Christopher Nolan is a British-American filmmaker known for making personal, distinctive films within the Hollywood mainstream. His ten films have grossed over US$4.7 billion worldwide and garnered a total of 34 Oscar nominations and ten wins.
Cross Cutting and parallel editing are highly effective editing techniques that can greatly improve the quality of any film or visual work. If you’ve heard the expressions “greater than the sum of its parts,” then you already know why these techniques are used so often in filmmaking. In this post, we’re going to give you… Continue reading What is Cross Cutting and Parallel Editing in Film?
Special effects in film are a crucial component of modern movie-making. They have the power to transport audiences to fantastical worlds, create realistic portrayals of historical events, and add an emotional depth that enhances storytelling. In this article, we will explore what special effects are in film, the different types of special effects that exist,… Continue reading What are Special Effects in Movies — History & Types Explained
What is an antagonist? The simplest explanation is that an antagonist represents the opposite of the protagonist. But there’s much more to the term than that. They are the source of conflict in a story — and if you know anything about storytelling, you know that conflict is necessary. So, by understanding how antagonists are… Continue reading What is an Antagonist in a Story — Definition & Examples
Best Nolan MoviesNolan’s Directing StyleNolan Directing Tips Nolan’s CirclesNolan’s Shot List Which are the best Christopher Nolan movies? How do you rank them against each other? Do Christopher Nolan films get better over the years, and how will Nolan’s next movie measure up? We’ve created a list of the best Christopher Nolan movies ranked not… Continue reading Top 11 Christopher Nolan Movies, Ranked Worst to Best (2023)
You’re looking for a list of the best crime movies of all time. Maybe you want to find action crime films, or crime thrillers, or perhaps even a crime comedy movie or a crime drama. We’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the best crime movies of all-time, including American crime… Continue reading 73 Best Crime Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers (2023)
What is a palindrome? Actually, there are a few different types and we will dig into all of them. In this post, we’ll define palindrome, cover the rules that govern the different styles, and take a look at examples of each type. We will even take a look at a few examples of palindromes in… Continue reading What is a Palindrome — Definition, Examples & How They Work
What is a protagonist? Many refer to it as the leading character in a story. But is the protagonist something more? Or something less? To understand the definition fully, we need to look at how different types of protagonists are used in screenwriting. This will help us decide which type works best for our scripts.Continue… Continue reading What is a Protagonist — Definition & Examples for Screenwriters
BasicsOpen menu Insert Image What Does a Cinematographer Do Insert Image What is Cinematography Insert Image What is Digital Cinematography Insert Image Cinematography Terms Insert Image What is Motion Blur Cinematography BreakdownsOpen menu Insert Image Stranger Things Cinematography Insert Image Better Call Saul Cinematography Insert Image Euphoria Cinematography Analysis Insert Image Drive Cinematography Breakdown Insert… Continue reading Hoyte van Hoytema Movies & Cinematography Style Explained
Filmmaking is a collaborative process, but without a doubt, the most important role on set is that of the director. The director receives most of the credit when a film succeeds and most of the blame when it fails. In other words, there is a lot of pressure and responsibility placed on their shoulders. So, how… Continue reading How Much Do Directors Make — DGA Rates for Film & TV
Many screenwriters are praised for their witty and captivating dialogue. A skill that is far too underappreciated, however, is the ability to effectively incorporate action within a dialogue scene. Let’s take a look at how to write action breaks in dialogue and why using action within dialogue can immediately make a scene better. Continue reading How… Continue reading How to Write Action Breaks in Dialogue — Examples & Tips
A Socratic dialogue is an excellent vehicle for individuals to explore the epistemological nature of ideas. But what is Socratic dialogue? And why is it an excellent vehicle for exploring epistemology? We’re going to answer those questions by defining Socratic dialogue; then we’ll break down some Socratic dialogue examples. By the end, you’ll know how… Continue reading What is Socratic Dialogue — Definition, Examples & Uses
Basics of CompositionOpen menu What is Composition Rules of Shot Composition Rules of Composition SizeOpen menu Scale Proportion BalanceOpen menu Asymmetrical Balance Symmetrical Balance Radial Balance Golden Ratio Foreground Elements SpaceOpen menu Positive Space Negative Space Positive & Negative Space Fill the Frame Simplicity LinesOpen menu Leading Lines Rule of Thirds Frame Within a Frame… Continue reading What is Scale in Art — Composition Techniques Explained
Сhristopher Nolan’s eleventh feature film Tenet became the first major Hollywood film to release in theatres amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Nolan’s persistence for a theatrical release makes more sense upon an initial viewing of the spectacle that is Tenet. The film is a labyrinth woven of threads reminiscent of past works. The intense battle scenes… Continue reading What is Tenet About? Nolan’s Tenet Movie Plot Explained
Think of some of your favorite films or television series of all time. Whether they are rooted in fantasy or made to be naturalistic, odds are they required some special effects. To bring those effects to life, a Special Effects Supervisor got the job done. And in this article, we’ll dive into the role and… Continue reading What is a Special Effects Supervisor — Job Description & Role Explained
Basics of CompositionOpen menu What is Composition Rules of Shot Composition Rules of Composition SizeOpen menu Scale Proportion BalanceOpen menu Asymmetrical Balance Symmetrical Balance Radial Balance Golden Ratio Foreground Elements SpaceOpen menu Positive Space Negative Space Positive & Negative Space Fill the Frame Simplicity LinesOpen menu Leading Lines Rule of Thirds Frame Within a Frame… Continue reading What Are Leading Lines — Composition in Photography & Film
What does high concept mean? The term ‘high concept’ is thrown around in film circles with reckless abandon but the true meaning is often misused or misconstrued. In this post, we will define high concept, debunk many of the misconceptions around the term, and look at some examples. And we’ll let you know how you… Continue reading What is High Concept in Film — Definition and Examples
The Inception hallway scene is one of the all-time best cinematic action scenes – but how did director Christopher Nolan and his production team make it? We’re going to take you behind the scenes to show you the technical ingenuity of the Inception hallway scene. A sequence that not only boggles the mind but was… Continue reading Inception Hallway Scene — How They Shot It Without CGI
Have you ever watched a movie with a plot twist that blew your mind and then watched that movie again and noticed signs leading to the twist? You’re not alone. So, what is foreshadowing? Is it just simply dropping clues or is it something more? Implementing foreshadowing techniques into your story can create anticipation that… Continue reading What is Foreshadowing — Definition, Examples in Film and Lit.
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… Continue reading Genre Conventions — The Building Blocks of Genre Storytelling
Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung changed the conversation on psychology forever when he proposed his theory on archetypes and the collective unconscious. But Carl Jung’s proposed archetypes, otherwise known as Jungian archetypes, aren’t just pertinent for psychologists – they’re applicable for storytellers too. So, what are the Jungian archetypes? We’re going to look at these to… Continue reading What are the Jungian Archetypes — Writer’s Guide to Archetypes
