven Spielberg is doing it this weekend with Disclosure Day.A film that seems to introduce a new conversation that is relevant to our times every five minutes.Hence, the probing of Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor.
Filter and Sort enable you to use the Clip Grid as a flexible to-do list of what needs to be worked on next.The Clip Grid reduces redundant work by making it trivial to act on multiple related clips at once.This is article number five in a series of articles on Color Mode in Premiere.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins continues NFS’ 2026 distribution experiment with filmmaker Pete Ohs, focusing on the release of Erupcja, his Warsaw-shot microbudget feature starring Charli XCX, Lena Góra, Will Madden, and Jeremy O. Harris. Pete breaks down how the movie was made, how its TIFF premiere led to a deal with One Two Special, and what he learned from theatrical touring, Q&As, VOD timing, marketing assets, fan edits, and the emotional sustainability of releasing independent films.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
The Bluff is now streaming on Prime Video.NFS: The Bluff blends action, adventure, and period influences because it takes place in the Cayman Islands in the mid-1800s.Ercell and Elizabeth’s costumes set the tone for the townspeople, while Connor and Bloody Mary defined the danger and tension in the film.
In Depth Cine's recent video breaks down five approaches cinematographers use to solve the problem, from the oldest trick in the book to one of the most technically ambitious solutions.Shooting day-for-night means capturing footage in daylight and manipulating the image in post.Building a Moonlight Source The most common solution in narrative production is to create moonlight with film lights.
Lionsgate has taken an equity stake in Runway as part of an expanded "preferred partnership," with the goal of a joint development program to mine Lionsgate’s massive library of intellectual property (IP) to create AI-generated short films.Yes, that means we could be seeing AI-assisted iterations of John Wick, The Hunger Games, or Saw in the near future.The DealAccording to Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns, the studio views Runway as a tool to expand storytelling capabilities and optimize production operations.
And one of the best-looking movies of all time is David Lean’s 1957 masterpiece, The Bridge on the River Kwai.Today, I want to go over some lessons I think filmmakers can glean from the movie and talk about why it's one of the greatest movies of all time.1. The Anatomy of a Perfect ConflictThe Bridge on the River Kwai is a movie that follows British POWs forced by the Japanese army to build a railway bridge in the middle of the Burmese jungle.
The new Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.8 EVO lens offers many of the same features we see in many Viltrox lenses, including a lightweight design, easy portability, and pristine image quality.It’s set to feature a 112.5mm equivalent focal length and could be a good lens to consider for your mirrorless camera workflows, as it should excel for portraits, landscapes, street scenes, cinematic interviews, and other hybrid uses.The Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.8 EVO Lens
But now I sit here at 39, awaiting the eleventh Fast and Furious movie, which is set to come out after I turn 40. As the original The Fast and the Furious hits theaters for its 25th anniversary, the saga of Dominic Toretto and his corona-sipping "family" stands as one of the most fascinating case studies in modern Hollywood history.Today, I want to go over some filmmaking lessons you can learn from this epic saga.
Set to feature six channels ready to charge a full kit of NP-F batteries at the same time, this solution could certainly speed up battery charging and replace the slow process we’re all used to.In its Standard Mode, the Tilta Foldable Charging Station evenly distributes power across all six bays for simultaneous full charging.With fast charging, the Tilta Foldable Charging Station can fully charge three NP-F970 batteries in approximately 5 hours.
Well, then you've got the plot to Cool Hand Luke, a movie about inevitability.This classic contains a single line delivered by Paul Newman that flips the entire concept and offers a profound lesson for writers, directors, and anyone trying to survive an oppressive system:"Sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand."This is a turning point in the movie.
Still best known to many as Rocky Balboa in the Rocky franchise, or perhaps John Rambo in the Rambo franchise, I’m here to argue that Stallone’s best, most iconic, and certainly most ultimate role is as Marion “Cobra” Cobretti in Cobra.Stallone as Marion “Cobra” CobrettiA New Action Sub-Genre is Born
These six are the best the genre has produced, from classic Hollywood to the modern reimagining of what a Western can be.Anton Chigurh, No Country for Old Men - YouTube www.youtube.com Few villains in any genre can match the cold weight of Anton Chigurh, the Coen brothers' unstoppable force of destruction, who drifts through the Texas desert on a murderous trail.He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Basically, the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, the Xtra Muse functions as a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer built into the body of an action camera, tailored for high-quality social media content.It can record in vertical or horizontal orientations without needing to reconfigure its setup, and is powered by a 1" CMOS sensor that captures up to UHD 4K60 video and 9.4MP photos.It also features an internal battery that can keep the camera running for 161 minutes.
To go along with the announcement of the new Luna Ultra gimbal camera, Insta360 has also released a range of new ND filters, lens adapters, and other accessories that should give the Luna Ultra some extra performance.The Insta360 Luna UltraThe new gimbal camera from Insta360 features two lenses, one with a 1" CMOS image sensor and one with a 1/1.3" CMOS sensor, and a ton of AI-powered features that should help it excel with subject tracking and low-light performance.
and the Naked Gun franchise, he's one of the few filmmakers who can probably actually explain why comedy works and why it doesn't.He recently launched MasterCrash, a comedy course built around 15 rules of spoof he developed alongside his longtime collaborators Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, and in a recent interview with Film Courage, Zucker broke down several of them.Don't cut to the reaction.
It forces the audience to stop listening to the dialogue at face value and start reading the frame like a chessboard.A Generational CurseThe family in these movies is everything.Michael (Al Pacino) internalizes it and not only survives but is able to exact revenge later because of it.
How can you achieve high production value on a lower budget?Production value is the perceived technical quality of a film, the level of professionalism in its visuals and sound.Are the sound effects fake and distracting?
It’s a mental trick called "Elfing" that may save your story.Instead, you convince yourself that you hired an elf to do it for you.Flipping the Script on the RewriteOnce the elf draft is wrapped, Cregger closes that file and opens a completely clean document to start draft two from scratch.
Spielberg recently sat down with ITV News to promote his latest feature, Disclosure Day. He firmly opposes directing projects for streaming services like Netflix, and the reason is simple.As the director, ensure the trailer is an honest, enticing extension of your vision.
Jean-Claude Van Damme might have become an action movie star to most of the world with his portrayal of Frank Dux in Bloodsport, which came out in 1988, but the Belgian action star’s first true action film introduction came years earlier in the odd, yet very rewatchable, martial arts film No Retreat, No Surrender.No Retreat, No Surrender (1988)Van Damme as Ivan "the Russian" Kraschinsky
Following in the steps of many DJI drone announcements, and as a potential rival to its best aerial products, Potensic has followed up its popular Atom 2 drone with a new, more powerful Atom 3.Set to feature GPS, a 4K 3-axis gimbal, and a very long video transmission range, this could be exciting for those who can get their hands on it.The New Potensic Atom 3 Drone
The Insta360 Luna Ultra is a new top-of-the-line gimbal camera, complete with AI-powered features, 8K30 video, and dual Leica-engineered lenses.With its two-lens design, the Luna Ultra will also feature two sensors: a 1” CMOS sensor and a 1/1.3” CMOS sensor.The Luna Ultra has a lot to offer, too, with its dual-sensor and lens design, triple AI chip, and a host of features aimed at high-octane photo and video capture.
Sony Pictures just dropped the trailer for The Social Reckoning, the sequel to David Fincher’s 2010 masterpiece The Social Network, which has been written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin has been vocal in his blame of the platform for the January 6th Capitol riots, but the film's core narrative is reportedly centered on the 2021 "Facebook Files" scandal and also the fallout we've learned occurred in terms of how social media mentally affects people using it. Jeff Cronenweth, the cinematographer for The Social Network, is back behind the camera.
It’s no secret that Gandalf “dies” during the Moria escape sequence in The Fellowship of the Ring.Galadriel’s Gift to Gimli Famously, when departing from the company of Galadriel in The Fellowship of the Ring, she gives the members of the Fellowship personalized gifts.He is given three locks of Galadriel’s hair.
This is why most notable directors don’t helm their debut feature until their late twenties or early thirties.However, film history is dotted with rare directors who bucked that trend, including these 25 features that were helmed by filmmakers who were under 25 years old.1. Aladdin (1922) One of cinema’s earliest wunderkinds was Norman Taurog, who directed or co-directed at least 27 movies before turning 25 in 1924.
So today, I am bringing you a glossary of screenplay structural concepts that should help you iron out your next spec.Part 6: Micro-Structural MechanicsThe granular tools used to build scenes and sequences.Let me know what to add in the comments.
For mobile content creators, this new SmallRig Multifunctional Portable SSD might be a solution you’ve been waiting for, with its dedicated UHS-II SDXC and UHS-II microSDXC card slots and fast transfer speeds.The New SmallRig Multifunctional Portable SSDSet to feature dedicated UHS-II SDXC and UHS-II microSDXC card slots that can be used by creators simultaneously to upload data or footage, the SmallRig Multifunctional Portable SSD can provide host connectivity using a 10 Gb/s USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, which can then be used to enable fast data transfers and provide bus power to the SSD.
The advice she delivers in a recent conversation with writer David Perell takes on some of the most stubborn problems screenwriters face, including the blank page, the too-polished first draft, and the writer who can't figure out what they actually have to say.Give yourself permission to write a bad first draft.We've put together 100 prompts and exercises specifically designed to break a creative block, and the underlying advice is the same as Jaouad's.
His new movie, Disclosure Day, is no exception.They shot on 35mm.While the premise is deeply rooted in extraordinary, cosmic stakes, the approach behind the camera is old-school and feels like a real event movie.
This all comes from the 1966 Sergio Leone film, the final chapter of the Dollars Trilogy, which pits three men, Blondie (Eastwood), Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), and Tuco (Eli Wallach), against each other in a race to find $200,000 in Confederate gold buried somewhere in a Civil War-era cemetery. The main two-note motif in the film's theme is used for each of the three main characters, but played on three different instruments."Every gun makes its own tune," and Leone and Morricone built that idea directly into the score.
Well, in what could be seen as a mix of good and bad news, it looks like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has heeded pressure and granted “conditional approvals” for several foreign-made drones to be available for purchase and operation in the United States.However, to the detriment of DJI and its fans, it appears none of these special exceptions are being granted to DJI drones or products, despite widespread outcry and petitions from the company’s loyal drone enthusiasts.This conditional approvals list includes drone models from many different companies; however, it doesn’t appear that many are Chinese-based companies, which would explain why DJI is likely still on the covered list.
In an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, the auteur director sat down with Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz to look back at his 1977 UFO masterpiece, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Mastering the Anamorphic FrameDuring the interview, Spielberg pointed specifically to the film's widescreen aspect ratio as a crucial storytelling tool.Close Encounters was shot in a wide 2.39:1 anamorphic format.
The Maxima Spectra aims to deliver studio-grade cinematic lighting in a lightweight, battery-first design that enables flawless, cable-free operation in both your studio setups and on location.The Maxima Spectra LightThe light offers advanced control of all its features, including effects and battery optimization controls, accessible via a built-in LCD touchscreen and the company’s iOS and Android apps.
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference has come and gone, and unlike a few years ago, it wasn’t particularly notable for filmmakers and video editors.Still, the big news for many might have more to do with the previewed next-generation of Apple Intelligence, the introduction of Siri AI, and some notable updates for Apple Immersive Video, including a new way foveated streaming is bringing immersive content to visionOS.The biggest announcement here is that the company is releasing its own Apple Immersive Live formats for real-time events, along with other updates to immersive video environments across visionOS, available with the Vision Pro.
And that’s what the new Godox LC500R Air RGB Inflatable LED Stick Light promises to do.Godox LC500R Air RGB Inflatable LED Stick LightAs an inflatable option, it’s easy to store and transport and can be ready to use quickly thanks to its included air pump.
He recently said he still watches Lawrence of Arabia once a year on 70mm just to "stay humble."Spielberg has been vocal over the years about the specific films that shaped him, and in some cases, what they did to him. We picked five of his many favorites to see what we could learn.
Well, in 1968, Sergio Leone was tired of them.Show vs. Tell in the Modern Indie LandscapeYou've read it here many times before, but film is a visual medium, and that means it's better to show than to tell.The next time you read through a draft, look for your characters' "bath scene" moments.
What happened was that a viewer tuning into House for the first time posted a critique of the show’s formula.Well, Laurie’s response got to the core engine of episodic television and destroyed the critique in its wake.The Takeaway for CreatorsDon't run away from genre conventions or structural templates.
During production of The War Wagon, Douglas reportedly arrived late to set one day because he had been filming a campaign commercial for Edmund G. Brown, the Democratic Governor of California.He cornered Douglas after a screening of Lust for Life, in which Douglas played Vincent van Gogh."He's the first guy on the set.
The Argument for LaborAs a guy who is a strong supporter of labor unions, I see this point of view not just as wanting a slice of the pie, but as a critique of how the industry values physical contributions to a film or even a profitable TV show. without a crew, you don't have a movie or a TV show.But for that, I would look no further than Artists Equity, the production banner founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who, in my opinion, have solved that dilemma.
Godox has introduced not only a new RGB Inflatable LED Stick Light, but also a new Bi-Color Inflatable LED Ring Light as part of its new Air line.Godox LR150 Air Bi-Color Inflatable LED Ring LightSimilar to the stick model, the Godox LR150 Air Bi-Color Inflatable LED Ring Light will feature adjustable CCT and brightness settings, ranging from 2800 to 6500K and 0 to 100%, respectively.
In a recent profile with The New York Times, Netflix’s film chief, Dan Lin, put a blunt and definitive end to the theatrical debate.The Illusion of a Strategy ShiftWhat makes Lin’s comments such a gut punch is just how much recent evidence pointed in the opposite direction for Netflix.Even with a delay of Greta Gerwig's massive adaptation of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew to February 2027, Netflix committed to a full, traditional 49-day wide theatrical release before the film hits the app.
The real proof will be in how the camera holds up over the next few years, and what new competition might emerge.Still, with a 66.8MP fully stacked sensor, highly impressive 8K video capabilities, and a bunch of new-style AI-aided autofocus improvements, the a7R VI is likely to be a hot commodity as it begins to ship.The newly developed 66.8MP Exmor RS BSI sensor is the star here, as it’s the highest-resolution full-frame, fully stacked sensor available, as well as the highest-resolution sensor in an a7 camera to date.
The Viltrox DC-550 PRO II 5.5" Touchscreen HD MonitorThe Viltrox DC-550 PRO II features a sharp and bright 5.5” display that can support up to UHD 4K60 video input and can send the signal through an HDMI loop-through output.The DC-550 PRO II supports up to UHD 4K60 video input and can send the signal through an HDMI loop-through output.
Considered one of the most groundbreaking independent comedies of the 90s, this Clerks line is spoken repeatedly throughout the film with clever and deliberate intent.What Writers Can Learn From This LineThere are many lessons we could learn from the Clerks line, “I’m not even supposed to be here today.”Kevin Smith seems smartly aware of this and uses the repetition to the movie’s benefit.
He is volatile, eccentric, and unpredictable.Nicolas Cage, the actor, brings this philosophy and energy from his personal life onto the screen.While most actors build their careers on stability and consistency, Cage opts for chaos and contradiction.
In many ways, Cimino’s film is a poignant observation of humanity itself.Michael Cimino’s craft is impeccable, and over its 3-hour runtime, the film’s exploration of humanity is intimate, mature, and undeniably poignant.Summing It UpThe Deer Hunter is one of the greatest war movies of all time.
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)Written by: Lamar Trotti |2. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)Written by: John Huston |The movie is set in the early ‘60s, a far cry from the Old West.
His three-hour-long crime epic consists of some of the most electric, visceral, white-knuckled action setpieces, as well as sharply biting dialogue.Both a critical darling and an audience favorite over the decades, the film has absolutely stood the test of time.Beyond all of the eye candy, the film remains one of the most fascinating character studies of its era.
The movie simultaneously revitalized the zombie genre and reinvented it, but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum.The Day of the Triffids is a classic 1963 British sci-fi movie adapted from the 1951 novel of the same name by John Wyndham (who is also known for having penned The Midwich Cuckoos, which was adapted into the 1960 classic Village of the Damned).Additionally, the 2002 movie’s subtext about the military industrial complex draws direct inspiration from the original Day of the Triffids novel.
The American Film Institute’s iconic 100 Years…100 Movies list, which ranks the greatest films of all time, was originally published in 1998 and revised in 2008.While plenty of respected classics fell off the list after that revision, including Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, My Fair Lady, Patton, Fargo, and Frankenstein, one of the movies that appeared in both versions was Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 thriller Rear Window.
This line spoken at the beginning of 1996’s Scream isn’t just a way for the Ghostface killer to taunt Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) over the phone during the slasher classic’s bravura opening sequence.It’s a mission statement that explains exactly what the movie is doing and how it went on to completely reinvent modern horror.What Scream Is up ToScream, which was helmed by A Nightmare on Elm Street director Wes Craven from a screenplay by Kevin Williamson, is a satire of the then-dormant slasher genre.
Deadline: July 31POV A prestigious distribution opportunity for documentary shorts.Submissions are now open to be considered for inclusion in the 2026 broadcast season.Graton Artist Opportunity is designed to support artists from federally and non-federally recognized California Indian tribes who wish to tell their stories through film.
Known for pioneering a new approach to conventional white-point lighting, the Aputure STORM line of tunable white LED monolights brings both power and innovation to cinematic lighting projects.That's why for our "Deals of the Week" roundup, we're excited to share that there are some great savings available for those looking to get their hands on a new Aputure STORM LED monolight to add to their collection, or jump in with them for the first time.Check out these deals below!
In a recent YouTube conversation with Film Courage, he broke down the realities of breaking in, staying in, and figuring out what kind of writer you actually are.His rough estimate is that the business side is at least 50% of a working career in film."A screenplay is just a blueprint for a house," he said.
Set to be the first new film camera announced in over 20 years, this experimental camera is designed to do just that—shoot film and digital simultaneously.The Cinelux SIXTEEN Hybrid Cinema Film CameraThe goal of the project, according to the company, is to bring about an “analog cinema re-evolution” and to reverse a trend in filmmaking of being “stuck with aging camera platforms built for bygone production workflows.”
The Core SWX PowerVault Base SystemEverything in this Core SWX PowerVault Base System is housed inside an IP65-rated transport case for portability and packed with a ton of battery charging and power management perks.The Core SWX PowerVault Base System offers helpful power-sharing modes that allow batteries within the system to redistribute power among themselves without using AC power, and everything can be managed via a mobile app.
I was on there looking up some stuff on PTA, and I stumbled across this incredible post that talks about the screenplay structure of Finding Nemo and how One Battle After Another follows the same one.The discussion was on the r/paulthomasanderson subreddit, which highlighted the uncanny structural parallels and was one of my favorite recent reads.I knew I had to bring the topic here to unpack how, despite the radical differences in tone, style, and target audience, both films rely on a strict episodic survival structure anchored by a deeply flawed father trying to navigate a dangerous, systemic landscape to rescue his child.
And what better way to learn what's actually lurking beneath the surface than to look at Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, which gave us the all-time creepy line, "A boy's best friend is his mother."The Art of the Parlor SceneThe line lands during the famous parlor scene, where Norman serves Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) some sandwiches among his stuffed birds.This is what makes this a great horror movie.
Short-form video (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts) is the most direct answer available right now.In a recent piece in The Ankler, writer Matthew Frank reports on how character actors and comedians are working with social media agencies to build personal audiences on short-form video.BTS Content Outperforms PolishBehind-the-scenes content tends to outperform polished work on short-form platforms.
The company has announced the development of the RIALTO 65, a new 65mm-format image sensor block designed to work with the VENICE 2.This new sensor block will undoubtedly expand the capabilities of the VENICE 2 and equip the company’s flagship cinema camera with the industry’s largest image sensor among commercially available cinema cameras.For VENICE 2 owners or users, the upcoming RIALTO 65 sensor block can be mounted directly to the cinema camera or separately from the body via a cable, similar to how we’ve seen the VENICE Extension System work, allowing filmmakers and DPs to fit into tighter spaces.
The movie everyone is talking about right now is Obsession, a horror film directed by Curry Barker that is a scathing critique of modern relationship dynamics.The Mechanics of the One Wish WillowThis was one thing I saw people talking about online after the movie.The tragic irony of the finale is that the One Wish Willow technically delivers on every promise, leaving absolutely everyone miserable.
100 Movies list, which tabulates the best films of all time.When the list was revised in 2008 for its 10th anniversary, the movie landed even higher, at No. 13.However, none of the movie’s many sequels or spinoffs landed on either version of the list.
But, if you want people’s curiosity and dread to stand the test of time, giving them some small, key bits of dialogue, or a selling point to latch on to is a surefire bet.Let’s take a look back at some of the horror quotes and taglines that have truly stood the test of time.A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) already has one of the most iconic horror concepts of all time.
U.S. Against the World is a new sports documentary series that follows the United States Men’s National Soccer Team over more than four years, from the 2022 World Cup to present day.In just five episodes, the series covers every major match, training camp and team event, as well as more personal moments and milestones for the individual players.Lucas Harger: Our team at Outpost got involved very early in the process, initially coming aboard in 2020 before the series landed at HBO.
Specifically, Fellini's observation that the film he finishes is never the film he started.The question, captured in a student Q&A on YouTube, opens something up.According to The Guardian, Kubrick also screened Eraserhead for the cast and crew of The Shining to put them in the right frame of mind.
The Committee for Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) just unveiled its official 2026 lineup under the banner of "Cinema Engineering."Massive Names, Short FormatsThe star power anchored in the 2026 lineup proves that short films are a playground for even the biggest names in Hollywood.Love it or hate it, the festival reported that AI-utilizing short film submissions more than doubled from last year, hitting 368 entries.
TikTok has created a microseries-writing workshop in partnership with the Sundance Institute. The program is a four-week live online course focused entirely on screenwriting for the microseries format.Applications are currently open globally on the Sundance Collab website, and you have until Wednesday, July 1, to submit your pitch.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins talks with filmmaker Shane Brady and producer Emily Zercher-Brady about turning a devastating real-life hack into the revenge comedy-horror feature Hacked: A Double Entendre of Rage Fueled Karma.The conversation covers the couple’s filmmaking origin stories, how losing $20,000 sparked the movie’s premise, why they pushed forward after their budget was cut in half, what it took to shoot between Los Angeles and Florida during the SAG strike, and how they approached building a collaborative low-budget set.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
No one knows this better than industry legend David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible), who discussed this exact phenomenon in a Screenwriting In LA interview clip. Writing at the "Speed of Cinema"Koepp’s personal solution to this problem is a commitment to a terse writing style.In that, Walker uses a different kind of prose style to build a suffocating, atmospheric world.
Panavision has unveiled its new Primo 65 lens series.The new Primo 65 series of spherical primes was specifically designed to deliver Primo characteristics for 65mm-format camera sensors.This new Primo 65 line will include 12 focal lengths, ranging from 21mm (T2) to 225mm (T2.5).
Strada, a remote workflow platform that allows users to edit, share, and collaborate on remote media, has released an update that promises big changes and exciting new possibilities for remote work.Strada Version 2.0 UpdateAnd this company promises it's possible with no uploads, no VPNs, and no NAS.
"I dream for a living."He described coming to filmmaking as a way to create "a talisman to protect" himself, a means of putting fear on screen so he didn't have to carry it alone.Your imagination is the job.
Well, the mystery is over: the company has fully revealed the Kinefinity Vista, with complete specs, features, and a price point, as it’s now available for preorder.And, to be honest, it’s quite intriguing as a compact, full-frame cinema camera capable of 6K50 video and UHD 4K120 in Super 35.It will be able to record at up to 6K50 frame rates in full frame and up to UHD 4K120 in Super 35.
A day after Blackmagic Design finally pushed its new DaVinci Resolve 21 out of beta and into full release, the company is back with another update for its Fairlight Live audio mixer.The biggest news here is that Fairlight Live will get a new fader-flip option that lets faders map to auxes.Fairlight Live Beta 3 Update
We still have no official word out of the MPAA about The Odyssey or its rating, but the movie’s page on the TCL Chinese Theatres website says that The Odyssey is Rated R.If true, this would be a shocking revelation for an historical epic that was shot on IMAX cameras and so costly to make. While I still think it could surpass The Passion of the Christ as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, I don't see it legging out to a billion unless other countries rate it lower and it can expand there.
In a market as robust as any in the film and video space, there's no shortage of production monitors available to filmmakers at pretty much any price point these days. Still, while everyone loves a good reference monitor for setting their shots and building a video village, when you get to the higher end of the offerings, it does start to ge...
Everyone has an interesting route to the top, and R. Hollis Smith has a pretty wild one, even for Hollywood. He began mixing techno in Dallas bedrooms and eventually walked through the legendary doors of Electric Lady Studios as a sound supervisor and re-recording mixer.His car...
"Do ya feel lucky, punk?"You probably can't imagine these lines coming from anyone but the iconic Clint Eastwood. But it turns out that a whole Rolodex of Hollywood's finest leading men came this close to portraying Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan of the SFPD.Frank Sinatra. John Wayne. Robert Mitchum. Steve McQueen. Burt Lancaste...
We know... there aren’t a ton of you still out there shooting with DSLR cameras. But, you never know! And, as someone who rocked a Canon 7D for over a decade without missing a beat, I can tell you, if you have something you like and it works, you don’t have to change.If this sounds like you, we have great news: the Canon E...
In a 2017 talk with the International Documentary Association, the incomparable Werner Herzog said something that will probably make every filmmaker wince a little. Young filmmakers shooting 550 hours of footage, he said, made his heart sink. "They don't know what they're doing," he said.But, seriously, we get bot...
If you’ve been tracking the box office over the last few weeks, you know that Obsession is rewriting the Hollywood rulebook.We've covered this movie and its director, Curry Barker, a lot, and that's because I think it...
Quentin Tarantino has always been cinema's loudest cheerleader and the guy you go to for obscure titles and recommendations. He has so many fun quotes about Hollywood, and he's certainly made his mark on its story. So when he stands up and says he’s actively losing interest in modern cinema, that fee...
At 96 years old, Clint Eastwood has officially retired from filmmaking. The actor and director left a mark on Hollywood that is staggering. He has four Oscars on his shelf, a bunch of characters...
On the same day that Blackmagic Design announced that its DaVinci Resolve 21 update is finally ready to go live to the masses, the company also has a pretty notable update set to beef up the autofocus capabilities of the PYXIS 6K cinema camera.Already a quite solid cinema camera option that packs a punch for those on a budget, the PY...
Announced in the lead-up to NAB 2026 in Las Vegas earlier this year, Blackmagic Design’s major update to DaVinci Resolve was one of the biggest storylines at this year’s conference. (In fact, it was a main topic in our
Yes, you read that right. Martin Scorsese, THAT Martin Scorsese, the legendary director of Goodfellas and Taxi Driver, to name a very few, is officially on board with AI. Or, at least, he’s officially on the board of advisors for one specific AI company called Black Forest Labs.Don’t believe us? Well, there’s visual proof: the c...
The Western was once the most popular genre in all of film and TV, but as the country changed and so did our priorities, the market dried up. Also, Heaven's Gate didn't help.
Every filmmaker has that one defining moment in a theater where they feltl ike they had to pursue a dream in cinema. And while we know Steven Spielberg had a few of these, he was recently on The Rewatchables where he talked ...
As part of a strategic partnership announced earlier this year between Adobe and NVIDIA, the two companies have shared that this merging of minds is set to bring new, supercharged capabilities to some of Adobe’s most popular creative apps, such as Photoshop and Premiere.Powered by NVIDIA’s new RTX Spark superchip, apps like Adobe Prem...
Looking to keep your crews connected on your next large and busy shoot? Well, there are lots of ways to do this, but if you want some that don’t involve shouting or yammering into walkie-talkies that take away the use of your hands, then intercom systems are usually one of the best options.And while there have been many solid ...
