Everyone loves a great movie trailer. They help create a buzz about your project. They entertain crowds as stand-alone, short-form tidbits of cinematic excitement. And, if you haven't even made a full film, a well-executed trailer can lead to successful financing.Continue reading How to Make a Movie Trailer that Grabs Attention
The project’s been green lit. The script’s been finalized. I’m going to hold an open casting call! Not so fast. If you’re not careful, your open casting call can be disorganized and rushed, netting you less than amazing actors.Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Auditions [FREE Casting Sheet Template]
It’s been nearly two decades since the release of Sam Mendes’ gangster-epic Road to Perdition and we thought it would be a good idea to look back at what made it so great. Mendes may be more famous for working on films like American Beauty, Skyfall, and 1917, but his work as the director of Road to Perdition is certainly some of his best. We’re going to break down the best and worst aspects of the film from writing to cinematography, but first, let’s remind ourselves of the story.Continue reading Road to Perdition: Revisiting the Sam Mendes Classic
The Star Wars universe has given the world so much. From backwards-talking aliens to familial plot twists, Star Wars has sparked millions of people’s imaginations. However, the films also introduced us to one of the coolest weapons ever to grace the big screen: the lightsaber.We’ve already discussed how superb cinematography can enhance any lightsaber battle. Now, we’ll look at other components that help give some Star Wars lightsaber duels more cinematic resonance than others. But don’t worry. Even if you aren’t directing a Star Wars film any time soon, you can still use these pointers to enhance fight scenes in…
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
