While Insta360 may be signaling that the gimbal camera market is set to be one of the biggest...

David Zucker has been making people laugh since before most of us were born. Co-creator of Airplane! and...

If you held a gun to my head, or maybe a cannoli, and asked me to name what...

High production value is one of those things we’re all probably striving for, but it can be elusive...

I feel like people love to romanticize screenwriting. They think it pours out and is easy, but anyone...

Whenever I sit down to break a new story or to give someone notes, I always think deeply...

We know it’s not the most exciting topic to many traditional filmmakers, and even for those who have...

Suleika Jaouad writes memoirs. She came to writing the way none of us would willingly choose—from a hospital...

If there’s one thing you can always count on for Steven Spielberg, it’s the fact that he loves...

There’s a line in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly that lands so quietly, between bigger moments...

For many cinematographers, the name of the game should be refining and perfecting the lighting in your scene...

Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day hits theaters June 12, which means the man is top of mind right now...

Every film fan remembers the first time they watched the bath scene in Sergio Leone’s 1966 epic, The...

If you spent any time on Twitter this weekend, you probably saw actor Hugh Laurie deliver a clapback...

On June 29, 1971, the inimitable Kirk Douglas sat across from Dick Cavett and, in the middle of...

Few lines in film history capture the dreaded reluctance of a collective workforce with comedic brilliance as “I’m...

Nicolas Cage, the actual person, is one of those Hollywood figures who live on the edge. He is...

Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter (1978) stands tall as one of the most hauntingly brilliant portrayals of friendship...

In the creative field, branding can be quite a double-edged sword. It works well in the obvious/intended direction...

Michael Mann’s Heat remains, after 31 years, his masterpiece. His three-hour-long crime epic consists of some of the...

About the Author: Lee Moss is a director, screenwriter and story consultant born in NYC and based in...

Known for pioneering a new approach to conventional white-point lighting, the Aputure STORM line of tunable white LED...

Screenwriter, novelist, editor, professor, and New York Film Academy instructor Matt Harry has taken one of the longer...

As Tommy Wiseau infamously did when shooting his 2003 cult-classic masterpiece The Room, there’s something to be said...

We’ve all been there, even on the smallest or most DIY of shoots; everything is going great until...

I spent all morning texting my various writers’ groups about a golden opportunity. And now, I’m bringing it...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins talks with filmmaker Shane Brady and...

Screenwriting is incredibly hard. I am sure you know that, but there are times it’s worth acknowledging so...

If you’re looking for some sleek and sexy new lenses for your large format cinematography, then we have...

Big news for those who love remote work. Or, at least in the film and video world, those...

In a market as robust as any in the film and video space, there’s no shortage of production...

Everyone has an interesting route to the top, and R. Hollis Smith has a pretty wild one, even...

“Do ya feel lucky, punk?” You probably can’t imagine these lines coming from anyone but the iconic Clint...

We know… there aren’t a ton of you still out there shooting with DSLR cameras. But, you never...

In a 2017 talk with the International Documentary Association, the incomparable Werner Herzog said something that will probably...

Yes, you read that right. Martin Scorsese, THAT Martin Scorsese, the legendary director of Goodfellas and Taxi Driver...

The Western was once the most popular genre in all of film and TV, but as the country...

Every filmmaker has that one defining moment in a theater where they feltl ike they had to pursue...

As part of a strategic partnership announced earlier this year between Adobe and NVIDIA, the two companies have...

Looking to keep your crews connected on your next large and busy shoot? Well, there are lots of...

Well, Euphoria fans, after years of delays, off-screen drama, and massive anticipation, the hit HBO series wrapped up...

While it’s been a while since the NLE wars were fully waging, Apple’s Final Cut Pro has long...

There’s this old saying that I think is really important to remember, and it goes something like “To...

If you’re a Nikon ZR owner or shooter, you’re likely pretty happy with the RED Digital Cinema-infused Nikon...

I grew up on classic films, the wackier the better. So, of course, I saw my share of...

There are lots of cameos I love in movies. Whether it’s Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder or Bill...

There’s a particular kind of performance that doesn’t get enough attention. It’s the supporting role that doesn’t try...

For indie filmmakers, the path to directing big-budget studio IP usually requires years of development hell, millions of...

I feel like not enough of us treat A League of Their Own with the deep screenwriting respect...

If you’re a photographer, videographer, or any type of content creator looking to keep your footage safe, secure...

One of the elements that made the Scream franchise successful is the fact that the slasher movies are...

This might be hard to believe more than 40 years later, but for a brief period in 1984...

For most filmmakers, The Godfather is holy text. Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptations taught...

I feel like everyone talks about Frank Darabont’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shawshank Redemption all the time...

Production designer Beth Mickle got an email from Francis Ford Coppola and was so stunned, she immediately took...

If you’ve worked on enough screenplays, you know how insane it can be to describe someone walking across...

As we’ve covered with several different options at this point, AI assistant video editing technology has certainly been...

You probably have some sense of what microdramas are, even if you don’t know that’s what they’re called...

Once in a while, a movie comes along, and it completely tears down the genre expectations that came...

It would be hard to name any films better than Singin’ in the Rain (1952). The movie is...

It’s hard to believe that after like fifty years of dominance, the western was dead by 1990, but...

For decades, “The Duke” defined the Western genre. He played stoic, unflappable lawmen and cowboys in cinematic landmarks...

There was a time recently when Netflix’s goal was to release a new movie every week. That was...

Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), the forgetful blue tang from Pixar’s Finding Nemo, is perhaps Pixar’s single best dispenser of...

Whether you’re drafting your very first short screenplay or you’re a seasoned veteran with half a dozen features...

