Chris Heckmann

Chris Heckmann graduated from Emmanuel College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing, Editing, and Publishing. He now lives in Los Angeles where he writes about sports, film, and television.

What is a Character Arc — Definition & Types of Character Arcs

What is a character arc and why are they so important in storytelling? A character arc is an essential part of writing a fully-fledged character. As much as we like seeing goals being achieved, it is the internal, positive change in characters that we really gravitate towards. We’re going to answer those questions with a… Continue reading What is a Character Arc — Definition & Types of Character Arcs

Chris Heckmann

Academy Award for Best Production Design — Winners Ranked

Production design is everything that goes into making the world of a film – sets, props and more. But despite its importance, production design is a facet of filmmaking that I think many people take for granted. We often ascribe credit to the writers, directors and stars of a picture rather than the artists working… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Production Design — Winners Ranked

Chris Heckmann

Inception Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Characters

Inception is one of the most thought-provoking and confounding films ever made – and there’s a lot we can learn from its 145+ page script. We’re going to break down the Inception script by looking at its characters, fight scenes and ending. By the end, you’ll know why Inception is a prime example of Christopher… Continue reading Inception Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Characters

Chris Heckmann

Screenwriting Terms — Abbreviations, Definitions & Vocab

There are a lot of intricacies in scripts that present challenges to even the most veteran of screenwriters. The process of writing a script is difficult enough but the vocabulary, abbreviations, and defintions related to the job can be a bit elusive. But don’t worry, we’re going to cover a variety of screenwriting terms that… Continue reading Screenwriting Terms — Abbreviations, Definitions & Vocab

Chris Heckmann

Academy Award for Best Original Score: Top Winners Ranked

The Academy Award for Best Original Score is one of the most prestigious honors a composer can be given. Over the years, some of the world’s most acclaimed composers, like John Williams and Max Steiner, have won the award. We’re going to list every Academy Award for Best Original Score winner, then rank some of… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Original Score: Top Winners Ranked

Chris Heckmann

Quasar Lights — Prices, Reviews of Quasar Science Lights

What are Quasar lights? Quasar lights have become some of Hollywood’s favorite tools for lighting – but where did they come from and how are they used? We’re going to answer those questions by breaking down their best use cases. By the end, you might want to pick up some products from Quasar Science yourself. Continue… Continue reading Quasar Lights — Prices, Reviews of Quasar Science Lights

Chris Heckmann

Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay — Top 20 Ranked

One of the most prestigious honors a screenwriter can be given is the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Over the years, we’ve seen sweeping stories of romanticism like the original Titanic, as well as stories of war like The Hurt Locker, win the award. We’re going to list all the scripts that have won… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay — Top 20 Ranked

Chris Heckmann

Academy Award for Best Actress — Top 20 Winners Ranked

Many consider the Academy Award for Best Actress the greatest honor an actress can receive. Over the years, some of cinema’s finest actresses, like Meryll Streep and Elizabeth Taylor, have been given the award. We’re going to list every actress who has won the Academy Award for Best Actress, then we’ll rank some of their… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Actress — Top 20 Winners Ranked

Chris Heckmann

Types of Editing Transitions in Film — The Ultimate Guide

Video transitions are used in just about every film and video – and they play an enormous role in the subliminal or liminal effects of moving from shot to shot. As such, knowing when and how to use specific types of editing transitions in film – like wipes, fades and pans – can make your… Continue reading Types of Editing Transitions in Film — The Ultimate Guide

Chris Heckmann

Final Cut Pro vs Premiere Pro — Prices, Specs, Pros & Cons

Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro are the two most popular video editing platforms for film professionals. Apple and Adobe have been battling for market share in the video editing software industry for decades, and there are no signs of them slowing down anytime soon. So – Final Cut Pro vs Adobe Premiere Pro: which… Continue reading Final Cut Pro vs Premiere Pro — Prices, Specs, Pros & Cons

Chris Heckmann

Best Kids Movies of All Time — Classics Every Kid Should See

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… Continue reading Best Kids Movies of All Time — Classics Every Kid Should See

