Planning & Directing
Stuff You Need to Know
What does a film director do?
What exactly does the film director do? This article aims to answer this question and more, as we explore: The Role of The Director.
How to write a comprehensive video production contract
Have you ever asked yourself whether your video production contract was good enough? If you’re like most freelancers or small business owners, you probably...
How to Apply the Three Act Structure to Nonfiction Video
We all know how important three act structure is in narrative filmmaking; it’s been used in storytelling of all sorts for eons, and if...
How to Effectively Collaborate with Your DP
Your Director of Photography can help bring your cinematic vision to life, but only if you work well together.
How to Break Down a Script for Production
Film production at any level is a complicated process. When working on your own, or even with a small team, there's a lot on...
How a shot list makes your shoot easier, better and cheaper
If you go back and look at your early work, it probably looks like it was directed by someone who needs a guide dog....
Top 5 scouting tips every location scout should know
Although you won't need to go to a special school or take any college courses to become a location scout, you will need a...
How to Develop Strong Characters that Draw in Your Audience
An outline for your screenplay is a great way to start, but developing strong characters will engage viewers in the story you’re telling. Would...
Visual Screenplay Writing: Stay in Your Lane, Bring the Flavor
Before you sit down to write your next award-winning screenplay, make sure you’re writing for both the eye and the ear.
How to Evaluate a Screenplay
As an up-and-coming director, you jump at the opportunity to direct your first feature film. When you get your hands on a script being...
Video Courses
Special Effects Basic Training
Making movie-like special effects doesn't have to be difficult. Our experts at Videomaker show you how easy it is to make your own using...
What's New
How to craft an effective production workflow for small teams
Today’s video technology allows small video productions to give major film productions a run for their money. Here’s how they can do it.
Character foils in film defined
Buzz Lightyear, Han Solo and Draco Malfoy — while these characters are quite different, they have a major thing in common: They're all foils.
What does a first assistant director do?
Almost everyone knows what a film director does, but what about the first assistant director? Let's go over what they do on set.
The film noir genre defined
Defined by its dark themes and sharp visual contrast, film noir rose to popularity in the 1940s and has been a cinema genre cornerstone since.
How to stay organized in pre-production
Every film project must start at the pre-production stage. And the best way to navigate pre-production is to start (and stay) organized.
Ferdinand de Saussure: The linguist who unexpectedly helped create film theory
Ferdinand de Saussure's groundbreaking linguistic theories have had a major influence on cinema and narrative interpretation.
The importance of DOT documents: Lessons learned from a near-disastrous cross-country...
Ask any industry professional and they are likely to have plenty of horror stories. However, this one could have ended in complete disaster.
What can we learn from Greta Gerwig?
Being one of the most successful directors in the modern era, there's a lot we can learn from acclaimed director Greta Gerwig.
The role of the mood board in pre-production
Mood boards are used across various industries and for various reasons. But for filmmakers, they can be a huge help.
The purpose of video editing
Ever since the dawn of cinema, there has been a need for video editing. But why is that? What is the purpose of editing the videos we shoot?
What is an executive producer and what do they do?
While there are many jobs on a film set, one of the most important roles is the executive producer. Here's why they are so vital.
The art of risk-taking in filmmaking
Taking risks in filmmaking can be quiet scary, but it can be also highly rewarding. No one shows us that better than Wes Anderson.
Creating surrealism: Films that refuse to explain themselves
Surrealism in filmmaking is a genre that has captivated niche audiences for decades. Here's what you need to know to make a great surrealist film.
Modern pre-production workflow for small teams: An in-depth guide
Today, small teams are leveraging technological advancements and collaborative tools to streamline the pre-production process.
