How to Make a Movie Trailer
For some movie audiences, watching the trailers is just as important as the movie they came to see. It could be an extended look at a highly anticipated blockbuster or a peek at a movie still a year away from theaters. These glimpses at upcoming movies get audiences talking and give them something to look […]
How to Become a Film Producer
During the Golden Age of Hollywood, studios called the shots, using a producer to pass their wishes on to the directors, actors, and crew – essentially a one-way street. Studios basically had a roster of stars, in-house crews, department heads, and whatever else they needed to make films under one umbrella. It was, seemingly at […]
Film Terms Heard on the Set That Aren’t What You’d Think
This is not meant to be a glossary of all of the common film terms. For that, check out our glossary here. As for their etymology, some of them are tied to the early history of filmmaking when an “apple box” was quite literally an apple box. Just like short order cooks have their own […]
Types of Film Lighting
With the right kind of lighting, black and white films can be just as vibrant as any color or 3-D film. Shadows created by the key light, leaving half of a face obscured during a clandestine meeting can build as much tension as a car explosion, given the right treatment. Replicating a natural light source […]
How to Create 3-Point Lighting
It seems obvious that in order to create three-point lighting you would need three lights, but actually you don’t. Before we discuss how to create three-point lighting with less than three lights, let’s discuss what we mean by three-point lighting. It’s the classic studio lighting setup for headshots. It employs one light (the most powerful […]
How to Become a Film Director
Want to become a Hollywood heavyweight, with the power to make or break careers, film whatever you want without question, and be invited to every Academy Award after-party? Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet to attaining that level of fame and fortune without some sweat equity. Directors don’t just start directing unless you have the right […]
How to Write a Screenplay
Of all the different jobs, positions, titles one can hold in the world of movie-making, none may be as key as a screenwriter. After all, with no screenplay or script, producers, directors, cast, and crew won’t have much to do. Even reality shows need to have something written for hosts to talk about before, during, […]
FILM STUDENT SEAN CHOU IS GOING PLACES THANKS TO HIS MENTOR, MARS CALLAHAN
When Film Connection student Sean Chou signed up for the program, he had confidence that it would lead him to a film career — he just had no concept of how quickly it could happen! Sean was invited into our Film School by Film Director Mars Callahan, a writer/director whose latest project — “Pool Hall Junkies” […]
How Long Does it Take to Make a Movie?
If you want to know how long it takes to make a movie, you need to consider all that goes into a production timeline. From writing the script to the final edits, movies can take years (decades even) to make. When you remove the time it takes to get a final screenplay, the average time […]
How to Become a Movie Producer
The most successful movie producers in the industry are able to bring almost any script to life and turn it into an award-winning blockbuster. It’s not just a matter of finding a diamond in the rough – although that helps. It means being able to turn a “meh” movie into a summer blockbuster or turning […]
What is SAG-AFTRA?
SAG-AFTRA in an American union created to protect and benefit movie and TV performers, radio announcers, singers, dancers and journalists. SAG-AFTRA is a combination of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) that was formed when they merged in 2012. It is part of the AFL-CIO. Becoming a member […]
Cinematography Lighting Explained
Cinematography lighting plays a large role in filmmaking. Done well, it creates a mood and atmosphere for the film. It tells the audience where to look. It can accentuate the emotional psychology of a scene and define the genre of the film. Cinematography goes far beyond the basic three point light setup that most of […]
