Blog
Articles on filmmaking technique, production planning, and industry knowledge.
Showing 10 of 10 posts
Sample Rates in Film and Audio Post: 48kHz vs. 96kHz and When Higher Actually Matters
Covers the Nyquist theorem in plain language, why broadcast requires 48kHz, when 96kHz or 192kHz actually matters and when it's placebo, and the storage implications of each choice for film and television audio.
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.
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.
Timecode in Film Production: How It Works and Why It Matters for Your Edit
Explains drop-frame vs. non-drop-frame timecode, LTC vs. MTC, jam sync, and why incorrect timecode causes expensive problems in post. Includes a frame rate and timecode compatibility reference table.
Music and Picture Lock: How to Sync Score to Your Edit Without Losing Your Mind
Covers the practical workflow of working with a composer after picture lock -- spotting session process, temp music vs. original score, tempo mapping to the timeline, and how to communicate rhythm and emotional arc without a music theory degree.
LUFS, dBFS, and Loudness Normalization: What Filmmakers Need to Know
Explains the difference between LUFS, dBFS, and peak level -- why streaming platforms normalize loudness, what it means for your mix, how to meter in your DAW, and how to hit Netflix and broadcast specs without squashing dynamics.
Post-Production Timeline: How Long Does It Really Take to Finish an Indie Feature?
A realistic timeline breakdown for no-budget, low-budget, and mid-budget indie features -- covering assembly, rough cut, picture lock, sound design, color, VFX, deliverables, and DCP creation with real benchmark ranges.
Audio Delivery Standards for Film and Television: A Complete Format Guide
Covers broadcast, streaming, theatrical, and festival delivery specs -- sample rate, bit depth, channel configuration, LUFS targets, and true peak limits per platform. The one-stop reference before mastering.
How Much Storage Does a Film Production Actually Need? A Data-Driven Guide
Uses real codec bitrates to calculate storage requirements for a range of shoot configurations -- from BRAW on BMPCC to ARRIRAW on ALEXA 35. Includes camera card backup strategy and RAID configuration recommendations.
Video Codecs Explained for Filmmakers: RAW vs. LOG vs. Compressed and When to Use Each
The definitive codec guide for filmmakers -- explains intraframe vs. interframe compression, chroma subsampling, bit depth, LOG gamma curves, RAW processing, and how to choose a codec based on camera, delivery target, and post infrastructure.