Filming with green screen (aka chroma key) can open up worlds of possibilities for filmmakers. A green screen can help transport your characters to locations around the world, or just as impressively, it can save huge amounts of travel time, which can sometimes be make or break when it comes to keeping a film production … Read more
At Sparks Film Schools, we believe that everyone, regardless of budget or location, can create incredible and imaginative films. Film sound quality is a crucial but often underestimated aspect of filmmaking. Sound can be a very challenging thing to get right, especially without lots of technical equipment, knowledge of microphones and attention to detail. But … Read more
Film lighting – whether it is natural or artificial – is absolutely essential to filmmaking. Film lighting techniques can help to tell the story, in some cases – e.g. a night shoot – it may be absolutely essential. Film lighting techniques can also set the mood and it can enhance the visual qualities of the … Read more
Cinematography Basics – 6 Cinematography Techniques Cinematography is the art of capturing moving images on film or digital media. It is an essential element of filmmaking that can have a huge impact on the success of a film, cinematography techniques play a big part in establishing the overall look and feel of a film. The … Read more
It’s easy for an aspiring screenwriter to find themselves at a block on how to develop their own work. Every screenwriter will look for screenwriting tips to help them overcome the blocks and find new inspiration. In screenwriting, there are so many elements to consider and balance – character development, plot structure, dialogue, and pacing … Read more
What is documentary filmmaking? Documentary filmmaking is a style of non-fiction filmmaking that shows or explores real life events or factual stories taking place. Documentaries can take on different styles and use different techniques to achieve their purpose. For instance, some documentaries might seek to be entertaining, some informative, some educational and some persuasive. Some … Read more
As filmmakers, we are always aiming to create impactful, powerful cinematic storytelling on screen. It’s at the very heart of every filmmaker’s ambition. Having strong mise-en-scène within a film is one of the most helpful tools available to strengthen on-screen storytelling and turn your shots into powerful storytelling moments. What is Mise-en-Scène? If you haven’t … Read more
You can send festive greetings in lots of different ways, including some by video with this Christmas video greetings card project. Take a look at the steps in this filmmaking guide for how to make a Christmas video greetings card below. For this filmmaking project, you’ll need: – A camera, a smart phone camera or … Read more
Are you a fan of horror movies? What about heist movies? Follow this simple filmmaking guide to shoot your own thrilling escape room sequence! To take part in this filmmaking guide, you’ll need: • A video camera (this can be a phone/tablet camera, or a camcorder, etc)• Editing software or an editing app (see the … Read more
In this Autumn’s filmmaking classes, we’re exploring legendary filmmakers to seek out inspiration, techniques, influence and know-how for our student’s latest film productions. What makes a legendary filmmaker? We’ve put together a list of seven legendary filmmakers we think every young filmmaker should know. This isn’t another list of auteurs, though we’ve included one or … Read more
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