The Video Mode caught up with Canon Explorer Simeon Quarrie and asked him for his top tips for shooting better video. Simeon is an internationally known filmmaker and photographer who…
Film making basics
If you’re new to film making or simply wanting to brush up your skills, our guides to the basics of shooting a video can help you master the finer elements of film making.
Learn how to master audio, aperture, ISO and shutter speed and how to set up your DSLR for video.
Learn how to tackle common situations, such as how to shoot a wedding video or how to take a 4K still from a video.
We also have a range of guides on the best equipment for film making, in our equipment section.
Film making tips and tricks:
Ava DuVernay shares advice for aspiring filmmakers
Noted American director Ava DuVernay has used Twitter to give filmmaking advice to aspiring directors. In a recent post, the Selma director shared an email she sent to new filmmaker…
Kickstarter launches new crowdfunding platform Drip
Kickstarter has launched a new platform for long-term crowdfunding projects called Drip. It is aimed at filmmakers and other artists to allow them to build a community of subscribers who…
Filmmaker Philip Bloom discusses editing and the DSLR revolution
Want to shoot better footage? Edit your own work. Philip Bloom divulges how being his own editor made him a better filmmaker, and discusses the influence of the Canon 5D…
Four things you need to know about selling stock footage
Selling your video can seem like a confusing task so we’ve rounded up a list of things to consider when selling stock footage. Stock footage is used in videos all…
How to make money as a filmmaker right now
You’ve had your training and you’ve got your camera but how do you actually make money as a filmmaker? Starting out as a videographer means that you will need to build…
Watch: How was Hitchcock’s iconic Psycho shower scene filmed?
A new 91 minute film focuses on just three minutes of cinema from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. The shower murder scene is one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history and…
You have to read Steven Soderbergh’s rejection letter from Lucasfilm
Steven Soderbergh shared his rejection letter from Lucasfilm on Twitter to show how rejection happens to the best of us. The Ocean’s Eleven director shared the tweet, which was liked by…
Horror filmmaking tips from Hollywood directors
We’ve rounded up the some of the best horror filmmaking tips from big Hollywood names to help you make your film. It’s tricky to make a hit scary movie because…
Quiz: How well do you know your camera shots?
Whether you’re working on a wedding video or your first feature film, the type of camera shots you use are often the same. They allow you to frame your subject…
How to use lens aperture when shooting video
If you are used to using a camera for stills photography, then you will find that the lens aperture control works much in the same way during shooting video as…
Watch: Seven things to consider when filming timelapses
Filming timelapses are a fantastic creative way of indicating the passing of time in videos, like a cityscape changing from from day to night. They are a great trope used…
Fancy learning filmmaking tips from Martin Scorsese?
Martin Scorsese will teach an online course on filmmaking at the beginning of 2018, deconstructing how he made his masterpieces. The Oscar winning director will outline his directing methods, from…
Discover how to apply LUTs to your footage
In one of The Video Mode’s recent tuition videos we explained what Look Up Tables (aka LUTs) are and how they work. Now we’re using a ‘case study’ to reveal…
BFI Filmography: What genre should your next film be?
The British Film Institute has just launched its BFI Filmography, a database of over 10,000 UK films from 1911 to the present day. It has revealed some troubling data about…
What is a LUT and what does it do?
A LUT, or ‘Look Up Table,’ holds a set of numbers which are looked up by the software or hardware you are using in order to deliberately change the colours…
Skateboards, prams and cars: Four creative DIY dolly hacks
We’ve rounded up some of the best tutorials out there for making a DIY dolly to help you film your tracking shots. This side-to-side shot is one of the most…
UK startup offers independent filmmakers a new platform
MODYST Film Network is a film sharing platform launched in the north of England, which hopes to help independent filmmakers get a foot on the ladder. The start-up was founded…
How to use ISO sensitivity when shooting video
The Video Mode takes a look at the how best to use ISO sensitivity when shooting video, and how it compares to taking stills. There are plenty of similarities in ISO…
What you need to know before filming in public spaces
So you’ve spent hours on Google Earth finding the perfect location for your shoot, but what do you need to know before you start filming in public spaces? To film…