Lights Film School Blog

Filmmaking: Professional Sounding Audio In Independent Films

When Lights Film School asked me to write a three page blog post on audio for independent filmmakers I said it was impossible. I believe the reason sound is such an overlooked component of the filmmaking process is because not only is not very sexy, but it’s also incredibly technical and complicated. It’s not that capturing video isn’t as challenging, but with sound, audiences are less forgiving. Due to lowered production budgets, the advent of reality TV and cinematographers who could care less...

Cinematography: Color Simplicity

Cinematography is such an important part of the filmmaking process it’s a shock that more independent filmmakers don’t spend the necessary time to fully understanding the artistic and technical components of color that aid in the construction of breathtaking footage. Lights Film School recommends that our students read books on painting and photography to better understanding the expressionist period, the impressionist period, lines, shapes, composition, isolation and last but not least color an...

Filmmaking: White Balance and Color Temperature

  Digital filmmakers are becoming increasingly interested in understanding the technical components that their film ancestors needed to know in order to create professional looking films and documentaries through the Hollywood studio system. Digital filmmakers are slowly becoming less interested in the speed of digital technology and the quick point and shoot capabilities of their digital cameras and are now deciding to slow down and learn how to push their digital cameras to their technical ...