Martin Scorsese finally won his first Best Director Oscar in 2007, which was his eighth nomination, for The...

To be honest, we’re not exactly sure what designing an editing console that can be operated with one...

Happy Memorial Day! Today is about grief, sacrifice, and honor. Cinema has always been good at using these...

It’s hard to believe now, but there was a time in World War II when filmmakers and stars...

In news that might just be good viral PR, Panasonic has reportedly been letting customers in Japan who...

In the film and video game, it’s never a bad time to make an investment in yourself. You...

The Criterion Collection just dropped a 4K release of Body Heat, and with it comes a new interview...

Breaking into the world of feature film scoring requires a perfect mix of technical skill, creative intuition, and...

Martin Scorsese’s The Departed came out when I was in high school, and I don’t think I was...

Almost Famous opened September 15, 2000, on a $60 million budget (according to Box Office Mojo) and grossed...

Legendary voice actor Tom Kane, who died from complications of a stroke on May 18, is perhaps best...

Director Denis Villeneuve’s crime thriller, Sicario, is among his most underrated works despite its critical and audience acclaim...

The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to debut in theaters on May 22. The Pedro Pascal sci-fi movie...

When it comes to the Public Domain, there are few characters more popular than King Arthur. His presence...

If you’re cutting for film, color has always been something you manage with the finish in mind. You...

As a close study of zombie movies will teach you, a band of post-apocalyptic survivors is only as...

Forrest Gump is often cited to this day for its groundbreaking scale and seamlessly integrated visual effects. From...

Growing up, I was always the quiet kid in the back, doodling in a notebook. In 6th grade...

There’s probably a reason so many of us love film art books or posters or even collectible figures...

What’s the tightest you’ve ever gripped an armrest in a movie theater? For me, it was 2009. I...

There are a lot of great shows on TV, but for me, the best one is about a...

For over four decades, the man who would become known to Western lovers as “The Duke” was the...

I’m on a contained story kick right now. My creative partner and I are fresh off a short...

There was a period in the early aughts when it felt like zombie movies were everywhere. I’m not...

Okay, so if you’ve spent any time reading about film production or casting, you’ve definitely run into the...

I’m not sure there’s an actor synonymous with one genre the way John Wayne is with Westerns. He...

Christian Sprenger, ASC, is a two-time Emmy winner for his work on Atlanta (“Teddy Perkins,” “Three Slaps”) and...

Nobody was fighting to make Leaving Las Vegas. The source material was John O’Brien’s semi-autobiographical 1990 novel about...

John Wayne was a pillar of the Western, and his career sort of traces the rise and fall...

For the serious-minded video editors and color professionals out there looking for monitor options better equipped than what...

Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the 200 Best Horror Movies of All Time contains a lot of minted classics...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, tech editor Jourdan Aldredge speaks with Blackmagic Design’s Simon...

When working on a film or video project, there are a million decisions to be made. One important...

I grew up thinking war movies were all these rah-rah escapades that glorified clean uniforms, flag-waving heroes, and...

It’s been fifty years since Travis Bickle stepped into that cabbie’s office and asked to drive nights. We...

Obsession was one of the best films we saw at SXSW 2026. Imagine a late-night room full of...

Few films in the history of the Academy Awards have achieved what Miloš Forman’s One Flew Over the...

The jailhouse in Big Whiskey, just like its town, is a complex, scheming place, both “ruled” by Sheriff...

One notable title on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the 200 Best Horror Movies of All Time is the...

I think the title says it all, but I am going to double down here: you weirdos need...

I rewatch the Lord of the Rings movies at least once a year. They bring me so much...

Christopher Nolan has never met a green screen he couldn’t replace with something real, expensive, and logistically nightmarish...

A couple of months ago, I was sitting in the Vista Theater, watching an over four-hour recutting of...

Director Peter Jackson is at Cannes and just received an Honorary Palme d’Or (presented by Elijah Wood). He...

The summer movie season is upon us, and the studios are readying their blockbusters in order to capitalize...

Movies are built on the back of charismatic actors who make scenes pop, and who welcome the audience...

It’s always nice to see more options in the crowded, but always in need of innovation, lens filter...

Last week, I finally watched a movie I have been meaning to watch for a very, very long...

Directors Ron Howard and George Lucas go way back. Lucas directed Howard in American Graffiti, and Howard has...

It feels like every decade there’s a movie or a scene that leaps Hollywood forward. And somehow, every...

There is a wide variety of filmmakers represented on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the 200 Best Horror Movies...

If there is one thing Sam Levinson’s Euphoria is known for aside from sex and teenage angst, it’s...

I’ll be honest with you, I came to Patton late. I was in film school, buried in Godard...

One of the first things I think about when I think about my favorite moments in a Martin...

If you shoot by yourself, maybe you’ve always defaulted to handheld or a gimbal because they feel productive...

Who doesn’t love some awesome aerial photography or cinematography? Well, I guess those who suffer from vertigo or...

When it comes to the horror genre, color palettes tend to be quite limited. Murky black shadows that...

Monochromatic color palettes are very useful tools for filmmakers. The color scheme – which involves an image feeling...

Color has a huge impact on how a movie is received by its audience. Imagine how different Wes...

Although black-and-white movies still crop up every now and then, anyone who has paid attention to the last...

“Less direction is better in pretty much everything.” This is insight from award-winning filmmaker Matt Porwoll, DP of...

Most color problems don’t start in the grade—they start in how the project is set up. Mixed color...

Looking for a high-quality cinema camera from a trusted brand to launch your career into indie filmmaking (and...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, NFS tech editor Jourdan Aldridge sits down with Adobe’s...

Shooting a scene is a delicate balance of making everything look and feel real while also controlling, as...

If there’s one genre I think is always marketable, it’s horror. We’re getting a ton of them every...

