How to Learn Filmmaking Without Film School The first professional set I worked on, I spent four hours running craft service trays back and forth between base camp and set. Coffee, granola bars, those little orange cracker packs that taste like cardboard and regret. I wasn’t directing. I wasn’t operating camera. I was holding a … Read more
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE PeekAtThis participates in affiliate programs with Amazon, B&H, and Adorama. If you buy through our links, we earn a small commission. It doesn’t cost you more, and it keeps the coffee fund alive — which, given what this article is about, feels appropriate. WHY TRUST THIS ARTICLE? I’ve worked on productions ranging from … Read more
Affiliate note: Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy something through them, I get a small cut at no extra cost to you. It keeps the coffee budget alive. What Does a Production Assistant Do? A production assistant (PA) is an entry-level film crew member responsible for supporting daily production operations. Typical duties … Read more
Film Gaffers vs Grips: What They Do and Why Every Set Needs Both The first time I understood what a grip actually did, I was standing in a living room on Going Home, watching a flag stop a blown-out window reflection from ruining a close-up we’d spent forty minutes setting up. Nobody added a light. … Read more
If you buy gear through links on this page, I get a small cut. It doesn’t affect the price, but it does keep the lights on and the coffee lukewarm. A film director’s creative process involves developing the story, translating the script into visual choices, collaborating with actors and crew, adapting to production challenges, and … Read more
Affiliate Disclosure If you buy something through the links in this article, I get a small cut. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help keep the lights on here—which, for a filmmaker, feels like an appropriately meaningful metaphor. Direct Answer Paragraph Film school is not required to become a working filmmaker. The … Read more
Film Production Stages Explained: Development to Distribution It was 6:47 PM on a November shoot for Going Home. We had 40 minutes of golden hour left. I knew this because I’d written it in the call sheet, laminated the call sheet, and taped the call sheet to the monitor cart. What I hadn’t written on … Read more
If you buy something through these links, I get a small cut. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does fund my ongoing relationship with gas station coffee. Is Building a Home Gym Worth It? Building a home gym eliminates the friction that silently kills most workout routines. The upfront cost is real, but … Read more
Budget Travel Tips: 25 Ways to Travel More and Spend Less (From a Hotel Insider) Affiliate disclosure: Links in this article may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. It funds the lukewarm coffee I drink to survive 6am door shifts. That’s the whole arrangement. Budget travel means spending intentionally, not … Read more
Heads up: Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I get a small cut. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help keep this site running and my coffee budget alive. What Are Anamorphic Lenses? (Direct Answer) Anamorphic lenses horizontally compress a wide scene onto a standard camera sensor. … Read more