The great Clint Eastwood has directed more than 40 films. When the Associated Press asked him in 2010 to name his favorites from that impressive stack, he came up with six: Bird, Letters from Iwo Jima, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River...
We have a major cinema lens announcement to share with y’all today, as ZEISS has officially introduced its new line of Horizon Anamorphic lenses, the latest chapter in the company's historic cine lens history. These full-frame 2x anamorphics are designed to deliver a refined cinematic look and feature a unique, fully motorized yet ligh...
Yesterday, June 1, 2026, marked what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday. I think it would be hard to pick a star whose career burned brighter for the short amount of time she was on this earth. And even now, years after she's departed, we're still talking about the mark she left on...
Think of one of your favorite films. How does it handle its locations? How does the film give you an idea of the world its characters inhabit? Maybe a big sweeping crane shot? A long wide?Chances are, you get the lay of the land in one of these kinds of shots, also known as an establishing shot. If I think about...
Well, Euphoria fans, after years of delays, off-screen drama, and massive anticipation, the hit HBO series wrapped up its third and final season with the episode "In God We Trust."The landmark Sam Levinson series that kind of shocked the world when it debuted took us all on one insane trip. In the end, we saw t...
While it’s been a while since the NLE wars were fully waging, Apple’s Final Cut Pro has long been a dormant giant asleep to the side of the current battles between Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve.Yet, while those two popular video editing platforms have been trying to outdo each other with color and photo editing spaces, Final ...
There's this old saying that I think is really important to remember, and it goes something like "To be an overnight sensation in Hollywood, you usually have to work your ass off first." And that's kind of exactly how we got the meteoric rise of Curry Barker.If you haven’t been tracking the box of...
If you’re a Nikon ZR owner or shooter, you’re likely pretty happy with the RED Digital Cinema-infused Nikon cinema camera—especially due to its low price point and high cinematic output quality. However, for more experienced shooters seeking more specific camera control features and remote monitoring capabilities, some improvements are desired....
I grew up on classic films, the wackier the better. So, of course, I saw my share of movie musicals and high-concept comedies. In honor of Marilyn Monroe's birthday, we're looking at one of my favorites of all time.Some Like It Hot is the 1959 Billy Wilder comedy that topped the
As we covered last week with the introduction of a new suction cup mount via a crowdfunding campaign, there are more options in this space than you might think.And it’s not just newer, more niche companies, either, as Tilta has introduced a new, sop...
For better or worse, ever since RED Digital Cinema was acquired by Nikon just over two years ago, any firmware updates for the current lineup of RED cinema cameras from before the acquisition are good news.Not that there are any signs that these might stop anyt...
We've been in a bit of a Western mood around here lately. I think that's just because it's a genre that sort of feels lost now in feature films. We're getting westerns on TV, but there was a time when they dominated Hollywood. And in their heyday, we got a lot of masterpieces, but one of my favorites is John Sturges’ 1960 film The ...
This past weekend at the box office, we saw an indie horror movie and an A24 horror movie, i.e., both beat a Star Wars movie at the box office. Each of them was directed by a young up-and-comer, and each of them also got their start on YouTube. For the first tim...
If you haven’t been watching Widow’s Bay, get out of this tab right now before you spoil yourself. Then come back, because we’ve got a behind-the-scenes look at one of the show’s best episodes below.Episode 106 of Widow's Bay, "Our History," is a flashback episode—like, flashing way back. We learn the lore of the islan...
There are lots of cameos I love in movies. Whether it's Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder or Bill Murray in Zombieland, they can elevate movies and catch the audience by surprise. But every now and then, a filmmaker uses a celebrity cameo to push the protagonist forward...
There's a particular kind of performance that doesn't get enough attention. It's the supporting role that doesn't try to steal the movie and somehow does it anyway. Joan Cusack has made a career out of exactly that. Over decades of work alongside some of Hollywood's biggest stars (Julia Roberts, Melanie Griffith, her brother John Cusack), she has...
Enter Roshan Singh Sambhi.In just four years, the Singaporean creator went from self-funding his own independent projects to serving as co-showrunner on DC High Volume: Batman—DC Comics' flagship audio drama that rocketed to #1 on Apple Podcasts and swept the Signal Awards.Through his company, Andas Productions, Sambhi has mastered the art of "cinema without a camera," proving that the line between indie passion project and elite, studio-level storytelling is thinner in audio than in almost any other medium.
Penny Marshall's wonderful movie has so many great characters, plot points, and lines of dialogue that you could spend a week pulling it apart. Set during World War II, the film follows the creation of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), formed to keep the sport alive while the men were fighting overseas.We follow the Rockford Peaches, a team managed by Jimmy Dugan.
If you're a photographer, videographer, or any type of content creator looking to keep your footage safe, secure, and properly backed-up even when working on the go, then you might want to check out these fast, yet reliable, portable SSDs from Samsung.For our latest "Deals of the Week" roundup, we have three different Samsung portable SSD options which come in different storage capacity and price points, but all on sale and representing good value and savings.So, without further ado, check them out below.
The powerhouse duo behind the scenes is director Michael Doneger (Fate of a Sport, Brampton’s Own) and #1 New York Times bestselling author, comedian, and Black List screenwriter Aaron Karo (Tickle Me Elmo, Man of the Year). Shot by literally just Doneger and Karo on a DJI Pocket 3, the project blends premium comedic performances from a seasoned cast with lightning-fast stories that still resonate.We sat down with Doneger and Karo to discuss how they reverse-engineered the pacing of a traditional TV pilot into two-minute episodes, the thrill and anxiety of guerrilla shooting in public Waymos and Burbank streets without a permit, and why the future of Hollywood might just be scrolling right in front of you.
One of Alamo Drafthouse’s most famous and iconic rules is its strict “no phone” policy.However, recent changes to the company's corporate policy have changed things up, as it has moved away from its order card system to mobile ordering.A Petition to Reinstate Alamo Drafthouse’s No Phone Use Policy
In the world of digital cameras, there’s always going to be a new firmware update around the corner. And, in most instances, there’s never really a debate about whether it’s a good strategy or not to keep your cameras updated with the latest software.That being said, there is some good advice: consider waiting a little bit before downlo...
I've been thinking a lot lately about ways to approach characters, including considering them in terms of their Enneagram type. How does a 4 see the world, compared to a 2? What would Myers-Briggs have to say about certain characters?Another thing I love is a big, big character—you almost write them exaggeratedly large on the page...
One of the elements that made the Scream franchise successful is the fact that the slasher movies are populated with characters who are knowledgeable about the horror genre and can use that skill to try and help their friends survive the onslaught of whatever...
This might be hard to believe more than 40 years later, but for a brief period in 1984, the most talked-about movie in America was Silent Night, Deadly Night. The Christmas-themed slasher movie, which debuted in theaters on No...
For most filmmakers, The Godfather is holy text. Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptations taught generations of storytellers everything they need to know about subtext, pacing, character arcs, and the world of the mafia.Those are all valuable things to know in this w...
I feel like everyone talks about Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's The Shawshank Redemption all the time, and not enough of us talk about his work on The Green Mile. These are different movies, but they both pick apart the human experi...
Production designer Beth Mickle got an email from Francis Ford Coppola and was so stunned, she immediately took a photo of her laptop screen to send to her parents. "Nobody could believe it," she says in Megadoc, Mike Figgis' behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Megalopolis. Mickle, whose credits include Gua...
It's about to be a hot Spielberg summer as we near the release of Disclosure Day, his new alien thriller that's set to take the world by storm. Everyone is happy the man I believe is the greatest living filmmaker has another huge release on its way into our eyeballs.But...
As we covered when it was first announced almost a year ago, the HOVERAir AQUA is the world’s first 100% waterproof self-flying camera drone, built for action and adventure on the water. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the AQUA is now available glob...
In the latest chapter in the ongoing DJI drone ban saga, we have new updates on what’s been done to fight the FCC’s decision to add the Chinese-based company to a “covered list,” which has effectively shut the company out of releasing new drones (
As always with covering AI news, love it or hate it, these updates and announcements aren’t going to slow down anytime soon. Higgsfield, one of the larger and more established, but sti...
If you’re an indie filmmaker sitting at home editing a short or working on your YouTube channel, you may feel quite alone. Or you may be worried that no one will ever find your stuff and you won't be able to make the next leap into making studio movies, like you've always wanted. But I ...
Oh, happy days are here again as Blackmagic Design has taken an uncharacteristically long break between the myriad updates it usually seems to provide for DaVinci Resolve over the year. And while it may only have been a few weeks since the last update, this one is pretty significant, as DaVinci Resolve is set to get improvements t...
"Cinematic" has become one of those words that gets thrown around so much that it almost loses meaning. But for content creators, it's a legit goal to set your stuff apart. It might be the difference between footage that stops a scroll and footage that doesn't.
If you've worked on enough screenplays, you know how insane it can be to describe someone walking across a room for the umpeenth time. It can cross your eyes and make you feel like you're at your wits' end. Well, I get it, I've been there. Screenwriting is a visual medium where real estat...
As we’ve covered with several different options at this point, AI assistant video editing technology has certainly been one of the buzziest (and, admittedly, most helpful) areas of development in today’s AI era.While AI video models might be the biggest and scariest new technologies, these ancillary workflow AI tools ...
You probably have some sense of what microdramas are, even if you don't know that's what they're called. They're scripted, serialized shows built specifically for mobile vertical viewing, with episodes that run about a minute each, structured around cliffhangers that push y...
Once in a while, a movie comes along, and it completely tears down the genre expectations that came with it. In the early 90s, that movie was Dances With Wolves, and it took on the Western.The film was a passion project from writer, director, and star Kevin Costner and went on to sweep the Academy Awards.But Costner didn’t wait...
It would be hard to name any films better than Singin' in the Rain (1952). The movie is just this wondrous ride through classic Hollywood that is also a masterclass in musical choreography and vibrant Technicolor.There's so much gorgeous filmmaking on display that it's hard to pick a favorite shot or...
We've been covering Kane Parson's rise since the beginning, back when he was a teenager uploading found-footage horror to YouTube using free software and borrowed cameras. The scale-up to a feature landed him Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, and
One of the things I love about Westerns is that they're all a little bit of a deconstruction of what it means to be alive. Mostly because we're seeing people die in them all the time. They're also some of the greatest movies ever made.Case in point, Sergio Leone’s
In 2022, we ran an article on Backrooms, the viral short film that was sweeping the internet. It was made by a then 16-year-old Kane Parsons...
Eventually, it happens to all of us. Our favorite laptop or computer, whether it’s a Mac or PC, is liable to suddenly go from being your main workstation to being a broken brick in an instant. It’s kind of just a fact of life, or even a rite of passage, at this point.If you’ve found yourself in the market for a new laptop for any reason...
We all love a good soft news story, and at its heart, that’s what this is. Apple has shared details about the miraculous feat performed over the past weekend, when an iPhone 17 Pro captured an entire major professional live sporting event broadcast.However, what the company isn’t telling you is that, while this is true, it was only acc...
Big, BIG news today for large-format filmmakers: ZEISS has dropped a new set of cinema prime lenses. This new ten-lens set of large-format cinema primes will range from 25mm to 180mm, and all feature a fast T2.2 aperture.The new Panopte 65 large-format line will also feature a unique blend of high-end optics, ergonomics...
It's hard to believe that after like fifty years of dominance, the western was dead by 1990, but it was. Hollywood had totally moved on from the Americana, and no one was sure it would ever come back.It was probably buried sometime around Heaven's Gate in the 80s, but ...
For decades, "The Duke" defined the Western genre. He played stoic, unflappable lawmen and cowboys in cinematic landmarks like The Searchers and Stagecoach. And
There was a time recently when Netflix's goal was to release a new movie every week. That was a blistering 50+ movies a year, and it was probably an unsustainable pace. You could argue that it also made movies feel less special. For every The Irishman, we got a hodgepodge of other genre fare that seemed to blend together. The st...
Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), the forgetful blue tang from Pixar’s Finding Nemo, is perhaps Pixar’s single best dispenser of life advice. The animation studio is known for delivering emotional movies with strong messages, but this dopey comic relief ...
Whether you’re drafting your very first short screenplay or you’re a seasoned veteran with half a dozen features under your belt, the time will always come for feedback on your writing. The inevitable editing and refining process can be infamously gruelin...
In the United States, Motion Picture Association (MPA) ratings have provided major milestones for many a burgeoning film lover. Graduating from G/PG to PG-13 is a marker that one is truly and properly a teenager, while finally being allowed to see R-rated movies at age 17 (in most states) is like the gates of adulthood have finally ope...
If you're not caught up, Parsons started uploading a found-footage horror series to his YouTube channel (Kane Pixels) in January 2022, when he was 16, adapting the "Backrooms" Internet meme (an eerie internet myth of fluorescent-lit, infinitely looping liminal rooms) into a cinematic, scary short. In a recent interview with Letterboxd, Parsons walked through the pop-culture influences that shaped both his YouTube series and the feature.Portal 2 in particular.
Establish Your Key Light Your key light is the dominant source in the scene, the biggest, brightest thing in the frame.Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption script is a good example here.How do your characters move through light and dark?
The new Sennheiser Momentum 5 Adapt Around-Ear Bluetooth Wireless Headphones represent some of the latest technology in the audio space, offering high-quality audio and reliable Bluetooth wireless connectivity.These new headphones feature a total of eight individual microphones that make up their ANC system, which is helpful as it cancels midrange noise three times better than previous models.The new Sennheiser Momentum 5 Adapt Around-Ear Bluetooth Wireless Headphones also support both AAC and aptX Adaptive audio codecs, enabling optimal listening and connection experiences.
In the world of video editing, there are really two major players these days. Of course, there are more options, but most video editors seem to favor Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve. Still, while those two platforms have great legacies and large, sophisticated ecosystems, it never hurts to consider other options.
Launched on Kickstarter, the Stickse Z1 is a powerful suction mount designed for modern filmmakers, photographers, and diverse creatives seeking flexible ways to capture stable shots beyond traditional tripods and fixed setups.The Stickse Z1 is set to feature a 54KPa suction pressure and a heavy-duty 15KG load capacity, which should help...
For cinematographers and filmmakers looking for a new set of full-frame cine primes, Thypoch has some new lenses to consider for their projects. The Thypoch Simera-C line is here, with six lenses ranging from 16mm to 75mm, available in E- and M-mounts.Set to be rich, creamy, and full of character, this set could be quite promising ...
Martin Scorsese finally won his first Best Director Oscar in 2007, which was his eighth nomination, for The Departed, presented by Coppola, Lucas, and Spielberg. But read it carefully, and it's actually a map of everything it takes to make a great film.The list here is evidence that filmmaking is a collective art form, and that the director's job is as much about assembling the right people as it is about calling action.
To be honest, we’re not exactly sure what designing an editing console that can be operated with one hand frees up your other hand to do, but we’re here for it. In all seriousness, editing consoles can be a great way to speed up your workflows and help editors handle lots of tasks at once.This new Pilot Pro Editing Console fr...
Happy Memorial Day! Today is about grief, sacrifice, and honor. Cinema has always been good at using these elements to tell compelling stories. If you're celebrating, it's a good time to reflect on the sacrifices of American heroes, and one way to do it is to revisit some of the most patriotic movie scenes.Here are six of our favo...
It's hard to believe now, but there was a time in World War II when filmmakers and stars left Hollywood to be on the frontlines alongside the brave men and women of our country.That time spent at war had a profound effect on many of these filmmakers, including William Wyler, who came back to make a masterpi...
In news that might just be good viral PR, Panasonic has reportedly been letting customers in Japan who have preordered the upcoming LUMIX L10 digital camera know that their deliveries might be delayed due to high demand.Made as a surprise announcement earlier ...
We've been covering a lot of John Wayne here lately. That kind of happens when you do one article on a legend and then have to dive into the movies that made them.Well, Wayne was the protot...
I really like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but it's funny to think about how here's a whole different version of that movie out there somewhere that we will just never see.As the legend goes, Gareth Edwards made a version of the movie that Kathleen Kennedy and other Disney exec...
In what has become a familiar refrain, and not necessarily bad news, per se, DJI has announced that it is ending support for two more of its more popular products.However, as we saw when DJI announced the suspension of support for the Mavic Mini d...
You can also always grab a new camera or lens to add to your arsenal as well.That's why for our latest "Deals of the Week" roundup, we have some on-sale and ready-to-go Panasonic zoom lenses, which are all quite affordable and nice options to consider adding to your camera bags.You never know when the right lenses might be needed for the right project.
The Criterion Collection just dropped a 4K release of Body Heat, and with it comes a new interview with writer/director Lawrence Kasdan.Kasdan spent seven years writing things that went nowhere before he ever got paid.He wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark before he ever directed anything.
Now, with the release of the action-thriller Dirty Hands, Meehan marks his first official feature credit.We sat down with the composer to discuss how he uses silence to amplify tension, how his deep roots in the Philadelphia music scene and years with the electronic-jam band Catullus shaped his cinematic sound.AM: I’m not sure if your readers are aware, but one of the lead actors in Dirty Hands, Pat Muldoon, passed away about a week before the film was released.
William Monahan’s Oscar-winning screenplay wastes absolutely no time telling you exactly what kind of world you're in as Jack Nicholson’s Frank Costello monologues.Let’s break down the exact screenwriting techniques you can emulate to write a killer opening for your own spec script.The Opening Line That Flips the GenreThe film opens with archival footage of the 1960s Boston desegregation busing riots, and that immediately establishes a real-world backdrop of structural breakdown and societal anger.
Almost Famous opened September 15, 2000, on a $60 million budget (according to Box Office Mojo) and grossed $47.4 million worldwide. That meant a $12.6 million shortfall before marketing spend. By the time you factor in p...
In one of the biggest and likely most impactful non-AI storylines of the year so far, the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to add DJI to a “covered list” and effectively ban the Chinese-based company from selling new drones in the United States has broug...
For all of those iPhone filmmakers out there looking to be the next Sean Baker, or—you know—just trying to get their content creation work done with their smartphone, this new video conversion tool is worth checking out.While not a free offering, you can unlock unlimited bat...
There is almost no better way to enjoy a movie than on an IMAX screen. But that standard of excellence may be changing. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, IMAX is officially on the market and looking for a buyer. Shares o...
When putting together a low-budget music video for an indie artist, it can be intimidating trying to draw inspiration from classic videos. Iconic artists like Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Madonna have all churned ou...
Most importantly, to see how each film has used the actual zombies as a catalyst for their thematics on the human experience.Humans Reverting to Their Primal InstinctsIn 28 Days Later, the apocalypse is still relatively new.This bit of characterization and conflict brings to the forefront of the film one of its most poignant questions: - are the zombies really the central monsters of the film?
Legendary voice actor Tom Kane, who died from complications of a stroke on May 18, is perhaps best known for voicing Yoda in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and a variety of other animated projects and video gam...
Today, we’re going to examine a few key moments in the film that bring the blocking of the camera and the blocking of the performers together to subtly communicate the morality of the central characters (or lack thereof). In the film, Emily Blunt’s FBI agent Kate Macer is recruited for a shadowy drug cartel assignment along with equally shadowy supposed law enforcement officers.This marks the first time in the film where an act of violence is completely omitted from our line of sight.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to debut in theaters on May 22.The Pedro Pascal sci-fi movie is a continuation of the three-season Disney+ series The Mandalorian, making it the first live-action Star Wars subfranchise to graduate from the small screen to the big screen.The animatronic puppet version of Grogu was what viewers saw when Grogu made his debut in the first episode of The Mandalorian in November 2019, and in every one of his appearances since then (which includes a cameo in the Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett).
So, today, I want to go over my ten favorite iterations of King Arthur in movies and talk about what makes each of them special to me. John Boorman built an operatic, hyper-stylized world drenched in green neon armor and backed by Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana to solidify that it's a grandiose epic.Sean Connery brings massive, weary gravitas to an older Arthur, and Adam Greenberg's vibrant cinematography makes the whole production look incredibly expensive.
Color Mode in Premiere (beta) changes that.1. The Clip Grid Represents the Timeline for ColorThe clip grid is a visual representation of your timeline, built specifically for color.Premiere Color Mode Article SeriesThis article is article number four in a series of articles on Color Mode in Premiere.
The 1990 adaptation of Dick Tracy used it as a rulebook.Warren Beatty didn't want a film inspired by Chester Gould's strip.This is known as the sodium vapor process.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director Hasan Hadi and producer Leah Chen Baker about the development, financing, production, and release journey behind The President’s Cake. The conversation traces the film from NYU and COVID-era writing sessions through the Sundance Labs, the challenge of building an aggressively independent financing plan, shooting on location in Iraq with non-professional actors, and the impact of winning both the Caméra d’Or and the Audience Award at Cannes.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
When it comes to dissecting the greatest movies of the 21st century, I'm always excited to dive into some David Lynch, especially Mulholland Drive (2001). That's a ...
Writing a screenplay can be one of the most frustrating and gratifying things you can do. And guess what? Even when you become a pro, it doesn't really get any easier.I just read this great interview with David Koepp, the writer behind movies like Jurassic Park, Miss...
I think it's hard to really understand what a grip the Western genre had on America in the 1950s. We've joked that they were basically their
On May 21st, 1908, what is scholarly cited as the first American horror film, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, premiered in Chicago. The film was roughly 16 minutes long, and split up into either four or five (various...
Announced just over a week ago, the Canon R6 V is already proving quite buzzworthy in film and video circles, thanks to its front-of-the-box specs and features.The long-anticipated follow-up to the popular R6 model, this new V version looks quite promising and sh...
The design world is changing. Not only is AI shifting the bedrock of pretty much all creative workflows, but designers are also becoming more hybrid creators themselves, often needing to wear many hats that more often than not shift into the world of video these days.If you’re a video editor, color grading artist, or a hybri...
File this one in the ol’ “WTF” bucket, which we’ve saved for other odd camera phones and confusing partnerships: the AI device company Honor has announced that its new AI-powered “robot phone,” developed in partnership with ARRI, is set to release later this summer.And while we still don’t know a lot about this phone, including what ex...
If your editor dreads getting your footage, that's a problem. So, this is for you. Jesse Senko is a photographer and director with a background in advertising. He's had years of commercial and corporate work that took him all over the world and sharpened his instincts for capturing stories fast, often without prep, in pla...
While having too many lenses in your camera bag may hurt your shoulder or back, it never hurts your wallet to have too many lenses to choose from when searching for a specific lens or look.So, it’s always good news to see another new, high-quality lens on the market.We have a new Laowa wide-angle zoom from Venus Opti...
However, not every character is like that, and it’s high time we gave some of the smartest zombie survivors in cinema history their flowers.One of those people is Fran Parker (Gaylen Ross), a pregnant TV news producer who has sharp survival instincts.Thanks in part to Columbus’ efforts, all four main characters lived long enough to appear in a ten-year-later sequel, 2019’s Zombieland: Double Tap, and (spoiler alert) survive that movie too.
Perhaps some of the most fascinating work in the film is the visual effects work done to make Forrest appear to be having authentic conversations with icons John Lennon and John F. Kennedy.The John Lennon Interview The footage of Lennon himself was captured from a real interview he did with Yoko Ono on the Dick Cavett Show, the show Forrest appears on.The one element that dates these effects more than anything, as well as the effects with John F. Kennedy, is the dubbing of Lennon’s character and the manipulations they had to make to his mouth to imitate the new words.
I chose the Sony FX3 as my primary camera.I landed on Hanksville, Utah. Alex & MOR: A Love Odyssey hits streaming in Summer 2026, distributed by Echelon Studios.
This is basically the thesis behind a recent video by Jake Frew, who proposes another way to get film and images into the world—via zines.A zine gives filmmakers something to make, hold, and trade.Filmmakers can use these photography-based exercises to practice composition and lighting without a crew.
Anyway, seventeen years ago, Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds premiered at Cannes.It is, hands down, one of the best opening scenes ever shot.But if you show the audience the bomb first, and tell them it’s going to detonate soon, suddenly every boring line of dialogue becomes agonizing.
Netflix is taking over the big screen for The Adventures of Cliff Booth. The star-studded movie directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino begins its
I have been watching a lot of cop movies lately, and they really are a genre unto themselves. But every once in a while, a movie comes along that shakes up what we expect from a
Announced as part of Adobe’s push to make its popular pro-grade creative tools available to agentic AI workflows, the company has expanded its partnership with Google to bring its creativity connector to Gemini here in the next few weeks.This news follows up on the announcement
I cannot tell you how exhausting it is to sit and write a screenplay to try to get it to sound both good and like real life. See, real life is boring most of the time. But movies have to be entertaining.Even when you think you've conquered the scene and wrung all the information you need ...
Filmsupply has officially announced Editfest 2026, its annual 30-day editing competition designed to showcase the world's best editorial talent.The Challenge: 30 Days to Make Your MarkEditfest focuses on the mastery of the craft.Winners across the three main categories (plus the People’s Choice award) will split over $65,000 in prizes.
In addition to being the first South Korean movie in competition for the Palme d’Or at Cannes in four years (since Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave, which lost to Triangle of Sadness), it is reportedly one of the most expensive movies ever made in South Korea.This has already happened in 2026 with Desert Warrior, a war epic from Saudi Arabia that boasted a star-studded cast including Anthony Mackie, Sharlto Copley, and Sir Ben Kingsley.The movie, which reportedly cost $150 million, is the most expensive to ever be produced in the region.
His film Don't Tell Larry went through more than 20 drafts with co-writer Greg Porper.Schimke's instinct is to say you should start over from page one on a script "when you hate it," although he immediately walks that back.Schimke's actual advice is about how a page-one rewrite makes sense when the script feels uninspiring, but only after checking whether you've drifted from the original idea that made you want to write it.
This update (firmware version 3.00) is set to add some pretty major new recording modes and a range of improvements–all quite helpful and very welcomed additions to this popular Sony cinema camera.Already a popular and capable option for solo-style and small crew cine shooters, the BURANO is about to get even more powerful and enticing with the addition of new imager scan modes, including full-frame 5.8K 6:5 for 2x anamorphic lenses as well as Super 35 3.8K 16:9.The update also adds new operability and workflow improvements.
But, alas, it’s not only AI news for all of us today, as we’ve also gotten word from Adobe that the company is mercifully rolling out new releases and updates for Substance 3D.The goal with these new releases is simply to help designers and creatives move faster with updates coming to Substance 3D Designer, Substance 3D Sampler, ZBrush, and Substance 3D Painter, ready to streamline your workflows.Adobe Substance 3D Updates
Remember that lull from the past few months where we didn’t get the surprise announcement of another new “revolutionary” AI video model every single day? Well, that lull is over as the AI wars are heating up once again.However, with this AI r...
There are a lot of great shows on TV, but for me, the best one is about a farm in the Cotswolds. I have always been a big fan of Jeremy Clarkson, from Top Gear to The Grand Tour, but I have never been so moved by him until I sat and watched the first five seasons of Clarkson's Farm.I think it ...
For over four decades, the man who would become known to Western lovers as "The Duke" was the human embodiment of the American frontier and the Western movie genre.There's not much left to say about John Wayne exc...
I'm on a contained story kick right now. My creative partner and I are fresh off a short film shoot and want to make something else, but we want to make it as easy on ourselves as possible in terms of production, and cheap. So, of course, my mind went straight to single-location, contained ideas.While contained stories are easier to pr...
There was a period in the early aughts when it felt like zombie movies were everywhere. I'm not sure what the deal was, though you could make a pretty compelling case that 28 Days Later opened a door in 2002 that nobody could close again, with Danny Boyle tr...
Okay, so if you’ve spent any time reading about film production or casting, you’ve definitely run into the legend of Ryan Gosling and The Lovely Bones.If not, I'll catch you up to speed.The story goes like this: back in 2007, a 26-year-old Gosling was cast to ...