I have been working on this new spec, and there is a lot of action in it. When...

If you’ve ever sat through a script note session and thought, “I wish someone would just say what...

AI is the Wild West right now, and the lawmen are coming for it. Every day, we’re tracking...

Looking for new lighting options for your film and video projects, but maybe you want a level of...

As part of our never-ending series of firmware updates to products released to fix minor issues that sometimes...

Wandering DP (Patrick O’Sullivan) recently reviewed a spec Nestle commercial submitted by a viewer. I really enjoy these...

I’m coming here to talk to you all about something that I think you need to hear. It...

Have you been obsessed with the Backrooms since the beginning? I certainly have, so I am among the...

The theatrical experience is sacred. There is nothing quite like seeing one of your favorite films in a...

There are many days when I count myself so lucky to live in Los Angeles. But none more...

People are always asking me what the “secret sauce” is for a great screenplay. If there was some...

When we talk about Michael Mann’s 1995 masterpiece Heat, the conversation usually turns to the street shootout or...

The new Odyssey trailer is a lot to absorb in one sitting. It’s big and fast and filled...

Built on the same Virtual Lens Technology released by Zeiss last year, this new CinCraft LensCore is a...

Writing a script is really, really hard. You have to fit a dozen pieces together to create an...

Happy Star Wars Day! If you’re reading this, I assume you’re a Star Wars fan. And I want...

When Meryl Streep speaks, we try to listen. And the star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 has...

A fun, new, and innovative laptop is here, designed specifically for hybrid creatives working in design, photo, and...

Announced about a month ago, Boris FX announced it was acquiring Vegas Pro (formerly Sony Vegas), Sound Forge...

Visual referencing has become a core part of production today, maybe even more than ever. As a creative...

Hollywood usually doesn’t tell the same story twice within a few months of each other. That’s like walking...

In Bryan Singer’s cult classic, The Usual Suspects (1995), one particular scene stands out for its unadulterated chaos...

Mel Brooks is one of the most notable auteurs in American cinema, known for doing whatever it takes...

We know you probably aren’t just running outside, picking up a camera, and shooting a big action or...

If you’re looking to light a small or DIY project, but don’t want to invest in serious lighting...

Whether she is capturing the intimate emotional tension of a rom-com or the vast, high-stakes wonder of a...

If you’ve ever dreamed of having the director of Lost in Translation and Priscilla, now is your chance...

With DJI still as deep in its drone ban era as it‘s ever been, the market for quality...

We all probably love the creative side of making things. We write the scripts, we cast the parts...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, Jo Light interviews documentary and commercial director Brendan Young...

I got my start in Hollywood by interning and then working for Scott Free. It was the last...

When it comes to finding the right SD cards for your workflows, there’s a lot to consider. For...

It’s almost summertime, which means that depending on where you live and work, you’re likely already mentally preparing...

Look, I don’t proclaim to be the best Hollywood historian out there, but I know that if you’re...

What does it mean to write cinematically? You probably want to conjure images in a reader’s brain via...

I can tell you the first time I watched Raging Bull. It was in Jon Cavallero’s COMM 201...

Everyone is always speculating about what Quentin Tarantino will do for his tenth and final film, and now...

There was a time in my life before Alfred Hitchcock, and then a much better time after I...

In this age of AI, it sure feels like every month or so, there’s once-in-a-lifetime-level news to share...

For indie filmmakers, every dollar on screen has to work twice as hard, and sometimes, the smartest solutions...

I guess we’re on a tear this week or feeling nostalgic or something, and our YouTube algorithm is...

In the world of film and video, sometimes—sadly—you have to spend money to save (or make) money. It’s...

The AP’s Summer Movie Preview hit yesterday, and I immediately flipped to the Christopher Nolan section to read...

How many times have you seen a docuseries go viral? Well, everyone on Social Media was doing the...

There’s no denying that TV just looks different these days. We could do a deep dive on Netflix...

It’s been 35 years since Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs swept the Oscars, and no matter...

When first announced, the Nikon ZR was instantly one of the most intriguing new cameras of the year...

Political violence seems to be dominating our news cycle once again. And the discussion has mainly shifted to...

Remember what it was like to get “hand-me-downs” from your older siblings? The clothes are broken-in, so they...

Seeing a woman kick butt in an action movie is satisfying, and the joy intensifies when you know...

Martin Scorsese’s filmography is brimming with exceptional characters, many of whom are morally complex, psychologically rich, and most...

Voice actors don’t often get the credit they deserve, while live-action stars get all the love. The things...

The life of a filmmaker and/or video professional is one where you’re constantly on the move. It can...

Every time I go to San Diego, I hope and pray I’ll walk into a piano bar where...

If you’ve logged onto X (formerly Twitter) at any point this week, you’ve likely walked into one of...

I think we can all agree that Quentin Tarantino is the master of dialogue. His movies sizzle with...

The AI discourse in Hollywood is divided into two camps: the “it’s the end of the world” crowd...

I think when you see people on the big screen, especially actors, it’s easy to assume that they’re...

One of those interesting and unique filmmakers I kind of forget about from time to time is Jim...

My wife told me she was in the mood to watch a romantic movie last night, so I...

What’s that? Adobe has rolled out a major new update for its flagship video editing software, featuring a...

While there were many narratives from this year’s NAB conference in Las Vegas, one of the biggest was...

My buddies and I were engaged in a debate about who is the greatest actor of all time...

So, this past semester, I have been mentoring a film student. And she asked me the most poignant...

I think, like many people, I left Project Hail Mary in awe of the movie and the time...

I feel so old typing this, but back in my day, success on the small screen meant TV...

