Articles Of Interest

"Poor Man's Process" is a filmmaking technique to shoot actors in what looks like a moving car, without the use of green screen, rear screen projection, or using an actual moving vehicle such as on a trailer or with camera mounts.

Watch how Quentin Tarantino films a scene in a car, in Death Proof. He uses camera angles and editing to build relationships between characters.

In this video I’ll breakdown how camera movement and framing create scary images by going over the three stages of horror and analysing some terrifying techniques used by cinematographers to create deep psychological dread.

An exploration into Sergio Leone's filmography and how he perfected the use of the close-up shot.

Camera shots and camera angles — every shot, in a scene, in a sequence, and in a movie, needs to be decided on with purpose. Choosing between a close-up or a medium shot can mean a huge difference in how the moment is perceived and felt by the audience. There is psychology at play in film language and film theory, and it is up to the director when making a shot list to speak that language fluently.

Camera framing is just one of the many cinematography techniques we’ve all had to learn. Choosing your subject(s) for each shot might seem intuitive but how do you frame them? Do you isolate them in a single or “complicate” things with a “dirty single”? When should you use an over the shoulder shot and does that shot composition always make sense? These are the types of questions we cover in this episode of The Shot List.

Every filmmaker brings some fundamental film theory to their cinematography. Whether it is the shot size, camera framing, or camera angles — they all add up to give each shot meaning. In this episode of The Shot List, we will look exclusively at cinematography techniques and camera angles in filmmaking. 

Depth of field might be one of the last considerations filmmakers make when creating a shot list. But that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. In this video essay, we’re going to look at camera basics like depth of field and how camera focus is used in visual storytelling. With deep depth of field, shallow depth of field, soft focus, rack focus, split diopter lens, and tilt shift lens, each brings a different perspective to your shots. This is Episode 4 of The Shot List: Depth of Field Explained.

Camera rigs come in all shapes and sizes...and all budgets. Camera gear is expensive and camera setup can eat up a lot of time on set. In other words, if you’re going to invest the time and money in a camera rig, you should know the camera gear options available and how they work. In this episode of the Shot List, our focus is the various camera rigs and film equipment that will provide both production value and storytelling value to your next project.

Camera movement is a surefire way to amplify your visual storytelling. Whether you opt for a dolly shot, a tracking shot, or decide to go handheld, a simple scene can turn into an electrifying moment. In this video essay, Episode 6 of The Shot List, we’re going to cover every type of camera movement in film. From the storytelling value of each camera movement to the camera movement techniques necessary to pull them off.