Star Wars: A New Hope Script — Screenplay Analysis and PDF Download

Although he didn’t know it in 1977, George Lucas’ script for Star Wars would go on to become the blueprint for the way modern movies are made, seen, and marketed.We’re going to break down the essential aspects of the Star Wars script, and how George Lucas made a science-fiction classic.Buckle up, we’re going into hyperdrive...Continue reading Star Wars: A New Hope Script — Screenplay Analysis and PDF Download

There Will Be Blood: Analysis of a Power Struggle — Director’s Playbook

How does one create a power struggle in film? What are the techniques available that will help to communicate this battle through a visual lens?Let's look at how Paul Thomas Anderson builds a power struggle with blocking, staging, framing, set dressing, and camera control.Make sure to read through to the end for more examples of these techniques in the director's work.Continue reading There Will Be Blood: Analysis of a Power Struggle — Director’s Playbook

Star Wars Lightsaber Duels — What Makes Them Great?

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…

How to Shoot a Lightsaber Duel — The Last Jedi Throne Room Breakdown

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…

20 Best Movies of the Decade, Ranked for Filmmakers (2010—2019)

  Best of... 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2010-2019 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 Best Movies of 2017 — The Year in Review

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…

10 Best Cyberpunk Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

Start with a heaping spoonful of hard-boiled grit. Add a splash of neon lights. Then liberally sprinkle on some corruption and cybernetic enhancements — now you’ve got yourself a cyberpunk movie. This subgenre is thriving in the 21st century and we're about to get into the top 10 best cyberpunk movies.Cyberpunk, also known as neon-noir, sci-fi noir, and future-noir, is the industrialized spin-off of neo-noir infused with elements from other science fiction subgenres. Some of the most influential titles of all time are cyberpunk movies: The Terminator, The Matrix, and Blade Runner, to name a few. Continue reading 10 Best Cyberpunk…