Another major announcement from a jam-packed slate of product introductions was ushered out by Blackmagic Design ahead of...

Pitching is an art form that is totally outside writing and directing. It’s one of those things you...

Jordan Peele has quickly become one of the most influential voices in modern cinema. That’s a position he’s...

While there are nearly a million booths and things to check out at NAB 2026 in Las Vegas...

In many ways, NAB has changed over the years. Well, of course it has, it’s been around since...

I like to say that every new Martin Scorsese movie is a miracle. And maybe that’s because they...

For years, Lumetri defined what color inside Adobe Premiere felt like. It was immediate, accessible, and—most importantly—fit for...

I don’t know about you, but I love a good infographic. And over the weekend, I found a...

Last week, every major studio headed to Vegas to talk to a room full of theater owners and...

Just like with any good spice, it never hurts to kick things up a notch in a dish...

While NAB 2026 is now in full swing, not everything is fully illuminated under the bright lights in...

As always, the halls of the Las Vegas convention center are fully bustling from the start as NAB...

A new option of monitor-recorder-switchers is now on the market, set to enhance the dynamic range capabilities of...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with Kino co-founders Brit MacRae...

Got all of your footage shots (or handed off to you) and feel like you’re ready to lock...

Back in March 2025, the Academy Museum opened Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon-ho, which was the first exhibition ever...

AI is still the topic of conversation on everyone’s minds, especially as all the Hollywood unions work to...

If you know me, you know I like seeing movies on the biggest and best screens possible. That...

If I’m anything, I’m a huge nerd, and I love when there’s a confluence of interests like what...

I saw a report last week that said more people are seeking out IMAX screens than ever before...

I think we’ve all read that one script where everything is technically correct, but it’s flat without any...

This is so random, but a few weeks ago, I found out a number of my friends from...

I know we’ve had this talk on here before, but it feels like every major Hollywood movie that...

We’ll say up front that we know AI is a minefield. It feels like everyone is trying to...

We’ve been hearing about the impending AI revolution in filmmaking for years, but we are about to get...

I was talking with a buddy the other day about how I balance my days. Now that I’m...

I am notoriously bad at staying on track. It’s probably something undiagnosed, or just the fact that a...

The Wandering DP Patrick O’Sullivan is at it again, looking at a viewer’s submitted project to critique their...

This is a sponsored podcast in partnership with Eddie AI. In this sponsored episode of the No Film...

The AI assistant video editor Eddie AI is getting some new updates that aim to make video editors’...

In the world of contemporary independent cinema, few films capture the claustrophobic intimacy of a single night as...

There’s nothing more exciting than prepping a new spec to hit the market. You never know which script...

It is totally possible to move between writing screenplays and writing books, and many, many writers have done...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, writer-director Lee Cronin joins to discuss how he approached...

It feels like we get a sequel announced every year to some legacy film that should be left...

Blackmagic Design isn’t holding back any punches when it comes to its NAB 2026 announcements, as the company...

Continuing an absolute bull rush of announcements to kick things off for NAB 2026 (which technically doesn’t start...

Blackmagic Design is kicking off NAB 2026 with a bang, unveiling a host of new cameras and updates...

Some movie lines hit you with such finesse and urgency that they set the tone for the rest...

Few movie trilogies capture the raw and innocent power of hope as well as Peter Jackson’s The Lord...

The greatest filmmakers did not let the limitations of their time hinder their vision. Few figures embody that...

Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor (2001) is a mainstream blend of romance, personal stories, and large-scale historical spectacle. In...

Movie dialogues, be it one-liners, monologues, or speeches, have a way of making their mark. They stand out...

The Wild West often serves as the foundation of American mythology. It’s quite understandable that one expects the...

When the patrons visit Hawthorne’s Diner for breakfast, they expect coffee and greasy food, not high-voltage soul-searching at...

When a character delivers a powerful line, be it an insult, a reveal, a twist, or sometimes just...

Babies taking their first walk or cats doing their signature “catwalk” is absolutely adorable. But barring these angelic...

There’s a particular moment most first-time feature directors recognize: you’ve got a script you believe in, yet absolutely...

When I finish a spec screenplay, I am so excited to get it out to the world. But...

It’s been a wild year for indie filmmaking, and at No Film School, we’ve been working harder than...

WGA member and comedy writer John Vorhaus has been teaching writers for years across 37 countries. As a...

For those looking to speed up their workflows, particularly for editors who are already using elevate.io’s collaborative video...

It’s been 13 years since Her pretty much predicted our AI future, and we still don’t have another...

When I’m writing a screenplay, I get really attached to the characters, and I hate to see them...

If you’ve been following the industry “doom and gloom” of the last few years, the latest data is...

Project Hail Mary has become a box-office behemoth, not to mention an online and fandom hit, with inspired...

I am a dog lover. Dogs kind of represent the best of us, and I think they can...

I have been working on a new Film Noir spec script, so that means I’m watching a bunch...

In the world of big-budget filmmaking, we often imagine every frame and line of dialogue is meticulously storyboarded...

The use of AI to bring dead people and their voices back to life is so controversial right...

I’m not here to yuck anyone’s yum, but right off the bat, I will tell you I feel...

Steve Martin is one of modern film and TV’s most prolific comedians and performers. Most recently, he helped...

Well, this is a cool support resource that could be a fun and helpful option for filmmakers or...

It’s exciting to have a year going gangbusters like the start of 2026. The massive box office haul...

Sabrina Carpenter is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, and now you can add director...

Some of the articles I get to write here are more fun than the others. And this one...

In creature-driven horror, restraint is often what makes the fear land, and what stays hidden can be just...

Probably the most popular question that gets emailed at least once a week is how to make it...

I often lament that we don’t have a lot of daring movies coming out today. That doesn’t mean...

