“I’ve met many Marty Mausers over the centuries. Some of them crossed me, some of them weren’t straight. They weren’t honest. And those are the ones that are still here. You go out and win that game, you’re gonna be here forever, too. And you’ll never be happy. You will never be happy.” –Milton Rockwell […]
Tag Archive for: filmmaking
“I’m stuck between wanting to do something and not wanting to do anything at all.” What if the only thing more terrifying than a monster in the dark is the crushing, hollow weight of a life you’re supposed to want? This is the paralyzing, intimate territory of director Lynne Ramsay. More than any of her […]
“Some search for battle, others are born into it.” For years, adapting a Thomas Pynchon novel was considered a fool’s errand. That was until Paul Thomas Anderson masterfully captured the hazy, paranoid spirit of Inherent Vice. With his next splash into the Pynchonian universe, One Battle After Another not only proves his unique ability to […]
For many filmmakers, the phrase “social media” brings on a wave of exhaustion. You’re a cinematographer, a director, an artist—not a full-time content creator. Yet, in today’s industry, the reality is that your social media profile, particularly your Instagram, often serves as your digital first impression, long before anyone visits your website or watches your […]
For over a decade, one light has been the gold standard on my sets for punching through windows or bouncing into massive frames: the ARRI M90. This HMI has been a powerful workhorse, a tool that expanded my creativity and could beautifully replicate the sun. It was an oldie, but a goodie. But as filmmakers, […]
The scene’s set, the talent’s ready, the light’s golden… and then the last charged battery runs out. Nearly everyone has one of these nightmares at least once—either while sleeping, or actually on set. On a fast-paced New York City run-and-gun shoot, a sudden power issue can be a massive blunder, eating through daylight and budget […]
As a cinematographer, your job extends far beyond simply capturing a well-exposed image. You are a visual psychologist, tasked with translating the complex inner worlds of characters into a language of light, shadow, and movement. Every choice you make—from lens selection and camera placement to the subtle nuances of camera motion—should serve the emotional core […]
“I want to be a filmmaker. Where do I start? What camera should I use?” This is one of the most common questions cinematographers like Shane Hurlbut, ASC, get from aspiring storytellers. His answer is often surprising: start with the powerful cinema camera already in your pocket. Modern smartphones, especially the iPhone, have incredible imaging […]
For the thousands of California film industry professionals navigating a landscape of empty soundstages and uncertain futures, a crucial piece of news has finally arrived. On June 24, after intense negotiations and vocal advocacy from some of Hollywood’s top creators, state lawmakers approved Governor Gavin Newsom’s landmark proposal to allocate $750 million annually to the […]
After exploring the foundational colors of cinema, our Movie Color Palette series now turns to a hue defined by its compelling duality: CYAN. It is the color of life-giving serenity — think of clear ocean lagoons and icy glacial caves. Yet, in cinema, it is just as often the color of cold, sterile detachment — […]
For over a century, the name Kodak has been synonymous with the very fabric of cinema. That iconic yellow box held more than just film. As a medium through which countless stories were captured, emotions evoked, and visual worlds brought to life, it held possibilities. From the birth of the industry standard 35mm format to […]
You’ve made it to the next color in our Movie Color Palette series, a kaleidoscopic adventure full of chromatic twists and turns. We’ve journeyed through the primal power of RED and waded through the cool depths of BLUE. Then, conjured the vibrant energy of YELLOW and explored the complex nature of GREEN. All before harnessing […]
Orange — the comforting glow of a campfire, the vibrant splash of autumn, but also the stark alert of a hazard sign or the destructive force of an explosion. In our ongoing “Movie Color Palette” series, following explorations of red, blue, yellow, green, and magenta, we arrive at orange, a hue uniquely positioned between intense […]
The Brutalist is not just a film; it’s an experience played out in concrete and steel. It’s a decades-spanning epic that grapples with grand themes of legacy, identity, and the elusive nature of the American Dream. Brady Corbet’s ambitious third feature film is a work of striking visual power, an ode to the enduring allure […]
Blackmagic Design has a history of shaking things up. From democratizing color grading with DaVinci Resolve to putting RAW recording in compact cameras, they’ve consistently challenged the status quo. Now, with the URSA Cine 12K LF, they’re stepping firmly into the high-end cinema arena, aiming not just to compete, but potentially to redefine expectations. This […]
Heading to Las Vegas for the NAB Show 2025? Get ready to step beyond the endless booths and into an unforgettable educational experience! Filmmakers Academy is bringing the insights and techniques from our masterclasses directly to the show floor, featuring live, in-person demonstrations led by none other than acclaimed cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC. This is […]
Green. The color of life, growth, and renewal. Of lush forests and rolling hills. But in the hands of a skilled filmmaker, green becomes so much more than a simple representation of nature. It can be a symbol of envy, greed, and decay. It can evoke feelings of tranquility, unease, or even the otherworldly. From […]
Imagine a lens that bends reality, that swirls the world around your subject, drawing you into a dream. This isn’t science fiction; it’s the Petzval lens, a piece of photographic history dating back to 1840. Forget clinical perfection. This lens is about character, about a unique “swirly bokeh” that has captivated filmmakers and photographers for […]
Blackmagic Design. The name might not have the decades-long legacy of an ARRI or a Panavision, but in the world of digital filmmaking, it’s become a force to be reckoned with. Initially known for their high-quality, affordable video editing software (DaVinci Resolve) and capture cards, Blackmagic made a bold move into camera manufacturing — and […]
This Camera Sensor Comparison is your guide to navigating the complex world of digital cinema cameras. Choosing the right one can feel like deciphering a foreign language: 12K, RGBW, global shutter – what does it all really mean? We’ll break down the technology behind the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF, RED V-Raptor, and ARRI Alexa […]