How Film Festivals Work

It's 1993. One morning your co-worker asks if you like Quentin Tarantino. You respond "Is he the new guy in accounting?" -- because "Pulp Fiction" didn't win at the Cannes Film Festival until 1994.

How Movie Distribution Works

You have probably seen advertisements in your local paper for movies playing at a theater near you. Sometimes the ad will say "Held over" or "Special engagement." What exactly does that mean? And why is popcorn so expensive?

How Movie Download Services Work

If you don't want to leave your home or wait for the mail to rent or buy a movie, you can order and download them online. Learn how most movie download services work.

How Steadicams Work

Some of the greatest movie scenes of all time were filmed using Steadicams. These cameras allow moviemakers to produce moving handheld shots that have no shakes at all. Learn all about this ingenious camera system.

How Stuntmen Work

Stuntmen (and women) take very dangerous risks in order to give movies an added sense of realism. How do these daredevils train for their stunts?

How the Cannes Film Festival Works

In the city of Cannes, May is the 'month of the movie.' The Cannes Film Festival is the crossroads of international cinema and anybody can submit a film for consideration. It brings together the toasts of the town and those who are just starting out.

How the Oscars Work

Movie buffs around the world soon will be glued to their sets. Yes, it's almost Oscar time. Get the skinny on the rules of Academy voting and on the famous gold guy himself. And find out who the nominees are.

How Video Formatting Works

When you watch a movie on your TV you're not always seeing the same movie that played in the theater. A lot of formatting goes into fitting a movie onto a TV screen. Learn about the changes a movie goes through so you can watch it at home.

July 13: Hollywood Sign Erected

The huge Hollywood Sign -- stretched along the hills over Hollywood, California -- symbolizes fame, fortune and the glamorous world of cinema and the movie stars we love. Learn about the history of the Hollywood Sign.

Whats the difference between a documentary and a docudrama? Does either one have to be true?

As documentary films increase in popularity and docudramas pop up on the small screen, it’s a good time to question the difference between the two. Intention, historical context and editing choices play major roles in defining a work as fact or fiction.

9 Outrageous Hollywood Publicity Stunts

Well-orchestrated public relations campaigns designed to get people into theaters have helped many films' box office success. Here are some of the wildest feats in the long history of movie publicity.

How Movie Producers Work

How does a movie clapperboard work?

When filming a movie, the sound and the images are recorded and stored separately with different devices. After filming the challenge is to synchronize those two recordings. Learn how a clapperboard is used in movie production.

How is sound recorded on motion picture film?

The phrase "optical soundtrack" sounds like a contradiction in terms, but it's the secret to how sound is recorded on motion picture film.

What are film festivals?

Many of the independent films that eventually make it big first debut at film festivals, where open submission policies make it easy to gain exposure. Read more about film festivals and how they're evolving.