There’s no question that Denis Villeneuve knows how to create a memorable scene. His distinct, visually striking style lends itself to profound cinematic moments that leave an imprint long after you exit the theater. One of such scenes is undoubtedly the Sicario border scene.Sicario is one of Villeneuve’s most complex works, with open-ended morality and a labyrinthine plot. The pivotal border scene encapsulates these complexities in under five minutes. Let’s break down how exactly Villeneuve creates such a tense and layered sequence.Continue reading Sicario Border Scene Breakdown — How to Direct Tension like Villeneuve
It’s not so much that there are different types of personas so much as there are different interpretations of the word. An artist’s persona, a literary work’s personae, or the persona a writer takes on in a written work. So what is a persona exactly? And how do you know when you’re looking at one? Take a look at our definition and examples below to learn why all of these interpretations are correct, and how they each influence art of all media. Continue reading What is a Persona — Definition & Examples in Literature & Art
If you were to make a list from best-to-worst, what would be the greatest Star Wars movie ever made? While the rest of the list is hotly debated on internet forums, most agree that The Empire Strikes Back is the definitive Star Wars film. Of course, every great movie starts with a great screenplay. In this article, we will break down The Empire Strikes Back plot, and analyze its characters, scenes and dialogue. Continue reading The Empire Strikes Back Script PDF Download and Analysis
Most people understand the term “positive space” simply as the subject of a work of art. While this is true, there is much more to this concept than that. What is positive space in composition and what is it used for? The presence of positive space may be a given, but how it is used and created is what impacts artistic work. Let’s take a look at a few characteristics of positive space in artistic compositions and its impact it has on viewers. Continue reading What is Positive Space in Art & Film — Composition Techniques
What is a dissolve in film? Dissolves are some of the most commonly used editing transitions in all of film. We’ve seen them used to expert effect in films like Citizen Kane, Saving Private Ryan, and more. We’re going to explain the dissolve definition in a simple and concise way. Then we’ll show you how to use dissolves in film and television. By the end, you’ll know how to add dissolves to your own videos.Continue reading What is a Dissolve in Film — Editing Transitions Explained
What is a fade transition in video? Fade transitions are some of the most common types of editing transitions in video – but what are they? And how are they used? We’re going to answer those questions by breaking down fade transitions in scripts, films, and more. By the end, you’ll know how to fade in, fade out, and crossfade in film.Continue reading What is a Fade Transition — How & Why to Use Them Explained
Think of some of your favorite films or television series of all time. Whether they are rooted in fantasy or made to be naturalistic, odds are they required some special effects. To bring those effects to life, a Special Effects Supervisor got the job done. And in this article, we’ll dive into the role and responsibilities of a Special Effects Supervisor and what skills a successful supervisor should possess. Continue reading What is a Special Effects Supervisor — Job Description & Role Explained
What is slice of life? Slice of life is a storytelling genre defined by the tone, scope, and subject matter it chooses to focus on. In this post, we will be breaking down and defining the slice-of-life genre, taking a look at the differences between high and low concept stories, and offering examples of the best films that the slice-of-life genre has to offer. Continue reading What is Slice of Life — Exploring a Down-to-Earth Sub-Genre
Toy Story is recognized as one of the more revolutionary films that introduced CGI to the world of animation. However, in order for any of that brilliant animation to gain traction or make a difference, it had to be grounded in a brilliant story. Thanks to John Lasseter, Pete Docter, and the early team at Pixar, it was. In fact, the Toy Story script became the first animated film in cinema history to be nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award. So what makes the Toy Story script so brilliant? In this article, we’ll dive into how the Toy Story…
When you browse for movie scripts online, you can get all kinds of results. And in these instances, what you look up online may not be exactly what you’re looking for. In some cases, what a screenwriter ends up finding is a script and not a traditional screenplay. This is how we get into the situation of screenplay vs script, where the two are similar, but not exactly the same. In this article, we are going to cover both “screenplay” and “script,” while comparing and contrasting the two. In this way you won’t have to keep asking “Is screenplay and…
