In the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him into adult-film sensation Dirk Diggler. Brought into a supportive circle of friends, including fellow actors Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), Rollergirl (Heather Graham) and Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), Dirk fulfills all his ambitions, but a toxic combination of drugs and egotism threatens to take him back down.
What is a tracking shot? They are really fun to watch, but difficult to film. We’ve put together a list of the best tracking shots of all time. Then we break down everything you’ll need to consider when blocking and planning a tracking shot in your own projects.Continue reading What is a Tracking Shot —… Continue reading What is a Tracking Shot — 25 Best Tracking Shot Examples
BasicsOpen menu What is Sound Design What Does a Sound Designer Do Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing What is Voice Over What is a Foley Artist What is Diegetic Sound What is Non-Diegetic Sound What is a Film Score What is Asynchronous Sound What is Music Licensing TechniquesOpen menu Ultimate Guide to Sound Recording Filmmaker’s… Continue reading 60 Best Movie Songs Of All Time — Top Needle Drops, Ranked
Types of Camera MovementsOpen menu Static Pan Tilt Whip Pan Pedestal / Boom Track / Truck Zoom Dolly-Zoom (Zolly) Dolly Aerial Arc More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Movements Explained Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Camera Movement Master Class Create Free Shot List Now How you move the camera is a sort of language,… Continue reading What is a Camera Pan? Camera Movement Fundamentals
At just 23 years old, Paul Thomas Anderson broke into the filmmaking scene with his short film “Cigarettes and Coffee.” Four years later, Anderson released his acclaimed sophomore feature, Boogie Nights, which nabbed him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. In the years since, Anderson has made widely revered films with some… Continue reading Best Paul Thomas Anderson Movies Ranked For Filmmakers
Paul Thomas Anderson movies have evolved over the last two decades. His early films are chaotic and dramatic, built with extreme techniques and extreme performances. His later films have similar intensity, but it is often internal, more intellectual than physical. And his directing style has also become more mature and restrained. So far, P.T. Anderson only… Continue reading Paul Thomas Anderson Movies and Directing Style
Auteur filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson is an ideal example of a storyteller that has grown and matured with time and practice. His fifth feature film There Will Be Blood is a capstone to the restrained, yet powerful storytelling ability he has come to possess with time. It also remains his most acclaimed film. What makes… Continue reading There Will Be Blood Script PDF Download & Analysis
How to Format a ScreenplayOpen menu Insert Image Formatting a Screenplay Insert Image Margins Insert Image Scene Headings Insert Image Sluglines Insert Image Action / Description Insert Image Action Breaks Insert Image Character Cues Insert Image Dialogue Insert Image Transitions Insert Image Chyrons Insert Image Flashbacks Insert Image TV Script Format 101 FREE Movie Scripts:… Continue reading How to Write Transitions in a Script — Tips & Formatting
In psychology, there’s something called the serial position effect. It means people tend to remember what comes first and last, not what occurs in the middle. Filmmakers know this phenomenon all too well. Combine that with today’s stream-ability and countless options… and the opening to a film is as important as ever. Today, we study the best… Continue reading 25 Best Opening Scenes in Movies & What Makes Them Great
90s movies may forever be my favorite movies. For whatever reason, whether comedy, drama, or horror, I feel this overwhelming sense of peace when one of my favorite 90s films is on. Is it just nostalgia or do they actually hold up? I suppose that’s always debatable. But there is a thin line between what… Continue reading Best 90s Movies of All Time — An Awesome 90s Movies List
Hulu has really stepped up its game over the last few years, and with new competition like Disney+ and HBO Max, can you blame them? With so many streaming services, it’s hard to know where new releases go and old favorites live. But now the trouble is…how do you find anything? Well, we’ve got you… Continue reading The Best Movies on Hulu Right Now (Jan. 2021)
Though best known for producing many of the best television shows of all time, HBO is also home to many excellent films. HBO caught on quick that streaming was the way of the future, and got into the only media game early. We’ll be taking a look at what movies are on HBO right now.… Continue reading Best Movies on HBO Right Now — Filmmaker Playlist (Dec. 2020)
Though best known for producing many of the best television shows of all time, HBO is also home to many excellent films. HBO caught on quick that streaming was the way of the future, and got into the only media game early. We’ll be taking a look at what movies are on HBO right now.… Continue reading Best Movies on HBO Right Now — Filmmaker Playlist (Nov. 2020)
Creating one moment that stands out in the minds of the viewer after your film or tv show ends can be hard, but it is possible. The long take is one way to do it. Today we’re going to go over the best long takes in film and television. Continue reading The Best Long Take Shots… Continue reading The Best Long Take Shots & How They Push the Story Forward
Though best known for producing many of the best television shows of all time, HBO is also home to many excellent films. HBO caught on quick that streaming was the way of the future, and got into the only media game early. We’ll be taking a look at what movies are on HBO right now.… Continue reading Best Movies on HBO Right Now — Filmmaker Playlist (Oct 2020)
Ah yes, we’ve arrived back at the most carnal of all storytelling devices: the sex scene. Writers, artists and filmmakers have used sex to evoke a multitude of different emotions to the audience, like love, hate, confusion, lust, among many, many more. But every one of the best movie sex scenes of all time adds… Continue reading The Best Movie Sex Scenes of All Time, Ranked from Worst to Best
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… Continue reading There Will Be Blood: Analysis of a Power Struggle — Director’s Playbook