For filmmakers and videographers, the introduction of affordable aerial drones with built-in cameras was a game-changer. It introduced...

A cowboy is the soul of any Old West tale, and his “Peacemaker,” a.k.a. the Colt .45, is...

In the classic sci-fi film Back to the Future (1985), director Robert Zemeckis quietly reintroduced an iconic movie...

Towards the end of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983), directed by Richard Marquand...

Those who have found their mentors will tell you that a mentor-mentee relationship feels like it’s written from...

Moments from a character’s childhood not only reveal the person’s background but also help the audience form an...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with animator and director Julian...

What happened to movies being like 105 minutes? It feelsl ike eveyr mocie is two and a half...

Some of the articles I get to write here are more fun than the others. And this one...

Goodfellas is one of the best (if not the best) mafia movies ever made. I love it so...

One of the things I really miss is the DVD special features, where we could watch behind the...

And once again, many of this year’s Oscar®-nominated films share something in common: They showcase bold storytelling crafted...

There are very few modern directors who care more about showing the margins than Sean Baker. The guy...

As sensors get bigger, we need different lenses to cover the sensor. With the new releases of larger...

I could listen to Orson Welles talk all day. And when I find some clips of him sharing...

I don’t know about you, but my whole news feed revolves around Project Hail Mary. It’s the biggest...

Have you ever tried to set the mood by putting on a certain Spotify playlist? Maybe you want...

Despite global shortages causing potential suspensions or delays in manufacturing memory cards (as we just saw with Sony’s...

We all need a pep-talk now and then. It might as well come from Scorsese, right? He truly...

One of the key components of shooting any space movie is the idea that characters are going to...

Without saying it once in the press release, we all know the culprit behind the global semiconductor shortage...

Have you ever just had a really crappy day? All you want to do is go home, put...

The liminal space has officially crossed over into the mainstream. After years of redefining horror on YouTube, Kane...

If you want to become a better screenwriter, you need to read a lot of scripts. I am...

I’ve been recently working through all the old James Bond movies again. There are a few I hadn’t...

What does it mean to “set the tone” of a film or TV show? And how do you...

Man, Netflix is sending me to the poor house. And it seems like they don’t care about it...

Tim “the Toolman” Taylor, eat your heart out! Fujifilm has released a new firmware update for its popular...

Today, we’re diving into a treasure trove of hilarity with a list of 185 comedy movie prompts. I...

There’s something about great movies that move you. It’s the way they make you feel and the way...

If you read No Film School a lot then you know I love to talk about The Wire...

In the early 2000s, a new aspect ratio format became standard all over the world. The 16:9 aspect...

If you’re looking to try out the fascinating world of 360-degree video capture for the first time, you’re...

With artificial intelligence dominating conversations across tech, culture, and the creative industries, visualizing the topic on screen presents...

With artificial intelligence dominating conversations across tech, culture, and the creative industries, visualizing the topic on screen presents...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with filmmaker Pete Ohs for the...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with filmmaker Pete Ohs for the...

Look, I see a lot of movies, and for some reason, I feel like VFX has either gotten...

Look, I see a lot of movies, and for some reason, I feel like VFX has either gotten...

The Singers just won an Oscar for live-action short film. It’s a huge accomplishment for a film that...

The Singers just won an Oscar for live-action short film. It’s a huge accomplishment for a film that...

Probably my favorite part of screenwriting is the dialogue. And there are very few writers who have as...

Probably my favorite part of screenwriting is the dialogue. And there are very few writers who have as...

While the world of film, television, and other forms of video and content has evolved quite a bit...

When HBO announced a “faithful” 10-year adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter TV series, the collective internet question...

I remember when Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs came out. I saw it in the dollar theater...

As any video editor can tell you, there are a lot of aspects of the job that can...

Well, this is embarrassing. After putting $1 billion into OpenAI on the bet that its AI video model...

I learned the language of cinema in thrift stores while growing up in the raisin capital of the...

Hello, fellow indie filmmakers, and welcome to the collapse of traditional distribution! If you’re just joining us, rest...

As far as revolutions go, this one was pretty short-lived. OpenAI has announced that it is saying goodbye...

Well, this one is going to hurt. According to reports online, Pixomondo, the Academy and Emmy award-winning international...

In the world of filmmaking, the script is often just the starting point, and the final storytelling comes...

I’ll admit pretty readily that I had fairly low expectations going into A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms...

Last week, I did a massive article on this site that compared paid script coverage services. In it...

It’s been a weird start to 2026 for Netflix. They began it by celebrating their acquisition of Warner...

Steaming has changed the way everything in Hollywood happens, including test screenings. It feels kind of obvious, but...

As a filmmaker, it’s your responsibility to take advantage of every tool that is thrown your way. Here...

Take a minute and think of yourself as a sort of rookie actor, having played extra or supporting...

Be it the “ear-cutting” scene from ‘Reservoir Dogs (1992), “Crazy 88 massacre” in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)...

What does it take for a Disney child star from the ’60s to become an action star in...

The Old West is about sunsets, expansive landscapes, tense silences, standoffs, quick-draw showdowns, and obviously, strong, morally driven...

In an era of bafflingly enormous Hollywood paychecks, it might be outlandish to fathom, but back in 1988...

Clint Eastwood’s Western hero has never been verbose. He depends more on his agency than his words. And...

The Rocky franchise began as a tale of an underdog champion, but over the years, it has brought...

For general fans, “yippie ki yay” is the most iconic line in Die Hard. But for the die-hard...

Some of the most devastatingly brilliant moments in cinema, quite literally, come from words. When sarcasm reaches its...

The story of how Ian McKellen began his journey in The Lord of the Rings trilogy is beautifully...

