Comedy is one of the best vehicles to comment on culture and society creatively. Within the genre of comedy, spoofs hold a unique place. They hone in on a specific cultural or societal aspect and exaggerate it to the point of absurdity. When done well, the result is entertaining, thought-provoking, and hilarious.Continue reading What is a Spoof — A Hilarious Comedy Subgenre Explained
As to the adjective, when in doubt, strike it out.” The great American writer Mark Twain said these wise words, and they’re as true today as when he said them. The best writers know it’s an art to tell a story efficiently, avoiding overly flowery language without sacrificing emotion, meaning, or sophistication. This is especially true in film, where writers must work within a page limit. This is why it’s important to understand what purple writing is, and how to avoid it. Continue reading What is Purple Prose in Writing — Do’s & Don’ts Explained
The most memorable characters in literature and film have distinctive personalities. Think of the ever-optimistic Leslie Knope from TV’s Parks and Recs or the hilariously sardonic Hades from Disney’s animated classic Hercules. If you were asked to describe these characters, you’d have plenty of ways to explain who they are and what they’re like. That’s because these characters were created by writers who understand the importance of clearly defined character traits that paint a fuller picture of who they are, making them seem real to readers and viewers. But what are character traits, and how can you use them in…
Cinematographers obviously play a vital role in making a film, but what decisions do they make on a daily basis? The cinematographer's primary goal is to capture the director's vision. Using lighting, camera, and composition techniques, a DP translates that vision into images. This post goes over the common considerations with explanations from working professionals. Let’s jump in so we can answer that age-old question: what does a cinematographer do?Continue reading What Does a Cinematographer Do? DP Wally Pfister Explains
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 you can use it to your advantage for your next shoot.Continue reading What is Ambient Light — Lighting Techniques Explained
Inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning represent two polar approaches to critical reasoning. But what is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning? We’re going to break down inductive vs deductive reasoning by looking at their definitions as well as some examples. By the end, you’ll know how inductive and deductive reasoning are used, and how to implement them in your own writing.Continue reading Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning — Differences & Usages
Sibilance is a useful alliterative tool that writers use to evoke reactions in their readers. But what is sibilance and how is it used? We’re going to answer those questions by looking at sibilance examples from film and literature. We’ll also define sibilance by breaking down its characteristics.Continue reading What is Sibilance — Definition & Examples For Writers
Dialogue scenes can be the most fun to write as well as the most difficult. Visual performances of dialogue in films can be powerful, emotional, and moving. However, the medium of written text has its limitations. Luckily, screenwriters have parentheticals. Parentheticals are a great way to include specific information that help a reader better understand a dialogue scene. So how do you write a parenthetical in a screenplay? Let’s take a look at screenplay parenthetical examples and to learn how they should be used. Continue reading Screenplay Parenthetical Examples (And Why They Work)
Storyboarding is almost always a good idea. This is true when shooting a movie or television show, but it’s also true for weddings, ads, and anything that might require a camera. In this post, we’ll break down how to storyboard videography of all sorts, plus give you a video storyboard template.Continue reading How to Storyboard Videography — Weddings, Ads & More
When you think of the most iconic films in cinema, odds are there is a well-rounded, memorable, maybe even complex character attached to it. However, you may be surprised that many of these great films also use simple characters that lack complexity. These are flat characters. What is a flat character arc? In this article, we’ll take a look at the flat character definition, how they differ from round characters, and why writers intentionally use these characters in their stories. Continue reading What is a Flat Character — Types of Character Arcs Explained
