When working with film studios, understanding film studios key terms prevents you from appearing unprofessional. You avoid situations where others have to stop their work to explain basic verbiage. The knowledge also enhances your professional persona.

An awareness of film studios key terms also gives you an opportunity to push production boundaries. Knowing the lingo and the processes behind the terms provides you with the necessary resources and historical lessons to experiment with studio equipment and create your own techniques.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sound stage

Producers use a sound stage for scenes where they want to avoid extraneous noise. The sound stage is an interior soundproof studio or room used in movie production.

I recommend: Serious Materials provides solutions for studios that require soundproofing for sound stages.

Backlot

The backlot is the space on the outside of a recording studio that the director uses for producing outdoor scenes.

I recommend: RetroWeb offers images of backlots for many famous television shows and films such as "Gone With the Wind" and "Batman."

Production company

Studios use a production company to develop a film and to raise the funds necessary for the film process. Some production companies specialize in film, some in television and some in both venues.

I recommend: ProductionHUB provides an overview of production companies studios and includes information on the type of services available from each company, the location where the studios operate, the type of equipment used by the studios and contact information.

Back projection

Film studios use back projection, also called rear projection or back projection, for special effects as they combine pre-filmed backgrounds with foreground sequences. Successful shows like the 'Alfred Hitchcock' series used this technique.

I recommend: Anders Johan Nygren offers a detailed look at the process behind rear projection. The site also uses images to define the mechanics of rear projection.

Biopic

Some studios specialize in biopic films, which is another name for the biographical picture film category. Biopic films dramatize important characters from history, sometimes stretching the truth.

I recommend: The American Movie Classics Company offers a history of biopics, which includes coverage of some of the most popular biopic films studios ever presented.

Dynamation

When studios want to combine film techniques, they sometimes use dynamation. This is a combination of stop-motion animation and live action filming. While this technique was very successful in films like 'King Kong,' many studios opt out of using it due to its expense.

I recommend: Lee Krystek discusses the history of dynamation and highlights films in which studios used this technique.

Finding the right movie production studio and film companies can be paramount to the creation of your next film project. Film production studios are the resource to help you choose a location and they play a critical role in backing your endeavor.

Whether you choose to go with the services of major film studios or independent movie companies, finding the right movie production studio to match your creative vision and your budget is key.

To find the right movie production studio for you:

1. Consider your budget and your creative vision. How do those items add up? Are you going single camera with easy editing, or are you considering a large production with special effects and multiple locations?

2. Ask yourself, are you looking to go with one of the major film studios or are you looking to go with one of the smaller, more intimate independent movie production companies?

3. Review the capabilities of the movie studios that make it into your top choices. How do they stack up to your budget and creative vision? Make yourself a list of pros and cons, and talk out the benefits and downfalls of each with your collaboration team.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Utilize one of the many movie production studio search resources

Use a directory list of movie studios to start your quest for a film production partner.

I recommend: Find lists of movie studios and film production companies through the film production chart of film industry trade journal Variety or the Hollywood Distribution Directory from The Hollywood Reporter or try ProductionHUB.com or the Library of Congress.

Check out the major film studios

There are a number of major Hollywood movie studios. Many of them come with rich histories and long traditions.

I recommend: Warner Brothers, home to the Batman franchise, is a complete production resource. They offer 30 different rental and service departments to help both entertainment and non-entertainment related companies. Buena Vista (Disney) gives you a hybrid of live action animation choices. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (MGM) is a movie production studio that handles motion pictures, television, home video and theatrical productions. Universal Studios invites you to bring your next production project to their production facilities. They have competitive pricing and over 80 years of experience.

Consider an independent movie production studio

Consider the use of an independent movie production studio for more personal detail and a smaller budget.

I recommend: Silvercup Studios is New York City's largest film and TV production facility. New York Film Studios is another independent facility. Take a look at what's new at Focus Features, or look at Morgan Creek, who's been in business now for over 20 years.

Look at animation film production studios

Animation is a hot genre for adults and kids alike, so consider collaborating with one of the animation film production studios.

I recommend: Take a look at the video production studio Dreamworks Animation. You can also find out company information about Pixar Animation Studios.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Even if you choose not to film on their lot, major film studios are great resources to helping you put together your collaborative artistic team.