Eyelines in film help you tell a professional visual story better than most directing techniques and film gear ever will. The very basics of crafting an effective scene begins with the eyeline match. This is a filmmaking technique that, when done correctly, should go completely unnoticed. Nonetheless, it is an incredibly important technique that all filmmakers should know and understand. A lack of attention to eyeline match can result in visible errors in an entire scene. In this article, we’ll answer, "What is eyeline match" and why it's so important. Continue reading What is an Eyeline Match? Definition & Examples…
Music plays an integral role in how a movie communicates tone. When thinking about a movie, we often recall back to a moment when the soundtrack swelled at the perfect moment, how it transported us to other worlds, or interweaved popular culture into the narrative. We can learn a lot from how filmmakers use music in their films, so without further ado, here’s our list of the best movie soundtracks of all time.Note on criteria: No orchestral scores appear on this list. Although we’re huge fans of composers like Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Joe Hisaishi, and Ennio Morricone, we thought…
When it comes to the best thriller movies of all time, there’s a lot to choose from. While great thrillers involve the protagonist in constant and terrifying danger, some are more light hearted, while still juggling with the concepts of life and death.With such a broad genre, there are many movies in the thriller genre to choose from, including horror, psychological, true crime, and black comedy. Since it can sometimes be difficult to choose good thrillers, we decided to make the job easier for you.Listed here are the best thrillers from cinema, ranging from new classics to old favorites, along…
One of the most effective ways at making a line of text in literature memorable is by creating rhythm. Writers have a few ways of creating rhythm such as rhyming and alliteration. However, both can become redundant because of their more obvious nature. A more subtle literary device that creates rhythm is assonance. What is assonance? The effects of assonance are similar, but are technically achieved in a different way. In this article, we’ll discover how by looking at the assonance definition and examples.Continue reading What is Assonance — Definition and Examples for Writers
Anyone who’s sat down to write knows it isn’t for the faint of heart. Whether penning a poem, a screenplay, or a novel, a writer needs a few tools in their toolbelt. Enter common literary devices, literary elements and literary techniques. Besides listing, defining, and providing examples, this article will also take a moment to consider how and why a writer might use these common literary devices in the first place.Continue reading 46 Literary Devices Every Writer Should Know
There is no doubt that cinema and literature are filled with iconic heroes. But often it is the relationship between villain and hero that makes the hero so iconic. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to define a villain and how they might differ from an antagonist in a story. We’ll also analyze some iconic examples and what characteristics they share on their path to villainy. Continue reading What is a Villain? Definition, Types & Characteristics
If you loved movies as a child, then there’s a good chance you owe a debt of gratitude to Steven Spielberg. He’s directed some of the best, most entertaining, and most influential films of all time. Honestly, he has about 10 films you could put as #1 on a list of his best movies, and no one would be mad. He’s been a producer, writer, and even an actor over the years, but for this list, we’re only looking at the 31 feature-length, theatrically-released films in his filmography. Get ready to be inspired because we’re counting down the best Steven…
The best dark comedy movies and TV shows go for the jugular. It’s not enough to just be edgy, or even malicious. You need to tap into deep, disturbing levels of discomfort… and build a summer home.We made the ultimate list of dark comedy movies and TV shows, plus a video essay that takes a deep dive into one dark comedy, The Lobster. Let’s jump into our list of the best dark comedy movies and TV shows.Continue reading 70 Hilarious Dark Comedy Movies & TV Shows
The metaphor is a fundamental pillar of figurative language. Few tools can paint a picture as efficiently and evocatively. As such, metaphors are employed by nearly every kind of writer, whether you are a poet or a playwright. To better understand the literary technique, we’ll look at its definition, subtypes, and many uses, while providing examples from famous works.Continue reading What is a Metaphor — Definition and Examples
Mise en scène can seem foreign, even to filmmakers, film critics, and movie buffs. Why is it important? How do you pronounce it? And what is mise en scène anyway. Grasping mise en scène is critical for anyone who makes or seriously watches any kind of visual content. For directors and producers, mise en scène in film and the script breakdown go hand in hand.In this article, we’ll let you know what mise en scène is and how you can use it — both as a filmmaker and as a savvy viewer. We will define 20 key mise en scène…
