An invisible cut is a type of scene transition in movies where filmmakers stitch one take into the other. The result is one long, continuous and smooth scene that seems to run on for a little longer than usual. An invisible cut, as its name implies, is meant to be disguised and hidden.  Filmmakers usually sneak it into the shot in moments when our vision is briefly obstructed by an object in the film, among other instances. In some movies, viewers can pick up when an invisible cut has occurred, especially if the transition pattern becomes repetitive. Typically, it’s a film transition tec ..read more

In cinema, it’s often a rule of etiquette that actors ignore the camera’s presence and interact with the fictional world as if the lens were non-existent. The concept works like a two-way, interrogation room mirror. We can see what’s going on behind the screen, but characters on the other side can’t. It is considered impolite to stare into the camera because it shatters the illusion of film by making viewers aware of the fiction. However, sometimes not observing this rule is done to strategic effect. When a character directly speaks or interacts with viewers, thereby shattering the barrier th ..read more

A montage is a technique of video editing, where you bring together different images or shots in one fast sequence to achieve a certain objective. More specifically, a video montage refers to short video segments interlaced together to form one complete, fast-paced scene or sequence. In other words, a video montage combines a series of short separate videos to either pass a message or tell a story quickly, among other goals. Like many fancy film terms, the montage was inspired by French culture. It is adapted from the word monte which roughly translates to mounted. In the early days of filmma ..read more

Femme fatale is a French phrase that translates to “fatal woman.“ It refers to a stock character who is fond of using her beauty and charm, often to deceive men into fulfilling her needs. You may also know the femme fatale as the vamp, maneater, or a trickster. She may also be referred to as a Circe, a term that is inspired by Greek mythology. Circe was a goddess and enchantress who would bend people to her will using trickery, sorcery, seduction, and wit. The femme fatale was especially commonplace in film noir, where she would be the hero’s downfall, being the source of distress and trouble ..read more

Film noir translates to “dark film.” French critics came up with the term film noir to refer to a series of dark American crime dramas and westerns that became popular across Europe in the 1940s. The term first popped up in the journal Cahiers du cinema ­ (cinema notebooks). French critics raved about dark American movies, and how relatable they were in an imperfect world. In America, though, film noir generally fell under the melodrama category. It was not until 15 years later that the term film noir would catch on, after the book Panorama du film noir americain (Panorama of American film no ..read more

Film is emotion, and at the heart of it is one of cinema’s most popular: the 360-degree shot. It is a common device in the filmmaker’s tool bag, one that serves to more than just make you dizzy. But first, what does it mean? A 360-degree shot refers to any shot in film that goes around the subject in a full circle, with the subject remaining the point of focus throughout. Typically, the camera moves but the subject remains stationary. However, it’s also common for both of them to be moving but it takes great coordination to execute. The 360-degree is also known as the 360-tracking shot becaus ..read more

In the history of cinema, there have been a couple of inspiring movements that have gone on to reshape the industry. One of those was the French New Wave. It was inspired by the earlier decade’s American noir and also iconic movements like the Italian Neo-Realism as well. Somewhere around the 1950s, a group of young French directors set out to destroy cinematic iconoclasm. They scrutinized the norms of filmmaking, rejecting years of film tradition for something new and unique. French cinema was previously under the thumb of Nazi censorship. After World War II in 1946, the Nazi influence ended ..read more

You may not know exactly what is, but you’ve probably seen it a couple of times in movies. It is sometimes overwhelming but always unforgettable.  The dolly zoom shot, otherwise known as a zolly, is a zoom shot taken from a moving dolly or during dollying. That could be toward or away from the subject. Usually, the filmmaker adjusts the camera’s focal length so that the zoom counters the direction of motion. For example, when dollying into or toward the subject, the camera zooms out to oppose this motion. Alternatively, when dollying out, the camera zooms into the dolly shot. The effect ..read more

A twist ending can be the difference between a good and bad movie. It is the line that often separates the mundane from the exhilarating. If your film’s ending is obvious from a mile away, chances are your audience won’t be too happy about it when their prediction comes true. Few people get excited when something goes exactly as planned.  A screenplay with a great plot twist will surely be sought after by Hollywood producers. But when surprise sneaks out of the blues and hits you over the head with a twist, we can’t help but feel outsmarted and excited. The best plot twists are like magi ..read more

A shot is an important building block of any scene. The cinematographer decides the types he chooses from the storyboard instructions, the director’s guidance, and what he feels will add to the power of storytelling in a particular moment.  There are numerous shots and tricks that the DoP can pull out of his hat, and today we discuss three of the most popular. Namely, we’ll be taking a look at the dolly, tracking and crane shots, analyzing what sets them apart and what each adds to a scene. A wheeled cart or rail-moving apparatus upon which the camera and its operator sit when filming is ..read more