Wading further into the world of audio recording, Insta360 has a new wireless microphone system, the Insta360 Mic Pro Wireless System. Ideally designed for solo creators and run-and-gun vloggers, this Insta360 Mic Pro features 2.4 GHz wireless audio and compatibility with a wide range of devices.Featuring onboard 32-bit float audio recording and...
While the last few weeks have been focused on the many new cameras and traditional digital filmmaking improvements announced, we haven’t had quite as much AI-based news to share with y’all. However, as we all know, that has been likely to change at any moment… and here we are.Beeble AI, best known for its various video-to-VFX pipelines, has a new n...
In what is likely the most loaded film description ever described, we have a new movie trailer to share with y’all that will likely cause you to either watch with mild intrigue or want to smash your computer through your desk.The trailer for Hell Grind has dropped, which is billed as—and we quote directly here—” the world's first 90-minute sc...
The Sony a7V is getting a new firmware update (version 2.00) that is set to add 32-bit float recording.This new firmware update will allow high-quality audio recording up to 96 kHz, 32-bit float when used with the Sony XLR-A4 adapter.Turn off the camera.
I'm not sure there's an actor synonymous with one genre the way John Wayne is with Westerns. He spent decades defining the genre, playing stoic heroes in cinematic landmarks like The Searchers and Stagecoach.
Christian Sprenger, ASC, is a two-time Emmy winner for his work on Atlanta ("Teddy Perkins," "Three Slaps") and a decade-long collaborator with director Hiro Murai. (He also shot a gem of an indie movie, Brigsby Bear, co-written by Kyle Mooney and a buddy of mine, Kevin Costello. Sprenger said I should put that in.)His new p...
Nobody was fighting to make Leaving Las Vegas. The source material was John O'Brien's semi-autobiographical 1990 novel about a screenwriter who moves to Vegas with the explicit plan to drink himself to death. The book ...
"I'm a dying man, scared of the dark."The Power of the Shattered ArchetypeJohn Wayne was this massive, scary guy who we saw battling with everyone across the West.When J.B. Books (Wayne) admits he’s scared of the dark, it completely recontextualizes the Western hero and the myth surrounding it.
The ASUS ProArt Display OLED PA32USD has been announced, and it looks to be quite promising for those looking to streamline their video and color workflows together with this new 24” 4K HDR 240 Hz monitor.Let’s look at this new option from ASUS and explore what it offers with its 10-bit color, 3840 x 2160 resolution, and support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision high-dynamic-range formats.Set to deliver exceptional 10-bit color, this Calman-ready 3840 x 2160 resolution 4K UHD monitor features an OLED panel that is factory-calibrated for ΔE < 1 accuracy and covers 99% of the DCI-P3 and 100% of the sRGB gamut.
To help address these issues, NANLUX has introduced the Matrix 2500B and Matrix 2500C lighting arrays, which aim to deliver optimized light quality, provide extended operational capability, and feature enhanced multi-fixture synchronization.These new Matrix 2500B and Matrix 2500C lights achieve this through a unified design with four high-power lamp heads.The NANLUX Matrix 2500B and Matrix 2500C four-headed lighting fixtures are set to be available for starter kits costing $6,580 for the Matrix 2500B and $7,280 for the Matrix 2500C.
Currently on display at IMAX headquarters, the IMAX camera, which Christopher Nolan helped design and used to shoot his upcoming epic The Odyssey, is likely going to be an important camera in film history for years to come.The IMAX Keighley on DisplayThe Odyssey is the first feature film to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras, and this Keighley camera creates a physical image nearly 10 times the size of what you’d traditionally find in 35mm film.
In a recent, unfiltered interview with Variety at the Cannes Film Festival, Stewart laid bare the frustrations that many independent filmmakers have felt for years with the studio system. And Stewart argues that this "Golden Ticket" mentality is actually killing the art form.Stewart’s point is this: If the system only allows for a handful of "chosen" artists to succeed once every five years, we aren't building a culture, we’re building a bottleneck.
Godox ML40Bi and ML40R Portable LED LightsDesigned to be both compact and portable, the Godox ML40Bi and ML40R LED lights will both feature a 3.8 x 3.5 x 1.8" body with a magnetic mount and NFC app connectivity.These new Godox ML40Bi and ML40R lights further expand the company’s ML series by offering a 40W version with a built-in battery capable of providing 42 minutes of runtime at 100% brightness for a wide range of scenarios, from indoor studio shoots to myriad run-and-gun shoots wherever.
Last week, The Odyssey broke the internet and everyone's brains as people went bonkers over its diverse casting. And now, over the last 48 hours, the internet has been ...
That would be the 2008 Canadian zombie movie Pontypool, which landed a spot at No. 154 thanks to its Certified Fresh Tomatometer score of 83%.Pontypool Harnesses Limited PerspectiveWhat Pontypool knows well is the fact that a limited perspective is among the scariest tools in a horror filmmaker’s kit.The threat in the movie is much more cerebral than the average zombie virus.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, tech editor Jourdan Aldredge speaks with Blackmagic Design’s Simon Westland at NAB 2026 about the company’s latest camera, live production, mobile filmmaking, DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic Cloud, and AI workflow updates. They discuss how Blackmagic’s new products serve both high-end live production and independent filmmakers, why hands-on trade show demos matter, and how filmmakers can think about camera choices as they grow their craft.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
If you're interested in finding the right tripod to keep your shots safe, secure, and steady, we have some options for you.For our latest "Deals of the Week" roundup, we have three high-quality tripods from SmallRig that are all reliable and actually on sale, so nice options to consider with some savings built in.Check them out below.
Platoon was released in 1986 and wasn't just another action flick.The Veteran’s Experience Oliver Stone had firsthand experience in battle.He was a veteran of the Vietnam War himself, so Stone brought a level of "dirt-under-the-fingernails" authenticity that had been missing from the genre at the time.
According to a new report from Deadline, the legendary trio behind Taxi Driver, director Martin Scorsese, star Robert De Niro, and screenwriter Paul Schrader, are set to reunite this June for a massive 50th-anniversary celebration at the 2026 Tribeca Festival in June.The Boys are Back in TownThe reunion for Taxi Driver is all built around a brand-new 4K restoration of the film, which will then be followed by what is being billed as a "once-in-a-generation" conversation between Scorsese and De Niro, moderated by W. Kamau Bell.For filmmakers, Taxi Driver is essentially a holy text.
Barker should inspire all indie filmmakers, because he didn't wait for permission.They made it in four months on a shoestring budget, relying on the found footage approach to keep things simple and easy.His team put it on YouTube for free.
Rubin’s philosophy, which he explores deeply in his book The Creative Act: A Way of Being, is that the artist is the first and only audience that matters during the creation process.So how do you apply the Rubin rules to your own work? Apply that to your editing or your cinematography.
The Canon EOS R6 V might be in early contention for one of the most popular camera options for filmmakers and video professionals for this year, as it's set to be capable of recording 7K RAW video with a host of video-focused features and specs, which should help all types of video content creators immensely.And for that, we have one of the first camera cage kits already released.Tilta Camera Cage Kit for the Canon R6 V
We’re also super excited for The Odyssey coming up, and while that release date ticks closer, we’re going back to some of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer press appearances to get some inspiration ahead of his epic adventure story.What Nolan is saying is that the filmmaker is a bad judge of their own work's place in history.The Odyssey opens in theaters July 17 from Universal Pictures.
According to a new report from Animation Magazine, Netflix is currently staffing up for a new, experimental animation wing called Inkubator that will run on AI. Inkubator is being described as a "small, nimble team" designed to explore how generative AI can streamline the animation process.Summing It All UpNetflix is clearly betting that AI isn’t just a fad, but a fundamental part of the future of animation.
The company is calling this new Voyager AF 24-50mm f/2.8 the first full-frame AF zoom lens developed by a Chinese optical brand, and it marks a bold new direction for the company as it is set to bring always-helpful competition to an important space for film and video pros.Let’s take a look at this new Thypoch Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8 and its full-frame autofocus zoom capabilities.Thypoch Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8
This follow-up to the popular DJI Osmo Pocket 4 is a bigger, more powerful option with dual cameras and higher cinematic capabilities.The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P will feature what the company calls a “cinematic-level dynamic range for rich tonal depth,” along with 10-bit D-Log2 color performance.As mentioned above, we still don’t have full details on price and availability just yet.
At the time, Forman’s movie became only the second film ever to sweep the “Big Five” Oscars, a feat that has only happened three times in Academy Award history.Only three films (ever) have won all five awards on a single Oscar night.Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
The biography he is writing is titled “The Duke of Death,” alluding to Bob’s “legendary” combat skills.He is editing Bob’s biography in Beauchamp’s head.he is killing the Duke of Death.
The Evil Dead Cost Less Than Half a MillionThe thing that’s particularly impressive is the fact that it only cost $375,000 to make.Pure Creativity Fuels The Evil DeadThe Evil Dead overcomes its limitations with the liberal application of creativity, both on-screen and behind the scenes.Sound off in the comments about some of your favorite microbudget horror movies and why they have stuck with you.
The Odyssey Cast Before I rip into the internet on this, I want to go over a list of some confirmed roles for this highly anticipated epic, which is slated for release on July 17, 2026.Matt Damon as OdysseusAnne Hathaway as PenelopeTom Holland as TelemachusZendaya as AthenaRobert Pattinson as AntinousCharlize Theron as CalypsoLupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy / ClytemnestraJon Bernthal as MenelausBenny Safdie as AgamemnonSamantha Morton as CirceMia Goth as MelanthoJohn Leguizamo as EumaeusElliot Page (Role undisclosed)Travis Scott (Cameo/Supporting role)What's the Problem Here? As I briefly mentioned up top, it seems like people are upset because Nolan has gone "woke" with the cast of a fictional story.
Those movies were directed by Sir Peter Jackson, and he also wrote them with his longtime collaborator and partner Fran Walsh.In a clip from Film Writers, Jackson breaks down the organic, messy, and inspiring workflow that brings their scripts to life.Jackson highlights Fran Walsh’s specific strength: the ability to pick out weaknesses and ruthlessly refine the material until it’s perfect.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins talks with writer-director Chandler Levack about making I Like Movies, Mile End Kicks, and Roommates, and how Levack protects a specific filmmaking voice while moving between indie features and studio comedy. They discuss the realities of Canadian film financing, directing with limited time and bigger resources, building cinematic worlds through research and memory, and why filmmakers have to keep making work instead of treating one movie as their only chance.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
The company is rolling out firmware updates for nine of its most popular digital cameras, including its flagship mirrorless offerings and even its PowerShot line.The headline camera for the update is the Canon EOS R1, which is set to get the biggest update with its firmware release, as it’s set to get new subject detection and tracking improvements.Canon EOS R1 Firmware Update
which happened to be a topic of discussion on a recent episode of The Ankler's Prestige Junkie podcast with Katey Rich.What should indie filmmakers learn from their discussion?Is God Is and the Playwright-to-Filmmaker PipelineSanders highlighted Is God Is as his most anticipated non-IP film of the summer.
The person responsible for catching those mistakes is the script supervisor.The script supervisor is one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated roles on a film set, and for indie filmmakers especially, understanding what they do (and hiring one early) can save a production.The script supervisor is the connective tissue.
Released in 1956, this John Ford epic didn't just redefine a genre; it essentially became the North Star for the guys who built modern Hollywood.100 Movies list, The Searchers climbed a staggering 84 spots to land at #12, which makes it the greatest Western ever made, according to them.For Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, that movie is The Searchers.
A new update for the Panasonic LUMIX smartphone app is on the way, the company announced, with version 3.0.0 set to be available for free starting next week (May 20th) via app stores.Panasonic LUMIX Lab App UpdateThe company has also shared that going forward, firmware updates will be available via the app, and this LUMIX S9 update mentioned above will be available sometime in June.
Recently, I have been seeing a disturbing trend that I can see will be used to exploit writers in the coming years.They're using AI to find lazy creatives and preying on the Hope Machine in order to exploit them and to enrich themselves. And that's just one of the ways I feel like AI is going to be used to exploit writers in the future.
Still only a few weeks removed from the announcement of DaVinci Resolve 21 at NAB 2026, Blackmagic Design has now rolled out not one, but two new updates for the popular NLE that offer improvements, bug fixes, and further enhancements to its new features.Most notable to some for its new Photo Page, this Beta 3 update for Resolve is set to fully integrate photo editing into the platform, as well as offer many improvements for how users can work with photos moving forward.DaVinci Resolve 21 Beta 3 Update
Insta360 has announced a new Retro Viewfinder accessory for its popular GO 3S action camera that turns it into a handheld camera.Insta360 GO 3S Retro ViewfinderThe Insta360 GO 3S itself has dropped to under $300, with standard combo packages currently at $319 with some discounts.
“Movies like this are not getting made anymore," Matt Damon said.The Odyssey is the first feature shot entirely on 15/70mm IMAX film, a format that famously fights back against intimate work.The Odyssey is scheduled to be released in theaters and IMAX on July 17, 2026.
What is 'The Whole Bloody Affair'?In 2003, Miramax and Harvey Weinstein insisted the film be split into two parts to maximize its box office potential.But the movie screened at Cannes as a single, four-hour version, the way the director originally intended.
He sees it as a tool, no different from any other special effect.Jackson thinks the conflation is unfair.The Hunt for Gollum is currently shooting in New Zealand.
2026 has been the first year since 2019 where it feels like the box office is on fire.May 22 – Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu: Jon Favreau brings the Volume to the big screen again.June 5 – Scary Movie 6: The Wayans family returns to the franchise.
Here is a ranked look at the best Donald Gibb movie moments that define his career.5. The "Dim Mak" Reaction (Bloodsport, 1988)This is a highly underrated movie that's oh so fun.The Transformation (Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise, 1987)In the sequel, Ogre undergoes a surprising bit of character development.
The record (according to Deadline) is 22 minutes for Pan's Labyrinth.A long ovation doesn't mean the film will be "successful" or even "well-liked" by traditional standards with a broad audience.The Cannes standing ovation is one of the film industry's most persistent myths.
The new Canon RF 20-50mm f/4 L IS USM PZ lens is also more video-focused, while Sony’s new lens is more photography-focused.The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS LensAgain, this new Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5 GM OSS Lens is chiefly designed for professional wildlife and sports photographers.
Set to feature a newly developed 66.8MP Exmor RS BSI sensor, which will be the highest-resolution full-frame, fully stacked sensor in an a7 camera to date, the a7R VI will be more than capable of serving as a top-end mirrorless option for photographers and videographers alike.The New Sony a7R VI Mirrorless CameraThe big news here is that the top-end recording format will be a 10-bit, full-frame 8K 30/24p level via 8.2K oversampling.
Canon RF 20-50mm f/4 L IS USM PZ LensThe Canon RF 20-50mm f/4 L IS USM PZ Lens is similarly tailored for video work and is designed to be the ideal kit lens for the aforementioned EOS R6 V, which is available to purchase as a combo at a discount.The lens also features a fast f/4 maximum aperture, six stops of optical image stabilization, and a nano USM focusing motor to deliver optimal results no matter the subject.
The new Canon EOS R6 V takes things up a notch, though, as it is set to feature a 32.5MP full-frame sensor and a ton of advanced features, all tailored for high-end video capture.The New Canon EOS R6 VThe EOS R6 V can record in internal 7K30 open-gate RAW and 7K60 RAW Light, which can obviously deliver deep 12-bit color and razor-sharp detail.
The Top 50 alone includes Bride of Frankenstein, Jaws, Psycho, Halloween, Rosemary’s Baby, The Silence of the Lambs, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and many more.The movie, which has a Certified Fresh 95% score that lands it at No. 36 on the all-time list (sandwiched between George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and James Whale’s The Invisible Man), was director Tod Browning’s follow-up horror feature after helming the seminal Universal Monsters hit Dracula, which debuted in 1931.Based on the Tod Robbins short story “Spurs,” Freaks follows the lives of a group of carnival performers.
Bad movies have a unique pull for film lovers.While it is true that not every movie on the list is a hidden gem, five in particular are absolutely worth watching.Steven Spielberg’s aquatic horror masterpiece is a minted classic that more or less single-handedly invented the summer blockbuster.
And that’s what we’re getting with this new Tilta Illusion Magnetic Filter Ultimate Kit that has just been introduced.These new filters feature some filter options that look quite helpful and high-quality, with magnetic connections for fast, easy attachment and adapter rings for supporting lenses with Front Diameters of 77mm and 82mm.Tilta Illusion Magnetic Filter Ultimate Kit
That movie is High Noon, and it's an out-and-out masterpiece.Fred Zinnemann’s 1952 classic is currently ranked #33 on the AFI’s 100 Years...To me, this film was the perfect example of telling a story in real time.
Lucas directed Howard in American Graffiti, and Howard has described him as a mentor.If anyone was primed to be sold on Star Wars, it was Howard.Howard has said that Lucas never really figured out how to talk to actors.
But today, I want to talk about the second Matrix movie, The Matrix: Reloaded, and the fight scene that shook up Hollywood and science fiction forever.This single sequence, where Neo faces off against hundreds of Agent Smiths, cost a staggering $30 to $40 million.And the industry was never the same afterward.
Quite a few directors had multiple entries on the list, with 62 of those titles being helmed by just 23 directors.Roman Polanski (3 Movies)Disgraced director Roman Polanski is a complicated subject, but without justifying his real-life actions, his 1968 movie Rosemary’s Baby (No. 18) is an undisputed classic, bringing Ira Levin’s feminist horror novel to life in an immersive and effortlessly chilling manner.John Carpenter (3 Movies)John Carpenter is not only one of the horror genre’s most notable figures, but he is also a jack of all trades whose films almost always feel completely different from one another.
At the opening jury press conference, The Substance star Demi Moore and screenwriter Paul Laverty offered two different takes on AI in filmmaking.Moore, asked by Variety about AI's impact on the movie business and whether enough is being done to regulate it, didn't seem entirely comfortable with the question. So to fight it is to fight a battle that we will lose.
For me, I think it was Raiders of the Lost Ark, and then maybe Unbreakable.Here is how the "power of cinema" manifested for eight of the industry’s most influential voices.Steven Spielberg: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)Steven Spielberg is my favorite director of all time.
Celebrating its 25th year, Panasonic has made the surprise announcement of a new LUMIX L10 digital camera.Set to feature a unique 20.4MP Multi-Aspect BSI CMOS sensor capable of recording up to 5.6K 30p (and DCI 4K 120p) video, this new camera aims to be a tiny, affordable offering for hybrid shooters who dig the classic, compact aesthetic.The New Panasonic LUMIX L10 Digital Camera
Lexar has introduced the world to its new D70E, an external, portable SSD that functions as a tiny thumb drive and can serve many purposes for filmmakers and video pros on the go.Small enough to fit into your pocket, or certainly the palm of your hand, this extremely compact portable SSD offers a range of connectivity options with its USB-C and USB-A ports and some pretty fast read and write speeds too.Lexar Dual Drive Portable SSD D70E
1. The First "True" All-IMAX FeatureWe’ve seen movies that were IMAX-enhanced and movies with selected sequences shot in large format, but The Odyssey is the first feature-length film shot entirely on 15/70mm IMAX film.Nolan also cast rapper Travis Scott as the movie's bard.The movie is slated to come out on July 17th.
Godox FL15Bi LED Video FlashlightThe FL15bi is a lightweight, handheld, bi-color LED flashlight designed to be compact and versatile.About as ultra-compact as it gets, the Godox FL15Bi LED Video Flashlight is still durable, with a metal construction and an IP54-rated body.
However, as an option to keep in your bag for the right moment of inspiration, this new Brightin Star 7.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens is pretty solid, with an included ND filter, and a great pick to pair with your favorite mirrorless APS-C camera.Brightin Star 7.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye LensThe Brightin Star 7.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens features a five-blade iris, which creates a 10-point starburst to add more character to your images.
Blue has symbolized sadness for a long time.However, there are only so many colors in the rainbow, so any given hue has a lot of secondary and tertiary meanings attached to it, as proven by this collection of five movies that use blue in completely different ways.As any gender reveal party video will reinforce, in the Western world, blue is associated with boys and pink is associated with girls.
But Avery Dohrmann put his work under a microscope in a recent video.Think about your visual language and purposeful cinematography.Map your protagonist's arc against your plot structure.
I went back for the 4K release, which had so many little details it blew my mind.But one of the reasons I went back to the theater to see it was Fincher's microscopic attention to detail that rewards repeat viewings, especially on the biggest screen possible. As the legend goes, the production spent $15,000 and two months handwriting the notebooks found in John Doe’s apartment.
Citing the same concerns affecting the world right now, due to price increases in flash storage parts and high-speed DRAM memory, the Australian digital video tech company has announced another round of price updates that are set to raise prices significantly across a range of products.Hitting cameras and other products with pre-installed storage, these price increases are set to affect many URSA Cine cameras, Media Modules, Cloud Store devices, and other ATEM models.As mentioned above, these price increases apply only to Blackmagic Design products with pre-installed storage.
But in Season 3, Episode 5, the production team took going big quite literally.And it took an entire year to construct it.What did you think of the Cassie-zilla sequence?
The movie follows his wartime activities and accomplishments over the course of WWII.The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards at the 1971 ceremony, winning seven awards (including Best Picture).He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this performance in 1971, and he refused it.
In the above clip, Scorsese explains that for him, music is part of the "physical as well as mental architecture" of the world.If the music doesn't feel like it belongs in the "spiritual life" of your protagonist, it’s going to feel like a commercial. If you want your audience to live in the world you’ve built, the music needs to be more than a background—it needs to be the walls, the windows, and the very air your characters breathe.
Brandon Li noticed the same thing about his own gimbal work and decided to spend time with a tripod instead.He played around using the Thypoch Simera-C lenses, Ulanzi MT93 Tripod, and Ulanzi F38 Video Fluid Head.Look for architecture that does the compositional work for you.
DJI 11th Annual SkyPixel Photo and Video Contest WinnersThis year’s contest featured nearly 95,000 submissions from 96 countries and regions and is a pretty awesome showcase of the best of aerial content.Best Aerial Photos and Videos
Announced by Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (a.k.a. Sony) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (a.k.a. TSMC), a new strategic partnership has been formed to usher in a new era of imaging sensors.While it's just a non-binding memorandum of understanding at this point, this strategic partnership could be the catalyst for new developments in the image sensor space, bringing new technologies, including whatever the heck “physical AI” is—something the announcement hints at.That “physical AI” section does seem quite intriguing, as it implies that this partnership could lead to major AI innovations and breakthroughs in the image sensor chip space, a hint furthered by other statements as well.
Available on B&H with a nice discount currently attached, this Apple 14” MacBook Pro could be a solid choice for those looking for an M5 Pro supercharged video editing workstation that could work great at home or on the run.Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)Ideally designed for working professionals across technical fields like science, engineering, and software development, this MacBook Pro could be a top option for video editors as well, thanks to its M5 Pro 15-Core chip featuring a next-generation 16-Core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core.
Red Can Turbo-Charge Scary MomentsOne of the most common bright colors that appears in horror movies is red.There is a psychological reason why stoplights and stop signs are red in the first place.This can be seen in Gore Verbinski’s J-horror remake The Ring, which is one of the progenitors of the 2000s “blue horror” trend.
However, the movie also utilizes monochromatic color in a variety of striking ways.His colors typically come from design elements like costumes and sets rather than lighting, though they accomplish a similar goal to Last Night in Soho.While the Wachowskis do use other colors in their 1999 sci-fi epic The Matrix, they largely craft their images from green hues.
What an associative color palette does is tie one of those associations directly to a specific character or theme throughout a single film.In film language, using associative colors onscreen can be just as effective as giving a character a musical theme.Robert Rodriguez’s 2005 movie Sin City is perhaps the most extreme example of this kind of color association.
In cinema, a discordant color palette is in use when a particular moment features an object or character that is a noticeably different color from the rest of the frame or scene.When crafting a discordant color palette, it can help if the standout color is at the opposite end of the color wheel from the main color(s) used in the scene.Typically, discordant colors are used when the audience’s attention needs to shift.
This is insight from award-winning filmmaker Matt Porwoll, DP of All the Empty Rooms, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 98th Academy Awards.The film, directed by Joshua Seftel and streaming on Netflix, follows CBS correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp as they document the untouched bedrooms of children killed in school shootings.In a recent interview with Early Light Media, Porwoll breaks down his process.
When you use the Direct Rec. 709 (SDR) color setup to force an image into a Rec.709 working space at the start, you’re not just compressing it—you’re deciding what gets lost before you’ve made any creative choices.Wide Gamut in Color Mode in Premiere (beta) keeps that information intact longer.Premiere Color Mode Article SeriesThis is the third article in a series on Color Mode in Premiere.
Looking for a high-quality cinema camera from a trusted brand to launch your career into indie filmmaking (and possibly a side career in professional videography)?For our latest "Deals of the Week" roundup, we have not one, but three Canon cinema cameras to check out.All priced below $6K, these are quality cameras from one of the best and most trusted companies in the industry.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, NFS tech editor Jourdan Aldridge sits down with Adobe’s Jason Druss at NAB 2026 to discuss Adobe Premiere’s new Color Mode, a three-year effort to rethink color grading for video editors. The conversation covers why Adobe rebuilt its color pipeline, how Color Mode differs from Lumetri and traditional pro-color tools, and what editors can expect from operations, styles, modules, film emulation, AI object masks, and upcoming beta features.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
But the audio side is a problem that usually emerges once you have a sound mixer on set, and sound mixers are very good at hearing things you don't notice. The 30-Year-Old Accident That Solved a ProblemThe Friday Night Lights bar scenes in Season 1 needed pool balls that wouldn't overpower the dialogue track.Prop master Scott Reeder's first experiment was plastic ball-pit balls, which were quieter but wouldn't hold paint.
There's a long cinematic history of characters saying one word that carries the soul and weight of an entire movie.Kubrick and screenwriter Diane Johnson use the word as a puzzle.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011) - YouTube www.youtube.com When Dumbledore asks Snape if he has grown to care for Harry after all this time, Snape reveals his Patronus and utters this single word.
But right now, a vast majority of my day is spent trying to find time to write screenplays with a baby in the house.To survive as a writing parent, your script needs to live in the cloud.Treat your writing like a shift at a job.
Dave Filoni, the creative force behind The Clone Wars, Rebels, and much of the modern Star Wars landscape, says the secret to writing and directing Vader isn't just about the power of the Dark Side or the intimidation of the suit.It’s about a psychological denial that infects his every decision as a character.The Destroyer of RemindersAccording to Filoni, the "key" to Vader is that he functions as a Destroyer of worlds.
Well, not to be outdone, Canon has also released a mysterious teaser video promising a new camera of its own…set to be revealed next week on May 13th.Set to be announced next week on May 13th at 9 am EDT, this Canon camera is scheduled to be revealed 30 minutes before Sony unveils its new R camera at 9:30 EDT on the same day.
Blackmagic Design has announced that the PYXIS 12K is the company’s latest cinema camera to be added to the Netflix-approved list, meaning filmmakers and cinematographers can now use it on their own Netflix 4K Originals.The PYXIS 12K joins the likes of the following cameras, which are all “approved for Netflix productions” according to the streaming giant:Blackmagic Design URSA Mini 4.6KBlackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro 4.6KBlackmagic Design URSA Mini PRO 4.6K G2Blackmagic Design URSA Cine 12K LFBlackmagic Design URSA Cine 17K 65However, while the URSA line dominates the list, this PYXIS 12K represents a new direction for the company, with Blackmagic favoring a box camera design featuring a massive 24 x 36mm full-frame RGBW sensor capable of recording native 12,288 x 8040 resolution.
Then there's the bottom three of The Broadway Melody, The Greatest Show on Earth, and Cimarron, which remain the only Best Picture winners to sit in "Rotten" territory.Summing It All Up The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has crowned 98 winners since its inception in 1929, but everyone knows this is a subjective medium.What movies do you think deserve to be on the top or even the bottom of the list?
