A split screen immediately draws attention to itself. It’s a technique which signals a certain stylization and, by its very nature, divides our attention between multiple frames. Because of this, split screens are often used sparingly. And yet, when used well, they can create some instantly-iconic juxtapositions that elevate a story. Here are some of the finest split screen film examples ranked.Continue reading Split Screen Film Examples — How Split Screens Tell a Story
It’s well established that most modern Hollywood movies are made up of three acts. Often, however, the second of those three acts can be divided into two — before the midpoint, and after. A midpoint is a major plot point that happens around the middle of a film which has big ramifications for the protagonist and the story arc. Sounds pretty vague, right? That’s because a midpoint can take many forms– bringing the protagonist closer to their goal, or away from it, or something else entirely. In other words, you know a midpoint when you see one. In this post, we’ll…
Most movies can be characterized as being one genre or the other. If the plot involves a love triangle, that’s most likely romance. If the plot is about a space marine, it’s most likely science-fiction. If the plot involves a group of kids running away from a monster, that’s probably horror. The things that make up the conventions of a genre, also known as genre conventions. What are genre conventions, you ask? You’ll soon be getting an answer via definition, along with plenty of examples.Continue reading Genre Conventions — The Building Blocks of Genre Storytelling
When the 500 Days of Summer screenplay came onto the scene, it took a bit of time before it was actually produced. In fact, it was even featured in the 2006 Blacklist, a list of the "most liked" unmade scripts of the year. Finally, the film was produced and released to incredible success both critically and commercially. So what makes the 500 Days of Screenplay so good that it became one of the best romantic comedy sleeper hits of all time? We'll find out, along with a shot-by-shot video breakdown of the now-iconic "expectations vs. reality" scene.Continue reading 500 Days of…
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
