Lighting is far more than just making actors visible. In fact, lighting emotion is a powerful narrative tool that can convey the character's internal world. In this excerpt from "Actor Blocking with Practical Lighting" – the fourth installment of our On Set Series: Cinematic Light Sources – cinematographer…

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…

Practical lights — those lamps, fixtures, and light sources visible within your frame — are the unsung heroes of cinematic realism. From table lights and barrel shades to goosenecks and bare bulbs, these elements, often provided by the Set Decoration department, are crucial for grounding your scene…

Why do some films feel immersive, pulling you directly into their world, while others feel distant or artificial? Often, the secret lies in the masterful use of depth. A flat image, where everything seems to exist on a single plane, can feel lifeless, lacking the dimensionality we experience in the real…

The path of a modern cinematographer is rarely straightforward. It demands technical skill, artistic vision, relentless hustle, and often, an entrepreneurial spirit. Young, versatile DP Tucker K Anderson embodies this multifaceted approach. His work spans high-energy action sports docs, slick commercials…

How do you break into the film industry? How do you move from learning the theory to actually doing the work on a professional set? It's the classic Catch-22: you need experience to get hired, but you need to get hired to gain experience. At Filmmakers Academy, we understand this challenge deeply, which…

Welcome back to the Inner Circle Podcast, where cinematography fuses with wellness and leadership! In this special episode, hosts Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and Lydia Hurlbut return to a favorite format: answering questions directly from Filmmakers Academy members. It's a deep dive into practical challenges,…