I must really love the people who read my screenwriting blog, because I am back for more public...

Before Sinners, before Black Panther, before Fruitvale Station (and before his Oscar win last weekend), Ryan Coogler was...

I love March Madness so much. You get to watch TV for like 18 hours a day, all...

While we all love SXSW for a plethora of reasons that range from the diverse films to the...

I have to say up top that Drew Goddard (The Martian, Bad Times at the El Royale, Buffy...

I know I’m not alone in writing the easiest, loudest emotional beat in the toolkit: the dead wife...

Greg Kwedar is fresh off the Academy Awards, where his film, Train Dreams, received four Oscar nominations, including...

The buzz at this year’s SXSW is unmistakable, but while the headlines are all about AI-generated “actors” and...

The opening scene of The Matrix was a watershed moment for anyone who watched it. After you saw...

Imagine you’re Robert Eggers. Imagine you made The Witch. That’s a dream for many filmmakers, no matter your...

If you aren’t thinking about spatial audio as early as your storyboard, you’re leaving half the story on...

As filmmakers, we are used to living in the tension between “the way things are” and “the way...

Will Ropp spent most of the start of his career on the other side of the camera. As...

Warner Bros. just dropped the first teaser for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three (unofficially titled Dune: Messiah), and...

When you think of fast-paced, whip-smart, and rhythmic dialogue, you immediately think of Aaron Sorkin. It’s hard to...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, host GG Hawkins speaks with editor Sonny Atkins about...

If you’ve read my articles on this site at all, you probably know that I think Steven Spielberg...

I was scrolling TikTok recently when I came across a filmmaking account. The user had posted some unfavorable...

There’s a specific kind of madness that sets in when you’re a documentary filmmaker. You start with a...

The vibe at SXSW this year isn’t just about the latest midnight premiere; it’s about the existential hum...

We’ve all seen the behind-the-scenes clips of The Mandalorian or The Batman. You know the ones: actors standing...

At South by Southwest, the energy is usually focused on the “big get”—the distribution deal, the red carpet...

There is a certain kind of energy that spreads through a room when the person who basically invented...

Cameras, cameras, cameras! They’re everywhere. They’re built into your smartphones, they’re around people’s necks as they travel the...

Writer-director Amy Wang joins the No Film School Podcast to discuss her debut feature, Slanted, and the long...

I wind up giving a ton of advice to people looking to break into Hollywood, and most of...

I feel like there’s always this debate going on in Hollywood about whether or not short films are...

For most of its history, Final Cut Pro and the other creative apps were a single purchase that...

Usually, when you’re writing a film, a lot of your focus is on dialogue. You’re making characters talk...

If you’ve been following the SXSW 2026 circuit, you’ve likely heard a lot of buzz surrounding Sender, the...

With Hollywood centered in Los Angeles, it’s no wonder we have so many great movies shot in and...

I was at my writer’s group the other night, and we talked a lot about the theme. In...

I have no idea who is going to win all the Oscars this year, but that’s never stopped...

We know that as filmmakers, we’d almost always rather be on a physical set than worrying about social...

Steven Pressfield is the author of The War of Art, Gates of Fire, and, most recently, The Arcadian...

What’s the tightest you’ve gripped an armrest while in the theater? I remember being in the Arclight Hollywood...

Do you love natural light? Most people do, unless you’re a filmmaker only wanting to make highly stylized...

As a writer, I know that nothing feels better than getting to that final page and typing “fade...

In the old days, running a live stream or live production required huge crews and production consoles that...

Two years after the historic strikes of 2023, Hollywood is once again bracing for more contract negotiations. These...

When you get on a set, you’re hopefully prepared. But sometimes the vision doesn’t fully align with what...

Maybe it’s just because I married someone from Minnesota, but I love the movie Fargo with all my...

As someone generally wary of AI, having models run locally is surprisingly useful. Apple has now rolled out...

When news of a movie with sex scenes drops, suddenly, there’s a very loud debate on whether or...

Lighting techniques are invaluable for filmmakers at every level. For a director, they can help you communicate with...

As the story gallops towards the climactic showdown, the scent of pine and impending doom fills the air...

We remember and cherish movies mostly through their scenes and dialogues. But sometimes, these memories refuse to stay...

If you’re ever in the mood for turning your casual afternoon into a fever dream, look no further...

When it comes to expression, film noir took a rather unique route. They didn’t engage with “speech,” per...

Alfred Hitchcock, Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan: What’s common among these...

Movies are more than just the flickering lights on the screen or just entertainment. Movies are reflections of...

The opening scene of Inglourious Basterds (2009) remains memorable, not because it offers any visual spectacle, but because...

Today, I might consciously stay away from associating too closely with someone like Ferris Bueller—although there was a...

Often, villains are scary not because they’re planting bombs and chopping off heads left and right. It’s because...

Some of the greatest lines in film history serve one purpose in the scene but mean something entirely...

I think that Train Dreams might have been the visual movie of the year for me. I have...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with editor Harrison Atkins about shaping...

When I think of James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day, I think about all the groundbreaking visual effects...

I have always been fascinated by storyboard artists. It seems so cool to collaborate with someone and get...

You probably don’t expect an Oscar campaign to get derailed by ballet. And yet… In a clip from...

Let’s start with a hard truth: anyone who promises you they have the secret key to sell a...

You don’t need a star or a role of money to move audiences. We’re probably at the best...

While the focus might be on accessibility and giving new options to the rising creator-class of those working...

When you think about it, movie titles that double as cultural shorthand are the ultimate “concept-as-currency,” and if...

You could do a pretty deep dive on the cinematography of Steven Spielberg and still not cover all...

Shooting with natural light is often considered treacherous. But then there are filmmakers like Terrence Malick who walk...

