Kyle DeGuzman graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Television, Film, & New Media. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado spending his time writing, filmmaking, and traveling.
Horror movies have become subject to some of the most predictable devices and tropes in cinema. While unique filmmakers like Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, and Jordan Peele continue to innovate the genre, new horror films are riddled with horror movie tropes. Although they can still be effective horror storytelling devices, they can also become unremarkable… Continue reading Horror Movie Tropes — Top 15 Tropes & Why They’re Effective
Picture this. You’re an aspiring screenwriter with a story idea, maybe even a script. You get into an elevator and see a well known movie producer. You chat, you say you’re a screenwriter, and they ask if you have anything you’re working on. You have three more floors to pitch your story idea. What do… Continue reading What is the Premise of a Story — Definition and Examples
So you have an idea. The idea. The idea that you feel like will jump start your career as a filmmaker. But all of a sudden you’re faced with the question “How will this get made?” Films and television pilots require a lot of resources and a lot of money to execute. So how do… Continue reading What is a Proof of Concept Film — Examples and Strategies
Not unlike his first two feature films, Jordan Peele’s Nope combines the horror genre, social commentary, and his unique eye for an entertainingly suspenseful watch. In what has become a staple to his style, Peele utilizes the genre to subvert our expectations and add something new to the realm of UFO films. Peele orchestrates quite a… Continue reading Nope Explained — Theories, Themes, Symbolism & Ending
What is Rhetoric Rhetorical DevicesOpen menu Alliteration Anaphora Hypophora Onomatopoeia Oxymoron Simile Write Your Script For Free → You may not realize it, but the rhetoric you encounter everyday is based on rhetorical principles created hundreds of years ago. As one of the oldest areas of study, rhetoric has been used to direct and influence… Continue reading What is Rhetoric — Definition, Types and Examples Explained
Great writers find ways to do away with superfluous language. Their prose is both precise and efficient in conveying meaning in a concise, yet vivid way. A great literary tool to achieve this is the epithet. While you may not yet be familiar with the epithet definition, you have probably heard or used one (or… Continue reading What is an Epithet — Definition, Types, and Examples for Writers
Index & TimelineOpen menu Art Styles Explained Art History Timeline Renaissance & Classical (1400-1600)Open menu Renaissance Gothic Art Rococo Baroque Classicism Neoclassicism Romanticism & Contemporary (1827-20XX)Open menu Avant Garde Post Impressionism Romanticism Expressionism Contemporary Art Modern Art Abstract art is perhaps one of the most popular styles that circulates in the fine art world. While… Continue reading What is Abstract Expressionism — Definition & History
Index & TimelineOpen menu Art Styles Explained Art History Timeline Renaissance & Classical (1400-1600)Open menu Renaissance Gothic Art Rococo Baroque Classicism Neoclassicism Romanticism & Contemporary (1827-20XX)Open menu Avant Garde Post Impressionism Romanticism Expressionism Contemporary Art Modern Art Conceptual art can often be a controversial art form riddled with differing opinions and open-ended debates. It directly… Continue reading What is Conceptual Art — Definition, Examples and History
BasicsOpen menu What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur ResourcesOpen menu Essential Cinematography Books Top 100 Cinematography Films Videography Contract Template Best Cinematography Schools How to Join the Cinematographer’s Guild Best Cinematography Online Courses E-BooksOpen menu FREE E-Book: Camera Lenses Explained FREE E-Book: Exposure… Continue reading What is Digital Cinematography — The Pros & Cons of Digital
Understanding the different qualities of light is important for any filmmaker to know. Each quality can enhance a story by providing a visual element that matches the style and tone of a film. One of the most fundamental qualities of light to understand is diffused light. But what is diffused light? From interviews to commercial… Continue reading What is Diffused Light — Types of Lighting in Photo & Film
If you’re an aspiring photographer or have been in the past you may have come across the question “What types of lights do I need?” While artificial light sources are incredibly useful tools, photographers can get by with a single type of light — natural light. With a solid understanding of how natural light works and… Continue reading Natural Light Photography — Techniques & Benefits Explained
Poetry BasicsOpen menu What is a Poem How to Write a Poem What is a Stanza in a Poem What is a Haiku What is Prose What is an Ode Types of PoemsOpen menu Types of Poems Guide What is an Acrostic Poem What is an Epic Poem What is Lyric Poetry What is a… Continue reading What is Prose — Definition and Examples in Literature
There are few things that can keep an audience more engaged in a film than suspense. But what is suspense, exactly? That feeling of intense anticipation can be found in various genres and have an audience leaning forward with their eyes glued to the screen. Understanding what suspense is and how it differs from other… Continue reading What is Suspense — The Elements of Suspense Explained
Art DepartmentOpen menu Art Director Production Designer Prop Master Storyboard Artist Concept Artist Set Dresser Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → Anytime you see an actor handle or interact with an object in a film, that object was carefully picked out and acquired by a single person — the… Continue reading What is a Prop Master — Job Description and Responsibilities
There are a few iconic films that have transcended cinema and impacted culture at large and Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon is certainly one. Kurosawa’s exploration of truth and its expression in the film led to a term that would be used both in and outside of cinema — the Rashomon Effect. The Rashomon Effect is used in… Continue reading What is The Rashomon Effect in Film? Definition & Examples Explained
Most people are familiar with sepia tone as one of the first Instagram filters that ever existed. It might make you reminiscent of your great grandma’s old photos or old Western films, but when the tone was first created, it was a fresh and new medium for photographers to work with. So what is sepia… Continue reading What is Sepia Tone Photography — How It Works & Why Use It
Have you ever seen an insanely detailed photograph where every portion of the photos is completely in focus? If you’re like most people you might wonder “How did they capture this?” Odds are that they created the remarkably sharp image using focus stacking. Focus stacking is used to shoot a diversity of subjects from landscapes, to… Continue reading What is Focus Stacking — Examples & How to Stack Photos
It is not uncommon for filmmakers to open a film with a few lines of text over a black screen that set forth the tone or theme of a film. Oftentimes, filmmakers even use text over a black screen to transition between scenes or acts. Doing so can be an extremely direct and efficient way… Continue reading How to Write Text on a Black Screen in Screenplay Format
One of the more difficult cinematic aspects to communicate through a screenplay is pacing. Oftentimes, pacing relies on the cutting of shots and scenes. While the lengths of scenes can help give a reader the overall pacing of a film, how do you communicate the pacing of quick cuts within a scene? In this article… Continue reading How to Write Quick Cuts in a Screenplay — Examples and Tips
Editorial DepartmentOpen menu Digital Imaging Technician Film Editor Colorist Ultimate Guide to Film Crew Positions Free Film Crew Management Software → Without editors, films would never be made. They are one of the most integral roles of a film’s creation. Like cinematographers, editors are part technicians and part creatives which broadens their responsibilities. What does… Continue reading What Does a Film Editor Do — Role and Responsibilities
