Julia Mayfield is a writer/comedian from North Hollywood with a Bachelor's Degree in Film Studies from Chapman University. She's written for shows airing on Disney, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Amazon, and more.
A “talking head.” It’s a quick term to describe news broadcasters or perhaps your favorite ‘80s band. But where did it originate, and how has it become ubiquitous in our most commonly-consumed media? In this article, we’ll break down the definition of the term as well as provide some examples of how this simple camera setup can do a lot.Continue reading What Is a Talking Head — Definition and Examples
Cue cards are more than just an assist for on-camera actors in a pinch, they’re an essential tool productions can use when their show is changing too quickly for the performers to properly acclimate. Though most frequently used in live television, its origins stem all the way back to black and white cinema. As we define what cue cards are, we’ll dive deeper into its history and how it’s evolved over the years in both TV and film. Let’s dig in.Continue reading What Are Cue Cards — Definition, Examples and Purpose
Maybe you’ve seen a “behind the scenes” clip of an actor recording audio for a Pixar movie or an author reading their audio-book and thought, “That doesn’t seem that hard.” But how do you become a voice actor? Voice acting, though often less physically strenuous than sprinting in an action movie, has its own set of difficulties, techniques, and styles. In this article, we’re going to define the role of the “voice actor” and how it factors into the Entertainment business well beyond the sound booth.Continue reading What is Voice Acting — How to Become a Voice Actor
Chances are, if you’ve shelled out money to go to the movies in the last year, you’ve done so because of a positive word-of-mouth for the movie you’re about to see, or that it’s simply deemed “critically acclaimed”. Movie critics are that “critic” that often shapes the public discourse, sometimes propelling a relatively unknown indie into a buzzworthy future Oscar winner. But what does a movie critic in this modern era actually do? In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at these professional film reviewer’s day-to-day. Continue reading What Does a Movie Critic Do — And How to…
What is the difference between a “sketch” and a scene in a SitCom? A “sketch” vs a “skit”? Have you ever watched Saturday Night Live or I Think You Should Leave and wondered how the writers and performers craft a full beginning, middle, and end in the span of under 5 minutes? Over the course of this article, we’re gonna dive into the full definition of sketch comedy and explore its basic formulas as well as highlight some “sketch sub-genres” that have become prevalent in TV (and some movies!). Let’s dig in.Continue reading What is Sketch Comedy — Definition, Examples…
Ever wondered why certain “hot new TV shows” get a full-on media blitz while others… barely get a bus ad? It’s more than just the luck of the draw, but rather a TV business strategy that starts at an annual event called the TV Upfronts taking place every Spring in New York. Over the course of this article, we’re going to define the event, its importance to the TV Industry as a whole and how it’s evolved over time. Let’s dive in. Continue reading What Are Upfronts in TV — How Advertising Works in Television
Most screenwriters write with one singular goal in mind: selling the screenplay they’ve been toiling away on for months (if not years). But what newer writers may not know is that there’s often a step before the official sale. This is called “optioning” and can be seen as a right step on the path to seeing your work on the big screen. So, what does it mean to option a script? In this article, we’re going to go over the definition and a brief overview of what “optioning” means in today’s market. Let’s get started. Continue reading What Does It…
Breaking into the Entertainment Industry as a screenwriter can often feel mysterious and difficult. With so many ways to “make it,” how do you determine which path is “the right path” that’ll properly lead you toward an illustrious career? Internships are an excellent first step to get your foot in the door, but which ones are “the good ones” for script writers that deserve your full focus? Over the course of this article, we’ll highlight the current landscape of screenwriting internships so you can make the best decision on where to take that first step.Continue reading Best Screenwriting Internships —…
Perhaps you’ve just heard about a new movie in the works with your favorite director– you immediately make a mental note of excitement, quietly counting down the days until it hits theaters, but then a year almost passes and… there’s no movie to be found. What happened? Where’d the movie go? And was there even going to be a movie in the first place? This is an experience often described as, “development hell,” a nebulous purgatory that happens to projects that have been announced but may or may not have actually been pushed into production. It’s a process that…
