Long ago, when all television screens and computer monitors looked alike, they shared the same aspect ratio of 4 by 3. It dominated the way early cinema and television looked, but it was not meant to last. In the 21st century, new and emerging technology has resulted in more aspect ratios, like 16:9, leaving 4:3 as somewhat of a relic. But what is 4:3 aspect ratio, how did it get started, and why has it started popping up again in some movies? Continue reading What is 4:3 Aspect Ratio — And Why Do Filmmakers Still Use It?
Colors. Commodities. Counter culture. What is Pop Art? Even if you don’t know it by name, you have no doubt seen it here and there, either directly or indirectly. It was born from artists rejecting tradition in favor of modernity, in turn creating a new form of art that looked so much like the barrage of advertisements consumers of the mid-20th century were already used to. Here we are going to provide a Pop Art definition, cover Pop Art artists, and provide examples, some of which are super famous and others that are less so. Continue reading What is Pop Art…
What is Baroque? How do you define Baroque? Have you ever looked at something and referred to it as Baroque? It’s a peculiar word that has meant different things over time. Started in the 17th century as an art movement promoted by the Catholic Church in Europe, Baroque is also used as an individual word to refer to art that is overly extravagant, among other things. We will go over the original definition and meaning of Baroque, along with notable examples from painting, sculpture, and architecture. We will also cover the theories and questions that surround Baroque as it pertains…
Cowboys, outlaws, deserts, shanty towns, and gunslinging. These are familiar elements seen in the genre known as the Western, in both literature and cinema. But for many genre fans, it specifically refers to Spaghetti Westerns, a genre that emerged during the 1960s. Traditional Westerns they weren’t, as they were often low budget, featured violence and questionable morals, on top of technically being foreign films. So, what is a Spaghetti Western, why is it called a Spaghetti Western, how did they become so popular, and create such an enduring legacy? Let's find out.Continue reading What is a Spaghetti Western — History…
Tall buildings, smoke filled rooms, femme fatales, people on the margins of society, late nights, bright signs….and cybernetic implants? No, it’s not film noir, it’s Cyberpunk. It’s a sub-genre that has slowly but surely integrated itself into popular media from the 1970s all the way to the 2020s. Taking inspiration from hard boiled fiction and rejecting utopian sci-fi, Cyberpunk has made a name for itself in all forms of media. But what is Cyberpunk, what’s its history, and how has it evolved?Continue reading What is Cyberpunk — Genre Definition, Origins & Examples
When it comes to the best thriller movies of all time, there’s a lot to choose from. While great thrillers involve the protagonist in constant and terrifying danger, some are more light hearted, while still juggling with the concepts of life and death.With such a broad genre, there are many movies in the thriller genre to choose from, including horror, psychological, true crime, and black comedy. Since it can sometimes be difficult to choose good thrillers, we decided to make the job easier for you.Listed here are the best thrillers from cinema, ranging from new classics to old favorites, along…
Movies are a visual medium first and foremost, which means making on-screen imagery as effective as possible. And if you’re making a narrative feature, you will more than likely be needing dialogue. Movies didn’t start with traditional dialogue tracks, but these days, virtually every movie in existence has it. But what is dialogue, why does it matter, what makes good vs. bad dialogue, and how can you make the most of it?Continue reading What is Dialogue — A Writer’s Guide to Spoken Words
The 1980s have a special place in the pop culture canon. It turns out a lot of great movies came out in this decade, which means limiting them to a list is not as easy as it sounds. While plenty of beloved films won’t be seen here, we did our very best to make sure we included iconic and important films of the decade, from surefire classics to cult favorites. In that conversation, the inevitable question always comes up: what are the best ‘80s movies of all time? Let’s not waste any more time and get right down to ranking.Continue…
Cinema has transformed significantly, with computer-generated imagery (CGI) at the forefront of modern filmmaking. Computer generated imagery has become an essential tool for filmmakers, enabling them to create visuals that would be impossible or impractical to achieve with practical effects alone. The meaning of CGI lies in its ability to merge imagination with cutting-edge digital artistry. But what is CGI? What does CGI stand for? It refers to digitally created visual content used in movies, TV, video games, and simulations, making impossible visuals a reality. The definition of CGI is rooted in its use of computer graphics to transform…
It’s 2021, and just about every cell phone you can get your hands on has a camera. In some cases, the cameras on your phone rival ones used by professional photographers and filmmakers. But for most of us, the cameras that come on a cell phone do just enough to satisfy. As such, we have provided a list for you to look through, featuring the best cell phone cameras available today. For your convenience, we have ranked them in order of price, from lowest to highest. Continue reading Best Cell Phone Camera — Latest Models, Prices, & Features
