Rex Provost is an award-winning writer/director based in New York. When he’s not making movies he’s writing about them.
If you’re a photographer or cinematographer, chances are you’ve used ambient light, whether you’ve known it or not. This type of light is everywhere, and can make or break your image — sometimes it helps, sometimes it’s unwanted. So, what is ambient light? In this article, we’ll walk through what ambient illumination is, and how… Continue reading What is Ambient Light — Lighting Techniques Explained
If you’re a fan of modern Indian cinema, you’ve heard of S. S. Rajamouli. The Telugu director is arguably the most famous filmmaker in India, with three of his films being in the top five highest grossing films in the country. He is a master of spectacle, delivering massive epics packed with action, romance, comedy,… Continue reading S.S. Rajamouli Movies — The Entire Filmography Ranked
James Cameron’s Avatar was successful by almost any metric. It became the highest-grossing movie of all time, received rave reviews, and was nominated for a whopping nine Academy Awards. As many have noted, while Avatar’s story is compelling, it is its groundbreaking visuals that set it apart from other blockbusters. So how did James Cameron… Continue reading Making of Avatar & Avatar 2: Behind-the-Scenes of James Cameron’s Epic
Even in a decade filled with countless iconic blockbusters, The Terminator stood out when it was released in 1984. Its meticulously thought-out world in combination with its cutting-edge visual effects was immediately arresting, and it introduced the world to the artistry of James Cameron. The Terminator script is lean and mean: it chugs along at… Continue reading The Terminator Script PDF — Download & Breakdown
Filmmaking is a collaborative process, but without a doubt, the most important role on set is that of the director. The director receives most of the credit when a film succeeds and most of the blame when it fails. In other words, there is a lot of pressure and responsibility placed on their shoulders. So, how… Continue reading How Much Do Directors Make — DGA Rates for Film & TV
What do Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Rick and Morty, Friends, and iCarly all have in common? They’re all sitcoms. The diversity of the genre can be confusing. If The Simpsons and I Love Lucy are both sitcoms, what is a sitcom exactly? In this post, we’ll get into the history of the sitcom and what makes… Continue reading What is a Sitcom — Definition, Examples and History Explained
There wouldn’t be film without film lighting. Lighting is as crucial to cinematic storytelling as a script and a subject, and filmmakers have experimented with different lumination techniques for as long as the medium has existed. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about lighting for film, from terminology to… Continue reading Film Lighting — The Ultimate Guide (w/ Video & Cheatsheet)
Is there power in nonsense? Some might say that nonsense is by definition meaningless. But for Dada artists, nonsense was the ultimate political tool to smash existing power structures and artistic norms. In this article we’ll look at the historical context in which Dadaism artists arose, what Dada looked like, and how it still casts… Continue reading What is Dadaism Art — Movement, Style, and Artists Explained
Renaissance (1400-1600)Open menu Gothic Art Baroque (1600-1750)Open menu Rococo Classical (1750-1827)Open menu Classicism Neoclassicism Ukiyo-e Romantic (1827-1900)Open menu Art Nouveau Kinetic Art Post Impressionism Primitivism Modern (1900-1970)Open menu Abstract Express. Avant Garde Bauhaus Conceptual Art Constructivism Art Cubism Dadaism De Stijl Expressionism Harlem Renaissance Magical Realism Suprematism Contemporary (1950-)Open menu Contemporary Art Fluxus Installation Art… Continue reading What is Gothic Art — History, Characteristics & Major Artists
There are few movements that shaped the literary arts in the 20th century more than Magical Realism. The genre reinvented what a novel could do, and gave writers new tools with which to shape their stories and social commentaries. In this post, we’ll define Magical Realism and examine why it became so popular.Continue reading What… Continue reading What is Magical Realism — Fantasy vs Reality in Art & Literature
Our world would look a lot different without the Bauhaus. From sleek modernist buildings to advertisements on subways, it’s hard to avoid seeing the influence of the Bauhaus art movement in everyday life. So how did a small art school in Germany have such an outsized effect on the appearance of our modern world? And… Continue reading What is Bauhaus — Art Movement, Style & History Explained
De Stijl is one of the most iconic and influential artistic movements of the 20th century. Its members’ strict rules and lofty ambitions resulted in a style that still resonates today. To some, De Stijl paintings might just look like a collage of rectangles. But knowing the aims behind De Stijl design can help illuminate… Continue reading What is De Stijl in Art — Movement, Artists & Famous Works
Rear Window is a game of restraint. The rules of the film are clear: a murder mystery told through a window. The protagonist, and the camera, can’t leave the apartment. It’s a game Alfred Hitchcock was more than able to play, as Rear Window is now regarded as one of the greatest films of all… Continue reading Rear Window Script PDF Download: Plot, Themes, and Ending
You’ve most likely heard of breaking the fourth wall, a phrase which refers to when a character directly addresses the audience. The popularity of the term has recently given rise to a new, related term: breaking the third wall. So what is breaking the third wall, and how can it be used? Let’s look into… Continue reading Breaking the Third Wall — Semi-Meta Examples & Techniques
Quentin Tarantino is known for a lot of things: distinct dialogue, explosive violence, pop culture pastiches. But his movies also contain another less-discussed element that is as important as his other signatures: food. In Tarantino movies, food is crucial. It can reveal character traits, propel plots, and expand themes. Some of Tarantino’s most famous scenes… Continue reading Quentin Tarantino Food Scenes — The Complete Menu
When Twilight was released in 2008, it dominated pop culture, spawning more spoofs, imitations, and vampire erotica than any one person could keep track of. The film became one entry in a five-part series of movies that only got more expensive and melodramatic with each installment. While Twilight is no Battleship Potemkin, its script provides… Continue reading Twilight Script PDF Download — Characters and Ending Analysis
Euphoria is one of the most popular shows on television, and its success is in large part due to its distinct visual style. The Euphoria cinematography became iconic right from its pilot, and its influence can be seen in many shows and films that have come in its wake. Euphoria’s singular look comes from a confluence… Continue reading Euphoria Cinematography Analysis — Lighting, Movement, and Oners
There’s no question that Denis Villeneuve knows how to create a memorable scene. His distinct, visually striking style lends itself to profound cinematic moments that leave an imprint long after you exit the theater. One of such scenes is undoubtedly the Sicario border scene. Sicario is one of Villeneuve’s most complex works, with open-ended morality and… Continue reading Sicario Border Scene Breakdown — How to Direct Tension like Villeneuve
Anticlimax is a dirty word, one which we’ve been trained to avoid at all costs. Nobody wants to tell a story only to have a friend shrug and say, “Well, that was anticlimactic.” But a deliberate anticlimax can be instructive, funny, poignant, or all of the above. How does an anticlimax work, and what lessons can… Continue reading What is an Anticlimax — Definition, Examples in Movies
Director of photography Newton Thomas Sigel has had an illustrious career — working on such films as The Usual Suspects, Cherry, Da 5 Bloods, and many more — but perhaps his most iconic work can be found in Drive. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive is a mood piece, and its dreamy visuals stick in… Continue reading Newton Thomas Sigel — Drive Cinematography & Style Breakdown
