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.
Documentaries use scripts that are somewhat different from traditional scripts. Some of the time, they utilize “documentary narration scripts.” But what is a documentary narration script? We’re going to answer that question by looking at some script examples and what makes them work. By the end, you’ll know everything there is to know about narration… Continue reading How to Write Narration in Documentary Films — Tips, Examples
A match on action cut, also referred to as cut on action, is one of the most important editing principles in all of filmmaking. But what is a match on action cut? We’re going to explain matching on action with film examples and more – but first, let’s quickly define the term.Continue reading What is a… Continue reading What is a Match on Action Cut — Definition & Creative Examples
What is a dissolve in film? Dissolves are some of the most commonly used editing transitions in all of film. We’ve seen them used to expert effect in films like Citizen Kane, Saving Private Ryan, and more. We’re going to explain the dissolve definition in a simple and concise way. Then we’ll show you how… Continue reading What is a Dissolve in Film — Editing Transitions Explained
What is a fade transition in video? Fade transitions are some of the most common types of editing transitions in video – but what are they? And how are they used? We’re going to answer those questions by breaking down fade transitions in scripts, films, and more. By the end, you’ll know how to fade… Continue reading What is a Fade Transition — How & Why to Use Them Explained
So you’re ready to learn about a new script writing format! If you’re familiar with one or the other — stage plays or screenplays — then you’re halfway there to understanding the other. If not, don’t fret, it may just take a little more time to master the basics. We’re going to show you everything… Continue reading How to Write a Play Script Format Explained with Examples
Over the last few years, Hollywood has tried to reinvent its definition of the “strong female protagonist” – but the result has been mixed. Although there has been a greater representation of empowered women in Hollywood films, there has also been a dissolution of nuanced characters. All of this begs the question: how do you… Continue reading Strong Female Characters in Film — With 5 Tips on Writing Them
Musicals can be incredibly difficult to write. Why? Because they require a working knowledge of scriptwriting and librettos. Don’t be intimidated though: musicals aren’t impossible to write. We’re going to show you how to write a musical by breaking down some musical scripts. We’ll analyze how professional musical writers combine song, dance, and dialogue in… Continue reading How to Write a Musical Screenplay — Structure & Format Tips
Who is Syd Field? Syd Field was a pioneering figure in Hollywood for screenwriters, producers, and storytellers. His 1979 book Screenplay served as an instructional guide for some of the world’s most prolific scriptwriters. But Field wasn’t just a book-writer, he was a published screenwriter and professor too. We’re going to examine Field’s influence on… Continue reading Who is Syd Field — Biography & Work of a Screenwriting Legend
The Inception hallway scene is one of the all-time best cinematic action scenes – but how did director Christopher Nolan and his production team make it? We’re going to take you behind the scenes to show you the technical ingenuity of the Inception hallway scene. A sequence that not only boggles the mind but was… Continue reading Inception Hallway Scene — How They Shot It Without CGI
Ask any creative writer what the hardest genre to write is and they’ll probably tell you that it’s comedy. That’s because story structure can only bring you so far in comedy writing – the fact of the matter is that if you aren’t funny, you aren’t funny. So how do you become funny? Do you… Continue reading How to Write Comedy — Tips, Techniques & Script Examples
What is a character trope? In screenwriting, a trope is a common element of a story. In other words, a trope is something we see a lot. In a character sense, it’s a type of character we see a lot. The term trope is derived from the Greek (tropos) for “turn, direction, or way” and… Continue reading Character Tropes — 15 Common Character Types Explained
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… Continue reading When Was Photography Invented — A Quick History Lesson
Robert McKee has had an enormous influence on screenwriters all over the globe – but who is Robert McKee and why is he so important? We’re going to explore McKee’s career to better understand his impact on the world of screenwriting. By the end, you’ll know all about Robert McKee’s Story, seminars, and more.Continue reading… Continue reading Who is Robert McKee — The Screenwriting Guru Explained
Much has been made about Wes Anderson’s use of symmetry in shot composition – but did you know symmetry extends to his editing style as well? Wes Anderson utilizes symmetry in every facet of his filmmaking process, from pattern events to blocking and staging. We’re going to show you the art behind Wes Anderson’s symmetrical… Continue reading Wes Anderson Symmetry & Symmetrical Editing Explained
Want to learn how to write an adaptation of an adaptation? Look no further than Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos’s 2017 Beauty and the Beast script. We’re going to break down the Beauty and the Beast script by looking at its characters, quotes, and ending. By the end, you’ll know how Chbosky and Spiliotopoulos renovated… Continue reading Beauty and the Beast Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
Interrogation scenes are some of the most utilized scenes in all of screenwriting – but how does one write an interrogation scene? Fret not, we’re going to show you how to write an interrogation scene by looking at examples from Prisoners, Shrek, and more. We’re also going to show you how to format your interrogation… Continue reading How to Write an Interrogation Scene — Guide for Screenwriters
What is steampunk? We’ve all heard the term before, but many of us have never heard it explained in an easy to understand way. Well, that ends today, because we’re going to break down everything there is to know about this genre and aesthetic, from costumes to characteristics. By the end, you’ll know what steampunk… Continue reading What is Steampunk — Definition, Origins, and Examples
What is a parody? Is it a joke? Is it a mock of a famous work? We’re going to get to the bottom of those questions by breaking down the history of parodies – as well as by looking at some famous parody examples in film and literature. By the end, you’ll know what makes… Continue reading What is a Parody — Definition and Examples in Film
Super heroes. Zombies. Extreme close-ups. Blue and yellow visual tones. Over the years, Zack Snyder has developed a style completely his own. Some hate it, some revere it. Truth is, most people fall in the middle. There’s no denying that Snyder’s style of filmmaking is unique. And for that – at the very least –… Continue reading Best Zack Snyder Movies — His Entire Filmography Ranked
Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung changed the conversation on psychology forever when he proposed his theory on archetypes and the collective unconscious. But Carl Jung’s proposed archetypes, otherwise known as Jungian archetypes, aren’t just pertinent for psychologists – they’re applicable for storytellers too. So, what are the Jungian archetypes? We’re going to look at these to… Continue reading What are the Jungian Archetypes — Writer’s Guide to Archetypes