Teased on the company’s website, DJI is set to introduce a new Osmo Pocket 4P gimbal, a follow-up to its previous Osmo Pocket 4 model.This new DJI Osmo Pocket 4P is set to be bigger and feature a dual-camera system.It will also support 5K video and feature better photo and video specs than its predecessor.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, director Nicole Bazuin joins host GG Hawkins to discuss the decade-long creative collaboration behind Modern Whore, a hybrid documentary based on Andrea Werhun’s memoir about her experiences in sex work.Bazuin explains how the project grew from a music video friendship into a book, short films, and a feature, while breaking down the film’s mix of interviews, stylized reenactments, storybook-inspired visuals, and post-production discoveries.In this episode, we discuss: Shooting Modern Whore on the Alexa Mini and editing the film in Adobe Premiere ProHow Bazuin and Andrea Werhun met while making a Super 8 music video for Broken BricksTurning a “creative crush” into a decade-long collaboration across a memoir, short films, and a featureWhy the film uses a hybrid documentary format with firsthand storytelling, staged scenes, and stylized reenactmentsAdapting Andrea Werhun’s vignette-style memoir into a cohesive feature structureProtecting authorship and agency when telling stories about sex workBuilding a visual language through hand-drawn storyboards, color, and “storybook come to life” compositionsThe nine-to-ten-month edit process and the value of test screenings with anonymous feedback cardsHow Sean Baker came aboard as an executive producer after working with Andrea Werhun on AnoraWhy filmmakers should look at the relationships, stories, and access already present in their livesGuests:Nicole Bazuin Subscribe to the No Film School Podcast on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogleGet your question answered on the podcast by emailing [email protected]
In order to stand out from the pack, you need to be different.So, here are 10 ways to subvert horror tropes and leave the "dead" clichés behind.The 2026 Faces of Death reboot recontextualizes the original’s snuff-film legacy for a TikTok generation.
To combat this, I have a long list of onomatopoeia words I pick from.So today, I wanted to give you my top 10 onomatopoeias to make your action sequences...Summing It All Up It's fun to pick unique words to spice up your writing.
In this excerpt from one of his free live classes, screenwriting coach Dominic Morgan workshopped How's the Pain, a script by writer Garrick Hamm about a terminally ill hit woman who forms an unlikely connection on what turns out to be her final job. And Morgan's notes on loglines, character introductions, sentence construction, and word economy apply to pretty much every script in some stage of development.His diagnosis is that the concept has potential, but the logline is too unfocused to be usable.
The biggest suit in progress with Meta has huge implications for where movies and TV go with AI in the future. It’s a class-action lawsuit that names Mark Zuckerberg personally and targets the very foundation of how generative AI is built and trained.The lawsuit argues that Meta’s AI isn't just "learning" from books;
That’s what Godox is offering with its new RS100Bi and RS100R lights.Godox RS100Bi and RS100RThe lights are capable of delivering 28,600lux at 1 m and nearly 1 hour of full-power output.
Sony, for its part, certainly wants the guesses and rumors to begin swirling, as the company has taken to social media to post a mysterious teaser asking if fans are “ready for the next R” to be announced.Set to be revealed next week on May 13th, specifically at 9:30 EDT, 14:30 BST, and 22:30 JST, this teaser strongly points to the announcement of the company’s next Alpha camera update.Sony Teases Next R Camera
Like, they’re putting out a lot of new products, as this new Osmo Mobile 8P smartphone gimbal is a follow-up to the previous Osmo Mobile 8, which was released less than a year ago.Let’s take a look at this new DJI Osmo Mobile 8P, which was just revealed and is set to feature several improvements, most notably a new detachable wireless touchscreen remote that looks pretty innovative and fun.The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P
Designed specifically for full-frame and FX-format mirrorless cameras, this new NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens is officially in development and set to feature a focal length range of 120mm to 420mm, enabled by its built-in teleconverter that extends the focal length by 1.4x.NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR SThere’s no announced price or release date for this new NIKKOR Z 120-300mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens as of yet.
I was born at the right time to sneak Sopranos episodes from the top of the stairs, and I came of age during peak TV, when I got to watch shows like Lost and Man Men live.That's why I wanted to sit down today and make a list of the ten best episodes across hour-long TV.Only one episode per show, so we don't just have 10 episodes of The Wire and call it a day.
Do you expose for your subject or expose for the sky?This is the dynamic range gap at work.It cuts unwanted lens flares and gives you a housing for easily swappable optical filters in front of your lens.
There are a multitude of reasons why rain makes a scene better, both narratively and aesthetically.In these scenes, the rain acts as a visual metaphor for the sins or mistakes in a character’s past being washed away. This is a key component of the majority of the “kissing in the rain” scenes that have become an iconic trope in romance cinema.
On one hand, there is The White House Effect, an all-archival political thriller that sifts through 14,000 unique assets to trace the bipartisan origins (and eventual stall) of climate policy.On the other hand, there is Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, a deeply personal reclamation of a Hollywood icon’s narrative that subverts traditional biopic tropes to center the Deaf experience.From the challenge of "sightbiting" ASL to the "thriller-like" tension of political archives, Newens sat down with No Film School to discuss how she structures memory, handles massive scales of footage, and uses the edit to challenge the audience's perspective.
Set to fix one minor issue with DeckLink 8K Pro capture cards, this update isn’t major, but it does fix a bug that would be recommended to take care of now rather than later.Desktop Video 16.0.1 UpdateThe bug is a 12G-SDI issue on the DeckLink 8K Pro capture card,, specifically, when the HDMI mezzanine card is not installed.
Use distinct, controllable sources for subject and background.What you need from your spec is two or three strong frames you can point to as strong examples of your work.Optimize for three shots that look undeniable.
The Fear of the TeardownThere is a massive dividing line between amateurs and working writers, and it has nothing to do with formatting or knowing the right people.New writers are often terrified of the heavy rewrite.But you're not going to get your script going fast enough if you are not willing to rip out the engine and start again.
The person behind it, Kane Parsons, is about to become A24's youngest-ever feature director when Backrooms opens theaters on May 29.Three years ago, he was a teenager uploading found-footage horror to YouTube using free software and whatever camera he could borrow.The scale-up landed him Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, 30,000 square feet of hand-built set, and James Wan producing.
Today, I’m giving you a starter course on large-format cinema, featuring the essential terms and definitions you need to know before dipping your toes into these deep waters.The "Large Format & Optics" TermsAs Hollywood leans more into the big screen, I am hoping these formats become cheaper and more accessible to filmmakers at every level.
Set to be the world’s first bidirectional wideband solution built on WMAS (Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems) technology, this new solution has indeed brought plenty of innovation and time-saving workflow improvements.To add to Spectra’s features, Sennheiser has announced that the Spectra module will now be available in the Bitfocus Companion and Buttons app, which should further enhance its usability for audio and sound engineers and technicians.This new availability in the Bitfocus apps Companion and Buttons should only expand Spectera’s features for engineers and technicians.
New data released by the ESA and Circana reveal that U.S. video game spending hit a staggering $60.7 billion in 2025 (up 1.4% year-on-year), with projections pushing toward $62.8 billion for 2026. On PS5, the top five most-played games in the US were Fortnite, Call of Duty, GTA V, Roblox, and Minecraft, ranked in that order. On Xbox, the top five most-played games for 2025 in the US in order were Fortnite, Call of Duty, GTA V, Minecraft, and Roblox.
The Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art Lens offers high-end rendering performance and a lighter, shorter body than its predecessor.Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art LensAlong with its advanced optical design and compact body, the lens also features some nice additions like its accelerated autofocus, a clickable aperture ring, and a scant 6.7" minimum focusing distance that makes it very usable in all types of shoots.
With this DJI drone ban now in effect, the Chinese-based company is not allowed to sell new drones to customers in the US.Speak Out on the DJI Drone BanSubmit a Comment to the FCC
The MGM+ and Prime Video series, which sees Oscar winner Nicolas Cage taking on his first lead television role, follows private investigator Ben Reilly navigating his double life as the superhero, The Spider, in 1930s New York City.In addition to having Cage step away from the big screen, Spider-Noir is making the nearly unprecedented move: It will be made available in both color and black-and-white when it premieres.Why Is Spider-Noir Being Presented in Two Formats?
The Resident Evil trailer dropped this past week, hinting at what audiences can expect from the new horror movie when it debuts on September 18.There has been a huge amount of speculation surrounding the film, which is the latest project from celebrated horror director Zach Cregger.Zach Cregger Is Harnessing His Greatest StrengthFrom the very first moment, the Resident Evil trailer proved that Zach Cregger is harnessing his greatest strengths as a horror filmmaker in the new movie.
I've gotten an opportunity to see some of my all-time favorite movies on film, and today, I wanted to go over some of those experiences. These are my picks for the top 10 large-format films that justify the hype. The whole movie was shot in a massive 2.76:1 aspect ratio using 65mm anamorphic lenses.
I recently came across a video from Big Red Stripe that breaks down what they call the "First Law of Scene Writing."So, does every scene in your script have a distinct POV?Before you write, decide who the scene belongs to.
But I feel like this movie doesn't get enough credit for its sweeping camera work. Today, I want to look at a brief clip I found online that details one of the coolest shots in the film. The Western DollyThe most likely tool is a Western Dolly equipped with pneumatic tires.
But beyond the spectacle, there's a solid amount of craft education happening across those couple of minutes.It opens with Charlize Theron's Calypso asking Matt Damon's Odysseus what he remembers.IMAX as a Storytelling DecisionNolan and his longtime collaborator, cinematographer Hoyt van Hoytema, used new, lighter-weight IMAX cameras to shoot around the world, including parts of the open sea, and this film is the first narrative feature ever shot entirely on IMAX.
“With CinCraft LensCore, ZEISS brings the effects of real-world optics to a 2D compositing environment.Powered by a unique GPU-accelerated, ray-traced rendering engine for The Foundry Nuke that simulates authentic lens behavior, users should be able to get complete control of every pixel and every frame with sophistication that far exceeds the capabilities of many of its digital lens effects competitors. This new ZEISS CinCraft LensCore is set to be available worldwide through the CinCraft webshop beginning June 1, 2026, with multiple licenses available.
ARRI has unveiled its new Omnibar, a compact, battery-powered, multi-color LED light set to be available in 2 and 4-foot lengths, each available with black or blue/silver housing.The ARRI Omnibar is set to deliver a high-quality, full-spectrum light output of CRI 98 at 5600K / TLCI 98, which should match well with any other ARRI LED fixtures you might already be using.The ARRI Omnibar is now available in both 2-foot and 4-foot options, with single or creator sets for each.
Relaunched as “diVine”, aka “Da Vine”, this new version promises to both serve as a nostalgic Vine archive of some of its most famous videos, as well as a place for creators to launch their careers with a strict non-AI rule.And, well, that time is now, as diVine is officially launched, keeping its promise to serve as an archive of around 500,000 old Vines.The app also notably lets users create new Vines and even keeps the original six-second limit.
It’s an hour-long prequel film starring Jon Bernthal (Mikey) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie) on a road trip together, and the actors wrote it themselves.It explores the foundational era of their friendship.What This Means for Season 5This episode adds a layer of tragic irony to Richie’s arc that we have seen on the show.
Apparently, there was a bug that could occur when the camera side display was used to change the sensitivity, and this new update fixes this issue.ARRI Software Update Package 6.0.2All this said, this new SUP 6.0.2 update fixes any of these issues, and it's available to download today.
This moment from The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) unfolds more like a high-stakes glitch in the social contract than a scripted scene.It’s messy and cynical (I mean, hello, it’s a Western), but weirdly, it also feels modern.It’s about the collapse of the labels we use to feel safe.
One such exemplary action sequence is the truck chase in Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which Indiana Jones pursued the Nazis as they tried to flee to Cairo with the Ark.In this article, let’s go behind the scenes of the truck chase in Raiders of the Lost Ark, an action sequence that is a cinematic milestone.Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise.
I know that sequels are supposed to upgrade their game, but de Bont went two steps further, crafting one of the most expensive five-minute stunt scenes in 1997’s Speed 2: Cruise Control.With that curiosity intact, let’s find out how and what made the cruise control scene from Speed 2: Cruise Control one of the most expensive action crash sequences, even though the movie fell short.Even though Speed 2: Cruise Control set records, the movie is a cautionary tale in Hollywood.
A single decision about who shot first was changed by George Lucas in 1997, and the makers faced an unexpected backlash from fans worldwide.What can it teach us about how minor edit changes can have major consequences?Which is your favorite Han Solo scene?
We have an absolutely humungous new trailer for the Odyssey from Christopher Nolan, which gives us a glimpse of some of the epic shots he captured with IMAX cameras.The Odyssey teases a film that blends the grit of ancient warfare with the psychological depth Nolan is known for, all captured on large-format film.The trailer also provides the first look at the film's villain, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, the arrogant lead suitor who has taken over Odysseus’ home in Ithaca.
Writing a script is really, really hard. You have to fit a dozen pieces together to create an experience that engages a reader and creates an emotional journey. And that can take months, maybe even years, to get into a place that feels right.So when ...
Happy Star Wars Day!If you're reading this, I assume you're a Star Wars fan. And I want to congratulate you on how much time you've spent watching Star Wars.According to a new report from
When Meryl Streep speaks, we try to listen. And the star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been on a press tour of the film, where she's been opening up about Hollywood.In a recent
A fun, new, and innovative laptop is here, designed specifically for hybrid creatives working in design, photo, and video spaces.However, while there’s a lot to like about the new Lenovo Pro 9i Aura Edition laptop with its 16” OLED touchscreen, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Graphics, Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3 CPU, an...
Announced about a month ago, Boris FX announced it was acquiring Vegas Pro (formerly Sony Vegas), Sound Forge, and Acid Pro from its previous parent company, MAGIX Software GmbH.The acquisition was a significant move for the VFX developer, giving the company a pathway into the NLE market. It might not be a clear-cut path towards majo...
Well, this is a fun and unique new light that can make navigating and finding gear much easier in low-light or nighttime shoots. A problem that has plagued mankind since, well, the sun, the earth, and the solar system began, this solution is remarkably simple.Add a light to your gear case, you dummy.That’s what Pelican...
While not likely an option for your higher-end video shoots or films, if you’re someone who works full-time in mobile content creation, or someone who simply dabbles with TikToks or the like, this pocket-sized LED light from Zhiyun is another nice option to consider.Set to feature a wide 2500 to 10,000K color temperatu...
We heard some inklings of Netflix going to theaters last year, when K-pop Demon Hunters cleaned up on its box office weekends. At the time, I was befuddled by the idea that Netflix woul...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is watching the changing tech and the world, and they're determined not to be left behind.Last week, it was an...
Quentin Tarantino revolutionized cinema with his razor-sharp and witty dialogue, nonlinear storytelling, and penchant for genre mashups. Over the years, the name Tarantino has become synonymous with a high-octane brand of cinema t...
Spaghetti Westerns differ from classic Westerns in the sense that they were produced and directed by Italians. Now, sure, the myth of the American Old West may have been born in Hollywood, but I think it got its most defining...
Few will deny that Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) is one of Steven Spielberg’s most relentlessly enjoyable films. Perhaps what even fewer know is how Spielberg and...
Sidney Lumet became a director during a time when filmmakers didn’t need CGI monsters, superheroes, or multiverses to keep their audiences glued to th...
Visual referencing has become a core part of production today, maybe even more than ever. As a creative assistant to the director, I spend hours pulling picture references and film stills from the internet for every scene in a 120-p...
While the production of Wyatt Earp (1994) struggled under its own weight, Tombstone (1993) captured lightning in a bottle.The “Doc Holliday” FactorKurt Russell’s Wyatt Earp may be the main ingredient of the recipe, but the secret sauce that gives it its distinct flavor is Val Kilmer’s “terminally loyal” Doc Holliday.The bottom line is that the Western genre thrives if seen through the lens of spectacles rather than realism, and its success depends on what captures the true spirit of the American West.
The police lineup scene, featuring the movie’s five career criminals, was scripted as a tense identification sequence, but it turned into cinematic gold for unforeseeable reasons.Featuring actors Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro, and Kevin Pollak, this scene is a classic example of a film director capturing imperfections audaciously.Which is your favorite quote from The Usual Suspects?
However, Brooks, who is set to turn 100 this coming June, is most beloved for his hilarious movies.Almost all of his movies are parodies of our favorite movie genres, from silent films to monster movies to comedy Westerns.Let’s skim through Mel Brooks’ seven best movies.
The resulting visual blur is called shutter drag.If your camera only offers shutter speed rather than shutter angle, experiment with settings slower than double your frame rate.In Saving Private Ryan, cinematographer Janusz Kaminski used a mix of different shutter angles.
If you're looking to light a small or DIY project, but don't want to invest in serious lighting gear, then these Lume Cube LED light options might be the perfect option. The best part, too, is that these LED light options are on sale and highly affordable. They're also quite capable and should be able to handle all sorts of DIY needs.For our ne...
While many modern scores lean toward atmospheric textures, Soo is an unabashed champion of melody.Fresh off her work on the lesbian rom-com Meeting Marsha and the documentary Aftershock, Soo sat down with us to discuss her transition from singer-songwriter to screen composer, her love for 65-piece orchestras, and why she still keeps the iPhone Voice Memos app ready for whenever inspiration strikes.NFS: You describe your style as melodic and theme-driven, almost in the vein of classic Hollywood scores.
If you’ve ever dreamed of having the director of Lost in Translation and Priscilla, now is your chance. Sofia Coppola has officially teamed up with the nonprofit film fund Decentralized...
Antigravity A1 Drone Spring UpdateThe big highlights here are the inclusion of a new Voice Assistant, Time-lapse, improved Auto Edit capabilities, and an all-new Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance system.On top of these enhancements, Antigravity has also announced an expansion of the A1’s availability as it will now be sold in Mexico.
That’s pretty much the case with legacy companies like Canon, Sony, and a few others.Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USMAs far as optics go, the lens features a series of aspherical and Ultra-Low Dispersion elements that help reduce all types of aberrations across the zoom range to produce sharp, clear imagery.
Ideal for both photographers and videographers, though looking for an everyday, carry-around lens for street work or other more cinematic views, the Thypoch Eureka 28mm f/2.8 Lens fits the bill as a nice, vintage-inspired option that can be trusted for modern digital work.Let’s check out this vintage-inspired wide-angle pancake lens and explore what it can offer with its bright f/2.8 aperture and other features.Thypoch Eureka 28mm f/2.8 Lens
According to a report from The Wrap, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon, MGM Studios, Sony, Universal, and Netflix are currently locked in a high-stakes bidding war for the rights to the tactical shooter franchise.Christopher McQuarrie is set to write, direct, and produce.He's joined by Michael B. Jordan, who is coming off his recent Oscar win for Sinners.
The streaming wars have descended into a real battle. It all started with the sale of WBD, which has shifted into Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery
The series finale, which aired in May 2019, sparked a whirlwind of opinions, interpretations, and theories.Editor's Note: This post contains spoilers for all eight seasons of 'Game of Thrones.'Sansa Stark: Queen in the North
Today, I’m going to take you through the basics of how to create a scene, how to write a scene, and also challenge some of the more seasoned readers to examine which scenes in their screenplays matter.So no matter who is in any scene you are creating, you need to add internal and external conflict to each scene.Summing Up How To Write A Scene Now that you know the basics and the pro-tips for how to write a scene, it's time to write a bunch of them.
We may say that Hollywood “creates spectacles” and “sells dreams,” but at the end of the day, it’s still a business. It involves (not-so-dreamy) tasks such as extensive pre-production planning, market research, risk assess...
Revisionist Westerns didn’t just offer a new perspective; they tore apart many Western conventions and introduced grit, doubt, and moral complexity.Let’s jump right in and take a look at five pathbreaking revisionist Westerns across the eras and observe what makes them special.5 Bold Revisionist WesternsHere are five impeccable films that reimagined the Western genre by depicting exciting new cinematic perspectives.
I hate it when movies show me their first act, which really could have been summed up and told in a five-minute scene. Now I always wish the movie had started five minutes later. Surprise me, make me think, and get me engaged from the start.Before we get right into the movie examples that start in the middle, let’s get you familiarize...
Quentin Tarantino’s legend is multifaceted.9. Calvin Candie (Django Unchained, 2012)Portrayed by: Leonardo DiCaprio |6. Rick Dalton (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 2019)Portrayed by: Leonardo DiCaprio |
He delivered a string of gems that captured the era’s countercultural soul while quietly adding a towering voice to the New Hollywood movement.Let’s jump right in and explore seven of Hal Ashby’s most incredible films that you absolutely must watch.7 Most Iconic Hal Ashby MoviesHere are seven of Hal Ashby’s finest cinematic achievements.
What happens when a true artist gets full creative control to film their movies? Well, in The Way of the Dragon, Bruce Lee crafted one of the most iconic fight scenes against the legendary backdrop of Rome’s Colosseum.The kung-fu master bro...
In my opinion, this masterpiece was essentially a vibe that arrived 40 years too early.DominanceBlade Runner had the misfortune to release just two weeks after the “big bang” release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.Marketing Noir as an Action ThrillerThe film’s promotion heavily relied on Harrison Ford’s “Han Solo” energy and promised a fast-paced adventure.
Unless you’re watching a comedy, a kid in a movie can mean only two things: they’re the emotional anchor of the narrative, or they're about to unleash unprecedented horror.In this article, we’re dealing with the latter.Here’s a list of the creepiest kids in movies who embody the loss of innocence in your worst nightmares....
We all probably love the creative side of making things. We write the scripts, we cast the parts, we location scout, we pick costumes, all that is fun. The less-fun side (at least for me) is the actual producing, especially on low-budget stuff, where you're scrambling to lock everything down.Including locations. You might find the perfect spot, ...
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, Jo Light interviews documentary and commercial director Brendan Young live from Aspen Shortsfest about his short documentary The Meloneers, which follows the Rocky Ford High School wrestling program in rural Colorado. They discuss h...
I got my start in Hollywood by interning and then working for Scott Free. It was the last summer Tony was alive, and I got to see him take meetings, give notes, and just be a badass firsthand.When I interviewed for that job, I talked about two movies: Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down and Tony Scott's Man on Fire. ...
When it comes to finding the right SD cards for your workflows, there’s a lot to consider. For most filmmakers and video professionals, though, it might seem like a mundane decision. However, if you're looking for cards that can handle th...
It’s almost summertime, which means that depending on where you live and work, you’re likely already mentally preparing for many hot and humid shoot days. And while it’s never fun to be dehydrated and drenched in sweat after a shoot, the bigger risk for filmmakers and working video professionals is having their gear...
And now, Sony Pictures is doubling down on this trend with a fresh take on one of the greatest franchises in gaming history: Resident Evil. Even better, they brought Zach Cregger in to write and direct. The Resident Evil Trailer
Netflix prides itself on being part of the culture in a way that makes sure they are never left behind. They have a whole tab for games, they're dubbing international hits so everyone can watch, and it feels like they're predicting trends as they happen.So if you were surprised when you open...
To offer even more options and a more diverse power support, DJI has now introduced its latest portable power station, the Power 1000 Mini.DJI Power 1000 MiniThe DJI Power 1000 Mini can reach 80% charge in just 58 minutes.
We have shortlisted nine of David Cronenberg’s films that capture his unique voice, define him as a filmmaker, and also serve as cinematic lessons.Scanners (1981)Written by: David Cronenberg |8. Naked Lunch (1991)Written by: David Cronenberg |
In the 1997 sci-fi comedy classic, Men in Black, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, seasoned Agent K, played by Tommy Lee Jones, sits on a park bench with the recr...
Over the years, Gregg Araki has carved out a niche for himself within the independent cinema world with his raw, unadulterated, and bold films. With his unapologetic, envelope-pushing ...
Usually, when a great white shark lunges onto its prey, it’s a great jump scare for the audience. While that actually happens in Back to the Future Part II (1989), it doesn’t come of...
Art has always been a global affair, especially filmmaking. While we aspiring filmmakers kill ourselves over originality, we forget that art has always been about inspiration and collaboration. Or, as I like to call it, “smuggling ideas.”From
The “Save the Cat” term comes from Blake Snyder’s book and is most commonly used to establish a kind hero. But sometimes, even bad guys save the cat.This act of kindness doesn’t need to happen on the first page of the script, and the character ...
Frank Darabont’s classic 1994 drama, adapted from Stephen King’s novella ‘Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption’, is widely regarded as one of ...
While 1970s cinema is remembered for its experimentation with violence and bold themes (the Vietnam War, civil rights, shifting gender roles, rock and roll), it also produced some of the most emotionally honest portraits of human relationships ever put on screen.The decade had a lot to be sad about.O'Neal and MacGraw both received Oscar nominations for their performances.
We've all gotten into a debate about a movie with our friends. One says it sucks, another says it's great, and they go back and forth. If your friends are anything like mine, it probably gets personal after that. But that's not the way it should go.If you want to work in Hollywood, be a critic, or make films or T...
I learned all that by watching a ton of the Criterion Collection.But also from their incredible YouTube videos, where they collect interviews with directors and writers about how Hollywood was formed.Today, I wanted to show you one in particular, where they talk to legendary director and film historian Peter Bogdanovich, who specifically explores how Lubitsch transformed American cinema from the heavy-handed melodrama of the silent era into the witty, "continental" powerhouse that defined Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Whether you're a seasoned DP or a student picking up a camera for the first time, these ten scenes are masterclasses in pure cinema. Hitchcock used 78 pieces of film for a 52-second sequence that sticks in your mind forever.This movie is a banger that has great performances and some of the best Hitchcockian humor out there.
Film Courage sat down with screenwriter Brandon Violette (co-creator and head writer of CoComelon Lane on Netflix, and a veteran of Disney, DreamWorks, and Hasbro projects) to ask this question.Here's how to think about balancing dialogue and action to keep your script cinematic throughout.Write toward that.
What Martin Scorsese does in that movie is pretty astounding.Instead of the wide-angle, objective shots typical of 1940s sports films, Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Chapman decided to put the audience inside the ring.The climax of the film is the final showdown with Sugar Ray Robinson.
Everyone is always speculating about what Quentin Tarantino will do for his tenth and final film, and now we have another title that it's definitely not. So in the meantime, we have one of his most beloved characters coming back to the big screen and getting mashed up with a legend. Sony Pictures is offi...
After kicking off NAB 2026 with the announcement of a new Color Mode in Premiere, which is one of the company’s biggest non-AI innovations in the video editing space in years, Adobe also announced a new partnership with Anthropic, with plans to allow Claude to connect with its creative apps.Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom UpdatesHere’s the full list of updates coming to Premiere and Lightroom:Rotate Object in Photoshop is now generally available.
The news here is that ARRI is introducing its next-gen cforce MAX lens motor, which is set to be an enhancement of the Hi-5 lens control system and feature exceptional speed and intelligent onboard controls.ARRI cforce MAXWith this new compact and lightweight design, it’s also set to be just as fast and powerful, with plenty of versatile mounting options, easy setup, and total reliability in the most demanding shooting environments.
Not to be outdone by just one partnership, though, Adobe has announced that its own agentic AI model, Firefly AI Assistant, is now available in public beta.Adobe Firefly AI Assistant Available in Public BetaReal quick, along with news of the Firefly AI Assistant going to public beta, Adobe has also announced that it's adding more features and capabilities to the Firefly app, including access to new AI models like OpenAI’s GPT Image 2, as well as adding new image editing capabilities like Precision Flow and AI Markup.
There have been several movies, especially sci-fi films, that explicitly took inspiration from the popular video game trope.Groundhog Day is a delightful romantic comedy with a simple premise, with the respawn trope at the center, and Bill Murray’s character has to relive the same day over and over.To put it bluntly, Boss Level is a mix of Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow.
