The impact of Italian Neorealism in film cannot be overstated. The works of Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, and other major Neorealist directors are undeniable when it comes to the influence they have had on cinema throughout the world. They also had an immense effect on a young boy growing up in Queens named Martin Scorsese. We’re… Continue reading What is Italian Neorealism in Film? Defining the Style
A beginning, middle, and end are the bare bones that support the structure of any story. In his video essay First and Final Frames, Jacob T. Swinney compiles a stunning side-by-side comparison of opening and closing shots from many famous films. This is a unique experience to be sure. In this post we’re going to… Continue reading How To Create Striking First and Final Frames in Your Film
Best Shyamalan MoviesShyamalan’s Style ExplainedThe Return of M. Night Shyamalan When you think of the most iconic film directors, you can often discount their first couple of films — few filmmakers are geniuses out of the gate. Other directors start strong but end their careers with a painful series of flops. But almost no other… Continue reading Best M. Night Shyamalan Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers
The best scary movies stay with you. They follow you home from the movie theater. They are right behind you as you walk alone at night. They are with you no matter how deep under the covers you go. Like the videotape in The Ring, once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it. The best scary… Continue reading 10 Best Scary Movies That You Need to Watch Right Now
From Sri Lanka to ancient Greece, the myth of the vampire has permeated virtually every society throughout history. The myth typically arose to explain sudden deaths caused by illnesses but attributed those tragedies to a horrific creature of the night. Over the years, vampires have gone on to symbolize the darker side of humanity and… Continue reading 30 Best Vampire Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers
Werewolves predate almost every other fictional monster. So, why aren’t werewolf films very popular? Perhaps it comes down to a practical issue. The make-up is labor intensive. The transformation sequence might take longer to shoot than the rest of the film. The most important criteria for judging werewolf movies is the creature effects. The werewolf… Continue reading 20 Best Werewolf Movies to Watch Right Now
Video game movies are often cast aside or plain derided by critics and fans, but we think that’s pure poppycock. It’s hard enough to bring a novel to life without angering fans, but just imagine if you were so immersed and devoted to that book that you occasionally slammed it into your hardwood floors, shattering it… Continue reading 10 Best Video Games Movies: Good Films Based On Video Games
Quentin Tarantino has created some of the most memorable scenes in film history. However, none are quite so impactful, tense, and amazing as the Inglourious Basterds opening scene.The scene lasts for just under 20 minutes, but during that time, Tarantino employs a vast array of framing techniques and angles to help tell the story to… Continue reading Writing and Directing for Suspense: Inglourious Basterds
There are many movies about loneliness and even more lonely people who see them. As a filmmaker, working with a lonely character poses the unique challenge of how to stand out. With framing, editing and coloring techniques at your fingertips, what combination best helps your story land?Continue reading How Spike Jonze Shoots Movies About Loneliness
Joker Script DownloadBest Joker ActorsJoker ControversyJoker Movie Review Todd Phillips’ new film Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, is a realistic take on the super villain that wants viewers to empathize as they watch him descend into homicidal madness. The best moments come from capitalizing on the medium of cinema during the strongest parts of the script,… Continue reading Joker Movie Review: Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix Humanize Chaos
Luke. Yoda. Lando Goddamn Calrissian. Star Wars is home to some of the most memorable characters in film history, and also some of the best film editing. While taking years to master, great film editing can give your characters life, making us visually feel their wants and desires. Using moments from The Empire Strikes Back,… Continue reading 3 Film Editing Techniques You Can Learn From Star Wars
You’re a filmmaker who wants to get the most out of your production design, mise en scene, and scene elements, but you’re not sure how to plan and maximize your visual opportunities. In this post, we’re going to breakdown the production design, mise en scene, and scene elements in the Amazon Original series, The Boys, so… Continue reading Amazon’s The Boys: Mise En Scene, Production Design, and Costumes
Death scenes are just… one of those things. A good death scene is totally subjective, but these are a few that really stand out. We’re going to take a look at some of the craziest and best movie death scenes from the past decade. These are scenes that are memorable either because of their impact… Continue reading Top 10 Best Movie Deaths of the Last Decade
Film blocking is arguably one of the most important things a Director must do on set. Think of it as a carefully choreographed dance where the camera and subject move together in harmony.Continue reading 3 Ways To Make Your Film Blocking More Interesting
The second and concluding chapter in director Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s It is here. The Losers Club are all grown up as they return to their childhood town to battle inner and outer demons. The cast is impressive, the visuals are stunning, and the imagination on display is undeniable. But that doesn’t translate to… Continue reading “It Chapter Two” Review: Bigger Not Better
Aladdin, the 1992 Disney classic, has recently become relevant in light of the 2019 live-action remake. (Though, for the millennial reader, was Aladdin ever really irrelevant?) But regardless of whether or not you enjoyed John August’s and Guy Ritchie’s remake, the film delivered on the main points. There were a few changes in the latest… Continue reading Disney’s Unreleased Aladdin Ending Scene Animatic (and Storyboard)
Nowadays, there are many kinds of media you can consume to get new information about your favorite topics, or just to enjoy pure entertainment. Besides blogs or YouTube channels, podcasts have been gaining a lot of popularity during the last few years.Continue reading The 12 Best Filmmaking and Screenwriting Podcasts of 2021
Car chase scenes are some of the purest expressions of entertainment in cinema. We all have our favorites, but some are better than others at keeping you on the edge of your seat. In this post, we’re going to discuss some of the best car chase scenes in films made since the turn of the millennium.… Continue reading 10 Best Car Chase Scenes in Modern Movies that Inspire
Guillermo del Toro movies are known for their lush fantasy landscapes, sense of creeping dread, and unmatched use of color. His self-confessed primary influences are obvious once you know how to look for them. Comic books, manga, horror movies, and his native Mexican culture all combine to create a director who is not afraid to stuff every… Continue reading Mastering the Film Color Palette: Guillermo del Toro