Chris Heckmann

Different Types of Poems and Poem Structures — A Writer’s Guide

Did you know that some language and anthropology scholars believe that poetry predates literacy? Poetry is one of the world’s oldest and most venerated art forms. As storytellers, there’s simply a ton of value in learning more about what makes poetry so special, as well as what makes it so historically important. We’re going to… Continue reading Different Types of Poems and Poem Structures — A Writer’s Guide

Chris Heckmann

The Godfather Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis

The Godfather is nothing short of a masterpiece. That’s because every single facet of the film’s production is layered with detail, emotion, and purpose. But everything that we see visually in the final cut was once just an idea in the minds of Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, initially transcribed onto the page as… Continue reading The Godfather Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis

Chris Heckmann

Sports Photography Tips — Cameras, Lenses, Settings & More

So you want to be a sports photographer. Awesome! Sports photography is how we capture sports – but it’s also something more than that. Sports photography is an artistic medium for artists to express how they see the world of sports. We’re going to break down step-by-step how to shoot sports images, with camera tips… Continue reading Sports Photography Tips — Cameras, Lenses, Settings & More

Chris Heckmann

What is Chiaroscuro in Film? Definition, Techniques, & Examples

For decades, filmmakers have iterated on creative lighting and cinematic techniques. But still, some of the best lighting techniques, such as chiaroscuro, have persevered to have an impact on cinema today. Though chiaroscuro in film was popularized nearly a century ago, modern cinema still venerates its value. So what is chiaroscuro in film and how… Continue reading What is Chiaroscuro in Film? Definition, Techniques, & Examples

Chris Heckmann

Creative Photography Ideas & Techniques To Get You Inspired

Every artist, photographer or otherwise, comes to a point in their creative process where they must look elsewhere for inspiration. As such, we felt it would be a great idea to compile a list of creative photography ideas. We’re going to touch on some creative and technical strategies that might stimulate your photographic eye –… Continue reading Creative Photography Ideas & Techniques To Get You Inspired

Chris Heckmann

Best Stanley Kubrick Movies — 13 Masterpieces Ranked (and Video Essay)

There’s no doubt about it: Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest filmmaking pioneers of all time. Stanley Kubrick was, in many ways, a perfectionist. As such, his filmography isn’t as expansive as those of his contemporaries. But for what Kubrick lacked in quantity he made up for in quality: Each film he directed was a… Continue reading Best Stanley Kubrick Movies — 13 Masterpieces Ranked (and Video Essay)

Chris Heckmann

What is the Best Lens for Portraits? — A Photographer’s Guide

What is the best lens for portraits? This is a question that nearly every photographer asks and yet there is no definitive answer – suffice it to say that different camera lenses create different looking photographs. However, some lenses are better suited for portraits than others. We’re going to analyze some different focal length lenses… Continue reading What is the Best Lens for Portraits? — A Photographer’s Guide

Chris Heckmann

What Does CONT’D Mean in a Screenplay & How to Use It

MORE and CONT’D are dialogue transitions that are used to mark the continuation of characters speaking in a screenplay. We’re going to show you how to use MORE and CONT’D with screenplay examples – and then we’ll explain when you should use them in your own scripts.Continue reading What Does CONT’D Mean in a Screenplay… Continue reading What Does CONT’D Mean in a Screenplay & How to Use It

Chris Heckmann

What Happened to Every Frame a Painting? — A Eulogy

In April 2014, a YouTube channel named Every Frame a Painting was created and it changed the course of film criticism forever. Over the course of three years, Every Frame a Painting founders Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou released 28 video essays addressing everything in film from the style of Akira Kurosawa to the editing… Continue reading What Happened to Every Frame a Painting? — A Eulogy

Chris Heckmann

What is Capture One? Photography Editing Software Review

What is Capture One? The software has emerged as one of the premiere resources for editing RAW image files – but what are the benefits of Capture One and how is the software used? We’re going to answer those questions by breaking down some of the strengths and weaknesses of Capture 1. We’ll also look… Continue reading What is Capture One? Photography Editing Software Review

Chris Heckmann