After their first viewing, many people need the Vertigo movie explained. This Alfred Hitchcock film is beguiling and its initial release in 1958 was disappointing. It made significantly less than other Hitchcock films to date and it was widely panned by critics. Subsequently, Hitchcock bought back the rights to the film but it was widely unavailable until 1983. And yet, as years went by, Vertigo slowly ascended the ranks of Hitchcock’s filmography, from cult favorite to critical favorite. Now, it’s considered not only one of Hitchcock’s best films, but one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time.What is it about…
A cliche is an expression in any artistic work that has been overused to the point of losing all meaning. A car failing to start while a killer is hot on the protagonist’s tail may have once worked as an effective way to build suspense. But now, audiences are more likely to roll than eyes than genuinely fear for the character. It's time to put these movie tropes and cliches to bed...for good.The following movie tropes list is in no particular order. Some are pieces of bland dialogue while others are plot points that have been done to death. We’re…
Few film endings are as iconic and impactful as the unforgettable resolution to The Graduate. Be sure to watch our video essay below for a full breakdown of The Graduate ending scene, then read on for further analysis. We’ll be digging into the four factors that culminate in the film's ending being as effective as it is: writing, build-up, music, and spontaneity. This is — The Graduate ending explained. But first, let’s examine how screenwriter Buck Henry and director Mike Nichols crafted a scene that penetrated the zeitgeist and remains just as poignant and relevant today.Continue reading The Graduate Ending…
Writing contests are great ways to build your portfolio, and hone your writing skills. For emerging writers especially, the price to pay is usually quite small, while the rewards range from getting published to receiving thousands. Not a bad trade-off. The only reasonable downside is all the extra work...for well...all the extra rejection. Ah, I’m only slightly kidding. Rejection is part of the journey. It’s the bumpy road that takes you from nobody to somebody. So even if you don’t win first prize, entering into contests can help you get better. This article looks at some of the best short story…
Human beings have been telling stories for as long as we have roamed this Earth. Storytelling has gone from oral tradition to a natural part of the cinematic landscape. And in-between it all, we have learned how to end a story. Throughout our years telling stories, we have learned that there are ultimately four ways to end one. We will be going over each of these four ending types and explaining their characteristics for knowing how to end your screenplay. Let's begin at the beginnings before we end with the endings! Continue reading How to End a Story — Different…
With new streaming platforms emerging every year and binge watching becoming an art form, the television industry needs more writers than ever. Unfortunately, there is also more competition than ever. Breaking into the TV industry can be tough, but here are the fundamentals you need to know about becoming a television show writer as well as some actionable tips that will help you get that much closer to writing for television.Continue reading Writing for Television — Format, Genre and Structure
From romantic comedies to dramas, many films require a scene where the future love interests meet. There’s love in their eyes, even if one or both of them don’t realize it yet. This is the meet cute, and if you’re writing a script with a romantic plot, then you need to know how to answer, “What is a meet cute?” It's often regarded as a cliche staple of romantic genres but it can be much more than that. Let's look at some meet cute examples from movies that elevate these scenes beyond the cliche. Then we'll talk about the four…
Introducing StudioBinder's screenplay library — your one-stop-shop for reading, downloading, and analyzing the best movie scripts online. Our collection contains all the feature-length screenplays in our database as well as scripts that we have broken down by plot, character, ending, quotes, and more. Our hope is that screenwriters everywhere can have access to these iconic screenplays and that the lessons therein can make us all better writers. Enjoy! Continue reading Explore and Read the Best Free Movie Scripts Online (with PDF Downloads)
Years before Avengers: Infinity War was dubbed “the most ambitious crossover event” in history, there was the film that started it all: Marvel’s The Avengers. In this article, we’re going to analyze The Avengers script by looking at quotes, plot and characters.But before we jump in, let’s remind ourselves of the story structure and who wrote The Avengers.Continue reading The Avengers Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
Feeling a bit lost on how to initiate your short story or seeking that spark for your creative writing? In this read, we’ll give you 70 writing prompts that will hopefully kindle your imagination and motivate your writing spirit. Continue reading 70 Short Story Writing Prompts for Writers in All Genres
