Chris Heckmann is a Professor of Media & Communication at Roger Williams University and graduate of UCLA’s Cinema & Media Studies Master of Arts program. When he’s not writing or teaching, he’s probably playing video games (or thinking about the next great Boston sports trade).
Making a short film is largely a similar process to making a feature. There’s pre-production, production, and post-production. There’s a crew and cast. And there’s storyboards. In this post we’ll look at how to storyboard a short film, and give you examples and templates to help you make sure your next short is planned out.Continue reading How to Storyboard a Short Film — Examples and Templates
Every so often, a piece of art comes around that ends up epitomizing a period of time. The 12 Angry Men script is one such piece of art. Although it was originally broadcasted on television, most people know the feature film version of 12 Angry Men. We’re going to break down everything you need to know about the film, from its characters to its ending. Bailiff shut the doors, make sure to download a copy of the 12 Angry Men PDF below to read along!Continue reading 12 Angry Men Script PDF Download: Summary, Characters, and Quotes
At one point or another, many of us iPhone users have asked “how do I make a movie on my iPhone?” Well, there’s never been a better time to make a movie on iPhone. For filmmakers, iPhones offer unparalleled transportability and ease of use – but they come with drawbacks too. Let's explore the pros & cons of iPhone filmmaking, with examples from Steven Soderbergh, Damien Chazelle and more. By the end, you’ll know how to make a movie on iPhone, and how to make the most out of the phone's capabilities.Continue reading How to Make a Movie on iPhone…
Brad Pitt is one of the most iconic American actors today, simultaneously revered for his good looks and depth as an actor. In this list, we’re going to rank the best Brad Pitt movies.The ranking of these films are in regards to their quality and impact, not Brad Pitt’s performance. But every film on the list features Pitt in a substantial if not starring role.Before we dive into the list of his best movies, let's look at the role he won the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood.Continue reading Best Brad Pitt Movies List…
At one point or another, we have all asked the question: when was photography invented? We know it was sometime in the distant past, just not exactly when. That’s because photography has a long history, dating all the way back to the 5th century BCE. We’re going to look at the history of photography to better understand its processes and date of invention. Ditch your textbook and grab your camera obscura as we dive into the world and history of photography!Continue reading When Was Photography Invented — A Quick History Lesson
Parallelism, or parallel structure, is a grammar style that ensures linguistic clarity. We’re going to explore parallelism examples from writing with the goal of better understanding parallel structure. By the end, you’ll know how parallelism works, and how to implement it in your writing. Tip: that last sentence was an example of parallelism in action!Continue reading Parallelism Examples — Writing, Speeches, Shakespeare & More
In 1990, Francis Ford Coppola released the third installment in the universally acclaimed Godfather series: The Godfather Part III. But unlike its predecessors, The Godfather Part III was anything but universally acclaimed. In late 2020, Ford Coppola released a recut version of The Godfather Part III, titled The Godfather Coda The Death of Michael Corleone. We’re going to look at what we can learn from The Godfather Coda by comparing it to the original cut. We’re going to analyze pacing, audio enhancements, and structural differences with the intent of better understanding the final chapter in the Corleone crime family.Continue reading The…
What is an anecdote? In simplest terms, an anecdote is a short story that illuminates a nuanced facet of a greater subject matter. We’re going to break down anecdotes by looking at their definition — and anecdote examples in film and literature. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and implement anecdotes in your own works.Continue reading What is an Anecdote — Definition, Examples, and Functions
At one point or another, we’ve all asked the question: what was the first movie ever made? Was it the one with the train robbery? Was it the one where the moon had a face? Both The Great Train Robbery (1903) and A Trip to the Moon (1902) were early examples of movies, but neither was the first one. We’re going to answer the ever-so-elusive question to “what was the first movie ever made?” by placing it in historical context. By the end, you’ll know what the first movie ever made was and some fun facts about the early years…
What is a hero? Heroism is a concept we’re taught at a very young age. But is the definition we’re taught really accurate? Today, we’re going to explore the hero definition in a new light by looking at examples in psychology, film, and literature. By the end, you’ll know what makes a hero, and how to make your own characters heroic. Continue reading What is a Hero — Definition, Examples & Types Explained