The list below consists of Wolfgang Petersen's eight career-best movies worth revisiting.Wolfgang Petersen’s Das Boot was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Director.Summing It UpDid we miss out on any of your favorite Wolfgang Petersen movies?
In Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), George Lucas hid what is now an iconic Easter egg as a tribute to his colleague Steven Spielberg.they were a deliberate nod to Spielberg’s 1982 film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.So, how did George Lucas give a subtle nod to Spielberg?
It’s based on the philosophy of stripping a character down to the bare minimum, just the outline, to be precise;Let’s call it “playing with the negative space.”The Mechanics of a Silhouette ShotLight, Contrast, and ClarityAt the heart of any silhouette is contrast.
Let’s jump right in and explore five of John Huston’s most breathtaking movies.5 Pathbreaking John Huston MoviesHere are five of John Huston’s finest, most brilliant movies that you need to watch.1. The Maltese Falcon (1941) Few filmmaking debuts landed with sheer cinematic precision and bravado like John Huston’s first movie, The Maltese Falcon.
So, when John Huston’s The Misfits was released in 1961, it was quite a shocker.In this article, let’s analyze them and see why The Misfits stood the test of time, better than other Westerns, and is all the more relevant now than ever.Instead, The Misfits is an exploration of loneliness, isolation, trauma, and humanity while challenging conventional ideas of masculinity.
That’s how 20th Century Fox got its hands on X-Men.Keeping up with the mood of the time, X-Men was launched on a tightly controlled budget.It was originally made for the fight sequences in Fight Club.
If your credit card is on auto-payment on the Netflix app, you do not have a cable connection on your TV (no, honestly, TV channels still exist), and hate leaving your house on the weekends, you probably know most of the following movies, because clearly you’re a binge-watcher, and these are some of the finest productions from Netflix.11 Best Netflix Original Movies1.Did your favorite Netflix original movies make it to this list?
This week’s existential crisis is brought to us by Anthropic, which has just announced the formation of a coalition of partners willing to let its AI model, Claude, connect to their creative tools.As we saw with a corresponding announcement from Adobe, this coalition is set to include some of the biggest companies and apps in the creative content space, including many notable video and 3D creation toolsets.Claude and Blender
In No Ordinary Heist, director Colin McIvor and his team pulled off a deceptively simple, but highly effective production strategy: transforming a single farmhouse into four entirely distinct scripted locations.The film was anchored in one place over multiple shooting days, which dramatically reduced company moves, minimized setup costs, and maximized efficiency without sacrificing scope.NFS: No Ordinary Heist is your third feature film to direct.
So today, we stumbled on a video from ExtraMint, which looks at the aughts era and how different the cinematography was just 20 years ago. The video makes the case that this was far less common in 2000s filmmaking and that it's a big part of why older films can still feel more grounded than some of what's coming out today.Deep focus is an approach that keeps the foreground, middle ground, and background all sharp simultaneously.
Blackmagic Cloud streaming is now available via a free trial.Blackmagic Cloud Streaming Free TrialDebuted at NAB 2025 by Blackmagic Design, the company’s cloud streaming service is a nice option for those looking for a remote or even global streaming service.
I think it's inarguably the most anticipated movie of the year, and there's a lot at stake for his theatrical follow-up to Oppenheimer.The Odyssey is pushing the medium and will be the first feature film shot entirely on 15/70mm IMAX film. Nolan confirmed that due to the size of the 70mm platters on a projector, the movie has to be under three hours.
Well, pack it up, folks. The beginning of the end might be here, as Adobe has announced a partnership with Anthropic to launch a new “creativity connector” that lets users let Anthropic's AI technology, Claude, orchestrate multi-step workflows across Adobe's Creative Cloud apps.Now, there’s a lot to explore here as this AI techn...
This guide is designed to walk you through the fundamentals and get you started on a journey that's both very fulfilling and very frustrating. The Structure: Building Your Story's SkeletonIf you want to be a professional screenwriter,r you have to learn what a professional script looks like.
3. The VoiceDo you have what it takes to stand out on the page?If those first ten pages are high-velocity, you’ve earned the right to slow down later when you need to get out more of the story. I made this checklist to help guide you through the first ten pages.
Hollywood exists in movements. We often see movies that are popular come and go or get reinvented when a new generation rises to power. One of those cycles came from noir, a popular genre in the early days of Hollywood that came back in the 70s and 80s as neo-n...
Taking a cue from notable Apple computer launches of the past, DJI is introducing a new line of compact wireless microphones, which are set to come with multi-color magnetic covers so that shooters, content creators, and creatives can match their microphone systems to their favorite outfits.DJI Mic Mini 2The Mic Mini 2 will also feature improved battery life and all-in-one storage, allowing users to get 48 hours of operating time.
Zoom has announced a new firmware update that is set to add three new features, which the company shares come directly from user feedback.The features will include input gain adjustments, AI noise reduction, and MP3 recording.Zoom H2essential Firmware Update
Adobe added a new Color Mode to Premiere to offer a whole new level of color controls to the legacy NLE, and, for its part, Blackmagic Design added a new Photo page to DaVinci Resolve to bring Lightroom-esque features to part of the Resolve ecosystem.DaVinci Resolve 21 Beta 2 UpdateThere are also notable updates to the IntelliSearch feature, making it faster and more accurate, and immersive workflow updates for foveated streaming and rendering with Apple Vision Pro support.
How many times have you seen a docuseries go viral? Well, everyone on Social Media was doing the dances and choreography from Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. But behind the scenes, the challenge wasn't just capturing the technical precision of "Thunderstruck," it was pulling out the h...
There’s no denying that TV just looks different these days. We could do a deep dive on Netflix lighting and try to diagnose the source of a visual illness that seems to have sucked all the life out of modern-day images, but we only have so m...
It’s been 35 years since Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs swept the Oscars, and no matter when I scroll past it on TV or see it pop up on streaming, I have to watch it.That movie sucks y...
When first announced, the Nikon ZR was instantly one of the most intriguing new cameras of the year. This was, of course, due to its 6K60 video capture, 32-bit float audio, and 15 stops of dynamic range.But it was also notable as the first cinema camer...
Political violence seems to be dominating our news cycle once again. And the discussion has mainly shifted to whether a joke can be seen as inciting violence.I think this is actually a really interesting philosophical debate.No matter what side of the aisle you're on, I hope you agree that...
With NAB 2026 now come and gone, we’re left behind trying to pick up the bits and pieces of what the major film and video tech companies have introduced to the world. In many ways, this year was kind of a reset as companies introduced new cameras and gear for live production...
There's no one out there like Quentin Tarantino. I appreciate all of his films, but I think the best part of him is his unabashed penchant fr telling the truth. Whether you agree with him or not, he does not fi...
One of the highlights, or at least brightest points, of NAB 2026 was Aputure’s new, super-bright LED monolight. Showcased on the Las Vegas Convention Center floor, Aputure turned more than a few heads with its new STORM CS32, which it is calling a game-changer for filmma...
Well, this is sad news for anyone eagerly waiting to get their hands on the new Osmo Pocket 4 gimbal camera from DJI. At least for those who live in the United States.As we reported when it was first announced the other week, despite promising a “gl...
Remember what it was like to get “hand-me-downs” from your older siblings? The clothes are broken-in, so they come with a sense of familiarity and comfort. A bit of nostalgia, too.
Seeing a woman kick butt in an action movie is satisfying, and the joy intensifies when you know she’s doing it for real. When no stunt doubles or special effects are taking the fall, the rawness of those action sequences permeates the sc...
Martin Scorsese’s filmography is brimming with exceptional characters, many of whom are morally complex, psychologically rich, and most importantly, unapologetically human. Scorsese took the idea of a flawed movie character and elevated it in ways that immerse audien...
Voice actors don’t often get the credit they deserve, while live-action stars get all the love. The things that are shown the most sell the most, and the behind-the-scenes elements get ignored.What people don’t understand is that voice acting is incredibly hard and technical. The best voice artists in the business have tremendou...
The life of a filmmaker and/or video professional is one where you're constantly on the move. It can be fun, but it can also be tricky to keep your gear and footage safe and secure. That's why you need storage that is just as run-and-gun as you are.For our newest "
Every time I go to San Diego, I hope and pray I'll walk into a piano bar where a bunch of air force guys are singing Great Balls of Fire " and I'll suddenly be in the middle of the 1986 classic, Top Gun. Or maybe it's a different bar and the same thing is happening, and I'm in the middle of the movie that saved Hollywood, Top Gun: Maveric...
If you’ve logged onto X (formerly Twitter) at any point this week, you’ve likely walked into one of the most caustic and angry debates I've ever seen between fans of a movie and critics.One that I feel like has furthered the divide between circumcision and the people, and that we kind of have to address on this site.Even if it feels like walking ...
I think we can all agree that Quentin Tarantino is the master of dialogue. His movies sizzle with engaging repartee, and the way his characters speak reveals a lot about them. One of the most famous Tarantino scenes is t...
The AI discourse in Hollywood is divided into two camps: the "it’s the end of the world" crowd and the "let’s replace everyone with prompts" schmucks. But Ben Affleck just carved out a third path. One that probably lies within reason to be the way forward as we attempt to r...
For those looking for big-boy storage, this is a new option to consider. The 8big Pro 5 32TB 8-Bay Thunderbolt 5 RAID Array from LaCie is a new storage option designed for video editors and crews looking to handle the unique demands of working with 8K video.Compatible with Windows and Mac, this new array i...
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with cinematographer Johanna Coelho about building the immersive visual language behind The Pitt. Coelho breaks down how she approached the show’s real-time structure, 360-degree hospital set, handheld camera movement, lens choice...
While not the sexiest topic film and video professionals might encounter in their day-to-day production lives, data storage is an important part of the process nonetheless. And, truthfully, if it’s something you ignore,
There’s no shortage of high-quality, and at times affordable, lenses on the market for all types of shooters and all types of cameras. If you’re a Sony shooter looking for a versatile wide-angle lens for your photo and video work, then yo...
That’s why the comedy in his films has distinct faces;Over the years, his approach—balancing studio needs with a distinct, playful creative voice—has squeezed out many blockbusters and cultural touchstones, especially from the ‘80s and the ‘90s.Reitman uses the spectacular height and body difference between the leads and focuses on the physical comedy it creates.
However, Twister became something of a phenomenon that made great use of the advancements in CGI that Steven Spielberg, one of the executive producers, pioneered in 1993’s landmark smash hit Jurassic Park.But as a record-breaking series of storms emerges, Bill is roped back into his former rag-tag group of storm chasers to help deploy “Dorothy,” a tornado research device that could improve tornado warning systems and save lives.In retrospect, Twister may not be a top-tier blockbuster, but it definitely made waves in the 1996 Hollywood summer season.
In some movies, an antagonist’s reveal is just as fascinating as the antagonists themselves. These movie villains don’t just walk into a scene; they reveal themselves in a manner that rewires the entire story and raises the stakes simultaneously.The finest filmmakers u...
When we speak about Hollywood’s Golden Age, it is impossible not to mention Michael Curtiz and his alluring cinema. Curtiz is one of the most notable directors of his era to have successfully delivered classics across multiple genres, iconically ...
The first time I saw The Devil's Advocate, I was scared. For a child, learning that every temptation around me is a trap set by the Devil can be unnerving.To tell you the truth, the effects were quite similar when I rewatched it as an adult—not fear, per se, but a weird anxiety that refuses to settle.W...
To honor the legend, this is a list of Sam Peckinpah’s seven greatest movies of his career.The Ballad of Cable Hogue is Peckinpah’s gentlest and most likable film to date, with its atypical humor and a sense of musicality.Summing It UpThese are seven of my favorite Sam Peckinpah movies.
What The Matrix (1999) offers, a transition from the illusion of a comfortable mundanity into the hard-hitting truth that finally lets you breathe as the real you, is a priceless gift, but not the easy k...
The 1990s witnessed a real shift in the film industry. From stories that outrightly challenged society’s dichotomy to technical innovations that changed cinema forever, the ‘90s were indeed a golden era for films.And at the center of it all? Actors who taught the world h...
I think when you see people on the big screen, especially actors, it's easy to assume that they're rich, famous, and have it easy. But what's hiding behind the curtain in Hollywood is often a lot of struggles and battles to stay relevant and stay on top. In a recent intervie...
One of those interesting and unique filmmakers I kind of forget about from time to time is Jim Jarmusch. I feel like every few years, he makes a movie, and then I revisit his old work, and it ...
When she protested, I told her that this movie had one of the most romantic lines in all of cinema.But there is one specific line delivered by Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) that is the emotional outlier in an otherwise very cold-blooded heist movie.Why the Delivery is a MasterclassVal Kilmer brings a specific, weary sincerity to this moment that sets it apart from typical romantic dialogue.
Adobe has rolled out a major new update for its flagship video editing software, featuring a totally new feature set, and this new direction has nothing to do with AI.In perhaps the biggest non-AI swing that the company has made in a long time, Adobe has introduced Color Mode, a first-of-its-kind color grading system in Premiere (beta) designed from the ground up for video editors.Covering everything you need to know about Color Mode, which is available in Premiere beta for now, this series goes over how to add LUTs, how to match shots, use effects, and unlock all parts of your potential workflows with color management and helpful tools.
Only time will tell, though, but for now, we do have news to share on ARRI’s latest non-acquisition announcement as the company has introduced some notable new updates for its ALEXA 35 Live camera and its Live Production System LPS-1.The big news here, too, is that these new features are being introduced to enable ALEXA 35 SUP 6.0 and LPS-1 SUP 1.3, which will be used at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest coming up this May.Multi-Matrix Color Correction and Other Updates
Well, it turns out the shareholders were not as happy with the job David Zaslav did.According to a new report from Variety, that same group of shareholders voted down the executive compensation packages, including Zaslav’s nearly $900 million "golden parachute."Today, we'll cover what this means for the future of the studio and why the industry is watching this so closely.
The update is also set to bring native multi-lens support to many popular Android smartphones, like the Samsung S26 Ultra.Apple iPhone users are also getting improvements and new features, such as Dual View Mode and Apple Watch Control.Some of the biggest news here is native lens support for Android and iOS devices, as users will now be able to use a Flow 2 series gimbal with the Insta360 app to access the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses on supported flagship Android phones, including devices from Samsung, Google Pixel, vivo, OPPO, and more.
But instead, he has managed to amass a long legacy of controversial opinions and behavioral traits.These are some of the “gems,” where Tarantino proves his tongue is as sharp as a Hattori Hanzo.Aggressive defense of racial slurs in films Over the years, Tarantino has become as well-known for the rampant usage of racial slurs (especially the N-word) in his movies as for the fervent defense of his “artistic right” to use them.
DJI has launched its new beginner-friendly (and budget-friendly, for that matter) camera drone series with the introduction of the Lito X1 and Lito 1.They’re also not likely to be available in the US anytime soon.These new DJI drones are set to be available for order starting today; however, they are unlikely to be available in the US.
Ian McKellen’s Gandalf rides into the battlefield, while the presence of the Nazgûl could easily break our morale and dampen our spirits.The brilliance of the shot lies in how it captures this light, from Gandalf’s side, and the army under threat, and the darkness that occupies the upper part of the frame.Which is your favorite shot from The Lord of the Rings trilogy?
Hannibal Lecter is the primary scare factor in The Silence of the Lambs; Here are our favorite movie quotes from The Silence of the Lambs. 10 of the Greatest Quotes from The Silence of the Lambs1.
Greatest “Plot Twist” Scene For Every 1990s YearHere are ten of the greatest plot twists, one for every year of the 1990s.1. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)Directed by Adrian Lyne In this fascinating psychological horror, Tim Robbins plays Jacob Singer, a Vietnam veteran tormented by disturbing hallucinations and grief.Which is your favorite movie of the 1990s?
This list brings you 10 such cinematic moments from the ‘80s, when the clock slowed down and gave us visuals that lingered forever.10 Slow-Motion Shots That Defined the 1980s1.Jake LaMotta shadowboxing in the ring (Raging Bull, 1980)Written by: Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin |
John Ford is a pioneer of American cinema’s Western genre and probably the most influential filmmaker who ever lived.The Searchers is a revisionist Western.Stagecoach was John Wayne’s first starring role in a film by John Ford.
My buddies and I were engaged in a debate about who is the greatest actor of all time. And for my money, I think it's Jack Nicholson. Just here, the diversity of kinds of roles he's played, the directors he's worked with, and the legendary performances he's given are enough to make any argument. Jack Nicholson defined the "...
So, this past semester, I have been mentoring a film student. And she asked me the most poignant question yesterday. "How am I going to explain all this to my parents?"I think everyone who has ever moved to LA with a dream has been there. You're sitting across from my parents,s tryin...
I think, like many people, I left Project Hail Mary in awe of the movie and the time I had watching it. Now, weeks later, as I revisit it, I keep thinking how this is a film that will undoubtedly be up for awards next year, and as I look down the categories. I wondered, could Rocky be up for best supporting actor? And could his puppete...
I feel so old typing this, but back in my day, success on the small screen meant TV. Now, I think it means the internet. We're in the age of influencers. From seeing them invited to movie screenings and premieres for marketing to taking over roles on set, Hollywood is looking for new voices...
Another major announcement from a jam-packed slate of product introductions was ushered out by Blackmagic Design ahead of this year’s NAB conference in Las Vegas. Blackmagic Design showcased many new cameras and updates on the convention floor this year, and we’ve done ...
Looking to start editing your camera footage immediately—like immediately—after shooting? Then this might be news you want to check out: Blackmagic Design has introduced its new Media Dock Ultra here at NAB 2026.This new high-performance dock for Blackmagic...
Big news for live production crews this year at NAB. Blackmagic Design really pulled out all the stops, particularly for live production, with new 100G cameras and a ton of new products to support live production crews.Of note, there are...
Always one of the booths at NAB 2026 in Las Vegas with a lot going on, Blackmagic Design rolled out over a dozen new cameras, products, and updates this year. The booth was a buzz, and there was a ton to check out. This year’s theme for Blackmagic...
Celebrate, film fans, and feast your eyes—the long-awaited Coyote vs. ACME trailer is here, and it's good.After years of being blown up, flattened, dropped from great heights, and destroyed by faulty ACME products in his pursuit of the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote finally decides to fight back. How does he do that? He gets a l...
The 1990s were the best decade for high-concept movies with bold narrative styles. On one hand, you had up-and-coming talented filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linklater, David Fincher, and many more who delivere...
The Old West in Westerns is one of the most unruly and most rugged settings in cinema. Leave aside your strategic, analytical, and communication skills; survival on the frontier depends on your ability to outthink ...
Hollywood, or rather any film industry in general, often prioritizes trends over substance. And that’s where Paul Schrader’s unique voice sets him apart. Instead of choosing to tell stories about giants and legends, he opts to focus on those who don’t fit in—the...
John Candy’s hilariously chaotic performance in Splash (1984), directed by Ron Howard, reveals what we already know: few actors could match up to Candy’s masterful comedic instinct.In a few minutes of screen time, Candy delivered a performance that didn’t j...
In Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), a quiet Bilbo Baggins quote early in the film lands with gentleness and precision. The iconic trilogy does not beg...
Pitching is an art form that is totally outside writing and directing. It's one of those things you have to get good at if you want to sustain a long career. In this clip from
Jordan Peele has quickly become one of the most influential voices in modern cinema. That's a position he's earned with three movies I endlessly rewatch. If you had to nail him into a genre, he's a guy who blends social commentary with high-concept horror, and always relies on spectacle to bri...
While there are nearly a million booths and things to check out at NAB 2026 in Las Vegas this year, one new tool that had been previously announced has taken a big step forward, moving out of beta and into its full release.Imagen Video,
In many ways, NAB has changed over the years. Well, of course it has, it’s been around since 1991 and remained a consistent event for film and video brands to showcase their latest and greatest cameras, lights, editing tools, and gear.However, while for many years it was the place for companies to make surprise announcements and try to g...
I like to say that every new Martin Scorsese movie is a miracle. And maybe that's because they feel like, especially when they're about the late pope. It’s been one year since the passing of Pope Francis, and today, according to
A little light on funds and bag space? Here’s a new, affordable Panasonic LUMIX 40mm lens that might offer you a bit of walking-around versatility.Announced at NAB 2026, the 40mm f/2 from Panasonic is compact, lightweight, and not too heavy on your bag or your wal...
As any video or audio editor can tell you, don’t make sacrifices when it comes to comfort. Sure, something might seem a bit annoying for a few minutes, but if you have a setup or gear that irks you in some way in the short term, it’s going to feel more than annoying after several hours, days, weeks, or years.That’s why it’s ...
If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you’ve seen some AI-generated trailers. They pop up for movies that are trending, or fan edits, or just all over YouTube. But the thing is, ...
I think we can all agree that the current "AI in Hollywood" conversation is exhausting. We’ve all seen the tools claiming they can vomit out a finished 90-page script with a single prompt. It’s depressing, it’s usually legally dubious, and the output is almost always soulless.People love movies and TV shows because they tap into something disti...
I always approach discussions about The Rise of Skywalker with some sense of unease, knowing the psychological risk I’m taking and the potential mess of discourse that can be opened just at the mention of "Rey Skywalker."Whatever you feel about the sequel trilogy—and it seems some have swung around to loving Rise, bles...
The ocean is like a massive, nonchalant void; a canvas that serves as a blue background. But only until something with way too many teeth shows up. After that, it doesn’t remain in the background. It becomes a red painting of terror.In
In the Old West, an efficient gunslinger is defined by strength, stamina, and a steady hand—a “true grit.” In this moment, however, Doc ...
The Shawshank Redemption (1994), directed by Frank Darabont, is one of the most fascinating cinematic explorations of hope. Based on a novella by Stephen King, the movie is widely revered for its powerful emotional core...
In The Delta Force (1986), directed by Menahem Golan, one particular moment of raw audaciousness and clarity cuts through the movie’s explosions and spectacle. In the movie, when an airliner traveling to Rome is hijacked by terrorists, a highly trained squad k...
We filmmakers and cinephiles have a different way of remembering an era or a decade. For us, every year is defined by the films they delivered and the actors who won our hearts.The 1980s were among the decades when cinema peaked. We have already discussed the ...
Bob Clark’s Black Christmas was a stepping stone in the slasher genre, focusing on urban horror and a stalker-killer. Naturally, it marks many
When one breaks a story into different parts, storytelling itself becomes a high-stakes situation.Below is a list of the nine best movies that misdirect you from every possible angle until the film pieces everything together.Scott tells the story through three different perspectives of the husband (Matt Damon), the accused (Adam Driver), and the wife (Jodie Comer).
Let’s go over five types of universal openings executed by accomplished writers and filmmakers.Dropping your audience right in the middle of high-tension action is one of the most common ways to open a movie.Start with a profound, emotionally charged moment to hook the audience.
For years, Lumetri defined what color inside Adobe Premiere felt like. It was immediate, accessible, and—most importantly—fit for its intended purpose. You could drop it onto a clip, make a few adjustments, and arrive at an image that held together well enough to move the project forward. For many filmmakers, that was the point. Color was part of the finishin...
I don't know about you, but I love a good infographic. And over the weekend, I found a great one on Reddit
Last week, every major studio headed to Vegas to talk to a room full of theater owners and talk about the future of the theatrical experience. Well, CinemaCon 2026 sent a resounding message: the big screen is back in an even bigger way. We've had a record-breaking <...
Just like with any good spice, it never hurts to kick things up a notch in a dish.And that’s what Hollyland is doing with the introduction of the company’s latest wireless video transmission system here at NAB 2026. The new Pyro Ultra 4K HDMI/SDI system is here, set t...
While NAB 2026 is now in full swing, not everything is fully illuminated under the bright lights in the Las Vegas Convention Center halls. Nikon has released a video teaser indicating that a new, mysterious AF NIKKOR Z cinema lens is on the way.What could it be? It’s ...
When I was in film school, everyone wanted to take this class called "Tech Topics." It was super hard. You had to learn the basics to use every technical piece of equipment on set, and the professor, Richie Sherman, did not let anyone off the hook. Aside from algebra, that was probably my lowest grade. But it taught me a ton...
Let me start with a hard truth I think you need to know: nobody in Hollywood is waiting for your query letter.This is a town of action. Agents, managers, and talent are out doing things ...
In indie filmmaking, set design can sometimes be an afterthought. You’ll see characters placed in an empty room against a white wall with no visual interest or character,...
If you’re someone who has turned your iPad into a monitor in the past, or are intrigued by this mind-blowing new option, then you might want to check out the Video Assist iPad app, which has been boosted with its latest update.Already an easy option for those looking to capture videos or frame grabs from any HDMI or SDI video sou...
As always, the halls of the Las Vegas convention center are fully bustling from the start as NAB 2026 once again brings thousands of companies and brands and tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of filmmakers, videographers, editors, broadcasters, and the weird mix of all of the above that many of us are forced to reside in these days.Along ...
A new option of monitor-recorder-switchers is now on the market, set to enhance the dynamic range capabilities of your favorite cinema cameras.The new Atomos Sumo PRO-19 4K HDR Monitor-Recorder-Switcher promises to support all types of filmmakers, content creators, and seasoned cinematographers looking to captu...
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with Kino co-founders Brit MacRae and Daril Fannin about the broken handoff between post-production and release, and how insecure screeners, fragmented feedback workflows, and fear-based distribution norms undermine independent ...
Got all of your footage shots (or handed off to you) and feel like you're ready to lock in to your edit? Well, if you're ready to go for your film or other creative project and need some headphones to help you focus up, then these might be some nice options to explore.For our newest "
Back in March 2025, the Academy Museum opened Director's Inspiration: Bong Joon-ho, which was the first exhibition ever dedicated entirely to the Parasite filmmaker, featuring over 100 original objects from across his career, like storyboards, props, concept art, and creature models. To mark the recent April addit...
AI is still the topic of conversation on everyone's minds, especially as all the Hollywood unions work to negotiate new AI provisions into their contracts.But this week, as Deadline reports at Cine...
If you know me, you know I like seeing movies on the biggest and best screens possible. That usually means IMAX, but Disney has now entered the "Premium Large Format" (PLF) arena and wants to compete with the big boys. At CinemaCon ...
If you have a lot of downtime, and I think we all do right now, a podcast might be a great way to help pass it. There are so many great pods out there, how can you choose which ones are the best for you? I wanted to select some of my favorite filmmaking podcasts that would be perfect to entertain a...
As a writer, I am always looking for the right words to put into my screenplay. I want what I put onto paper to be evocative, real, and powerful. To do that, I often need to find the right strong verbs for the job.Hopefully, this list helps your story come together and takes you somewhere you never thought possi...
Some of the best ways to get ready to write are to study other screenplays, look at horror prompts, and refine your ideas with successful writing tools. Horror plotsWhen it comes time to begin to write your plot for these kinds of movies, consider writing a treatment to get started.Consider some horror short films that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Limited theatrical windows have been a hot topic of conversation in Hollywood since COVID.During the pandemic, studios thrashed theatrical windows in order to promote their apps.Well, all this came to a head at Caesar’s Palace this week, where theatrical windows took center stage at CinemaCon.
Not to be outdone by its Blackmagic Camera for iOS update announced yesterday, Blackmagic Design has rolled out a new update for its Blackmagic Camera for Android, which is set to add intriguing new features and support.This new...
You’re gonna need (or at least want) sunglasses for this latest light from Aputure. Previewed ahead of NAB 2026, the company has unveiled quite a bit about its new STORM CS32, a fully tunable color fixture that is the brightest ever in its point source line of LED lights.Set to feature output that rivals a 4K HMI and excellent saturated colors...
With NAB 2026 now just a few days away, pretty much all of the major brands and players in the film and video space have shared at least previews, if not full-blown announcements, of their latest products and innovations.RØDE, the Australian audio tech company, is not to be outdone by others, as it has unveiled a wave of next-gen au...
