The 1980s were a seminal time for the horror genre. It was the decade of slasher films and when the genre began to become deconstructed as audiences became more familiar with the tropes present in horror films. It was also a great time for films involving vampires, which is why we are ranking the best 1980s vampire movies.Screenwriters and directors have much to learn from the genre. Vampires are rife with symbolism, and many of these films come with amazing shots you can learn from. On the other hand, there are some films on this list that show you precisely…
You’ve got a script. You’re getting ready to shoot. Before you go into production, you’ll need to do a script breakdown.Continue reading How to Find and Schedule “Hidden” Shoot Locations in a Script
Composer Claude Debussy said, “Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.” This struggle is especially true in the world of a cinematic score, where traditional orchestration dominates.Continue reading How to Design a Surreal Film Score like Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Creative writing prompts are powerful tools that aid you to become a consistent writer. It’s easy to get inspired once, maybe twice about a project or story that means something to you. But if and when that light dims, or you finally finish that project, what’s next? Writer’s block isn’t much of an avenue. Excuses are for amateurs because professional writers write. Writing prompts and writing exercises, give you the momentum to keep going when the mind slows down, or if you’re anything like me, when doubt sets in.Continue reading 82 Creative Writing Prompts and Writing Exercises for Screenwriters
The Usual Suspects script won the Oscar for best writing and launched the careers of both Christopher McQuarrie and Bryan Singer. The movie is currently listed at #32 on the IMDB top 100. While the ending will go down in history as one of the great twist endings, the entire script is exceptional. From the characterizations to the flashback structure, and that "tough-as-nails" dialogue that never gets old. We'll break it down including story beats, dialogue, and that insane ending.Continue reading The Usual Suspects Script: Plot, Quotes, and Screenplay PDF Download
Telephoto lenses are used by photographers from every skill level and in various situations. In other words, have a telephoto lens in your kit is a must. They’re a lifesaver when it comes to shooting distant subjects, but serve quite a few other purposes. In this post, we’ll outline some advantages of going with a telephoto lens, and what to consider when shooting with one. But first, what is a telephoto lens?Continue reading What is a Telephoto Lens? How to Get the Shots You Want
Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 As much as people bemoan Hollywood being devoid of ideas, the truth is that major studios and independent filmmakers alike continued to push the boundaries of what you could do with film in the 2010s. From small-scale projects to blockbusters that doubled as art, movies delivered in this last decade. If you’ve been following StudioBinder’s latest series, then you should have a good idea of what movies you can expect to see on this particular list. Let’s get into it.Continue reading 20 Best Movies of the Decade, Ranked for Filmmakers (2010—2019)
Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 From grim dramas to breathtaking action films, 2018 was a great year to go to the movies. It was a year of seismic changes in the cinematic landscape as Marvel’s Black Panther was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, showing that superhero films could be serious fare, too. However, it was also a year where more idiosyncratic films, such as The Favourite, found an audience. Regardless of your sensibilities, 2018 had something for everyone.This list continues StudioBinder’s ongoing series to review the best films of the last decade. For this article, I’m running through my opinions on what I…
Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2017 was a great year for movies, ranking right up there with 2014 for perhaps best year in film for the last decade. It was a year when new voices, most notably Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele, came to the forefront. Big blockbusters had auteurs at the helm, giving us some of the most thought-provoking Hollywood films in recent memory.Think you know what films will end up on this list? Better think again. This next installment of StudioBinder’s ongoing series to review the last decade in film has plenty of surprises, which any filmmaker should enjoy. If you…
Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 By 2016, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was in full swing. However, superheroes were far from the only films coming out in the mid-2010s as a resurgence of independent filmmaking came to the forefront. Filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese, would make films radically different than anything that would come before and after. It was an exciting year for film, provided you knew where to look.Continue reading to see what StudioBinder’s best movies of 2016 were. It’s part of our ongoing series to review the best films of the last decade, so if there’s anything you missed, this is the…
