Few fight scenes in cinema are as exhilarating as a lightsaber duel in the Star Wars franchise. Everyone has their own personal favorites, but one of the most well-choreographed and filmed lightsaber combat scenes put to film is the Throne Room scene in The Last Jedi. A lot of people may watch this lightsaber fight and think it’s just cool to look at, which is certainly is. However, when you really break it down, director Rian Johnson, well known for his unique directorial style, utilizes expert techniques to make the fight scene really stand out. It’s arguably one of the…
Christmas movies are a time honored tradition, and there are many that touch on the spirit of Christmas and what the holiday means to society during the time period in which it was created.In today’s post we do some film analysis on what may, or may not, be considered a classic in the genre of Christmas movies. The movie in question is none other than the 1996 laugh riot, Jingle All the Way.Continue reading Jingle All the Way — A Complete Deconstruction of the Capitalist Machine
Cinéma vérité - literally “cinema of truth” - is a style of filmmaking you’ve probably seen more than you realize. You may even have studied it as part of your film education.As a technique, cinéma vérité has been a valuable tool for independent filmmakers for decades, not only for recording events as they happened, but also for telling intimate, character-driven narratives.In this post we’re going to talk about what cinéma vérité is and show you some modern examples of it. We’ll also show you how you can use the vérité style in your own storytelling. Continue reading Cinéma Vérité —…
The Martian script was adapted from a book written by Andy Weir, and then adapted into a screenplay directed by Ridley Scott. We’re going to analyze The Martian characters, quotes, plot, and ending.What can we learn from The Martian script and scenes?Continue reading The Martian Script: Characters, Quotes, and Screenplay Ending
Jay Roach has filmed some of the greatest comedies of all time with his work on the Austin Powers trilogy and Meet the Fockers. In recent years, he’s turned his attention to more politically-oriented stories like Trumbo and the upcoming Bombshell. As part of our ongoing partnership with Sundance Co//ab, Jay Roach recently sat down with us to discuss how he created a claustrophobic, tense elevator scene for Bombshell.Watch: In the Frame with Jay RoachSubscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.Directed by Jay RoachBombshell (2019)Bombshell focuses on three women who worked for Fox News and set out to expose the…
The Princess Bride script is a book written by William Goldman which was later adapted into a screenplay by Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner. Goldman's The Princess Bride screenplay led to some of the most memorable quotes and some of the best characters. What can we learn from The Princess Bride script and scenes?Continue reading The Princess Bride Script: Characters, Quotes, and Screenplay PDF
No one plunges into the specifics of their own psyche quite like screenwriter and director Charlie Kaufman. And the praise for his work, from audiences and critics alike, ranges from overwhelmingly positive to downright life-changing. But what makes his movies so great? When thinking about some of the best screenplays, it seems the more specific a writer gets, the more universal the story becomes — and no one proves this theory more than Kaufman. Here is our list of the best Charlie Kaufman movies, ranked for their screenplaysContinue reading Best Charlie Kaufman Movies, Ranked for Their Screenplays
The year 2018 proved to be yet another evolutionary year for Netflix Original movies. From reviving the romantic comedy to uplifting the auteur filmmaker to terrifying horror flicks, Netflix is checking all the boxes. In addition to leveling up the quality of their films, Netflix is producing more films than previous year. With all these choices of what to watch, we;ve created a list of the 10 best Netflix Original movies of 2018. Continue reading Best Netflix Original Movies of 2018, Ranked for Filmmakers
We often hold writers, directors, and cinematographers, responsible for movie masterpieces. But who made this possible? It turns out discovering who invented the movies is actually more of a question of when, because there were different inventors at different times in history, and all had a hand in innovating the motion picture. Let's look at the history of motion pictures to answer when were movies invented, while also discovering who to thank for what we have today.Continue reading When Were Movies Invented? A Brief History of Motion Pictures
Here lies the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She was written into this world without a care in the world, and now the majority of movie-goers, filmmakers, writers, and well, human beings, have decided maybe it’s time to put her to rest. So let’s take a look at why that might be the case, examining this age old, albeit, completely sexist, character cliche that has reigned supreme in most romantic comedies, dramas, and other films in Hollywood. Continue reading Manic Pixie Dream Girl — A Eulogy for a Character Trope