Without a doubt, Spock’s line, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,” from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), is one of the greatest sci-fi quotes of all time. It carries a trem...
Before his all-time classic Jaws (1975) turned Steven Spielberg into a household name, the director had already made a modest-budget thriller that showcased the arrival of a master filmmake...
A movie genre emerges from the specific emotion a narrative incites in the audience. That emotion (and the filmmakers’ urge to “serve”) is what defines that movie. That emotion then dictates the visual motifs, moral conflicts, and other storytelling aspects. Pretty soon, these offshoots of that emotion become re...
You remember the “5-dollar shake” scene, don’t you? It’s the scene that sits comfortably between “Don’t be a square” and the “twist contest.” All these moments take place in Jack Rabbit Slim’s, a '50s-style themed diner. While...
Power is a double-edged sword. Before you have it, the world feels bleak. After you have it, it can become your biggest nightmare.Power comes as a solution to all your problems, only to become your biggest burden sooner than you think. Power brings fulfillment… but not to everyone.
When it comes to a man as iconic as James Bond, it’s no surprise that over the years, with the sheer plethora of Bond movies, there are just too many quotes that have transcended the screen and become a part of our everyday lives. Certainly, the most f...
Since when have broken hearts and an even more broken dating system ever been able to threaten our love for rom-coms? Never! We're better than that.Rom-coms have proved time and again that they are here to stay. Wh...
The action genre has always been a staple of the film industry, with a close connection to high box office numbers. With their versatile appeal, they attract audiences worldwide with relatable themes of grit,
If I’m anything, I’m a huge nerd, and I love when there’s a confluence of interests like what I’ve had with Project Hail Mary, which features space, Ryan Gosling, science, creative cinematography, emotional sci-fi storytelling, and music. It’s an incredibly thoughtful film on so many levels.Which is why I mention music. It’s been a hot...
I saw a report last week that said more people are seeking out IMAX screens than ever before. And I only have experiential evidence, but my local IMAX screen is packed week in and week out.If you’ve ever sat in an
I think we’ve all read that one script where everything is technically correct, but it's flat without any descriptive writing or a personality. Those kinds of scripts do not get passed up the ladder because they don't make anyone feel anything. To do that, you have to write
This is so random, but a few weeks ago, I found out a number of my friends from different circles in my life had never seen the 1995 adventure horror comedy ape romance movie Congo. It disturbed me, because the Michael Crichton novel and the Frank Marshall movie were huge parts of my childhood.<...
I know we've had this talk on here before, but it feels like every major Hollywood movie that gets rolled out into theaters is either based on a book, a video game, or a sequel. This kind of high-level IP is what Hollywood has leaned on over the last twenty years, sometimes to great success.But as we try t...
More exciting news for Apple-heads looking to feel superior to their Android counterparts. The latest Blackmagic Camera for iOS (version 3.3) is here, and it’s set to add support for camera control and monitoring via your Apple Watch.This means Apple Watch owners will be able to start and stop recording and monitor their shots fro...
The Evoke 5C is the world’s smallest professional 8-color spotlight, designed for simple yet flexible on-set lighting as a subtle fill or accent light.The Nanlux Evoke 5CThe Evoke 5C will also include a 3.3' USB-C cable and a range of magnetic accessories, including a diffuser, a yoke, and a thermal shield.
Well, this is more exciting news to explore as we head into the kick-off of NAB 2026 this weekend in Las Vegas. Sony has announced that it is set to launch a new series of system cameras, called the “R Series,” that will incorporate improved imaging performance and system expandability.These five new system cameras will feature enh...
Announced ahead of NAB 2026, kicking off next week in Las Vegas, Maxon has shared some pretty significant news regarding its professional creative toolsets.The big news here is that the company is debuting
Whether you’re just getting into filmmaking or already making your own projects, you eventually run into the same moment. You’ve shot something you like. You’ve cut it into a sequence that works. And then you open the color tools in your NLE—and everything slows down. What felt intuitive while shooting and editing suddenly becomes technical. Sliders don’t beh...
With NAB 2026 only being a few days away, the announcements from companies and brands in the film and video space are ramping up. We’ve seen new live production cameras,...
The finest filmmakers use invisible cuts to maintain or heighten the movie’s tension.5 Unforgettable Invisible Cuts In FilmsHere are five incredible invisible cuts in cinema.In his 1948 classic, Rope, Alfred Hitchcock wanted to build and maintain tension in a single location.
However, Star Wars made us see the potential of high-concept storytelling powered by groundbreaking visual effects.In the years that followed, a wave of ambitious movies emerged.Which is your favorite Star Wars-inspired movie or TV series?
These are the filmmakers who walked onto the set of their first movie with a fully formed artistic voice right from day one.Michael Mann’s debut, Thief (1981), feels like that kind of arrival.Leo plans a big heist at a high-security wholesale diamond exchange facility in Los Angeles.
But Eddie is the hero.The SceneSergeant Eddie Cusack is leading a sting operation to catch a cocaine trafficker, Luis Comacho (Henry Silva).He is untethered from his group and is navigating his way all by himself—the proverbial lone wolf in the criminal world.
In this article, let’s celebrate some moralistic characters whose steely will to uphold their moral codes is inspirational.9 Best Characters with a Strict Moral Code 1.Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)Source: Universal Pictures To fight for a Black person who’s accused of rape in the 1930s would require a lot of courage, and Atticus Finch is one such courageous man who believes that every person, irrespective of their race, deserves a fair trial.
In this article, let’s look at seven children’s rhymes that were used in movies that turn the “creep” on really well.7 Films That Used Children’s Rhymes to Create Pure Terror1.“Crooked Man,” The Conjuring 2 I think this song is the least creepy of all the others on this list because it does have a cheery melody and playful lyrics.
Before he handed out free golden tickets in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Gene Wilder gave one of the most iconic character introductions in movie history.Moreover, Wilder put a stipulation on the movie, and this creative gamble made Willy Wonka a legend.And whether the entrance should be in the film.
In the 1980s, movies experimented with bold themes and proved to be an important base before the second golden age of movies in the ‘90s emerged. 1986 specifically featured a series of movies that went on to become cult classics.As these movies turn 40 in 2026, here is my list of eight such movies that continue to pop up in cult movie discussions.8. Little Shop of Horrors Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour (Rick Moranis), a shy florist’s assistant who discovers a strange plant with an appetite for human blood.
Give the AI your rambling mess of a synopsis and ask it to give you three logline options to react against.Create a bulleted script breakdown for this scene. Let us know your prompts you use in the comments.
According to a bombshell exclusive from TheWrap (announced via X here), director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Edge of Tomorrow) recently wrapped principal photography on Bitcoin: Killing Satoshi. But what everyone is talking about is that the film was shot entirely using a custom-built, AI-driven soundstage.Killing Satoshi is a thriller about a journalist investigating the true identity of Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto.
For me, a prime example is Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines. I rewatched The Place Beyond the Pines recently, and the "cool" factor completely evaporated for me.And also, leave yourself open to grow out of your own ideas.
Director Anthony DiBlasi sat down with Film Courage to discuss how he battles his own tendencies toward procrastination and the specific "cheat codes" he uses to get to the finish line.DiBlasi suggests setting a concrete goal, like finishing a script in 30 days, and then reverse-engineering the math.When he moves from writing to directing, he "throws the script out."
He calls it "the chasm of despair." O'Sullivan's chasm of despair is just there.Don’t neglect that visual interest in the back of your shots!
Designed to meet the rigorous demands of ultra-low-light full-color video shooting, the Canon MS-510 is an innovative multipurpose camera that builds on the already audacious technology unveiled with its predecessor, the MS-500.Powered by its latest technology, the MS-510 achieves a minimum subject illumination of 0.0006 lux, a significant improvement over its predecessor's 0.001 lux, enabling bright, full-color imaging in ultra-low-light environments where traditional cameras can fail.It’s also set to be available later this year with specs and preorder options below.
Along with some other major camera and lens announcements made here ahead of NAB 2026, Canon is rolling out its usual mix of impactful firmware updates for a host of its most popular cinema cameras.These Cinema EOS camera firmware updates are set to add some helpful new features and protocols that should assist shooters with remote operation and help overcome iris ramping and other light-loss issues.Canon, for its part, is continuing to honor its ongoing promise of long-term product value by unveiling its latest list of firmware updates, all designed to help filmmakers and enhance workflow consistency and image quality across a range of Cinema EOS cameras.
As part of a combo with the CINE-SERVO 40-1200mm T5.0-10.8 Cinema Zoom Lens with SS-41-IASD Servo Kit from Canon, the zoom lens covers Super 35 format sensors natively and full-frame sensors when used with its built-in 1.5x extender.Designed to mount on your tripod's pan bar, the servo kit includes the FPD-400D digital focus servo and the ZSD-300D digital zoom servo, which should provide some of the most robust lens control ever developed.Impressively, this lens is set to cover an extensive 40-1200mm focal range while featuring an aperture range from T5.0 to T10.8 from wide to telephoto.
The biggest news here for traditional video editors might be the introduction of a brand-new Color Mode in Premiere, a first-of-its-kind color grading experience built from the ground up and specifically for video editors.Firefly Video Editor UpdatesAs part of the Adobe Firefly Video Editor, the company is adding more video models to its browser-based editor.
“You’re short on ears and long on mouth!” is one of the film’s most iconic lines, which perfectly captures Western grit with charisma and audaciousness.Sherman’s film is set in the early 1900s and blends family tension and frontier justice with exceptionally sharp dialogue.Here are three lessons for young writers about writing characters with old-school toughness.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), directed by Peter Jackson, Gandalf’s final words in the Mines of Moria land with impeccable precision and force.The stunning sequence, which features the wizard’s terrifying fall, is one of the most tragic scenes in the movie up to that point.What makes the moment iconic, though, is Gandalf’s last words before he falls off the ledge and falls into the Mines’ dark, hollow, and seemingly endless pit.
It’s renowned for its iconic skyline.Chicago is a cinematic powerhouse that breathes life into every frame it touches.14. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)Written by: Aaron Sorkin |
What keeps him relevant is his ability to portray his characters and deliver their lines in ways that make them linger in the cultural zeitgeist.This list captures the essence of the man who turned sarcasm into an art form.“It just doesn’t matter!
That’s exactly what the Bond franchise did by introducing Daniel Craig as the new, realistic, and relentless British MI6 spy agent in Casino Royale (2006).Let’s get to the gist of what I consider the best Bond movie of all time.Promise of a New Legacy OpeningThe film’s opening sets the tone and features no explosions or giant action set pieces.
Here’s my list of the best philosophical movies of all time.Death by Hanging deeply explores cultural bias while balancing the intensity with the right dose of humor.Did your favorite movie make it to the list?
Sometimes, building a movie set may take months and cost you most of your budget.In this article, we’re analyzing movie sets that shaped cinema.2. 2001: A Space Odyssey Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey wasn’t about accurately envisioning the future.
In this sponsored episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with Eddie AI co-founder and CEO Shamir Allibhai about Eddie AI’s latest release, Eddie v3, which launched today, April 14, 2026, ahead of NAB Show 2026.Their conversation explores the new Night Shift workflow, designed to process footage overnight by sorting interviews from B-roll, syncing multicam interviews, logging media, and building a rough cut ready for Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro by morning.They also discuss Eddie’s expanding role as an AI assistant editor for professional workflows, including docu-style rough cuts with B-roll placement, and the broader questions filmmakers face around creative control, sustainability, curiosity, and the future of storytelling in an AI-assisted post-production landscape.
The AI assistant video editor Eddie AI is getting some new updates that aim to make video editors' lives easier and more streamlined.The goal, as stated by Eddie and others, is to speed up workflows, reduce arduous tasks, and give editors more time and space for creative decisions.Eddie AI V3 Night Shift
His work on Take Me Home isn't just about lighting a car interior; it’s about mapping the emotional geography of two strangers in flux.Today, we sat down with Farhad to discuss the technical challenges of "car cinema," his philosophy on naturalistic lighting, and how he uses the camera to bridge the gap between silence and dialogue.The film goes on to play at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York this June, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with the audience there!
In a recent interview with Film Courage, veteran screenwriter Mike Thompson (Dragonfly, Love Happens) breaks down the DNA of a studio-level concept and explains why the spec script might be your ticket in the door.Is Your Spec Ready for Hollywood? The Power of Primal StakesTo keep that "balloon" inflated, Thompson advocates for Primal Drives.
But to get good at it, you need to realize that the styles of writing are completely different, with different audiences and ultimately different uses.Avery Dohrmann's recent video dives into the topic.Don’t Show Off in Your Action LinesThe second place novelists get into trouble is in the lines between the dialogue.
If we want the theatrical experience to survive, we need to stop making it a chore for the audience to be there.Rothman's quote was a day-one highlight for me.Going to the movies must be more affordable again.
Enter The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, which appears to have been hacked off the Nickelodeon and Paramount servers.While the news of the Avatar Aang leak is a blow to the production team, it serves as a massive case study for the industry on the fragility of digital security. Over the weekend, a full-length copy of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender surfaced online.
ARRI, perhaps the single most iconic and famous manufacturer of camera and lighting gear in film history, has been sold.Thomas Riedel, the founder and owner of Riedel Communications and the Riedel Group, has acquired ARRI.Thomas Riedel, the founder and owner of the Riedel Group, placed the winning bid and was selected in a competition to become the new owner of ARRI, making it the largest acquisition of his career to date.
The DJI Avata 360 appears to be ready to take flight here in the US.DJI Avata 360 Takes FlightDesigned to be a nice double-down move for 360-degree video, the DJI Avata 360 offers the unique ability to seamlessly switch between a single-lens 4K60 sensor and a full 360° 8K60 HDR sensor.
Along with the flagship MISSION 1 PRO, the company has also revealed a new MISSION 1 PRO ILS, a new class of ultra-compact mirrorless cinema camera, and a MISSION 1 version.The flagship MISSION 1 PRO will feature a new 50MP 1” sensor and an ultra-efficient GP3 processor.The GoPro MISSION 1 PRO is set to be available for preorder starting on May 21st, while the MISSION 1 PRO ILS will be available later in Q3 this year.
In the scene, Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is mauled by an enormous bear.Director Iñárritu and cinematographer Lubezki chose to shoot The Revenant mostly in natural light, and a few scenes are elevated by this decision as much as the bear attack scene.Which is your favorite Leonardo DiCaprio performance?
it’s a cultural memory.It wasn’t meant to be or orchestrated to be iconic.This was the moment when a dress didn’t remain a dress; it became a star, and the star didn’t remain a star; she became an immortal silhouette.
Delivered by Bill Murray, who plays Peter Venkman, the line was a reaction to a mechanical rig failure.In the scene, Peter Venkman’s character is grossly inconvenienced.Bill Murray’s “He slimed me” is a classic example of this.
Many 1970s movies were raw, provocative, and deeply unsettling.5 70s Movies That Would Not Be Possible Today, RankedHere are five 1970s movies that pushed way too many boundaries and would not be possible today.Which is your favorite movie from the 1970s?
So far, over 50 of his works have been adapted into films, with Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, Rob Reiner’s Misery, and Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption among the most notable.Here’s a list of my favorite Stephen King creations that I think deserve the silver screen.Insomnia is a horror story that explores the relationship between destiny and free will.
With two Academy Awards to his name, Washington’s filmography spans genres, from historical epics such as Malcolm X and The Hurricane to action thrillers such as American Gangster and Man on Fire.His collaborations with Spike Lee and Tony Scott especially speak to his depth and range as an actor.In this article, we’re looking at some of the best Denzel Washington movie quotes that still give people chills.
Along with many of Akira Kurosawa’s remarkable films, like Rashomon, Seven Samurai is among the most influential films of all time.Let’s understand how Seven Samurai created the “assembling the team” trope.The Global Influence of “Assembling the Team”The Seven Samurai’s influence on modern cinema is staggering.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, writer-director Lee Cronin joins to discuss how he approached reimagining The Mummy through the lens of family trauma, mystery, and body horror.In conversation with host GG Hawkins, Cronin breaks down the emotional architecture behind effective horror, the challenge of staging fear in broad daylight, and the way Irish storytelling, personal experience, and practical effects continue to shape his work.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
As reported by Collider, Spielberg recently reflected on his refusal to revisit the movie, and his reasoning offers a masterclass in protecting creative artistic integrity over the bottom line.For Spielberg, the story of E.T. was complete.The "Nocturnal Fears" TreatmentOkay, so there was also almost a sequel to ET.
Alongside a new Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive 100G (the world’s first immersive cinema camera for live immersive productions), a major overhaul to DaVinci Resolve, and other new products, the company has also unveiled its new URSA Cine 12K LF 100G.With 100G Ethernet, customers can get cinematic-quality SMPTE-2110 live video at frame rates up to 440 fps, and the new Studio Viewfinder and B4 lens mount transform URSA Cine into a true broadcast camera.Blackmagic Design has shared that the new URSA Cine 12K LF 100G is set to be available in Q3 and will retail for US$8,995, excluding duties.
Continuing an absolute bull rush of announcements to kick things off for NAB 2026 (which technically doesn’t start until this weekend), Blackmagic Design has announced a new software-based live audio mixer with spatial audio mixing and SMPTE-2110 broadcast workflows.Capable of handling spatial audio mixing and SMPTE-2110 broadcast workflows, Blackmagic Design reports that this new Fairlight Live mixer will easily handle thousands of audio channels and work with standard computer audio or USB audio from ATEM live production switchers.Fully stacked and customizable, the Fairlight Live mixer will feature built-in effects and pro-grade features, including a cue player, talkback busses, snapshots, and more.
DaVinci Resolve 21 is set to add hundreds of features, including new AI tools such as IntelliSearch for fast content searching and CineFocus for focal-point adjustment.There’s also new motion graphic effects, Fairlight folder tracks, and…There are also over 100 new motion graphic effects, 50 new features, and hundreds of quality-of-life improvements.
The first big headline here is the announcement of the new Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive 100G, the world’s first immersive cinema camera for live production.Set to feature 100G Ethernet, dual 8Kx8K RGBW sensors, and 16 stops of dynamic range, there’s a lot to explore with this mega-camera announcement.Set to feature dual 8Kx8K RGBW sensors with 16 stops of dynamic range, the URSA Cine Immersive 100G will be able to utilize its 100G Ethernet to deliver the bandwidth needed to output live immersive video for the first time.
They call this expansion Director's Ears, which is audio commentary you can listen to at the movies.Download the free TheaterEars app (iOS/Android).Select Project Hail Mary and choose the "Director’s Experience" track.
But according to one veteran Hollywood script reader, we might be focusing on the wrong metrics.And so are these AI screenwriting bots that claim to be able to replace a human reader.A recent thread from the Hollywood Script Reader on X has gone viral for pulling back the curtain on what actually happens when a professional sits down with your spec.
This latest update for Final Cut Pro fixes a few bugs, improves startup speed, and offers a nice glimpse into how FCP is evolving as Apple continues to encourage users to learn and use the Magnetic Timeline.Apple Final Cut Pro 12.2Final Cut Pro Magnetic Timeline
Set to be available in 16mm, 35mm, and 65mm formats, this new Kodak VERITA 200D 5206/7206 aims to deliver detailed highlights, high color saturation, deep blacks, and warm, natural skin tones.KODAK VERITA 200D Color Negative FilmDeveloped in “close collaboration” with Sam Levison and DP Marcell Rév, VERITA 200D was commercialized in motion picture format specifically to achieve a distinct visual aesthetic for the third season of HBO's original teen drama series Euphoria.
Today, an open letter signed by over 1,000 industry heavyweights, including Joaquin Phoenix, Kristen Stewart, J.J. Abrams, Ben Stiller, and Denis Villeneuve, was released to the public. Their message is clear: the proposed $111 billion merger between David Ellison’s Paramount-Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) must be blocked.Let’s break down what this means for the future of the industry.
Flanders (FSI) is one of the most respected names in the pro reference monitor space and a pretty sizable acquisition for Atomos, as the larger company in the equation here is set to further reinforce its commitment to precision monitoring across the entire production pipeline.With Flanders Scientific’s patents and technology, big things could be afoot for Atomos as the company will likely expand its offerings to be more robust, from on-camera capture tools to the final color grading and delivery.Atomos Acquires Flanders Scientific
Then you might want to check out this new Micro Rosette Arm System for Mounting Accessories to a Camera from Mid49.Designed as a modular accessory mounting arm with quick-release 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 spuds at each end, plus other helpful features, this is a nice option to consider.The Mid49 Micro Rosette Complete Kit is set to retail for $395.00 and will be available to ship in late April 2026.
At Aspen Shortsfest this week, he sat down with programmer Jason Anderson to discuss how independent film is actually made.Short Films Are Still Your Currency“Filmmakers are the bread and butter of what we do,” he said.Institutions like the Sundance Institute, the Gotham Lab, and the Blacklist exist to cut through the noise and help highlight great material.
The greatest opening lines are so perfectly crafted that they capture a character’s worldview, launch a story into overdrive, or sum up the human condition in only a few words.5 Most Incredible Movie Opening Lines Of All TimeHere’s a list of five of the finest opening lines we have ever witnessed.1. “People Are Always Asking Me If I Know Tyler Durden.” - Fight Club (1999) Directed by David Fincher Spoken in voiceover by the unnamed narrator played by Edward Norton, this line perfectly signals a fractured identity driven by a man whose state of mind makes him an unreliable narrator.
In The Two Towers, the second installment, while navigating a war-torn city, Samwise Gamgee delivers one of the most memorable lines in modern cinema to his dear old friend, Frodo Baggins.What can we learn from it?Which is your favorite quote from The Two Towers?
Griffith’s 1916 epic Intolerance stands as one of the most ambitious movies ever made.Architectural grandeur was an artistic goal that defined Griffith’s obsession with scale.D.W. Griffith directed 3,000 extras in Intolerance, way back in 1916.
When asked whether he is eager to die, Ben Affleck’s Rafe McCawley replies with the line, “Not anxious to die, sir, just anxious to matter.”Rafe McCawley’s line, “Not anxious to die, sir, just anxious to matter,” speaks quite blatantly about the need to be significant.He is driven by the need to count for something bigger than himself.
Here is a list of 11 such scenes that deliver the best cinematic experience through just visuals, sometimes assisted by minimal dialogue or diegetic sounds.The Odessa Steps Massacre (Battleship Potemkin, 1925)Written by: Nina Agadzhanova |6. The Opening Sequence (Once Upon a Time in the West, 1968)Written by: Sergio Leone, Sergio Donati |
The Searchers (1956), however, has a surprisingly grounded take on this.ContextEthan Edwards (John Wayne), an ex-Confederate soldier, returns to his brother’s home after eight years.Ethan has fought in two wars, the Civil War and the Franco-Mexican War. Fighting and violence are instinctive to him.
But that’s what happens in the finale of Pulp Fiction (1994).The Wallet as a Material WitnessA Label for the PastThe “Bad Mother*****” wallet, as the name literally suggests, is a direct link to the man Jules “used to be.”Jules asks Pumpkin to take the “Bad Mother*****” wallet out of the bag and take the money.
Often, mic-drop moments become “the thing” for which characters are known forever.Yes, that’s how much value they hold in a movie.With that, let’s go over the list, featuring nine of the best mic-drop moments in cinema, that left the audience in awe.
Let’s look at 10 such iconic “walks” in cinema.2. Dorothy Follows the Yellow Brick Road (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)Portrayed by: Judy Garland |9. Jack Sparrow's Introduction (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, 2003)Portrayed by: Johnny Depp |
His tough-guy persona particularly blossomed during his heyday, the ‘70s.He famously said, “I was trained to be an actor, not a star.”It’s a tribute to a man who made being tough look like an art form.
The “Bridge of Death” scene gives us a glimpse into that.The “Bridge of Death”This absurdist comedy parodies the medieval Arthurian legend of the “Knights of the Round Table” and their quest for the Holy Grail.The men need to cross the “Bridge of Death” to go ahead.
Twenty long years after The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) wrapped up Peter Jackson’s iconic trilogy, a quiet moment before an epic battle still echoes, reminding us of the strength of the Fellowship’s bond.“For Frodo” acts as a powerful unifying force that binds the Fellowship and the army into the trilogy’s most iconic battle.After an epic journey that brings the army of Men and the audience to the ultimate battle, the movie chooses a path of minimal dialogue and maximum emotion.
Filmmakers frequently pay homage to the films that inspired them through small and often quiet moments in their movies.5 Movie Moments That Brilliantly Referenced Other FilmsHere are five cinematic moments that paid homage to other movies.1. Raging Bull (1980)Directed by Martin Scorsese |
Why Luck Doesn’t Exist In Jedi PhilosophyWords like “luck” or “chance” are akin to rolling the dice, and a concept like that inherently does not have a place in Jedi philosophy.Obi-Wan believes that positive outcomes such as this one are a result of their faith in the Force, not blind fortune.It is his belief in the Force that helps Obi-Wan understand that victory does not come from coincidence but from the willingness to trust the Force’s guidance.
Let’s take a look at seven fascinating romantic Western films that helped redefine the genre.7 Unforgettable Romantic WesternsHere are seven romantic westerns that made us rethink what defines a good Western movie.7. Far And Away (1992)Directed by Ron Howard Starring Tom Cruise and Nichole Kidman, this movie blends quintessential Western spectacle with a poignant, old-fashioned love story.
Fraser had a Hollywood athletic body that could swing, jump, and fall.In George of the Jungle, Fraser’s portrayal of George demonstrated his ability to make fun of traditional masculinity while still embodying it.After a long break, Fraser returned to the big screen in 2022 with Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale and won an Oscar for Best Actor.
The following is a practical breakdown of some of the decisions, workarounds, and sometimes extreme strategies that helped us get The Travel Companion made.We chose to pay all cast and crew, regardless of position, the same: in our case, it wasn’t far off from NY State's minimum wage.The Travel Companion premiered at Tribeca 2025, was acquired for distribution by Oscilloscope Laboratories, and will be opening theatrically in NYC at BAM today, April 10th, followed by a limited national release.
At No Film School, we’ve spent years in the trenches testing every tool, interviewing every expert, and debating the philosophy of taste versus tech.We’ve compiled our most essential deep dives, templates, and "unfiltered" tool tests into this comprehensive database.The No Film School Script Coverage Database
We are nominated in the Video - Film / General Video - Film / How-To, Explainer & DIY category.No Film School was founded on the spirit of DIY filmmaking, a legacy that started when our founder, Ryan Koo, won a Webby for his groundbreaking web series, The Westside.The Webby Awards are the "Oscars of the Internet," and winning the "People's Voice" award depends entirely on you.
Director and Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats (@lawnrocket) tweeted out 22 tips for storytelling, one of which ends with "Endings are hard, get yours working up front."Today we're going to go over Pixar's 22 Storytelling rules, see how it's a formula to success, and leave you in a good place to start writing your story! 7. Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle.
Known worldwide for their popular Alpha line of mirrorless cameras, they are as safe a bet as there is in film and video work.For our latest "Deals of the Week" roundup, we're looking at some great savings opportunities to get your hands on one of these popular Sony mirrorless cameras.These cameras are all reliable, well-designed, and simply great options for all types of hybrid content needs.
According to Tom Cruise, who spent an unprecedented 400 days filming Eyes Wide Shut, the most critical element of any Kubrick production wasn't the budget. it was the time required to get it right.In the video, Tom Cruise explains Kubrick's process.Getting the Scene Right FirstCruise worked with Kubrick on the set of Eyes Wide Shut.
Digital Anarchy has just announced the release of ShotNotes for Adobe Premiere.What’s cool about ShotNotes is that it lets editors add time codes to their notes, link to other sequences, and even track how long editing tasks take.In addition to the features mentioned above, ShotNotes also includes a built-in time tracker.
