What Camera and Audio to use for a Documentary
The more and more films I make the more and more I realize that gear you have is the most and least important thing you have as a filmmaker. It is a terrible dichotomy that we always here in things like, “well he shoots on a RED so, he must know what he is doing” […]
Read MoreHow to Setup Your Cameras for Interviews
I’ll admit it that this title makes this sound like a really simple and easy thing to do but there is more to it than just set up the camera with the person you are interviewing lined up on the third and looking off camera. I could have called it “the one thing you do wrong […]
Read MoreHow to light an interview next to a fireplace
The more and more I learn about filmmaking the more and more I realize that I know nothing about how to light. Fortunately there are people who know way more than I do and are willing to share their knowledge. Lars Lindstrom, DP of the documentary Llama Nation, shares how to light an interview ne...
Read MoreFeatured Chef – Editor, Motion Graphics Artist, and Colorist Aaron Williams
Here at Cinema Spice we like to showcase different filmmakers, motion graphic artists, video editors, and all around cool people in a something we like to call featured chef. This week’s featured chef is Sir Aaron Williams. While he has never been “technically” knighted he is in...
Read MoreA Better Way to Film B-Roll
We’ve all been there. Out filming a project and we need to get b-roll. We look around and realize that there isn’t much going on and don’t even know where to begin. After setting up a wide shot and filming for 20 seconds we call it good and move on to the next thing. While [&hel...
Read MoreCreate a customizable Flash or Burn transition.
Building your own transitions in After Effects is super fun, and super easy. Using the slider control make it simple to control as well. In this after effects tutorial, i’ll teach you how to create a grungy, flashy, burny type transition. Fire up after effects, click play ...
Read MoreAfter Effects Quick Tip: Seamless Patterns
Not everything can be done in after effects, and many times you end up heading over to another program, like Photoshop, to do some image work, but for seamless patterns, this can totally be done in After Effects. This After Effects quick tip will who you how. I’ve also (fo...
Read More5 Things Filmmakers Should Start Doing Today
Yesterday the Film Doctor posted “5 Things Filmmakers Should Stop Doing Today”. They had five really good points that I think every filmmaker should stop doing: Stop comparing your work to others. Stop looking for the perfect first draft. Stop waiting to be discovered. Stop being afra...
Read MoreHow to Light Outside only Using a Reflector
Lighting outside can be one of the trickiest scenarios for lighting any film. I had a personal experience learning how hard that was while producing a short film “Yarrow’s Boy” last summer. Because it was a fantasy film we were always filming in the middle of no where. One of th...
Read MoreGet Loaded (progress bar tutorial)
Dive into shape layers and create this progress bar. Learn a bit about how shape layers work and even some simple expressions. This tutorial is a good place to start if you just getting started in expressions or shape layers. Now time for the fun part. As a part of this tutorial. We created a [&h...
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