Believe it or not, there was a time in Hollywood when all studios wanted was a spec script. The next big thing. More Shane Black movies. Before Hollywood became the land of superheroes, reboots, and remakes, it was the land of original IP. Welcome to the ‘80s and ‘90s, when writers would write, directors would direct, actors would act, and the studios had their checkbooks open. So, who is Shane Black? Just a recent UCLA grad who took full advantage of this seller’s market, becoming the world's highest-paid screenwriter by the age of 30. Let’s find out how.Continue reading Shane…
Queer theory is a complex, multi-faceted subject that’s difficult to cover in a single post. So we’re going to try to break it down into more digestible pieces. We’ll give you a basic overview of Queer Theory, but mainly we’ll provide some examples from films and TV shows that have been groundbreaking in terms of Queer representation. Continue reading What is Queer Theory? Definition and Examples for Filmmakers
Christopher Nolan has become one of the biggest filmmakers on the planet, and his first time with a licensed property helped him get there. Co-written with David S. Goyer, Batman Begins was a blast of fresh air, getting major critical appraisal, bringing in a new era for both the Dark Knight and superhero films. That’s why we’re going to look at the Batman Begins script and see how the use of dialogue, themes, and action helped make this movie a beloved hit. Continue reading Batman Begins Script PDF Download: Quotes, Characters & Plot
In film, there are memorable characters and there are iconic characters. The latter is a result of great writing, directing, and acting. Auteur directors flesh out these iconic characters to create a whole person. The screen has been graced with iconic characters like Jack in The Shining, Travis in Taxi Driver, or for this article, Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood. Who is Daniel Plainview? There are many components that contributed to the creation of the character of Daniel Plainview. Research, inspiration, and casting decisions are all critical. In this article, we’ll dive into a Daniel Plainview character analysis…
In today’s cinematic landscape, very few people are unaware of what a prequel is. Whether you’re watching a new movie that’s labelled as such, or the “sequel” you’re watching actually takes place before the first film, prequels are not that uncommon in the world of entertainment. But what is a prequel exactly, and what are the elements that make one up?Continue reading What is a Prequel? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters
There seem to be three primary ways people learn screenwriting these days: film school, screenwriting books or the Scriptnotes podcast with John August and Craig Mazin. In most cases, probably a combination of all three. Film school has an obvious downside, it costs about $100,000. Ask any screenwriter about screenwriting books and you’ve clearly hit a touchy subject, and don’t even mention the gurus. Yet, it’s hard to find anything negative about the weekly Scriptnotes podcast, which means it’s hard to find anything negative to say about John August. So, who is John August and why is he such a…
Many people thought the last time they would see Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of Andy’s toys would be in 2010’s Toy Story 3. However, those beloved toys got one final send-off (for now) with Toy Story 4, released in 2019. To come back after a successful trilogy was no easy feat, but as the Toy Story 4 script proves, Pixar had a strong story they needed to tell. With tons of new characters and great quotes (as well as a tear-jerking ending), some franchises are meant to be tetralogies.Continue reading Toy Story 4 Script PDF Download: Characters, Quotes…
A story tells a series of events over time. How storytellers choose to tell these events in or out of chronological order is what makes the story linear or non-linear. More commonly, storytellers tell linear narratives — stories that are told in the chronological order in which they occur. There are good reasons to tell a story in a linear way, but there are also some restrictions that come with the technique.Continue reading What is a Linear Narrative — Sequential Storytelling 101
How does one recreate “reality” in art? Is it possible to recreate “reality” in art? These are the questions that guide the study of Mimesis. But what is mimesis? And what does mimesis mean? We’re going to answer all of these questions by outlining the history of mimesis, as well as a mimesis definition. By the end, you’ll know what mimesis means.Continue reading What is Mimesis — Reality Through Art Explained
Comedy holds a significant role in stories of every genre. Even the most dramatic plays and films can benefit from a few laughs. One of the best ways to introduce comedy in any type of story is through the use of a gag character.Continue reading What is a Gag Character — The Secret to Comic Relief
