October 31, 2025

Halloween's here, and we're getting a little gory. This newsletter dives into the art of gore in horror filmmaking, exploring how blood, guts and shock value walk the line between fear and fascination.

Also in this issue: Harlowe drops two sleek new LED lights, Oppo teams up with Hasselblad for its latest smartphone camera, and Sony refines autofocus in its flagship Alpha line. Plus, discover YouTube's latest security crackdown, learn how MOGRTs can streamline your edits and explore nine essentials every new filmmaker needs to start strong.

We hope you have a fantastic Halloween. Now, without further ado, let's dive in.

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The 9 essential things for beginning filmmakers

In this article, we'll cover all the things you should have when starting to make films or videos of any kind. These are the essential things you don't want to be without. Filmmaking is a beautiful art, but there are many tools needed to be a filmmaker. When first starting out, you need a direction, so we made this video. Here are the 9 essential things for beginning filmmakers. If you make sure to have these nine things when starting out, you'll be ready for the unexpected.

Starting off, we are going to assume you have a camera with media, a lens for that camera and a computer. These are the core tools you need for filmmaking and video production as a whole.

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Today's top stories

Harlowe has announced two new portable LED lights designed for creators on the go. The Max Air 40 is a 40 W battery-powered light that delivers 3,500 lumens with an adjustable color temperature range of 2,700 K to 6,500 K, magnetic accessory mounts and Bluetooth control via the Harlowe app, wrapped in the brand's signature brown vegan-leather design. The Pro 300 Spectra, a 300W powerhouse, offers over 36,000 colors, precise white light control from 1,700 K to 10,000 K and Bowens-mount compatibility. With AC or dual 99 Wh battery options, a 360° rotatable head and a whisper-quiet fan, it's built for both studio and location work.
Oppo has unveiled the Find X9 Pro, a flagship smartphone co-engineered with Hasselblad. The standout addition is the Hasselblad Teleconverter, a detachable lens that clips on via a custom case to deliver a true 10x optical zoom and a 230 mm equivalent focal length. The phone itself features a 50 megapixel (MP) main camera, 200 MP Hasselblad-branded telephoto and 50 MP ultra-wide lens, all enhanced by Hasselblad's Natural Colour Solution and XPan photo modes. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chip, the Find X9 Pro sports a 6.78-inch 120 Hz display, a massive 7,500 mAh battery with 80W wired charging and a sleek, durable design.
Sony has released firmware version 4.0 for its flagship mirrorless cameras, the a1 II and a9 III, introducing a significant enhancement to autofocus with the new Real-time Recognition AF+ system. The update enhances human pose estimation and tracking accuracy. The a9 III now adds "Auto" subject recognition, matching the a1 II, which automatically detects people or animals without manual selection. Other upgrades include improved file management, expanded Creative Look profiles (Film 2 and Film 3), a Preset Focus function for non-powered lenses and support for Sony's Write Digital Signature authenticity feature.
Moment has unveiled its Fast & Light camera bag lineup, a new system that merges outdoor sport design with pro photo functionality. Inspired by running and cycling gear, the standout Exposure 10L Vest distributes weight across the body with bungee straps, stretch pockets and space for a 14-inch laptop or hydration bladder. The Sequence 23L Backpack offers traditional access points, foldable dividers and vest-style straps, while the compact 1.5L and 4L slings provide quick access for smaller setups.
Leaked images have revealed the DJI Neo 2, the successor to DJI's beginner-friendly Neo drone, from nearly every angle. The compact 135-gram drone reportedly maintains the same lightweight footprint as its predecessor while adding improved durability, longer flight time and a refined two-axis gimbal for steadier shots. Reliable tipsters say the Neo 2 could debut in China today, October 30, with a European launch following on November 13. U.S. availability remains uncertain amid potential trade restrictions on DJI.

Lessons from the field

A look into the gore horror genre

Horror movies are subjective. Ask any horror fan out there what their favorite scary movie is and their answers will vary. What is scary to someone may seem tame to another. This can also be said about the sub-genre gore. Horror fans have their own opinions about gore. What constitutes gore? Should there be more, or should the filmmakers leave things unseen? Gore is in the eye of the beholder. Regardless of the horror community's opinions, gore in horror movies go hand in hand in many cases. In fact, many horror films would feel almost naked without it. Read more.

Creator Handbook: YouTube cracks down on malware-disguised content

YouTube, in partnership with cybersecurity firm Check Point Research, has dismantled a coordinated malware-distribution network that used deceptive videos on the platform. The campaign, labelled the "YouTube Ghost Network," involved more than 3,000 videos that masqueraded as legitimate tutorials but concealed info-stealing malware. Read more.

What is a MOGRT?

No, it's not a frozen frosty beverage with a milk alternative. An MGRT stands for "motion graphics template." In many ways, they're the best thing that's happened to video editors using Adobe products in the last decade. They allow you to take prebuilt text and graphics and store them for instant use in any project at any time. If it were just that, we'd all be happy, but there's so much power behind this concept that we can't ignore. MOGRTs are the key to fast and efficient graphics in Premiere Pro and Premiere Rush. Read more.