The Filmmaker’s Handbook: How are Matte Shots Created?
Matte shots are shots incorporating live-action film footage with a matte painting to render an environment that would be impossible to physically film.
The Filmmaker’s Handbook: What is a Dutch Tilt?
The Dutch angle, or Dutch tilt, is a camera shot stemming from German Expressionism where the camera is tilted to create a disoriented, crooked shot.
The Filmmaker’s Handbook: What Are Bridging Shots and Match Cuts?
Bridging cuts are shots that connect disconnected moments in film. They indicate the passage of time or change of scenery through pleasing visuals. Match cuts perform a similar service but are…
The Filmmaker’s Handbook: What is an Arc Shot and How is it Used?
An arc shot is when a camera rotates around a relatively stationary subject in a half-circle motion, revealing different parts of the subject and their background.
The Filmmaker’s Handbook: What is an Aerial Shot?
The aerial shot is a wide, grand exterior shot which is used to establish setting, show scale or isolate its focal character.
How Similar Are “Forrest Gump” and “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button”?
Screenwriter Eric Roth writes two coming-of-age stories that, under closer examination, have remarkable similarities.
Did the NFL Get Their Hands on “Concussion” Before Release?
Whether or not the NFL managed to influence the content of "Concussion" from its original scripted version is a point of contention among viewers and media outlets.
Is “Victoria” Really Shot as One Long, Continuous Take?
"Victoria" is a 132-minute German film shot in one long, continuous take across 22 locations in Berlin.
What Does “The 39 Steps” Say About Marriage and Gender?
One of the film's major motifs of "The 39 Steps" is Hitchcock's examination of the confining, sexually-frustrating institution of marriage.
How does the pilot of “Mozart in the Jungle” reflect Amazon’s business model?
Looking back at the pilot of "Mozart in the Jungle," the episode appears full of flashy excitement and gratuitous sex. The poor continuity with later episodes suggests that Amazon's…