As Westerns were in decline in the 1970s, a new wave of auteur filmmakers rose to prominence. They...

Val Kilmer’s performance as Doc Holliday in the 1993 Western classic Tombstone is one of the finest performances...

Imagine being taken away from your beautiful home and kept captive in a dystopian wasteland for 19 years...

How many times has this happened to you—you are watching a horror flick, something unexpected happens, and you...

I think the dream of every creative I know is to get paid for their work. But can...

After years of directing and producing, the duo brought that journey full circle at Sundance this year with...

Screenwriters study structure. They study character arcs and dialogue. They probably don’t spend nearly as much time studying...

In what might be the quintessential existential question of our time, it might still be up for debate...

My Sunday nights have been fulfilled one half-hour at a time, loving HBO’s A Knight of the Seven...

I go on Twitter on Sunday nights, and I always see what TV shows are trending. It’s been...

I have a feeling that 2026 is going to have a lot of defining moments, but the one...

Who doesn’t love a good camera rumor? And, man, this one is a doozy. The buzz is that...

One of the big winners so far in the early part of the film awards season, Train Dreams...

I woke up this morning and gasped at the box office results. You see, Scream 7 had gone...

We all know writing a screenplay is incredibly hard. While it gets easier as you go, every story...

When I was a kid, renting PG-13 movies was like a badge of honor. They were the upper...

Hollywood is at a crossroads with all its consolidation and chaos of recent years. We’ve seen the rise...

If you own a Panasonic LUMIX S1RII, S1II, S1IIE, S5II, or S5IIX camera, then you’re probably going to...

In the world of cinema and theater, where stories are brought to life through a delicate dance of...

Drawing from her personal experience, Iliza plays Jamie, who returns to her hometown after losing her job and...

As a 38-year-old man, I have begun accepting that I am no longer one of the youth driving...

I just finished a new spec script, and one of the things I really tried to do this...

Roger Deakins doesn’t want you to notice his frames. He also really doesn’t understand how he does what...

If you’ve been interested in any Accsoon CineView SE wireless video transmission systems in the past, this new...

Ryan Coogler and Maggie Gyllenhaal became directors by taking very different paths. He played college football, went to...

As artificial intelligence gets better and better, I am relying on the great auteurs of filmmaking to help...

One of the more exciting gimbal stabilizers to release in the past year, the DJI RS 5 was...

When you have the right gear, capturing audio for your film and video projects can actually be fun...

I love my Letterboxd app so much, I am constantly on there writing about the movies I have...

The rhythmic cadence of this film is no accident as Bashour – who also served as composer on...

As No Film School’s resident screenwriter, I feel like a lot of my time is spent covering the...

Editing a film or documentary is always about intentionality. Do you cut a speaker off, or let dialogue...

As writers, people are always rushing terms our way that we’re supposed to know. I decided that I...

Hollywood has been trying to figure out what to do with AI since it debuted. They had hoped...

Look, I’m not going to lie, when I wake up on a Monday and know I have all...

We know, we’re all doomed. Or maybe we’re not, and AI slop will always be AI slop. You...

In 1995, I was eight years old when I went to the movies and saw Toy Story. It...

Comedy is one of those genres I think is about to make a big comeback. We love these...

If you’re a user or fan of the Blackmagic Design HyperDeck, then you might want to check out...

The 79th British Academy Film Awards have officially taken over London’s Royal Festival Hall, and the 2026 winners...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, producer Zainab Azizi joins GG Hawkins to break down...

The last few moments in Casablanca (1942) turn the Casablanca airfield tarmac into a platform that holds tremendous...

The “frontier myth” positions America as a wide, open expanse of land that offers unlimited opportunities if you...

Even for the most steel-hearted hero, to realize that their mentor is evil in reality is psychologically devastating...

The first time I had heard the term “button” when discussing a scene, it went right over my...

A Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee, the film unpacks the events leading up to the day that forever...

Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is up for nine Academy Awards this year, including Best Picture and Best Original...

Tom Noonan was a towering figure in cinema, both literally at 6’5″ and figuratively as a master of...

If you’ve worked in independent documentary, you know it is basically impossible to get paid. There are not...

If you’re looking to add some wireless communication and control capabilities to your shoots, then the TAMRON-LINK is...

Kevin Smith is just a guy who I think roots for everyone. And that kind of vibe is...

There are some ideas that are so frustratingly simple that they can be both inspiring and infuriating to...

It feels like a lot of my week is made up of my wife getting up at the...

The role of a showrunner is a hybrid of CEO and storyteller. You’re the “Keeper of the Vision,”...

The original Richard Donner Superman movie is remembered for many things, including making everyone at the time believe...

The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is currently experiencing life on the other side of the picket...

Premiering at Sundance, the documentary brought a vibrant, playful energy to the screen, shaped in large part by...

I love the excitement of having a new idea. For me, it’s usually a concept or a premise...

Far too often, I measure the success of my writing by how much work I produce each day...

For those looking for a solid mirrorless camera to use as a B or C camera to go...

Well, look at this sexy and stylish little guy. Cosina has announced a new Voigtländer SEPTON 40mm f/2...

In the brutal landscape of Westeros, we’ve grown accustomed to “shocker” deaths. I remember people across LA screaming...

In what is becoming the greatest existential crisis the filmmaking world has perhaps ever faced, the controversy, excitement...

We just got news of Robert Duvall’s passing. He was 95 years old. Duvall was a legendary actor...

One of the most seminal moments for many Americans is the first time they get to vote for...

The general audience is usually used to the breakneck pace of movies. Camera moves, such as jump cuts...

For a man who is primarily known for danger, women, and gadgets, his catchphrase has nothing to do...

