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November 26, 2017

A Basic Breakdown of How Lights Change the Look of Your Subject


Keys, fills, kickers, and background lights—what exactly do each of them do?


As a beginner, lighting can be really intimidating. Not only do you have to learn how to properly handle those big, scary studio lights (if that is in fact what you’re going to be working with), but you have to understand what each individual light in a lighting setup actually does, from the key to the kicker. To help with this, Mark Wallace from Adorama helps demystify a few of these lighting basics by demonstrating how keys, fills, kickers, and background lights affect the look of a subject.





Understand that the video is geared toward studio photography and stuff you’d typically see in fashion videography and commercial work, but the same principles can still apply to narrative and documentary filmmaking. In fact, the lighting setup you saw demonstrated is one of the first taught in film school.

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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 26, 2017

Watch: Essential Advice for First-Time Filmmakers


Half of the battle of being a filmmaker is knowing how to take your first step.


Being a filmmaker is a lifelong journey that is full of excitement and frustrations, and if you have yet to embark on yours, it can be tricky knowing where to start. What do you need to know about the craft and the industry? What are the first steps you need to take and what kinds of challenges are you going to face once you make them? Well, to give you a better idea of what you’re in for, director Rubidium Wu answers many of these questions in the video below. Check it out!






“It’s nice to have creative control, it’s nice to be in charge, but that comes with this huge weight of responsibility.”




Every filmmaker’s journey is going to look different. Some go to film school, some don’t. Some have friends in the industry who get them meetings, some have to claw their way onto sets. Regardless of where or who you are or what assets you do or don’t have, Wu’s advice will definitely help you. Here are a few takeaways from the video:

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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 25, 2017

Jay-Z Releases Three New ‘4:44’ Music Videos With Help From Susan Sarandon, Ron Perlman, and His Own Mother — Watch

Jay-Z has released three new videos from “4:44,” which we can officially confirm bears no relation to Abel Ferrara’s underrated “4:44 Last Day on Earth.” Susan Sarandon, Ron Perlman, Emile Hirsch, and Jay-Z’s mother Gloria Carter make appearances in the new videos for “Legacy,” “Smile,” and “Marcy Me.” Watch them on Tidal.

“Legacy. That’s why I called y’all here, not ‘cause of skin color or some wistful dream of freedom. The story you leave for people who come behind you,” Perlman says in the video for “Legacy”; Jay-Z’s thoughts on criminal justice can also be read in a New York Times op-ed he recently penned about the rapper Meek Mill being sent to prison for two years for violating the terms of his probation.

Mahershala Ali, Lupita Nyong’o, and Donald Glover have all appeared in previous videos for “4:44,” which was released the highly positive reviews earlier this year.

Source: IndieWire film

November 25, 2017

Snapchat and BMW team up to bring augmented reality ads to life

Advertisements are both the bane of the internet and the reason why we get so much content for free. Now, Snapchat and BMW have teamed up to bring augmented reality ads to life with the carmaker’s X2.

The post Snapchat and BMW team up to bring augmented reality ads to life appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR

November 25, 2017

Black Friday wasn’t the end, check out the best Cyber Monday tech deals

Sifting through Cyber Monday deals can be a chore, which is why we’ve rounded up some of the better deals to be had online. We’ll be scouring the depths of the web to bring you the best deals as they go live.

The post Black Friday wasn’t the end, check out the best Cyber Monday tech deals appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR

November 25, 2017

Here’s the Difference Between F-stop and T-stop

Do you know what is the difference between f/stops and t/stops is? And do you know what both of them mean for photographers and cinematographers? …
Source: CW’s Flipboard Feed

November 24, 2017

Get the Most Realistic Explosion Stock Footage at 50% Off


ActionVFX’s new 5K explosion elements were shot on a blue background to give you both fire and smoke.


Explosions are some of the most popular elements used in visual effects, but they usually leave a lot to be desired in terms of quality and realism. However, with its newest effects Collection, ActionVFX has not only made some of the most realistic explosion stock footage by retaining smoke in elements but has also fixed many of the more pervasive (and annoying) problems that come with stock effects in general.



Adding to its already massive library, ActionVFX’s Explosions Collection contains 75 high-quality, realistic elements in three different categories:

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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 23, 2017

Wait…Is ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Actually a Thanksgiving Movie?


Some say “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween movie. Others say it’s a Christmas movie. This video essay says it’s neither.


Okay, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Damn, V’s trying to ruin my holiday.” I’m not. Promise. I bear no ill will against you, your turkey, or your family that just flew in from Chicago. All I’m saying, and call it heresy if you want, is that maybe The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Thanksgiving movie.



And I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking, “Hey idiot, the director himself said it was a Halloween movie.” I know. Henry Selick was very clear about which holiday the spirit of his film was intended to be infused with. All I’m saying, and call me a stupid idiot if you want, is that maybe The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Thanksgiving movie.



“Wow, V. You’re really reaching. And I mean that in the meanest way possible.” I understand. I really do. But once you watch this video essay by ScreenPrism, you might find that the holiday from which this film gets its theme is even more difficult to pin down than you might’ve previously thought.

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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 23, 2017

How to Create a Glitch Effect in Premiere Pro in Under 2 Minutes


This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to add some sweet glitch effects to your footage in Adobe Premiere Pro.


Whether you’re working on a feature film or music video, glitch effects can add tons of style to your projects. There are many ways to go about it, some of which are long and tedious, but if you’re editing inside Adobe Premiere Pro, its native tools will allow you to get the job done faster and easier than you might think. In this tutorial, Austin Newman shows you a technique that will take you less than two minutes to complete.





This approach is crazy simple. In fact, the most challenging part of the process is finding a glitch overlay you like somewhere on the internet. Once you have one, it’s just a matter of following the straightforward instructions in the video.



However, if you want a glitch effect that is unique to your specific video—in other words, one that doesn’t use plug-ins or overlays—Newman actually covered this in a previous tutorial. In it, he walks you through a technique that utilizes keyframing.



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Source: NoFilmSchool

November 23, 2017

Gather ’round the TV with 12 party games even Uncle Frank can figure out

Looking for something to do after Thanksgiving dinner? Grab these games you can play with family — from Rocket League to Until Dawn — even if they’re not so great with controllers.

The post Gather ’round the TV with 12 party games even Uncle Frank can figure out appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR