Is there anything worse than bad exposition in film? Few things turn an audience off than listening to a character explain things for no reason.But at the same time, the exposition of a story is vital. And while sci-fi and fantasy are where you’ll find the really bad examples of exposition, it’s not just for those genres. All movies have to set up their worlds and characters.There’s an art to providing good exposition in a story. It’s almost like the art of the con. Here are three techniques to help you make exposition so good, the audience never notices it’s…
who couldn’t use a little more power in their powers of persuasion? Whether you’re a video advertiser, MBA student, or high school sophomore trying out for the debate team, you need to know how to win over your audience. One of the best ways to do this is with ethos. But what is ethos? It can be the quickest way to cut through clutter and establish trust with your audience. In this post, we’ll provide you with a straightforward ethos definition, plenty of useful ethos examples, and an easy grasp of heavy concepts. By the end of this article, you’ll…
Looking to brainstorm new characters? Perhaps, you want to flesh out existing characters or pair them against another character to maximize drama and develop deeper character arcs. Writing a compelling character is easier said than done. However, it's helpful to consider tried-and-true character archetypes to ensure every character behaves in a way that is unique, consistent, and believable. In this post, we'll identify the various character archetypes that you can use to enhance your own characters. Plus, we'll include plenty of iconic character archetype examples from your favorite movies and TV shows. Lastly, we'll define which character archetypes can be…
Want to stir your viewers’ emotions? Whether you’re shooting a commercial, planning a pitch, or training your sales team, you need to know how to connect where it counts. Make the audience feel it. Okay, sounds good, but how? Aristotle’s got you covered. In the fourth century B.C., the ancient Greek philosopher posited three modes of persuasion that endure to this day. Aristotle’s “rhetorical triangle” — ethos, pathos, and logos — continues to fuel the best in advertising. So, what is pathos? We’ll give you a pathos definition, lots of useful pathos examples, and a practical grasp of the heavy…
What is prose? What is the difference between prose and poetry, and what is prose used for? To answer these questions, we must first explore the meaning of prose and its defining characteristics. We’ll explore this literary concept and look at some examples to demonstrate how it shapes storytelling and communication.Continue reading What is Prose — Definition and Examples in Literature
T here are so many screenwriting books out there that claim to be the best, so how do you know which ones to buy? Today we’re going to go through the very best screenwriting books. We'll help you discover how each screenwriting book can help you break your story and open new doors in your career. Some people do a top ten screenwriting books list. We went with fifteen. These books are the sort of resources that writers at all stages of the process, and in all stages of their career, turn when they need a little insight. So…
F or a writer, it’s exciting to hatch a new idea. Maybe you even have a rockstar logline. But it’s all too easy to take that idea and run, only to stumble at page 30 without a clue of where to go. Don’t worry - this is avoidable. You just need a firm grasp on how to map out your idea. With the right tools, you can see if your idea has the “legs” to deliver a feature-length film to the finish line. How do you do that? In today’s post, we’ll examine how, with Blake Snyder’s famous "Save…
Want to get in your audience’s head? Whether you’re making a video, selling a product, or giving a speech, you need to know how to win over the crowd with common sense — to make them think. And one of the most successful ways to achieve this is with something Aristotle called "logos." Sounds like a good plan, but how? We’ll give you a logos definition, loads of logos examples, and a solid grasp of heavy concepts. Get ready to produce more compelling content that will convince any audience to do your bidding.Continue reading What is Logos — Definition and Examples…
T he best movies have stories that entertain us, connect with us, and keep us glued to the screen. That kind of compelling drama happens on multiple levels, through internal and external conflict. How you implement these tools will determine how effective your story is. Continue reading How Internal Conflict and External Conflict Can Energize Your Story
When was the last time you shed a tear while watching a film? Can you recall the specific scene? Many describe this as a “good cry.” How can a cry be good? Many people have pent-up emotions from various events in life. Art can evoke an emotional release of these emotions, also known as catharsis. The experience of catharsis can be overwhelmingly emotional. Films that create catharsis can move an audience to tears while also leaving them completely satisfied. What is catharsis, and how is this possible? Let’s explore the catharsis definition and how it applies to storytelling.Continue reading What…