In a timeless franchise built on bravado, gadgets, slick action sequences, and fleeting romantic encounters, a single line...

Captain Jack Sparrow, the iconic booze-drinking mischief-maker from the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, masterfully uses chaos as...

The internet is a funny place. After years of National Lampoon’s Van Wilder’s release, no one in their...

Sometimes the boring love stories won’t cut it on the most romantic holidays. You get a little sick...

This year, Adobe collaborated with two independent directors rooted in traditional craft to commission two original short films...

A few years ago, my wife gave me a tin of old pulp magazines for my birthday. I...

When working in film and video, travel becomes a natural part of your life. You’ll get used to...

Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes: these are some of the major festivals we’ve covered and been at over the...

Turning the 2021 short film into a full-length feature was no small task for editor Andres Landau. This...

I don’t know about you, but I have been so overstimulated recently. I’ve been watching the news and...

Science fiction has always been a genre that’s felt very inclusive and one that has also produced some...

During those Super Bowl commercials, I about jumped out of my chair when I saw the trailer for...

If you were online yesterday and have any presence in Hollywood, someone probably texted you the viral AI...

February is one of the steamiest months thanks to Valentine’s Day, and it’s one of those months where...

Another day, another artificial intelligence issue in Hollywood. We’ve been covering how AI impacts our industry (and how...

No one sets out to make a movie that fails, but at the studio level, with huge IP...

In one of our favorite tutorial series currently going on, Fujifilm has released the latest video (chapter 3)...

Horror’s beloved writer/director Mike Flanagan is diving into The Mist. The director has signed on to write and...

It would be really hard to pick my favorite movie of the ’90s, but I guarantee you Seven...

Tamron has never been a company to sit and slow-roll lenses over the years, so this shouldn’t be...

Continuing a theme that we’ve seen with cine lenses of all price points, the goal of the new...

It may not be the savior we imagined, but it might be one that could be just weird...

We’ve probably written about this a thousand times before, but Hollywood is the perfect intersection between art and...

Screenwriting can be difficult and lonely. You might have a really hard time on a particular draft, unsure...

I’m not sure TCM gets enough credit in this wild world. They are such a fun channel and...

Man, those years are flying by for all of us as Canon has announced that one of the...

While Viltrox officially joined the L-mount alliance last year, you could say the alliance wasn’t fully joined until...

You gotta hand it to a company when they understand the importance of consolidation. Instead of rolling out...

Please don’t wake me up from this cinephile fever dream. Brad Pitt is returning to his Oscar-winning role...

Every filmmaker, videographer, or hybrid content creator these days needs this one lens in their camera bag. Even...

In the continuation of an overarching trend in the camera lens space, another new solution has been developed...

Want to get better at screenwriting? Stop waiting for inspiration and start practicing with something you already do...

Want to learn about what production looks like in the 21st century? Me too. Tech has evolved so...

Filmmakers are often told they are competing for jobs and forced into situations where they feel in direct...

Do you remember the first time you saw Reservoir Dogs? I got the VHS from my local library...

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, we dive into the logistics, strategy, and evolving experience...

Not a major update to report on, as it really is only being released to fix some minor...

We know, even if you’re someone into AI video creation, it can be exhausting to keep up with...

Music videos were all the rage when I wasa kid, and then it feltl ike they sort of...

It’s that time of year when the world falls in love and buys cards, chocolates, and diamonds to...

When it comes to the world of screenwriting, I defer to John August and Craig Mazin when it...

Scene analysis is an invaluable exercise no matter what role you play on a project—you can learn about...

As a cinema nerd, I am always looking for new movies to watch that I have never seen...

Look, my hometown Philadelphia Eagles won’t be in the big game this year, so I’ll be watching and...

When covering the ever-coming AI revolution in the film and video industry, we’ve tried our best to point...

When I want to blow off some steam, I throw on my favorite kung fu movies. They take...

We’ve been wondering how Disney and OpenAI’s Sora would incorporate for a few months since they announced their...

It’s truly stunning to get a short into Sundance. Now imagine doing that three times, three years in...

When old Hollywood prognosticators looked at the box office on Monday morning, their eyes probably bugged out of...

Well, that was fast. Just announced by Nanlite, these new LED spotlight options are up on B&H and...

Want your dialogue to sound amazing? Have an absolutely badass actor deliver it with cold fury. I truly...

In the world of independent film, the production designer is often a magician tasked with turning a small...

At Sundance last week, Joseph Gordon-Levitt discussed one of the biggest problems facing indie filmmakers who want to...

This episode of the No Film School Podcast, recorded live at the Sundance Film Festival, founder Ryan Koo...

As we mention every time there are major announcements in the world of AI, whether you love it...

If it weren’t for The Godfather trilogy, we would still be instinctively thinking of a volatile, hotheaded monster...

Clint Eastwood’s movie quotes are iconic, but giving sole credit to the stinging words and the shade they...

Both Michael Myers and Ghostface are synonymous with death and gore. However, if we were to compare them...

If you asked me who scares me more, Norman Bates or Jack Torrance, I wouldn’t have an answer...

Once in a lifetime, life puts you in front of the toughest son of a gun with the...

Dude, you’re getting a Dell UltraSharp 4K monitor to upgrade your video editing suites or setups. Or, at...

We just lost what was probably one of the funniest women to ever live. She was an icon...

There’s nothing like a Midnighter at Sundance Film Festival, so this year I was, of course, lined up...

Who doesn’t love a good DIY filmmaking tool? One of my fondest memories from my time in film...

When I brainstorm new ideas for movies, one of the things I work on right away is the...

At Adobe MAX, former Warner Bros. Discovery senior colorist and Adobe senior product marketing manager Jason Druss demonstrated...