The multi-talented Rudy Mancuso visits the Filmmakers Academy studio to discuss his directorial debut, Música. Premiering at the esteemed South by Southwest Film Festival and now available for audiences to experience on Amazon Prime Video, Música marks a significant landmark in Rudy’s creative journey. This episode is co-chaired by Lydia Hurlbut, Brendan Sweeney, and, of course, Director of Photography Shane Hurlbut, ASC, who created the visual language of Rudy’s musically driven film, guided by his unique condition of ‘synesthesia.’ The conversation navigates through the rich tapestry of the ..read more

How DP Sherri Kauk Prepped the Drugstore June Movie Drugstore June is an indie gem that shines brightly, captivating audiences with its compelling narrative and breathtaking visuals. Filmmakers Academy mentor Sherri Kauk’s masterful cinematography enhances every scene with its exquisite composition and evocative imagery. At the heart of Drugstore June is a story that resonates with authenticity and emotional depth. Kauk’s cinematography transports viewers into the heart of the story with its immersive camera work. Every shot is meticulously crafted to capture the raw emotion and beauty of the ..read more

One Piece Netflix Live-Action Cinematography Come on board and bring along all your hopes and dreams! The journey that Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his band of fellow misfit pirates experience was another journey to create. No one knows that better than cinematographer Nicole Hirsch Whitaker, ASC who stopped by Filmmakers Academy to share her experience on the One Piece Netflix adaptation.  The filmmakers hopped around Cape Town, South Africa, and constructed fleets of ships to bring the anime sensation to life! Keep reading to learn more about the cinematic process of One Piece, an ..read more

Watch the Official Sony BURANO Demo The Official Sony BURANO Demo delivered an in-depth view into Sony’s all-new camera system, showing it alongside the VENICE 2 and F55. Originally streamed on Valentine’s Day, we at Filmmakers Academy decided to indulge in our love affair with camera technology. Broadcast from Sony Studios in sunny California, Shane Hurlbut, ASC took the BURANO through the paces. Joining him was Katie Eleneke (cinematographer), Derek Johnson (DIT/colorist), and Jason Robbins (camera operator/gimbal specialist). (Also, a special shout out to our amazing sound mixer Thomas Pop ..read more

The Sony BURANO 8K Digital Motion Picture Camera releases soon and the anticipation is absolutely electrifying. Every day we hear from filmmakers asking, “Will the BURANO take everything we love about the VENICE 2 but just make it more compact?”  This article will cover what we know so far about the Sony BURANO and its tech specs, price, key features, and how it will stack up against the VENICE 2.  Just note that these are only our initial observations. (Trust us, there’s much more to come.) Filmmakers Academy will be officially presenting the BURANO in collaboration with Sony at Son ..read more

Go On Set with Pro Cinematographer Film Templates The optimal way to prepare for any film production is with the right filmmaking templates. Therefore, Director of Photography Shane Hurlbut, ASC personally designed film templates for cinematographers, camera assistants, gaffers, film directors, and key grips. With over 30 years of experience in the movie-making business, however, he has worked his way up the ladder. Consequently, Shane worked in each of these departments and perfected the pre-production process on countless productions. Filmmaking Templates: •    Cinematographer Tem ..read more

Cinematography Tip: Monitor Calibration with the X-Rite Tool Color calibrating your monitors is key since they serve as the eyes of your creation! In this Cinematography Tip, Shane Hurlbut, ASC explains the value of color calibration for monitors and how calibrating tools like the X-Rite ColorChecker empower you. The last thing you want as a cinematographer is monitors with distorted colors that don’t match one another. Take control of the look of your project with this tip, and always work with correct color science. Master the art of setting up your cart and calibrating your monitors with t ..read more

Cinema Digital Projector Special Effects and Lens Filters Take your cinematography to a whole new level with camera effects and lens filters using projector lighting. In this video, cinematographer Justin Jones demonstrates how he created his projection lighting effect for his music video cinematography. Trust us, this will absolutely change how you look at projector lighting! Remember that the longer the lens, the easier it is to hide that the lens filter is a piece of plastic. Justin makes his filters so each one comes with its unique qualities. This effect saves you time in post-production ..read more

Flanders Monitor Hot Buttons: LUM Coloring False Color Function When you’re a cinematographer in the throes of production, you must work efficiently and choose the right tools to nail each and every shot. Shane Hurlbut, ASC shows you how to do just that by leveraging the hot buttons on your Flanders monitor. Shane’s favorite feature to choose for his hot button protocols is the LUM Coloring feature, or what he calls, “Predator Mode.” It’s one of the most powerful functions of the Flanders monitors, not only because it allows you to easily see where all your exposures are, but unlike other mon ..read more

Film Noir Lighting Inside a Detective’s Office with Shane Hurlbut, ASC Just as a painter mixes the colors on their palette to create a work of art, a cinematographer must harness various lights and fixtures to craft a memorable cinematic image. In this video, DP Shane Hurlbut, ASC commands a chorus of lights to illuminate the interior of a detective’s office. From high-pressure sodium vapors to add a sense of realism to his legendary batten lights for their beautiful light quality, and water noodle lights that catch the eye, Shane reveals how to blend them all together for an impressive light ..read more