2001: A Space Odyssey

An imposing black structure provides a connection between the past and the future in this enigmatic adaptation of a short story by revered sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke. When Dr. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and other astronauts are sent on a mysterious mission, their ship’s computer system, HAL, begins to display increasingly strange behavior, leading up to a tense showdown between man and machine that results in a mind-bending trek through space and time.

Practical Effects in Film — How Filmmakers Do It For Real

Are practical effects still useful in modern cinema? In the battle of practical vs CGI (computer-generated images), who wins? Practical effects have a rich history in cinema, influencing generations of filmmakers and movie goers alike. Oftentimes, practical effects movies can produce a more realistic look and feel than CGI. In the article, we analyze practical… Continue reading Practical Effects in Film — How Filmmakers Do It For Real

Jonathan Scott

How to Use Color in Film like Kubrick: Mise-en-Scène Elements Explained

Mise en scene plays a huge role in communicating the tone of a story — but what is mise en scene? In classical terms, mise en scene is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play or film. Today, mise en scene is regarded as all of the elements that go into any… Continue reading How to Use Color in Film like Kubrick: Mise-en-Scène Elements Explained

Chris Heckmann

Stanley Kubrick Directing Style Explained in 8 Parts

The saying goes, “If you’re going to steal, steal from the best.” So, is Stanley Kubrick the best? For many filmmakers, the immediate answer is yes. The harder question is “why?” Like a great magician, we appreciate the end result without knowing how it was done. There is certainly a lot of “process” in his… Continue reading Stanley Kubrick Directing Style Explained in 8 Parts

Brent Dunham

Match Cuts & Creative Transitions with Examples – Editing Techniques

Everyone loves to see a great scene transition, but how do you connect scenes on a deeper level? Consider using a match cut. Using similar colors, shapes, actions or even dialogue, match cuts add that extra level of meaning to create a more cohesive and seamless narrative. In today’s post, we’re going to break down… Continue reading Match Cuts & Creative Transitions with Examples – Editing Techniques

Brent Dunham

Best Stanley Kubrick Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

There’s no doubt about it: Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest filmmaking pioneers of all time.  Stanley Kubrick was, in many ways, a perfectionist. As such, his filmography isn’t as expansive as those of his contemporaries. But for what Kubrick lacked in quantity he made up for in quality: Each film he directed was a… Continue reading Best Stanley Kubrick Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

Chris Heckmann

The Best Movies of 2018 — The Year in Review

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… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2018 — The Year in Review

Mike Bedard