Who doesn’t love a good coming of age film? There are a number of clearly identifiable characteristics that most, or even all, coming of age films share. Perhaps the most inherently relatable of all subgenres, coming of age films focus on young characters developing and growing across trying ordeals, or pivotal moments in their lives. Most coming of age films are dramedies at their core and the vast majority of them explore romance, or ‘first love,’ as one of their central themes or plot lines. Without further ado, let’s begin our countdown of the best coming of age films ever…
The beauty behind a great edit is that sometimes the magic goes unnoticed. Using a library shot is one of those techniques that editors use that, when done correctly, should go unnoticed and tell a story. Library shots can save a budget, save a schedule, and quite possibly save a project. What is a library shot and how do you find the best ones? We’ll answer both of those questions and more in this article. Continue reading What is a Library Shot — Types of Shots in Film Explained
Transitions can be an incredibly effective storytelling device that filmmakers use to visually communicate to the audience. One of the earliest transitions is the wipe transition. What is a wipe transition? First used in 1901 in Robert Paul’s Scrooge, the wipe was used from the top of the frame to the bottom, emulating the visuals of a curtain dropping. Wipes continued to be used most famously in the Star Wars franchise and continued to evolve in modern filmmaking. Although the traditional wipe is less predominant in more recent films, filmmakers are taking the principles of the wipe and creatively reinventing…
Rhythm in art is often synonymous with music. Tempo, measures, and beat are critical to captivating listeners and building a great song. Rhythm in film editing works in the same way. The audience's engagement is largely dependent on the pacing of a film. Too slow is boring and too fast makes it hard to connect to the characters and narrative overall. Pacing is created from rhythm and the rhythm in a film is created by the editor. So, how does an editor control the rhythm of a film? Let’s explore the role of a film editor and the dimensions of…
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…
Strong supporting actress roles have led to some of cinema's greatest performances. The Best Supporting Actress category is sometimes overlooked in favor of the flashier Lead Performance categories but the importance of a role is not in any way diminished by a lesser amount of screen-time. Join us in celebrating 20 of the greatest winners of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Continue reading Academy Award For Best Supporting Actress — Winners Ranked
Beginner photographers often have the misconception that to create quality portraits, you need multiple lights and complex techniques. While this is true for some portrait lighting setups, many fundamental lighting techniques are quite simplistic. The split lighting technique is perhaps the most simple and achievable of all portrait lighting setups. It is an essential technique for all photographers. And in this article we’ll teach you why and how split lighting techniques are used. Continue reading Split Lighting Photography — Examples, Patterns and Setups
In a world where digital photography has become the norm, there is still a place for those who want to use physical film stock. While digital technology has made it easier to be a photographer, physical celluloid still has a charm and texture that no digital camera can ever fully replicate. And above all else, since photography can be so nuanced, the differences between digital and physical can mean a lot. So when it comes to photography, what is film stock and what types are there?Continue reading What is Film Stock — Various Types of Film Stock Explained
You cannot capture a man’s entire life in two hours. All you can hope is to leave the impression of one,” says Gary Oldman in David Fincher’s oeuvre to Citizen Kane. But whose life is Citizen Kane an impression of? Charles Foster Kane? William Randolph Hearst? Orson Welles? Or Herman Mankiewicz? Perhaps it’s an impression of none of them; or all of them. We’re going to break down the Citizen Kane script by summarizing its plot and by analyzing its characters. We’ll ask questions like: who wrote Citizen Kane? And what is Citizen Kane about? By the end, you’ll know…
Film is a uniquely visual storytelling medium. Everything you see within the frames of a shot is carefully thought out by someone behind the scenes. More often than not, these details in the frame come from the art department. An art department is responsible for the larger creation of a film set as well as the small details that are placed within that set. This may sound like a lot to do for one department. But the art department delegates responsibilities to various roles. In this article, we’ll be discussing what these roles are and how each is an integral…
