You see them on every screen, whether you’re aware of it or not—the best ones communicate information so seamlessly you might not even notice any visual interruption. From “explainer” videos to cable news lower thirds, motion graphics have a place in nearly every type of video content. In this post, we’ll look at what is motion graphics exactly and how you can bring them into your own work.Continue reading What is Motion Graphics — Definition, Examples & Types
There are countless ways to cut a movie. Sometimes it’s best to do straight-forward, continuity editing– one scene happens, then the next. But sometimes, a less obvious editing technique can bring a sequence to life. Parallel editing is one of these unique editing forms that can elevate a movie, drawing comparisons and heightening suspense. So what is parallel editing in film? How can it be used?Continue reading What is Parallel Editing in Film — And Why Editors Use It
Spider-Man is a monumental achievement in the superhero genre. The film kicked off one of the most successful franchises in cinema history, reinvigorated a beloved superhero long lost to the margins of culture, and celebrated a city recovering from a devastating tragedy. Spider-Man’s screenplay has become the platonic ideal for the hero's origin story: hitting all the right beats at all the right moments in all the right ways. Let’s take a look at how the screenplay clicks. Continue reading Spider-Man Script PDF Download — Plot, Dialogue & Ending
A detective movie can be a lot of things: a moody noir, a screwball comedy, a sci-fi thriller. Any of these genres can follow one protagonist trying to answer a question. Detective movies follow searchers– people are not satisfied until they get to the bottom of it all. Often, the answer isn’t as simple as they’d like, instead raising more questions about the world around us. Here are the best detective movies ever.Continue reading Best Detective Movies of All Time — Film’s Greatest Gumshoes
Short, simple sentences are great. But if they’re all you use, your writing can start to feel stilted. Wait, let me start that again. Short, simple sentences are great, but if they’re all you use, your writing can start to feel stilted. That’s better. Compound sentences are a great way to diversify your writing and complicate your statements. Let’s look at what makes a compound sentence and how it’s used. Continue reading What is a Compound Sentence? Structure & Examples
Filmmakers dream of getting the greenlight– the go-ahead from a studio to get started on their project. But even a greenlight doesn’t necessarily mean a movie will see the light of day, or the darkness of a theater. There is still, unfortunately, the possibility of a turnaround. What does turnaround mean in film, and how does it come about?Continue reading What is Turnaround in Film — Definition & Examples Explained
Everybody loves a good action movie, and there are very few good action movies without good stunts. Stunts are the backbone of action movies and have been an element of filmmaking from the very beginning. Tons of work goes into creating mind-blowing stunts, and a lot of that work falls on the shoulders of the Stunt Coordinator. So, let's dive in: what is a Stunt Coordinator, and what are the ins and outs of their profession?Continue reading What is a Stunt Coordinator in Film — Job Description Explained
A split screen immediately draws attention to itself. It’s a technique which signals a certain stylization and, by its very nature, divides our attention between multiple frames. Because of this, split screens are often used sparingly. And yet, when used well, they can create some instantly-iconic juxtapositions that elevate a story. Here are some of the finest split screen film examples ranked.Continue reading Split Screen Film Examples — How Split Screens Tell a Story
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a breath of fresh air in the superhero genre. It exists outside of the tightly-controlled Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it uses its freedom to pursue a thrillingly original take on the thrice-rebooted hero we thought we’d seen every angle of. Spider-Verse’s originality doesn’t solely come from its stunning animation (though that helps). Its story is an achievement in creativity, at once recreating Spider-Man while also paying postmodern homage to his many iterations of yore.The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse screenplay moves a mile a minute and is touching, hilarious, and action-packed. By dissecting the script’s structure,…
Spider-Man was a colossal moment in superhero cinema, reorienting the genre toward the massive blockbuster machine that it is today. Spider-Man 2, stunningly, was equally important. While its first entry crystalized the superhero origin story, Spider-Man 2 perfected the superhero sequel. Spider-Man 2’s success is shocking when one looks at the path its screenplay took to get to a final draft. Director Sam Raimi cherry-picked three distinct screenplays from four different screenwriters to Frankenstein together a narrative he was happy with. We’ve got our hands on Michael Chabon’s draft, and in this analysis, we’ll look at why Raimi took what…