In this comprehensive guide, I will delve deeper into the world of film noir by exploring its origins, key characteristics, use of light and shadow, role of women, and impact on cinema. The term "film noir" is a French term meaning "black film" or "dark film," which refers to the dark and moody themes and visual style of these films.The origins can be traced back to the German Expressionist cinema of the 1920s and 1930s, before the second world war.
Called “MotionStream,” this new, experimental technology unveiled by Adobe lets creators interact with AI-generated video as it’s being created, enabling them to “direct” the movement of objects and perform intuitive controls like changing camera angles.All of this is set to happen in real time, with cursors and sliders, and could be another level-up for AI video technology.According to Adobe, the MotionStream experience will be quick and controllable, with natural movement built in.
Accsoon has just unveiled its new CineView Master 4K Lite, a RRTMS 4.0 Dual-Band wireless transmission system worth checking out.Accsoon CineView Master 4K LiteThe Accsoon CineView Master 4K Lite is available for preorder now.
As part of the company’s runway to NAB this year in Las Vegas, Atomos has announced a new firmware release for its popular Shinobi II and Shinobi 7 RX monitors that will bring camera control, including touch-to-focus, to an even wider range of camera models.The most important info here is that, with the inclusion of a USB-C interface in all of Atomos’ next-generation monitors and monitor-recorders, filmmakers and content creators will now be able to control key camera functions like ISO, shutter, aperture, and white balance directly from their Shinobi monitor.Now for the fun stuff, here’s the full list of camera models that will now receive camera control support compatibility with the Atomos Shinobi II and Shinobi 7 RX.
Julia Aks and Steve Pinder are fresh off an Oscar campaign and ready to tackle what’s next, so talk turned to upcoming projects.This essay proposes that hard, dark drama isn’t the best place to start as a new filmmaker, and comedy and horror can be more forgiving genres.A Note on Music and GenreTo show how horror and comedy are related, the Lofi Cinema essay has a great demonstration of how the soundtrack influences the image.
It garnered more criticism than appreciation, especially for its slow pace, formulaic plot, and racial stereotypes.Regardless, there were moments when the film would strike a chord.He says that alcohol works by killing brain cells—first, the cells of sadness, then the “quiet” cells, then the “stupid” cells, and finally the “memory” cells.
This is the iconic moment from the 1979 cult classic, The Warriors, and its unhinged nature has transformed the movie from a regular gang flick into a permanent silver-screen fever dream.While they are hiding under the Coney Island boardwalk, Luther and the rest of the Rogues appear.The Art of the Unscripted ThreatFrom the Mind of David Patrick KellyDirector Walter Hill wasn’t thrilled with the script version of the “taunting” scene.
Instead, they are the visual and thematic influences that helped shape what vaporwave would later become.What “Vaporwave” Means in an ‘80s ContextIn a nutshell, vaporwave is an aesthetic trend, rather than a formal genre, which is characterized by the ‘80s and ‘90s cyberpunk nostalgia, neon-drenched visuals, and a surreal, dreamy tone.This movie features the most bang-on cyberpunk visuals that inspired the vaporwave aesthetic.
Delivered by Eastwood’s William Munny with relentless charisma, the line crystallizes the movie’s meditative nature.When Munny says, “there’s nothin’ left to do but to face the truth”, he talks about the inevitability of confronting reality.Which is your favorite Clint Eastwood film of all time?
Over the years, the superhero cape has become a visual signal for power and heroism.From Superman’s iconic cape to Batman’s dark wings, the cape can make a good superhero costume into a great one.Which is your favorite superhero to ever wear a cape?
Over a career spanning decades, Samuel L. Jackson has delivered some of the finest acting moments of all time.Let’s take a look at seven of his most iconic lines, ranked.7 Greatest Samuel L. Jackson Quotes Of All TimeHere are seven of the best Samuel L. Jackson lines, ranked.
He gave in to his cannibalistic instincts and started moonlighting as a serial killer with a moral code.Analyzing Lecter’s Defense for CrueltyTo call violence a gift is indicative of Lecter’s psychopathic mind.Do you agree with Hannibal Lecter?
A handful of horror subgenres, including elevated horror, tackle these human emotions in devastating fashion, where the supernatural becomes an allegory for grief.Rebecca Hall’s performance as a grieving woman keeps you invested in the mystery.Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, and Bella Heathcote all deliver exceptional performances.
like asking me about the oldest movie ever...When we talked about the first movie camera ever, we included a short blurb on the world's oldest film, so I wanted to spend some time highlighting it today.The earliest celluloid film was shot by Louise Le Prince using the Le Prince single-lens camera made in 1888.
With page counts bloating and stories getting far too long, it seems like a good time to talk about why your spec script should be short and to the point, or at least, contain new and exciting information on every page. "Economy in storytelling" is a phrase commonly used among writers, and it refers to the practice of telling a story as efficiently as possible. TestEvery scene needs to pass the "So What?" test.
Sometimes it helps to take a look at the most common cliches and see which ones I can skip in my work, and which one I may need Ready?I want to hear about the ones that drive you crazy.Let me know what you think in the comments.
He says that every writer only needs to consider two questions to get started or keep momentum.The Two QuestionsIf you know what's happening and how your characters feel about it, you have the raw material of a scene. Who are the people in your story?
Blackbird plc (the parent company of elevate.io) has announced a new partnership with the royalty-free music platform Epidemic Sound to bring the latter’s large royalty-free music catalog directly into elevate.io’s collaborative video editing platform.elevate.io and Epidemic SoundThis integration of the full Epidemic Sound library into elevate.io’s editing platform is available immediately; however, it requires users to use a token system, which allows them to purchase through their subscription accounts.
His latest project, Shape of Dreams, a short film for the Swiss sportswear brand On, is no exception.This is a commercial for Zendaya’s debut co-designed collection with On, which was developed alongside her long-time stylist, Law Roach.The Visual Language of Spike JonzeThe film is set in a minimalist, all-white "void" that feels both industrial and dreamlike.
As Henry Boseley from The Closer Look argues in his latest video essay, if you don’t get the audience to care about your character early on, your story is "kind of doomed."Give your audience a mystery to solve regarding your protagonist’s past or motivations.So give your character a specific "flavor" that makes the audience lean in.
According to a recent report from Variety, Gen Z and Millennials are the primary engines behind the box office recovery in 2026.Market Dominance: 87% of Gen Z and 82% of Millennials saw at least one movie in theaters over the past 12 months.The study suggests that for Gen Z, the theater has become a vital "third space."
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with editors Lam T. Nguyen and Austin Keeling about building the visual language of Mercy, a hybrid screen life thriller directed by Timur Bekmambetov.They break down how editorial shaped not just pacing and performance, but also the film’s digital camera moves, interface design, screen choreography, and collaboration with VFX.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
After ByteDance’s viral Seedance 2.0 model was briefly paused, it has since gone live again, with announced integrations across several platforms over the past week.However, with every announcement of the viral AI video model’s availability, there’s been the caveat that it would be available only to users abroad, not in the United States.Well, that appears to be done too, as CapCut has announced that Dreamina Seedance 2.0 is being rolled out on its platform in the US.
I won't be there this year, but the red carpet returns to the Côte d’Azur from May 12 through May 23.Opening Night & HonorsThe 2026 festivities will open with Pierre Salvadori’s French-language feature, The Electric Kiss, for a little homegrown honors.A Star-Studded CurveballWhile the rumor mill is always spinning, the selection committee threw a genuine curveball this year: John Travolta will make his feature directorial debut, playing out of competition.
Starring Charli XCX alongside Will Madden, Jeremy O. Harris, and Lena Góra, the film tells the story of new and unrequited romances set against the backdrop of Warsaw, Poland.As he has done in the past, Ohs has been pretty much an open book about his editing process, in particular, and for this film, he’s opted to share a bunch of raw clips from the project online for people to “make stuff.”Download Clips and Share Edits
This on-set battle for focus pullers is about to get a helpful new solution, though: ARRI and SmallHD have announced a collaboration on lens data overlays.Set to be available through an expansion license for ARRI’s Hi-5 and Hi-5 SX hand units, this SmallHD Monitor Overlay License will be able to display focus and iris scales and other lens data in personalized layouts.SmallHD Monitor Overlay License for ARRI Hi-5
But some films refuse to end even after their endings.Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), a Spanish movie by Guillermo del Toro, is one of those films; call it a film version of a beautiful but dark lullaby.And that’s the climax of Pan’s Labyrinth.
Stolen concepts, stolen aesthetics, unauthorized likeness, defamation—whatever the claims may be, they show that a “creative inspiration” can easily cross the line into litigation.We have lined up 9 such cases that triggered significant legal battles.So, when this 2022 sequel showed high-stakes training sequences and aerial themes that were a creative extension of the original film, Yonay’s family sued Paramount for copyright infringement.
While Hitler’s evil was fueled by a very specific, obsessive, and hateful ideology, Street Fighter’s villain is terrifying because his cruelty is casual and indifferent.The SceneGeneral M. Bison (Raúl Juliá) is a drug lord turned self-appointed general in Thailand.Chun-Li has a personal vendetta against Bison.
The robot’s creation is believed to have cost MGM a remarkable $125,000 at the time, which, as you know, was an enormous amount of money in the 1950s. Fast forward to the year 2017.The same robot sold for an incredible sum of $5.3 million at an auction in New York.Robby the Robot became the most expensive movie prop ever sold at the time.
Lonesome Dove (1989) is considered a towering achievement in the Western genre for its depth, humor, and poignant depiction of interpersonal relationships.Spoken by Robert Duvall’s Gus McCrae, “It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living,” is one of the most quietly philosophical lines in the whole series.The series, which also features Tommy Lee Jones and Diane Lane, among others, is brimming with memorable dialogue and dramatically powerful scenes.
It means precisely what the name suggests: shooting during the day and making it look like night.Let’s take a look at five great movies that used the day-for-night technique very well.The filmmaker used day-for-night techniques in key ocean “night” exteriors.
“When in doubt, follow your nose” is one of Gandalf’s most simple and understated lines in the trilogy.Spoken once in The Fellowship of the Ring, directed by Peter Jackson, this line serves as (literally) a guiding light in the dark Mines of Moria.When Humor Masks WisdomThe line, “When in doubt, follow your nose,” is one Ian McKellen’s Gandalf says to Dominic Monaghan’s Merry in the Mines of Moria sequence of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Robert Mulligan’s To Kill a Mockingbird, based on Harper Lee’s best-selling novel, did exactly that“All men are created equal.”These are the words that echoed within the courtroom proceedings when Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) decided to give it all to defend Tom Robinson (Brock Peters) in his closing statement.Harper Lee is the author of the novel on which the movie is based.
The film has been perfectly timed to the zeitgeist, too, with the emotional Artemis II moon mission uniting space lovers around the world.Adapting the popular book by Andy Weir, screenwriter Drew Goddard created a complex, inspiring sci-fi thriller that has captivated audiences.Goddard said the moment in the book moved him.
Today, I want to go over the best dog movies of all time.this film uses the bond between an elderly man and his dog, Flike, to tell a devastating story of poverty and social isolation.But if you haven't seen this movie, it really is the quintessential "boy and his dog" story.
Robert Towne’s script is a lesson in Plant and Payoff.2. Double Indemnity (1944)Written by: Billy Wilder and Raymond ChandlerIf you want to learn how to write dialogue, this is your bible.What’s your favorite Noir script to revisit when you’re stuck?
During a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Lord and Miller talked about how Steven Spielberg gave them the idea for one of the fun hidden details in the movie. The Logistics of "Serendipity"While the Close Encounters nod was a fun Easter egg in the movie, the interview also highlights a deeper lesson in creative collaboration and trusting your actors.Summing It All Up I love how everything seems to come together for Project Hail Mary.
But according to a recent report from The A.V. Club, Soderbergh is using AI to bridge the visual gaps in his upcoming documentary about John Lennon and Yoko Ono. And that has a lot of people feeling uneasy, The film centers on a massive three-hour interview the couple gave to RKO Radio just hours before Lennon’s tragic death in 1980.AI-generated visuals.
Set to debut for the first time at the conference in Las Vegas next week, Proton has announced that it is expanding its minicam portfolio with the new PROTON Pro, a new miniature broadcast camera that aims to combine a larger global shutter sensor with the mix of pro connectivity features that broadcast operators are looking for straight out of the box.PROTON PRO Miniature Broadcast CameraBut for those set to be at NAB 2026, you can check out the PROTON PRO at booth C.4740 in the Las Vegas Convention Center next week.
Beeble has announced the launch of a new AI-powered rotoscoping tool, which aims to deliver clean, detailed alpha mattes in seconds.Beeble Background Remover ToolThis new tool is set to leverage advanced AI models to automatically generate high-quality foreground masks from video, images, or image sequences.
Along with likely other cameras, of course, and a trove of technical tools for the job, Nikon reports that the D5 is in use on the ISS and that the nearly ten-year-old DSLR is a popular choice for NASA astronauts.Let’s take a look at what makes the Nikon D5 an odd yet understandable choice for use in space and why it’s proven to be a popular option for NASA astronauts over the years.The Nikon D5 is Space
Blackmagic Design is willing to bet that it could be for you, as the company has announced that its DeckLink IP 100G is now available and capable of supporting up to 8 channels of simultaneous Ultra HD capture and playback on Windows and Linux, and 4 channels on Mac.The Blackmagic Design DeckLink IP 100GSupports all SD, HD, and Ultra HD Standards to 2160p60
Marlon Brando famously struggled with memory, and he was pretty much the reigning monarch of acting.(The Silence of the Lambs, 1991)Roger Donaldson The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)Credit: Magnolia PicturesHere, Hopkins plays a 67-year-old Burt Munro, famous for his friendly disposition and for having the fastest bike in Oceania.
The dangerous mishap, which hit the actor hard, happened between the first film and its sequel.Hamill suffered fractures to his nose and cheekbone, requiring reconstructive surgery.Which is your favorite sequence from The Empire Strikes Back?
What is perhaps a lesser-known fact is that Tarkovsky connected the opening image of his debut film and the closing image of his final film in the most quintessential “Tarkovsky way” possible.Released more than two decades after his first movie, The Sacrifice, his final feature, ended Andrei Tarkovsky’s career with another child beneath a tree.When An Opening Image & A Closing Image MeetThe opening shot of Ivan’s Childhood immediately establishes Andrei Tarkovsky’s fascination with memory, nature, spirituality, and innocence, told through dreamlike compositions.
While the kiss at the end of the film marks the culmination of Elizabeth and Darcy’s romance, the carriage scene where Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth board her carriage marks its beginning.This brief hand-holding moment is the first moment of intimacy they share.When was the last time you watched Wright’s Pride & Prejudice?
And she learns why when Michael tells her that he has joined his father, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), in the family’s crime business.He says his father is no different from other men with power.After all, she is the daughter of a Baptist minister.
If that were all that mattered, filmmakers like Tim Burton and Alfred Hitchcock wouldn’t have made this list.Cecil B. DeMille—The Ten Commandments (1923, 1956) The first time Cecil B. DeMille made The Ten Commandments (1923), it was less biblical and used the Exodus only to establish parallelism in the opening, then focused on the story of two morally corrupt brothers set in the 1920s.Burton’s 2012 remake follows the same premise but is a dramatic expansion of the story, shot in stop-motion.
His wide range of acting prowess has made him one of the most reliable and lovable actors in Hollywood for decades now.In this list, we go through nine of the best Kurt Russell movies throughout his career, which have made him a timeless actor.While The Hateful Eight is certainly not the best of Tarantino’s filmography, it keeps viewers hooked for three hours, creating palpable tension.
This list contains DiCaprio’s most memorable lines throughout his career in different genres.8 Most Memorable Leonardo DiCaprio Quotes1.Which Leonardo DiCaprio quote did you like the most?
Here is the comprehensive Screenplay Intelligence System coverage report for "John Wick."Synopsis: John Wick, a retired assassin in his early sixties, is mourning the death of his wife, Norma.But the core of it is that these AI programs cannot and will not replace humans.
Most recently, he helped create and star in the Hulu hit, Only Murders in the Building, which he also writes on.He says, as a creator, don't look to the audience, because what you'll see will lie to you. Try not to focus on plot, but on theme or point of view.
That’s why cinematographer Kevin Coyne has released a new support tool that aims to help demystify the anamorphic process for filmmakers.The breakdowns in the project include detailed lens tests as Coyne explores how anamorphic shapes perception, tone, and storytelling.As you can find on his website, the project includes three core videos: an overview of how and why to use anamorphic, a breakdown of its defining visual characteristics, and a comprehensive lens test using Atlas Lens Co.’s Orion Series lenses.
The massive box office haul has been led by Project Hail Mary, which is this happy four-quadrant science fiction movie that brings everyone together.But while audiences are cheering for Ryland Grace and his five-legged engineer pal, Rocky, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have packed the two-and-a-half-hour runtime with more "blink-and-you’ll-miss-it" depth than a black hole.1. Stratt’s Tattoo: A Canon-Expanding "Life Sentence"In Andy Weir’s novel, Eva Stratt’s fate is left to the reader's imagination.
She and Margaret Qualley actually co-directed Carpenter's newest music video, "House Tour".It's a meticulously crafted homage to early 2010s "indie sleaze" and Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring. We get Margaret Qualley and Madelyn Cline, along with Carpenter.
Seedance 2.0 on RunwayThe big news here is that Runway has announced that Seedance 2.0 is now on its platform.However, at the end of Runway’s announcement, the company shared that Seedance 2.0 will be available only on Unlimited plans and Enterprise accounts outside the US.
Announced by EdMon, a company that offers tools for story producers and video editors, another logging function has been introduced to make video material easier to navigate, structure, and work with in post-production.EdMon Action & EventsThe goal of this technology is to give teams a clearer overview of their material and a more structured way to work through their footage.
The TASCAM DR-40XP has received an update that adds 32-bit float recording, the ability to switch to microSD cards for storage, and corrections for issues with reversed L/R channels on the internal microphone in some recording modes.The ability to switch to microSD cards for storage up to 512GB is a nice upgrade, and the fixes to a few issues with the internal microphone's L/R channels when switching between X-Y and A-B modes are a nice resolution to a minor problem.The TASCAM DR-40XP shines in many areas, thanks to its adjustable stereo microphones, ultra-low-noise HDDA mic preamps, XLR/TRS inputs with phantom power, and 32-bit float/96 kHz recording.
At such a time, Buster Keaton took on a project—The General (1926), a comedy film set against the backdrop of the Civil War.It follows a Southern railway engineer, Johnnie Gray (Buster Keaton), a military reject, who must single-handedly pursue Union spies who have stolen his beloved locomotive, named the General.But still, the extortionate amount spent on one shot, not a scene, but a shot, shocked everyone.
Despite all the graphic violence, the real power that The Godfather (1972) thrives on is its riveting moral frequency.In a very, very interesting manner, Brando’s (and Puzo’s and Coppola’s) Vito considers masculinity as a domestic responsibility.And because Vito believes in family values, this structure is reflected in his organization as well.
The film, directed by Frank Perry, does not shy away from the possibility of violence.Through this line, Harris Yulin brilliantly captures Wyatt Earp’s almost romanticized view of aggression by quietly addressing the moral complexity of the situation.Frank Perry’s film approaches the Western genre with cinematic cynicism and an unabashed view of the men who shape the movie’s world.
5 Popular Movies That Recycled Old FootageHere are five well-known films that reused footage from older movies.1. Blade Runner (1982)Directed by Ridley Scott |Which is your favorite instance of a director reusing old footage for a movie?
And thank god Steven Spielberg was there to play the devil’s advocate.The Brainstorming Session Between Lucas and SpielbergThe New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe explained that George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan sat down in California to flesh out Raiders of the Lost Ark.That’s what they did with Raiders of the Lost Ark.
After the critical and financial success of the Matrix franchise, John Wick proved to be Keanu Reeves’s much-needed blockbuster action movie in 2014.It never saw the light of day thanks to Keanu Reeves’s failure to remember the original title.But Keanu Reeves has proved that sometimes, forgetting names and speaking from your instincts can be the best branding strategy one can have.
Originally, I thought I’d include one film from each year of the '80s.So here I am, with two rewatchable movies from every year in the 1980s that showcase the decade's cinematic diversity.1981Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Raiders of the Lost Ark is indeed one of the greatest collaborations between director Steven Spielberg and producer/writer George Lucas.
Not only did the movie meet his expectations by becoming one of the top-10 grossing films of 1944, but a particular scene from the movie continues to inspire both filmmakers and actors with its masterful exploration of seduction and romance.In this article, let’s look at the iconic whistle scene from To Have and Have Not to analyze how it taught movies the art of flirting.To make a film out of Hemingway’s “worst” story, Hawks ended up changing most of the story, with only the first four chapters (or first 15 minutes) bearing any resemblance to the original literature.
You see, for as long as they've made movies, they've made movies about exotic dancers.From cult classics that were once "too hot for TV" to Oscar-nominated crime dramas, here are the top 10 movies about the exotic dancing industry that I think are the best.While it was marketed as a "girls' night out" flick, Steven Soderbergh delivered a surprisingly grounded look at the "hustle" of the gig economy.
We shot on the ARRI Alexa Mini LF with Atlas Mercury lenses.Froome: The best advice I could give filmmakers shooting in extreme environments on a limited budget is to take a step back and really look at what’s absolutely necessary for the story.Think about how shadows can help tell the story.
And outside of that, the vast majority of aspiring screenwriters never see a dime from their work.In a revealing interview with Film Courage, veteran screenwriter and UCLA instructor Corey Mandell broke down the harsh truth about the "high bar" of professional screenwriting and why even "really good" writers often fail to break through.Mandell shared advice from his agent: a career is rarely built on one script.
Kaufman argues that the industry has created a self-fulfilling prophecy.In modern Hollywood, it is safer to fail with a "safe" bet than to fail with an original idea.According to Kaufman, this fear-driven culture isn't just bad for business;
However, with DJI facing a US drone ban on its newest products, a new white paper has been published urging those in power to do more than just issue bans.The white paper is actually a pretty interesting read, as it goes over the current state of the drone industry in the US and the challenges American companies face as they move into this space.However, despite these cost barriers, supply chain fragmentations, and technology gaps, there is hope for more domestic development in the future.
Here are 10 remakes that outshone their predecessors.Infernal Affairs is a sleek, 90-minute thriller.But The Departed is a sprawling Shakespearean tragedy about identity and rot within institutions.
Tim Runia knows the struggle.A Dutch filmmaker and director, he co-founded production agency Tante Tini in the Netherlands for seven years before leaving to pursue independent work and YouTube.He’s put together five editing tips that can help diagnose the issue and get you moving again.
And that’s exactly what Marques Brownlee laid out for his MKBHD team to do in one of their latest videos, as the team at The Studio was assigned different smartphones and tasked with creating high-quality, cinematic intros.The Studio put together a challenge where various members of the MKBHD team were assigned different smartphones—ranging from the budget-friendly CMF Phone 2 Pro to the high-end Samsung S25 Ultra—to create high-quality, "cinematic" intros.You can watch the different cinematic sequences for the different crews from MKBHD’s team below.
And while the latter three are enterprise drones designed for surveying, search and rescue, and other industrial applications, the Mavic 2 Pro might be one of DJI’s most important (and popular) drone models for aerial videographers and photographers over the years.DJI has announced that support for the Mavic 2 Pro will end on August 31st, 2026.Support for the enterprise drones mentioned above will end here on May 29th, 2026.
Well, things are escalating quite quickly, at least in camera rumor circles, as whispers are growing louder about a new Sony mirrorless camera that could feature a new sensor with up to 70MP and be capable of recording video at up to 10K.However, the most notable update to these rumors is that online communities seem to agree that this new mirrorless camera could be the long-rumored Sony a7R VI, which—if true—could be one of the company’s most ambitious flagship mirrorless cameras to date.Sure, a new flagship Sony mirrorless camera with some audacious video recording specs would be a nice option to consider when looking for a new camera.
9 Memorable Movie Quotes by Marlon Brando1.Whatever the case, his performance as Marc Anthony proved the critics wrong.(The Wild One, 1953)
In a move unusual for a coach, he demands that the team members sign a contract in which they agree and promise to not only fulfill the required attendance but also sit in the front rows in all their classes, maintain a GPA of at least 2.3, and submit progress reports on grades and attendance.However, when Carter discovers that some players are failing academically, he locks the gym and offers to open only when the team players deliver on their contract’s terms.The Source: Marianne Williamson’s “A Return to Love”This detail is kind of surprising to most readers.
But when he walks in and auditions for the role of the town’s apex predator, with a tinge of dry humor, that stands out.Instead, he deploys an unusual weapon, his dry wit, to “announce” that his opponents are already dead.Sergio Leone flips the script on this one and makes Joe the one who sets the terms of engagement.
The SceneThe scene takes place half an hour into the movie, immediately after Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) take care of the stubborn Hollywood producer, Jack Woltz (John Marley).Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo (Al Lettieri), a drug kingpin, meets Vito and his team for a business proposition.For what it’s worth, it may have started a mafia war, but it highlighted the moral backbone of The Godfather.
Years after the movie was first released, Coppola added what is believed to be just under 30 minutes of additional footage that wasn’t part of the original.Summing It UpWhen Francis Ford Coppola reintroduced the plantation sequence in Apocalypse Now Redux, he added a deeper perspective to the film’s core ambition.Which is your favorite Francis Ford Coppola film?
However, when fans learned about a very specific deleted scene from Return of the Jedi (1983) theatrical cut, they quickly realized that Yoda’s revelation would have changed the Jedi Order forever.It shifts the moral weight of the Jedi.The Jedi’s Moral BlindspotIf the deleted scene had remained in the film, it would have perhaps strengthened debates about the Jedi philosophy.
In Frank Darabont’s 1994 classic, The Shawshank Redemption, one of the finest moments reframes our entire understanding of prison life.The monologue is one of the poetic high points of the film, which is far from being short on moments like these.Summing It UpRed’s monologue helps solidify The Shawshank Redemption’s emotional core.
So, which are the highest-grossing disaster movies of all time?7 Most Successful Disaster Movies Of All TimeHere are the most money-spinning disaster movies in all of film history.Which is your favorite disaster movie of all time?
He may be a man with no name;"Apologize to my mule.”ConclusionThe “mule” gag is an excellent example of psychological warfare in cinema.
A cowboy is the soul of any Old West tale, and his “Peacemaker,” a.k.a. the Colt .45, is his weapon of choice. So, when this six-shooter is replaced by an axe—I’m sorry, an axe “handle”—you raise an eyebrow and pay attention.In
In the classic sci-fi film Back to the Future (1985), director Robert Zem...
Towards the end of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), directed by Richard Marquand, an epic climax unfolds in the throne...
Those who have found their mentors will tell you that a mentor-mentee relationship feels like it’s written from the great beyond. You find them usually when you’re not looking for them. It is as spiritual as it is with your parents or with a higher power. A mentor isn’t just someone who imparts knowledge, but someone who always has y...
Moments from a character’s childhood not only reveal the person’s background but also help the audience form an emotional connection with them.Naturally, using a flashback to a character’s childhood as an expository tool might be a cliché, but more often than not, they prove to be extremely effective if presented with intention.For a ...
Winning an Oscar is a dream for many filmmakers, and so is being nominated for one. The Academy Awards have a history of acknowledging and honoring the best movies. And as the Oscars 2026 just wrapped up in March, it’s that time ...
Let’s be honest, no one likes to be misjudged or misread. It’s the worst feeling ever, but some of cinema’s most iconic characters find themselves in that gray space.Some characters are hated too quickly, while others are celebrated too easily. The quiet and
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with animator and director Julian Glander about making his microbudget animated feature Boys Go to Jupiter for just $30,000, premiering it at Tribeca, building momentum through a 50-festival run, and ev...
What happened to movies being like 105 minutes? It feelsl ike eveyr mocie is two and a half hours now, and even though that may be hyperbolic, it's not that untrue.A new report from the Hollywood Reporter really p...
