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Film Terms Glossary
1,124 terms for on set, directing and screenwriting · 23 timed quiz challenges · StudentFilmmakers Academy certificates
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Filmmaking articles, interviews, master classes and community
ON CAMPUS | MFA Film Student Natalie Hulla
A Conversation with Eric Steelberg, ASC
Not All Audio Connections Are Equal: Audio Signal Levels
Top Stories
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Cinematography
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Yeah, It Is Brain Surgery: How to Think About How to Shoot
From a Super 8 camera to Marshall McLuhan, Dave Lent explains how to think about shooting: why understanding the medium makes you a better camera operator. How to…
Learn from the Pros
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Directing
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Categories of Direction: Playable, Result and Demonstration
Peter Kiwitt explains the three categories of direction a director can give an actor, playable, result and demonstration, and when each one works best. The casting ideal is…
Screenwriting
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Building and Revealing Character
Building & Revealing Character Simple but powerful tools for building fascinating characters and revealing their inner truth Written by Dave Trottier I get Dr. Format questions flung…
Editing & Post
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Top 10 Editing Tips for Seamless Scene Transitions
Shout out to Avel Chuklanov. Follow his IG @chuklanov In the realm of filmmaking and video editing, the art of seamlessly transitioning between scenes is a crucial element…
Cameras & Gear
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Important Keys to Successful Handheld Camerawork
Photo by Jose Pedro Ortiz @YouTube channel Follow Instagram @josepedro_21 Written by Michael Rabiger How you shoot handheld footage—whether documentary or…
Azden’s New PRO-XR 2.4GHz Wireless Mic
7 Awesome Camera Tips for Young Filmmakers
Shooting for TV/Film: Q&A with Paige Thomas, SOC
Sound
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FILM COMPOSING: Finding the Emotional Ark of Each Scene
Every time a director approaches me for original music, I get a little nervous. Whether it will be a pre-score (music before…
Location Audio Settings for an Avid Workflow
On-Camera Audio: Filmmaker Carey Missler Talks Beachtek
Audio Production Tips from Peter Dowsett
Lighting
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Exclusive Interview with Patrick Cady, ASC
Camerawork, Lighting, and Transitioning from DP to Director Can you talk about your experience as a cinematographer who has occasionally transitioned…
Chiaroscuro Lighting
A Conversation with John Simmons, ASC
‘Quick Change’ Lighting: 9 Tips for the Time-Saving Technique
Documentary
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Casting Your Documentary: How to Choose Your Subjects
Written by Jonathan Moore I remember what they tell me about Tamara. And it isn’t good. I’m preparing to shoot my first…
The Making of L.A. Aboriginal
Peter Rowe, CSC on Wilderness Filmmaking: Tips for New Filmmakers
GET CLOSE: Documentary Filmmaking
Film Business
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Independent Filmmaker Capital
Introduction to Raising Independent Capital "There are different ways to raise capital for your movie and sometimes the easiest place to get…
Hollywood Bound
How to Properly Follow Up with a New Professional Connection
Learn how to raise money with live streaming
Acting
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Get that Peak Performance while the Camera is Actually Rolling
by Steve Carlson New filmmakers spend untold hours learning about cameras, lenses, lighting and rehearsing slow, steady, pans and zooms. In some…
The Benefits of Acting in Indie Films
Working with Actors: A Cinematographer’s View
Tips for Voiceover Auditions: 3 Key Steps
Film Schools
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Misa’s Fugue: Story Parallels Weave Different Melodies Together
When a class project in Sean Gaston’s TV and media classroom was budgeted at $10,000, students knew it was no ordinary film.…
Is Film School in Your Future?
Should I Go to Film School, or Get a Job?
The History of Visual Language in Cinematography
Festivals & Contests
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I attended my first conference after the pandemic
The pandemic cancelled all major events in my country. For two years, everything was postponed or cancelled. I have been waiting for…
Join Us for the RUFF CUTS Screening at The New School in New York
Brettler Captures Introspection and Whimsy in ‘Levin’
Working the Festival Circuit Like a Pro
Coming Up
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Across Our Network
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DPA Microphones Delivers Pristine Audio for Hilary Duff “The Lucky Me Tour”
FOH Productions Deploys Riedel MediorNet, Artist, and Bolero in Portable Video Flypack for Large-Scale Corporate Events
GB Labs Wins Future’s Best of Show Award for Core.ONE, Presented by TVBEurope at IBC 2026
Bildquadrat Expands Production Communication With Riedel Virtual SmartPanel
DPA Microphones Delivers Pristine Audio for Hilary Duff “The Lucky Me Tour”
