What is tone? To answer that question we have to place tone in an appropriate context. Tone can refer to the intonation/pitch of acoustics, the meeting of light and shadow, the firmness of muscles, etc. — but we’re going to focus on what tone means in storytelling. Tone is how an artist feels towards the art they create — sounds simple enough right? Well, consider this: how do we know how an artist feels? We’re going to explore that question by looking at examples from William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe and more. By the end, you’ll know what makes tone…
I was in the Amazon jungle the first time I wrote a narrative essay, enlightened and enraptured by the influence of ayahuasca. That’s not true. I’ve never been to South America nor have I ever taken ayahuasca. The purpose of that opening is to show how to craft a narrative essay intro — hook, line, and sinker. Narrative essays rely on hooking the reader, and enticing them to read on. But what is a narrative essay? We’re going to break down everything you need to know about these essays — definition, examples, tips and tricks included. By the end, you’ll…
What is denotation? Denotation is something we apply every second of our lives, but we rarely give conscious attention to it. Today, we’re going to explore what denotation is and how we can recognize it in film, literature and everyday life. We'll also explore what makes denotation different from connotation. By the end, we’ll know how to recognize the denotation of words and signs like a pro. Continue reading What is Denotation — Definition & Examples for Writers
What is Technicolor? Whether you knew at the time or not, you’ve probably seen a Technicolor movie. If you’re trying to recall an example, just think, color, color, color. Technicolor changed the course of cinema forever with bright and bold visuals, saturated to the point of near-surreality. We’re going to look at some examples of Technicolor in films like The Wizard of Oz and The Godfather but, first, let’s check out a quick video to see where it started.Continue reading What is Technicolor? Definition and History Explained
What is connotation? We often hear about how certain things have good or bad connotations, but how do we know? We’re going to answer that question by looking at some examples of connotations in literature and film. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and apply all sorts of connotations in writing and everyday life.Continue reading What is Connotation? Definition & Examples
There are a lot of great kids movies to watch, whether you’re looking for something to show your children, niece/nephews, classroom, etc. – or you’re just looking to reconnect with your childhood. We’re going to rank the best kids movies of all time based on three criteria: visuals, creativity, and moral/insightful message. Note: we tried to make the picks on this list as varied as possible by picking from different eras, genres and styles of film. With that note out of the way, let’s jump into our list of the best kids movies of all time!Continue reading Best Kids Movies of…
The Mean Girls script is widely known for being Tina Fey’s screenwriting debut and the foundation for a cult hit, but what are the things that make it work so well? Let's break down the Mean Girls script by looking at characters, quotes and story with the goal of finding the story’s major theme! Continue reading Mean Girls Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
It’s hard to believe that Leonardo DiCaprio’s first Oscar win came in 2016. DiCaprio is one of the most famed and sought-after film stars in the world today. In this article, we’re going to rank the top Leonardo DiCaprio movies. The ranking of these movies is based on their quality and impact, not DiCaprio’s performance. But any overview of Leonardo DiCaprio's filmography reveals how often those two overlap. That being said, every film included has to feature DiCaprio in a substantial role. This list offers a curated lens on the broader DiCaprio filmography, which spans multiple decades and genres. Continue reading…
Making a short film can seem like an indomitable task. Most writers and directors struggle to get their productions off the ground, often because they lack the resources to get started. No need to worry though, we’re going to show you step-by-step how to make a short film with video guides and all the software you’ll need. Make sure to reference this guide as you’re going through your production to check off all of the steps.Continue reading How to Make a Short Film — 12 Steps from Idea to Finished Film
Mood board templates are valuable tools for anybody and everybody interested in designing mood boards. But how do you use a mood board template? We’re going to show you how to use a mood board template by breaking down some clear examples. By the end, you’ll have everything you need to design your own mood board.Continue reading How to Use a Mood Board Template — FREE Download