With the last 19 Oscar ceremonies behind us, we’re now well into the 21st century. Seems like a good time to look back at the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar winners and consider how they rank.Continue reading Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar Winners — 20 Great Scripts in 20 Years
How do you learn from a director like Martin Scorsese? You can watch his films, and you can learn by watching his interviews. We took the best Martin Scorsese quotes from his various interviews.Then we compiled a video with examples from his films, so that way you can perfectly understand the directing tips he makes in each interview. Continue reading Martin Scorsese Film School: Interviews and Quotes on his Techniques
Dramatic irony gives the audience more information than the character. It is a powerful type of irony built for suspense, but, in many cases things turn out OK in the end. That's not the case with tragic irony — as the name suggests, things don't turn out OK at all! Let's take a look at how it can give your script a healthy dose of tragedy. Continue reading What is Tragic Irony? Definition and Examples for Screenwriters
Even if you've seen only one movie in your entire life, it's likely that you've seen a number of long shots and extreme long shots.Filmmakers typically use these two shots to open or close a movie, or to invite audiences into a completely different world altogether. With that in mind, we're going to help you prep and plan establishing shots for your next project. First, let's break down the basics.Continue reading What’s an Extreme Long Shot (aka Extreme Wide Shot)?
How does one create a power struggle in film? What are the techniques available that will help to communicate this battle through a visual lens?Let's look at how Paul Thomas Anderson builds a power struggle with blocking, staging, framing, set dressing, and camera control.Make sure to read through to the end for more examples of these techniques in the director's work.Continue reading There Will Be Blood: Analysis of a Power Struggle — Director’s Playbook
Joker Script DownloadBest Joker ActorsJoker ControversyJoker Movie Review Few movies in recent years have caused as contentious of a critical rhetoric as Joker has. Todd Phillips’ take on the clown prince of crime is more than just an ultra violent super-villain story though, it’s a riveting re-examination of a classic character in a new light.The script is full of intricate details and a few differences that didn’t make it on screen. In this article, we’re going to breakdown the Joker screenplay, through characters, quotes and references to classic cinema.Let’s jump in!Continue reading Joker Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
If you’re familiar with David Fincher movies, you know they focus on serial killers, robbers, brawlers, and murderers alike. You might also know that he has a reputation for being an exacting, obsessively technical director. However, dark subjects and visual meticulousness belie Fincher’s overlooked secret weapon: his ability to connect with actors on a human level to draw out authentic and defining performances. This humanity, this messy warmth, doesn’t simply transcend Fincher’s bleakness and robot-like technical rigor: it exists because of it. That’s the genius of David Fincher films.Continue reading The Directing Style of David Fincher
The idea for The Lion King came in late 1988 when Roy E. Disney, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Peter Schneider had the idea to have an animated film set in Africa. The screenplay went through numerous stages, and over time, it became the classic film millions of people love today with heartfelt quotes, lovable characters, and an emotionally-satisfying ending.What can we learn from The Lion King script?Continue reading The Lion King Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
Every time I finish a film, I always hear this question: “What are your next short film ideas?” Whenever I hear it, my brow furrows, my palms start to sweat, and I squeeze out an apologetic shrug. Continue reading Finding the Best Short Film Ideas that Level Up Your Career
The Godfather is rightfully one of the greatest films ever made. Everything works magnificently together. But one of the most overlooked aspects of the film is how well the blocking and staging are. Today for our film analysis of The Godfather, we’re examining a pivotal scene in the character development of Michael Corleone. In particular, we’re focusing on how the actors’ movements and camera direction help tell the story. Be wary of oranges, and let’s dive in!Continue reading The Godfather: Analysis of a Scene — Director’s Playbook
