Blog
Articles on filmmaking technique, production planning, and industry knowledge.
Showing 12 of 60 posts (Page 2 of 5)
How Streaming Algorithms Decide What Films Get Recommended (And What Filmmakers Can Do About It)
A practical explanation of how SVOD and AVOD recommendation engines work -- completion rate, thumbnail optimization, metadata, catalog depth -- and specific steps filmmakers can take to improve discoverability post-release.
How Many People Do You Actually Need on Set? A Practical Crew Size Guide by Budget
Cuts through the 'it depends' answers -- maps specific crew roles to specific budget tiers and explains which departments can double up and which cannot without causing problems on set.
Closed Captions and Subtitles for Film Delivery: Formats, Standards, and Mistakes to Avoid
Covers SRT vs. VTT vs. SBV vs. TTML -- which platforms require which format, how to convert without losing timing accuracy, and the compliance requirements for Netflix, Amazon, and broadcast delivery.
Aspect Ratios in Film: A Complete History and Practical Shooting Guide
Covers 1.33:1 through 2.76:1 with historical context, which films used each ratio and why, and practical advice on choosing your ratio based on story, delivery platform, and post workflow.
The Film Festival Strategy: Which Festivals to Target, When to Submit, and What to Expect
A strategic framework for festival planning -- tier ranking, submission timing, premiere strategy, what actually happens when you get in, and how to convert festival attention into distribution conversations.
Self-Distribution for Indie Films: A Step-by-Step Revenue Comparison
Maps the real revenue math of direct-to-Vimeo, Amazon self-pub, Filmhub, and Gumroad against a traditional distribution deal. Covers platform splits, audience-building requirements, and when self-distribution actually wins.
Film Reel vs. Digital: What the Footage-to-Runtime Math Tells Us About the End of Celluloid
Uses the film reel calculator to ground the economics of shooting on celluloid -- cost per foot, runtime, processing, scanning -- compared to equivalent digital workflows. An educational post with strong historical authority.
Frame Rates in Filmmaking: 24fps, 25fps, 48fps and the Science of the Cinematic Look
Explains persistence of vision, the 24fps aesthetic, why HFR failed as a theatrical format, and how to choose frame rate based on delivery platform and genre. Includes a full shutter angle conversion table.
The Future of Cinema Exhibition: Theaters, Immersive Formats, and the Next 10 Years
An analysis of the theatrical exhibition sector -- declining attendance data, IMAX and PLF growth, immersive formats like Sphere, and what filmmakers can do to make work that benefits from theatrical exhibition.
Lighting for Indie Film: Calculating Power, Avoiding Blown Circuits, and Rigging Smart
The electrical planning process for shooting on a practical location without a generator: how to calculate total wattage, read a circuit breaker panel, distribute loads, and plan a lighting setup within the location's capacity.
The Exposure Triangle for Cinematographers (Why It Works Differently Than in Photography)
Covers shutter angle vs. shutter speed, the 180-degree rule, how ND filters replace aperture in video, and the EV system applied to cinema. Includes a conversion table for shutter angle at 12 common frame rates.
How to Work with a Composer: A Director's Guide to the Music Process
Covers the composer brief, spotting session, temp music conversation, revision process, and delivery -- written from the director's communication perspective. What to ask for, how to describe what you want, and what to avoid.