Techniques of Filming Documentaries

Filming a documentary involves utilising different techniques than when you film a movie (the latter can even have techniques such as ‘ghosting‘); it showcases reality and events in order to provide information on a wide variety of topics. Knowing your audience before beginning to film a documentary is essential to get the right tone of voice and technique.

A narrator is generally featured in documentaries with the purpose of providing the audience with important plot information. In the beginning of the documentary, exposition is needed to introduce the focal points of explored theme. As a first point of contact with the audience, it’s essential to create a good first impression.

Best 2016 TV Shows So Far

TV shows are a big part of our lives and are highly anticipated every year. Whether they are returning for a new season or premiering, there’s nothing better than sitting down and watching beautiful cinematography come alive on screen.

This year has seen some outstanding shows, and here’s a list of some of them that caught our eye.

Film of the Year 2016: And the Winner Is…

It’s back to that time of year again where some of the industry’s most important directors, actors, and critics come together and try to determine the best film of the last year. It’s an award that has gained a lot of attention and, since it was introduced just over fifteen years ago, it has become something that directors and actors all around the world strive to win.

Found Footage Films: Why Are They So Popular?

Cannibal Holocaust (1980) completely revolutionised the found footage film trend. This gory and extremely violent film – not recommended for the faint of heart! – is a controversial Italian horror film. As a found footage film, it portrays a documentary crew that travelled to the Amazon rainforest to document the life of the residing indigenous cannibals.

Many films of the same genre soon followed, cementing the found footage style as a strong genre in the film industry. With relatable qualities to modern cinema goers, this style appeals to the present trend of sharing every element of daily life online, increasing the believability of the films.

Composers of Famous Movie Scores: Part 2

Music in film connects directly to your emotions, heightening your senses and creating an environment of terror, awe, nostalgia, and much more. The right music for the right film can induce anxiety, shivering, and sorrow. You wouldn’t expect a horror film to have happy, upbeat music, as it would detract from the atmosphere.

Composers do just that, becoming famous due to their extraordinary ability to take images and pair them with beautiful sound. We’ve previously looked at three of the best movie score composers, and we will now look at three more that have mastered the art of music.

 

How Does a Video Camera Work?

Video cameras are one of the best ways to capture some of your most treasured memories, such as your child’s first steps, your wedding ceremony, or a holiday that you want to remember forever. Because of this, if your video camera suddenly stops working, it’s definitely worth knowing how they work so that you can fix it to ensure your memories are kept safe.

How Video Changed The World

If you grew up in the 80s, you would have been used to having to choose between your favourite programmes, as you could only watch one.

You wouldn’t have had the luxury of fast forwarding, pausing or recording one programme whilst watching another. Christmas would be stressful as all your favourite films would be shown at the same time, and you had to sacrifice one for the other.

If you were out, or went on holiday, you could not record any shows, and you simply missed them.

The End of an Era: The Last VCR

In an age where social media and modern technologies rule the roost, the VHS tape and the VCR have become the acronyms that time forgot. Those of us that do remember them look back at them with both fond memories and minor frustration.

 

The Top Five Book-to-Film Adaptations

When thinking of the best ever films that started off life as a book, two names spring instantly to mind: Harry Potter and James Bond. Between them, these two cult titles have earned huge fortunes in box office revenue, not to mention millions of fans. But who are their nearest competitors? Here are the top five book to film adaptations of all time.

 

The Success of TV Shows

With hundreds of TV shows available to watch, how do any of them become successful by holding audiences’ attention? Storytelling and visually astonishing TV shows fill our TV screens, successfully conveying the message behind the episodes.

But what makes a show survive its infancy period and become a staple recommended by friends and families?