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.
Writing a script can be a daunting task – but there are strategies for making it an engaging and fun exercise in creative practice. We’re going to answer the essential questions involved in writing a script, with character arc and plot examples. Then we’ll explain how to use our script analysis worksheet so that you… Continue reading Script Analysis Worksheet PDF — How to Analyze a Script
Did you know that some of the most famous movies of all time, like Rear Window, Rashomon, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, were adapted from short stories? The art of turning prose into a professional script has been incredibly lucrative for hundreds of writers over the years. We’re going to show you how to convert… Continue reading How to Convert a Short Story into a Script — A 5-Step Guide
Swiss philosopher Carl Jung theorized that all people are connected by a collective unconscious; which dictates we understand a collection of archetypes and symbols. But how do we understand these archetypes and symbols? Where do they appear? And how are they used? We’re going to answer those questions by exploring “repetition in art,” from character… Continue reading Repetition in Art — Patterns, Meanings & Techniques Explained
What is a soundstage? It’s a term we hear fairly often in film circles, but it’s usually assumed we know what it means. Don’t fret, we’re going to define soundstage and then look at some iconic examples. By the end, you’ll know what soundstages are and how they’re used. But before we get into our… Continue reading What is a Soundstage — Definition, History & Function Explained
Everything Everywhere All at Once is one of the craziest movies in recent years. But an early draft of the screenplay, written for Jackie Chan, might be even crazier. We’re going to break down the Everything Everywhere All at Once script by looking at its quotes, plot, and ending. In our video, we also break down… Continue reading Everything Everywhere All at Once Script — PDF Download
Characterization is everything that makes a character a character; thoughts, feelings, and appearances included. We’re going to break down some characterization examples from The Breakfast Club, In The Mood for Love, and more to see how writers uniquely approach the art of making characters. By the end, you’ll know a variety of approaches to characterization!Continue… Continue reading Characterization Examples in Movies — A Screenwriter’s Guide
Film editing is an essential part of cinema production – but where do people learn how to edit films? One place is college; so we’re going to show you the best colleges for film editing, with tuition costs, program information, and links to learn more. By the end, you’ll have know pertinent details about the… Continue reading Best Colleges for Film Editing — Our Top 5 Picks
Hayao Miyazaki is regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of animation. Over 50+ years, Miyazaki made some of the most critically-lauded animated films; earning him numerous awards, including an honorary Oscar for “inspiring generations of artists to work in the medium and illuminate its limitless potential.” We’re going to rank the… Continue reading Best Hayao Miyazaki Movies — Celebrating a Life in Animation
Wreck-It Ralph smashed onto the cinema scene in 2012 with some state-of-the-art animation, great voice performances, and a uniquely sharp script. We’re going to break down the Wreck-It Ralph screenplay by looking at its quotes, characters, and meta-references. By the end, you might be inspired to write a meta-textual script just like Phil Johnston and… Continue reading Wreck-It Ralph Script PDF Download — Plot, Quotes & Analysis
Character breakdowns are used by casting directors during the pre-production phase of film production to gauge the defining character features that writers/directors are looking for. We’re going to show you how to write a character breakdown for a script so that you can organize your character descriptions in one place. By the end, you’ll know… Continue reading How to Write a Character Breakdown for a Script — Pro-Tips
Satyajit Ray is regarded as not only one of the greatest filmmakers in Indian cinema, but as one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history. We’re going to break down the best Satyajit Ray films by way of three criteria: direction, story, and theme. By the end, you’ll know why Ray’s films are so well-regarded!Continue… Continue reading Best Satyajit Ray Films — Top 10 From a True Cinematic Icon
What is third person omniscient point of view? Third person omniscient point of view is the perfect perspective for writers who want to play god. We’re going to define this specific type of point of view by looking at examples from video essays and literature. By the end, you’ll know why third person omniscient POV… Continue reading What is Third Person Omniscient Point of View — Writer’s Guide
Ukiyo-e was one of the most influential movements in all 0f Eastern art – but what is ukiyo-e? We’re going to explore ukiyo-e art by breaking down its definition – and by looking at some famous examples from Katsushika Hokusai, Kitagawa Utamaro, and more. By the end, you’ll know what ukiyo-e is and why it’s… Continue reading What is Ukiyo-e – Artists, Characteristics & Best Examples
Better Call Saul is one of the most critically lauded shows on TV — and its cinematography is a big reason why. The Better Call Saul cinematography excels in just about every area: lighting, framing, focus, camera movement. You name it, BCS knocks it out of the park. We’re going to break down the Better… Continue reading Better Call Saul Cinematography — How Visuals Elevate Story
In the middle-part of the 18th century, the art world ditched the gaudy baroque style and went back to the classics. This period (and style) is known as Neoclassicism; or Neoclassical art. But what is Neoclassicism really? We’re going to break down Neoclassicism by looking at its history, with examples from Jacques-Louis David, Angelica Kauffmann,… Continue reading What is Neoclassicism — Movement, Artists & Art Explained
Short films are unique in the sense that they’re usually produced under tighter budgets and stricter time-frames than their feature-length counterparts. As such, we thought it would be a good idea to break down how to make a short film schedule, so you can plan your production as efficiently as possible. By the end, you’ll… Continue reading Short Film Schedule Tips — How to Plan Your Entire Production
Denouement is one of the most important aspects of a script, yet it can easily be confused with other story beats like climaxes or epilogues. So what is denouement? In this article, we’re going to define denouement in a clear and simple way, then look at some key examples that show us how masterclass filmmakers… Continue reading What is Denouement — Definition and Examples of Denouement in Movies
What was the Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance was a landmark art movement that changed the course of music, literature, and culture. We’re going to explore the history of the Harlem Renaissance by looking at its pioneers. By the end, you’ll know how the Harlem Renaissance started, how it ended, who its leaders were, and… Continue reading What Was the Harlem Renaissance — And Why It Mattered
The rule of three is one of the most important rules in all of writing – but what is the rule of three? We’re going to explore this fascinating and useful rule by looking at examples in sentences, situations, and stories. This article will serve as a referential guide for you to circle back to… Continue reading What is the Rule of Three — A Literary Device for Writers
Stranger Things is one of the biggest shows in the world – and its cinematography is a big reason why. The Stranger Things cinematography shifts between expressive and reserved to impart visual tone that matches the narrative. We’re going to break down why the Stranger Things cinematography is successful by taking a look at a… Continue reading Stranger Things Cinematography Explained — Camera, Lighting & Lenses
