Verbal irony can take many forms, each with its own characteristics and purpose. What is understatement? Understatement is a type of verbal irony that turns language into an opportunity to say a lot with a little. Mastering this type of verbal irony is a great tool for any writer looking to bring sophistication and nuance to their dialogue. Let's define understatement with examples that show just how versatile it can be.Continue reading What is Understatement? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters
It’s time to stop underrating James Cameron movies. He’s not perfect but he’s better than he gets credit for. Cameron is an auteur working at the highest level of the studio system, like a proto-Christopher Nolan. His budgets are record-breaking but so are the box office returns.Continue reading James Cameron Movies: Ranked with the Filmmaker in Mind
What is sarcasm? As it turns out, it isn’t exactly what most people think it is. In some cases, what we think is sarcasm is really just your garden variety of verbal irony. For writers, it is crucial to have a precise and firm grasp on language, so this is the perfect opportunity to clear up any misconceptions. We’ll provide an accurate and clear sarcasm definition using examples from movies and television — because Shakespeare is “sooo 16th Century!” Was that sarcasm or verbal irony? You’ll never know unless you keep reading.Continue reading What is Sarcasm? Definition and Examples in…
Best Shyamalan MoviesShyamalan's Style ExplainedThe Return of M. Night Shyamalan When you think of the most iconic film directors, you can often discount their first couple of films — few filmmakers are geniuses out of the gate. Other directors start strong but end their careers with a painful series of flops. But almost no other director has had the rollercoaster trajectory that M. Night Shyamalan movies have had.Continue reading Best M. Night Shyamalan Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers
Whether you’re making an animated commercial, a live-action short, or a feature film, animatics will help ensure a solid finished product. You’ve probably heard of storyboards and might have seen animatics before, even if you didn’t know that’s what they’re called.So, what is an animatic and what makes them so useful?In this post, we’re going to provide an animatic definition, discuss the reasons why any project can benefit from them and provide some real-world examples. The process of how to make an animatic is much simpler than it might sound. If you’ve already generated storyboards, you're just one step away.Continue…
Eating, drinking, sleeping, and sex are elements of human behavior we all share. The difference with sex is that it has been deemed taboo for centuries. That moral standard has been loosening for decades now, and sex has become a more significant part of mainstream entertainment.But just because we CAN show sex in movies doesn't mean we SHOULD. And if we do, it needs to be handled tastefully. When is it appropriate to include a sex scene in your movie? How can you make sure the scene adds value to the story without becoming gratuitous? If you’re wondering how to…
It can be difficult to push your audience to identify with the characters while only using camera movement. But it is possible. Today, we’ll review the dolly shot and learn how you can use them creatively to bring the audience into your characters’ world. We'll also walk you through the process of planning, scheduling, and shooting your own dolly shots in your next project. Hello, Dolly!Continue reading The Dolly Shot: How To Create Powerful Shots With Simple Movement
There is no better teacher than doing. Learning as you go and surrounding yourself with filmmakers who are better than you is one of the best ways to learn the craft. However, many of the best cinematography books are actually worth taking a look at. In fact, some of them not only educate on craft, but they also provide a new way to see the world. Continue reading 30 Best Cinematography Books That Actually Inspire
Scenes numbers are extremely important in any project. Keeping the original numbers intact will save any pre-production work you’ve already done. But there are times when renumbering scenes makes sense. How is this done and what are the negative aspects of this process? The good news is that renumbering your scenes in super simple. The only thing you need to keep in mind is what happens to the rest of your project. This article will take you through the steps of renumbering scenes so you can push forward and put your project back on track. Continue reading How to Renumber…
Whether you're writing the first draft or sharing the final draft with your collaborators, taking notes is critical. Keeping these thoughts, suggestions, or inspirations organized can be a difficult task. But we've solved the problem. Script Notes is an extremely valuable resource that will help keep your ideas intact and accessible so you can stay productive. We’ve created an example of script notes using The Big Lebowski. You can see for yourself how the Coen Brothers might have used all the features of Script Notes to their advantage. Continue reading How to Write Script Notes in StudioBinder (with Industry Examples…