Movie genre and TV genres are how we pick what we want to entertain us or inspire us. We've all logged onto Netflix or Amazon, even wandered the Blockbusters of old, peering up and down aisles or scrolling through endless topics, trying to decide on the genre of film or television we want to watch. The genre we wind up picking depen...
My wife and I are fans of Paradise, and there are times between seasons when we wish we had way more episodes. I suppose you feel that way about every show you love. But when the show is on streaming, you know you're only going to get 8-10 episodes.Now, I work in Hollywood, and I've tried to exp...
Going out with your friends and family to the movies is back in a big way. And we have lots of wonderful films and studios to thank for supercharging the box office again. Let's not bury the lede: the domestic box office has roared back to life in the first three mon...

For Sony shooters looking to upgrade their glass for their favorite Sony E-mount cameras, B&H currently has some pretty awesome deals on versatile, high-quality Tamron zoom lenses. For our latest "Deals of the Week...
In a 2021 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Quentin Tarantino made a passionate case for John Carpenter's The Thing.These two film fans talk about what makes the movie so great and end up dissecting what makes horror work for even moviegoers (like Tarantino) who don’t get scared.Check out their conversation here...
If you’re interested in upgrading your Sony NP-F970 batteries for any reason, you might want to check out this new option from ZGCINE. The new BT-NPF970 is a 70Wh replacement USB-C option for your Sony NP-F970 batteries, set to feature more port options, a precision OLED display, and some pretty helpful fast-charging capabilities.Let...
Bad Robot, the production company J.J. Abrams founded in 1999, is closing its Los Angeles office. Abrams is likely relocating to New York, and the company is reorganizing as it moves with him, per Hollywood Reporter.
Horror stories are like bacteria that mutate as they enter new microbial cultures. It is one feeling, but it has no distinct language. Its face changes depending on where it's manifesting. We can find out how that’s true if we throw a glance at its cinematic history.Hollywood horrors have a distinct American flavor,...
If it is a regular feel-good movie ending, then bad guys get eliminated, things fall into place, and the protagonist gets back into the swing of things. All good people go on to live a “happily ever after” life. Shane (1953), ho...
You might think that, in the rugged terrains of the Old West, the frontier sensibilities around violence and death might not be as delicate as yours and mine are. And why not? Ever since the dawn of Westerns, all we have seen are hard-nosed “pistoleros” with n...
In Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), directed by Richard Marquand, Luke Skywalker confronts Obi-Wan Kenobi about a painful truth: his father’s identity.Obi-Wan had previously t...
The ending of Frank Darabont’s epic prison-break film, The Shawshank Redemption (1994), lands with quiet precision and high emotional resonance because its seeds are planted early on.
Some of the greatest moments in film history relied purely on their filmmaking fundamentals and visual storytelling to such an extent that even without any dialogue, a lead character conveyed everything they intended.No monologues. No long speeches. Not even an understated verbal response. Just pure action.It is precisely this verb...
Animated movies have had a long journey through time. From being labelled as “only for kids” to “family entertainment”, the genre has evolved remarkably over the years, eventually becoming profoundly meaningful and thought-provoking.What began as hand-d...
When you think of the most iconic quote or line from a movie, what comes to mind? Maybe “You talkin’ to me?” from Taxi Driver, or “Frankly dear, I don’t give a damn,” from Gone with the Win...
Some of the articles I get to write here are more fun than the others. And this one was a good time to research. You see, for as long as they've made movies, they've made movies about exotic dancers.No matter your moral standing on the position, it's safe to sa...
Goodfellas is one of the best (if not the best) mafia movies ever made. I love it so much because the whole movie has an energy to it. The camerawork is enthralling, steeping us in the underworld of organized crime...making us feel like we're right there filling The Bamboo Lounge with lif...
One of the things I really miss is the DVD special features, where we could watch behind the scenes and maybe see some of the process of making a movie. So I scour the internet looking for these things.And today, I found a gem.When we look at modern masters of cinema,
And once again, many of this year’s Oscar®-nominated films share something in common: They showcase bold storytelling crafted with Adobe Creative Cloud tools like Premiere,
There are very few modern directors who care more about showing the margins than Sean Baker. The guy seems to live to tell stories about America that no one else knows how to touch. His films follow sex workers, struggling families, and drifters. All of them get voice...
A few years ago, DC Studios appointed James Gunn and Peter Safran to lead it, and we all rejoiced. It felt like a new and exciting era in comic book movies, and finally, some stability for DC.Gunn brought us his Superman, which I really enjoyed and found fun. Now, h...
Somewhere between "I have an idea" and "we're shooting Monday," most first-time filmmakers get lost.You might tell yourself to wait. You don’t have the right camera, you don’t have the budget, you’re not sure about the script, you just don’t feel ready. London-based actor and YouTuber Becca Watson is not a filmmaker...
Outside of AI, which is hands down the most important (or, at least, polarizing) topic of our time, there’s another trend in film and video work that’s been growing in popularity over the past year or so. But what is open gate, and why is everyone so obsessed with it?Let’s take a quick look at what open gate recording is and how it works with...
If you’re looking for a fun, easy, and affordable lens to bring on your travels, this stealthy new pancake lens from SG-image might be worth considering. Featuring a 35mm perspective, the most popular option for documentary and street photography, this new SG-image AF 35mm f/2.2 Lens offers a nice combo of natural bokeh and autofocus.<...
Upgrading its previous Astral Mini, the new Sound Devices Astral Mini Plus is here to give production teams the gear they need to handle the most ambitious (and often annoying) of projects. If you’re gearing up for a long video shoot or set to handle ...
Today, we're going to talk about the filmmaking of the moon landing, the achievement for mankind, and how Kubrick got the lenses to shoot Barry Lyndon. The moon landing wasn’t "shot" in a studio; it was captured via a sophisticated feat of 1960s aerospace engineering.The "footage" was broadcast live to 600 million people via radio telescopes in Australia and California.
Instead, they created a delusional “too big to fail” challenge, and the box office was more than happy to accept it.It turned out to be a decade of massive swings and even bigger misses.This ranking looks at the financial carnage left behind by the decade’s biggest misfires.
While war movies chase big speeches and
A handful of actors exuded relentless power and unrelenting on-screen authority like Charles Bronson. Across his vastly successful movie career, Bronson delivered some of the most charismatic performances through restraint, silence, and a few undeniably impactful words.From
In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, a quiet exchange in the Mines of Moria carries ...
I completely support Tom Hanks’ Jimmy Dugan shouting at Evelyn in A League of Their Own, saying, “There’s no crying in baseball,” when she breaks into tears over a mistake that cost the game. Sounds a little...
The slasher genre is built on its monsters, mayhem, and, not to forget, the tools these forces of menace carry to claim their victims.Weapons that roar, thud, and slash with panache. For a few, just the sight of them makes your skin crawl. The beauty lies ...
After Licence to Kill (1989), it was important to reinvent the legend of 007, James Bond—the world had outgrown the Cold War-era movies and wondered whether James Bond’s old-school vigor would be enough to reel the audience back in.Then came Martin Campbell with his thrilling GoldenEye,...
Clint Eastwood’s 1992 masterpiece, Unforgiven, defines an era of the old Western genre. It is a story centered o...
With the new releases of larger sensors in cameras like the Blackmagic URSA Cine 17K 65 and the GFX Eterna 55 from Fuji, filmmakers now face yet another format where they have to learn the landscape of what lenses they can use to cover these humongous sensors.We set out to test the options that will be available to most of us, and we're happy to report that there are some choices there for us.They would be out of the budget to buy, but if we had a budget, we could rent.
I could listen to Orson Welles talk all day. And when I find some clips of him sharing insight, you know I'm going to bring it to you.So when I found Orson Welles and Charlton Heston telling the story of how he turned a "fairl...
I don't know about you, but my whole news feed revolves around Project Hail Mary. It's the biggest movie in the world, and the one everyone is talking about. And as our resident writer, I want to talk about this amazing adapted script by Drew Goddard. Whether you’re a fan of the novel or a screenwriter looking to st...
I don't know about you, but my whole news feed revolves around Project Hail Mary. It's the biggest movie in the world, and the one everyone is talking about. And as our resident writer, I want to talk about this amazing adapted script by Drew Goddard. Whether you’re a fan of the novel or a screenwriter looking to stud...
Have you ever tried to set the mood by putting on a certain Spotify playlist? Maybe you want to impress someone at a dinner or hang out in the bedroom. Anyway, you know what I'm talking about.Well, the same thing goes for movies. If you're trying to set a mood, you want the music to correspond. And when you're making a steamy movie w...
Despite global shortages causing potential suspensions or delays in manufacturing memory cards (as we just saw with Sony's announcement), new memory cards from brands are still being released.If you’re understandably worrie...
I'm a massive fan of the "Spielberg Oner", that fluid, multi-minute shot where the camera tracks a scene and settles into a perfect close-up without a single cut. It looks effortless, like the camera is just lucky enough to be in the ...
Like it was the year prior, this is the year of AI. And likely, but not for sure, every year forward will be as well. If you’re interested in AI for video or other creative processes, Adobe Firefly is one of the top platforms for hosting a range of gene...
Well, this is a nice discount on a high-quality travel-friendly pancake lens. The new Brightin Star 28mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens is out now and available with a 50% discount, giving shooters nearly $300 off this vintage-inspired wide-angle lens.Designed for your Leica M rangefinder, this manual focus pancake lens features an extr...
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is one of the most fascinating characters in cinema. Perhaps the most nourished character arc ever. His downfall from an idealistic war hero to a
Imagine it’s 1933. You’re the Depression-era first-generation movie audience of Hollywood’s golden age. You’ve come to watch King Kong, a revolutionary, cutting-edge movie that’s considered a technical marvel. And fi...
Moviegoers who enjoy the combination of high-stakes tension and extravagant technology have always been drawn to the world of international espionage. Watching a lone operative outsmart a multinational syndicate, all whi...
Among other things that make Westerns a stand-alone genre, the standoffs, duels, and gunfights are the central ones. They actually form the genre’s heart. These elements are the carriers of tension, style, and mythic heroism, and that makes them one of the m...
If a legendary character is always right about every single thing, does that make them an actual legend or a caricature of one?The original Star Wars trilogy g...
The greatest movie endings are often quietly set up in the first act of a story, and we are blissfully unaware of this until we actually witness the ending.This...
Some of the greatest movies ever made are secretly packed with hidden meanings and symbolism that masterfully affect audiences on a subconscious level or on repeat viewings. While we are likely to draw parallels between a film’s messaging and something we already know on a subconscious level, repeat...
Whatever the causes are, these movie mistakes are always good for a laugh, and at times, a hilarious meme.Let’s go over some of the best movie mistakes in the history of cinema.This is because Clint Eastwood used a plastic doll on the day of the shoot, as he had to improvise with no babies on set.
You write your own manual.The Duplass brothers' first short, This Is John, is a man alone in a room with a tape recorder.Scorsese doesn't just say do the work, he says stay close to the thing that sparked you to make your project in the first place.
In a recent behind-the-scenes look from Adam Savage’s Tested, we get a deep dissection into the stunt department of Project Hail Mary.The "Spinner Rig"The heart of the production's EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) sequences is a custom-designed gantry and spinner rig.This rig allows for movement on all those axes and allows a stunt team to control them.
Without saying it once in the press release, we all know the culprit behind the global semiconductor shortage, which is causing Sony to pause production of its SD and CFexpress memory cards.The side effects of AI are here, as a global flash shortage is starting to hit companies and customers worldwide. Let’s take a look at what Sony has ...
Have you ever just had a really crappy day? All you want to do is go home, put on your comfy clothes, curl up on the couch, and watch your favorite movie.Somehow, that does make things better.But what makes a movie "comfortable"? It’s a hard thing to pin down. For some, it’s the childhood nostalgia of a gra...
The liminal space has officially crossed over into the mainstream. After years of redefining horror on YouTube, Kane Parsons (Kane Pixels) is heading to the big screen with A24. We covered Kane back in the day with his viral Backrooms
If you’ve used a Sony camera in the past few years, you might have tried out the Creators’ Cloud and the different tools built into the company’s suite of shooting, production, and sharing services.One of the better tools has been Catalyst Prepare, which provides PC applications for fast, precise correction and editing, leveraging yo...
According to rumors online, Sony is developing a new sensor with some pretty impressive specs and capabilities.Some of the details are a bit “iffy,” but from the reports, at least one source indicates that this new 67-megapixel full-frame sensor could be released later this year and feature some of the highest video recording specs we’ve ever seen in a Sony sensor or camera.As far as timelines go, all we have to go on is the same report, which indicates that this potential new sensor could be released sometime in 2026.
New reports about OpenAI’s decision to shut down its flagship AI video model Sora are coming out, and, man, are they painting a grim picture of just how unpopular and how unprofitable this whole social AI video platform concept really was.OpenAI, on the other hand, is pivoting away from AI video for the time being and is looking to shift its focus to what it would describe as longer-term, safer bets, like robotics.Is AI video still set to take over and change filmmaking and production as we know it, or is this the first domino to fall in a chain reaction of AI video models proving to be far too expensive and impractical for film and video?
Following years of production delays, script overhauls, and the tragic passing of cast members, HBO has finally pulled back the curtain on the most anticipated return in television.Here is everything we know about Euphoria Season 3, the five-year time jump, and the bold new direction Sam Levinson is taking the series.HBO has officially confirmed that Euphoria Season 3 will premiere on April 12, 2026.
In The Cowboys (1972), we meet a different kind of Western hero.Here, the hero is not a lone ranger; he is a seasoned rancher mentoring a group of schoolboys as drovers for a cattle drive.Since then, this catchphrase, “Burnin’ daylight,” has become a shorthand for wasting time.
Jules informs Vincent that Marsellus had one of their associates beaten up and thrown from a fourth-floor window, causing him to develop a permanent speech impairment—all because he dared to give Mia a foot massage.For him, a foot massage is a deeply intimate act.He agrees that a foot massage may not be the actual act of sex itself, but he also insists that it’s definitely the indication that you want to go in that direction.
But did you know that horse stunts are one of the most dangerous elements in Western filmmaking?What are some practical tricks filmmakers use to film realistic horse stunts?6 Techniques Filmmakers Use To Film Spectacular Horse StuntsHere are six tricks film directors use to make horse stunts feel authentic and cinematic.
Gandalf and Frodo Baggins’s first encounter in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is one of the most iconic scenes in the entire film.Frodo’s understanding of “time” is objective.Gandalf’s entrance in The Lord of the Rings is a fabulous example of setting a character’s tone, establishing his worldview and sense of humor, all in one breath.
No Country for Old Men follows an ordinary man who stumbles upon a significant sum of money that he thinks will change his life.The beauty of No Country for Old Men lies in how it shows the universe’s detachment from human struggle.What do you think of the title No Country for Old Men?
A “what have I done” moment in cinema is an extremely versatile trope.In this article, we’re looking at iconic “what have I done” moments in TV and movies. “Kevin’s Not Here”—Home Alone 2: Lost in New York It’s a wonder that a family this size doesn’t notice that Kevin’s missing, again!
Encapsulating the spirit of board games with top-notch storytelling, here are seven of the best movies inspired by board games that’ll dazzle you.Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) With a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a fantasy comedy with clever enough plot points and stakes to keep you hooked.The humor is sharp, hilarious, and Tim Curry’s unhinged performance should not be missed.
Parting ways with a loved one is actually too hard.Since most of the goodbyes take place at the end of the movies, Spoiler alert.Dead Poets Society (1989) The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay-winning Dead Poets Society tells the story of a group of boys attending a prestigious all-male boarding school in Vermont, where they meet their English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams).
The guy has given us a free resource of all his screenplays on his website, where you can head over to Rian-Johnson.com to read and download the scripts now.But if you want a masterclass in how voice, structure, and genre-bending actually collide on the page, you need to start reading Rian Johnson.The "Whodunnit" Revival: Knives Out and Glass Onion are arguably the best structural exercises of the last decade.
These sexy femme fatales have been a staple of the James Bond movies since their inception.The books were written by Ian Fleming.The Sean Connery Era (1962–1967, 1971)The era that defined the archetype.
You decide on a tone depending on what the project needs.Before you can set tone, you need to know what it is.Sam Fuller's Pickup on South Street and Robert Bresson's Pickpocket cover almost identical ground.
According to a recent report from Variety, Netflix has officially rolled out a new pricing structure for its U.S. plans. For those keeping score, the Premium plan is now knocking on the door of $30 a month.But instead of holding off on a price hike, Netflix is doubling down on its content spend, with a projected $20 billion investment in 2026.
Fujifilm has released a new firmware update for its popular medium-format GFX100 II mirrorless camera, set to add more power.Like, a lot more power as this latest update (firmware version 2.50) is set to add compatibility with the Fujinon GF T3.5 PZ OIS WR—a beefy power zoom lens in its own right.Fujifilm GFX100 II Firmware Update
Blackmagic Streaming 4.2.2 UpdateAlong with the aforementioned automatic resume after a restart, streaming capabilities are being added.The update also adds the ability to select a local port on the Streaming Decoder.
Well, a new behind-the-scenes look offers a deep dive into how the filmmakers are tackling the immense challenges of adapting a story that spans galaxies, features a faceless alien co-star, and maintains a sense of "heightened realism."Creating a Relatable HeroAt the center of the story is Ryland Grace, a scientist thrust into a high-stakes mission to save humanity.Enter Ryan Gosling, an actor who can do it all, including opening a number one movie.
Let’s take a look at the Manfrotto ONE, a new hybrid tripod system that is designed for filmmakers and content creators who need to capture both breathtaking photos and cinematic video, and unlock the full power of endless creative possibilities.Go from photo to video without tools.The Manfrotto ONE tripod is out now and available in the following options:
As we previously reported, though, GoPro has announced its next-gen AI-enhanced GP3 processor, which promises a new image-quality standard for low-light capture.This will likely be part of the next generation of GoPro action cameras as well.The 22-second video showcases clips that are said to have been recorded with a new generation of GoPro.
Here’s a breakdown of what one of the VB1940 and VD1940 image sensors will be capable of:The VB1940 and VD1940 are 5.1 MP image sensors with both rolling and global shutter modes.The sensor captures up to 60 frames per second in a 2560 x 1984 resolution format.As you can see, these 5.1MP image sensors appear capable of providing both rolling and global shutter modes, with the ability to capture up to 60 frames per second at 2560 x 1984 resolution.
These ideas are perfect for sparking your creativity.185 Comedy Movie Writing PromptsA sitcom-style movie about life in a quirky small town.
The montage at the end of the first act in Parasite is one of those sequences emblematic of a great film.Classical Music Sets the Tone Classical music, slow motion, and linear cameras moves help connect all sixty of the scenes shown in the five-minute montage.Click here for 10 Kinds of Montages!
But today I want to take a look at ten lessons you can take away from the writing of the show.We will look at quotes from David Simon, Ed Burns, and see what other people have to say about the television show.This excellent video essay from Behind the Curtain gives us a bunch of screenwriting lessons from The Wire.
Today, we're going to define the 16:9 aspect ratio, talk about its history and use, and show how filmmakers utilize it today.Since 2009, monitors and TVs all over the world have adapted the 16:9 aspect ratio.The TV broadcasting companies are now all using 16:9 aspect ratio for their high definition video.
There are some great deals currently available for some top Insta360 cameras, which can record 8K30 360° video in dual or single-lens modes.For our latest "Deals of the Week" roundup, we're highlighting not one, but three of the company's most popular 360-degree cameras which all offer the capabilities to capture immersive, high-octane and high-definition video and photos for your action adventure content.Check them out below.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with director Charlie Tyrell and editors Davis Coombe and Daysha Broadway about The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. The conversation explores how the team shaped an essay-driven documentary around AI, parenting, authorship, and uncertainty, while also breaking down the collaborative editorial process.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
Films like The Conjuring and Annabelle have a distinct dark aesthetic.Light the Background, TooDon't leave your background pure black, Bagnoli advises.Add something for the background.
It’s fun, it’s funny, and it’s a technical marvel as co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have proven once again that they know how to find that ideal balance that audiences crave.During a recent visit to IMAX HQ, the directors shared insights into working with cinematographer Greig Fraser to find interesting shots and techniques.Project Hail Mary Cameras and Aspect Ratios
Let’s take a look at the new Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 PE and explore what it has to offer.Designed to be a great first lens option for creators of all types, the Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 PE offers a compact, practical, and versatile design for capturing everyday moments with ease.The Samyang AF 35mm f/1.8 PE has just been announced, so no official pricing or availability has been shared just yet.
Modifying vintage lenses can be a great solution, but it has to be done right.IronGlass has announced that it is adding select Canon FD lenses to its list of compatible lenses for its AIR rehousing design.IronGlass Canon FD AIR Rehousing
The ‘80s and the ‘90s are considered the period of revival for Westerns.The movies that came out during this decade were marked by gritty realism, moral ambiguity, and prestige.These are the 13 Westerns that we think aptly represent the revivalist spirit of that interesting decade.
“You talkin’ to me?”(Taxi Driver, 1976)Meet the Parents is a great example of De Niro’s range.
In The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Clint Eastwood replaces the quick draw of his gun with the quick draw of his wit.Here, we dissect the Eastwood technique of using dialogue instead of violence to materialize a quietly dangerous antihero.The Scene in PerspectiveA group of pro-Union paramilitary soldiers kill the wife and son of a Missouri farmer, Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood).
In this article, let’s understand the true origin of Miranda Priestly’s power. She is the reigning queen of fashion and the mother of two twin daughters.Priestly embodies terror through her mere presence, and she does it with calm, composure, and restraint.
Did you know that McConaughey’s “Alright, alright, alright,” the line that went on to define his career, was entirely improvised by the actor himself?Matthew McConaughey’s improvisation may seem simple on paper, but there’s solid reasoning behind the actor’s choice of words.Matthew McConaughey’s “Alright, alright, alright” is perhaps one of the finest examples of this.
In Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), his awe-inspiring on-screen presence is perfectly crystallized by one unforgettable moment: a spontaneous tap dance down a flight of stairs.The staircase tap dance is captivating because it appears entirely spontaneous and weightless.How James Cagney Turned Architecture Into ChoreographyIn the White House staircase dance sequence, James Cagney turned a simple flight of stairs into an active partner in his performance.
Let’s go over the list of some great actor comebacks, which reinvented these actors.4. Brendan Fraser — The Whale (2022) Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale gave us Brendan Fraser we didn’t expect.Keanu Reeves rose to fame with roles in The Devil’s Advocate, Speed, and Point Break.
Michael Myers — The Halloween Franchise (1978-2022) Michael Myers is the serial killer from the Halloween series whose name itself is terrifying when spoken.8. The Grabber — The Black Phone (2021) Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone is one of the best original horror-thriller films from 2021.Moreover, Ethan Hawke’s performance as a man abused at the hands of his father reveals the character’s psychological deterioration, which makes the reveal of The Grabber worth waiting for.
That philosophy shaped the documentary’s visual language from the start, embracing imperfections, mixed media formats, and even visible filmmaking equipment in the frame to highlight the human fingerprints behind the images.All choices that reinforce the film’s larger conversation about technology and the value of human creativity.Details on where you can watch The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist on Focus' website.
In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with filmmaker Pete Ohs for the first installment in a quarterly 2026 series tracking how he releases four films over the course of the year.Using OBEX as the case study, Ohs breaks down the film’s microbudget production, Sundance 2025 premiere, U.S. acquisition by Oscilloscope, and the realities of theatrical rollout for independent films.Listen to more episodes of the No Film School podcast right here:
In a recent Film Riot breakdown, Ryan Connolly dives into the "Amazing Effects" of classic and modern cinema.I sat back and saw a lot of classic VFX that felt really good on screen.In films like Sucker Punch and Terminator 2, directors use a twin set so they can seamlessly put the camera anywhere with worrying about reflections.
Director and cinematographer Sam Davis set out to make the short with no script, no shot list, and a cast of non-actors he spent a year hunting down on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.The result is a warm, funny, deeply felt film about a sing-off in a dive bar, adapted from the 1852 short story by Russian author Ivan Turgenev.Ask them to be themselves.
And there are very few writers who have as distinct dialogue as Aaron Sorkin.Sorkin has a signature style that is instantly recognizable.Sorkin argues that a script has a literal time signature.
Suffice it to say, I need a complete revamp of the action words in my screenplay.These are words that apply to any genre and can help you describe any situation.Action Verb List
Developed and shared by the founder of Nice Touch, here’s a free, no login, batch video converter for editors that’s actually quite helpful.Nice Touch Batch Video ConverterDeveloped by Cooksey and available on the Nice Touch website, this is a free, additional offering alongside the company's AI workflow assistant, which aims to help editors move faster from raw materials to a solid first-pass edit.
It’s on you, the audience, to save the industry.Ryan Gosling just pointed out that’s a pretty backwards way of looking at a billion-dollar business. But Gosling’s stance is a rallying cry for filmmakers to return to a simpler truth: The audience will show up if the movie is worth the trip.
Let’s take a quick look at a new auto-tracking matte extraction plugin, ONYX AI Matte v2.5, and see what it can do to speed up your projects.ONYX AI Matte 2.5Users can then click to select specific objects, extract all at once, or switch to direct point or box selection for precise control.
CapCut has announced the introduction of its new Video Studio, a timeline-free way to create videos on CapCut Web.The kicker here is that this new CapCut Video Studio is set to support Dreamina Seedance 2.0 and allow users to utilize this powerful AI video model in a canvas-based AI production workspace.Seedance 2.0 in CapCut Video Studio
The new DJI Avata 360 is set to launch globally, which sounds like it will include the US.Powered by its O4+ video transmission system and advanced obstacle sensing, the DJI Avata 360 will enable aerial photographers and videographers to see farther with a more stable, safer, and more immersive flight experience.And, on top of that, the drone will feature a Single Lens mode that will allow for aerial shooters to use the classic Avata-style filming in 4K/60fps.
The new DJI Avata 360 is set to launch globally, which sounds like it will include the US.Powered by its O4+ video transmission system and advanced obstacle sensing, the DJI Avata 360 will enable aerial photographers and videographers to see farther with a more stable, safer, and more immersive flight experience.And, on top of that, the drone will feature a Single Lens mode that will allow for aerial shooters to use the classic Avata-style filming in 4K/60fps.
She’s a coddled prima donna.Her determination to survive and thrive outweighs all morality, decency, and reputation.ConclusionScarlett’s promise to herself is one of the most defining moments in Gone With the Wind.
U.S. Senator Ransom “Ranse” Stoddard (James Stewart) travels to a small frontier town of Shinbone to attend the funeral of Tom Doniphon (John Wayne), an ordinary, poor rancher.He realises that the public had already bought into the image of a law-abiding statesman who risked his life for others, for a larger good, and he stood his ground.The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance proves that, if we want to keep our faith in our past intact, we must know that truth is a luxury we cannot afford.
While it is exciting to create a world of your own, explaining its mechanics to the viewers can be a real challenge.However, with complicated worlds such as the Matrix, you risk getting off track with exposition while telling the story.The genius of the Wachowskis’ storytelling in The Matrix lies in how they blend their plot points with exposition.
In this article, we’re looking at closing horror lines that leave you extremely uneasy at the end of their films.Hannibal Lecter’s Last Call to Clarice (The Silence of the Lambs) Clarice thought that she would never hear from Dr. Hannibal Lecter again.In the end, Ripley recording her last log entry before heading back to Earth as the last survivor of the Nostromo crew is heart-wrenching.
The film cost a massive $175 million to make.The dystopian movie, when adjusted for inflation, would cost around $355 million today, which puts it on par with some of the biggest blockbuster films of our time.Which is your favorite Kevin Costner movie of all time?
The original 1954 film, however, directed by Ishirō Honda, was never intended to be a “fun” monster movie.Released less than a decade after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the film was a somber response to nuclear trauma.Which is your favorite Godzilla movie of all time, and why?