There are few things that can keep an audience more engaged in a film than suspense. But what is suspense, exactly? That feeling of intense anticipation can be found in various genres and have an audience leaning forward with their eyes glued to the screen. Understanding what suspense is and how it differs from other… Continue reading What is Suspense — The Elements of Suspense Explained
Swiss philosopher Carl Jung theorized that all people are connected by a collective unconscious; which dictates we understand a collection of archetypes and symbols. But how do we understand these archetypes and symbols? Where do they appear? And how are they used? We’re going to answer those questions by exploring “repetition in art,” from character… Continue reading Repetition in Art — Patterns, Meanings & Techniques Explained
What is a soundstage? It’s a term we hear fairly often in film circles, but it’s usually assumed we know what it means. Don’t fret, we’re going to define soundstage and then look at some iconic examples. By the end, you’ll know what soundstages are and how they’re used. But before we get into our… Continue reading What is a Soundstage — Definition, History & Function Explained
Hayao Miyazaki is regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of animation. Over 50+ years, Miyazaki made some of the most critically-lauded animated films; earning him numerous awards, including an honorary Oscar for “inspiring generations of artists to work in the medium and illuminate its limitless potential.” We’re going to rank the… Continue reading Best Hayao Miyazaki Movies — Celebrating a Life in Animation
What is kinetic art? Unlike with other artistic styles, kinetic art as a term has less to do with how a piece of art is made and more to do with how it is presented when finished and how it is experienced. In this post, we’ll provide a definition, break down the various types of… Continue reading What is Kinetic Art — Movement, Artists, and History Explained
What is social commentary? You may have heard the term thrown around in video essays or seen it pop up in book, music, or film analysis without knowing precisely what it means. In this post, we will define social commentary, examine the different ways it can manifest in cinema, and take a look at a… Continue reading What is Social Commentary — Definition, Examples & Meaning
Satyajit Ray is regarded as not only one of the greatest filmmakers in Indian cinema, but as one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history. We’re going to break down the best Satyajit Ray films by way of three criteria: direction, story, and theme. By the end, you’ll know why Ray’s films are so well-regarded!Continue… Continue reading Best Satyajit Ray Films — Top 10 From a True Cinematic Icon
What is Primitivism? The answer is complex and requires some historical and cultural context to fully understand. Primitivism bridges the gap between art and philosophy and has a tumultuous history. We’ll get started with an overview definition, then dig into the roots of the artistic style and the group of artists who pioneered it in… Continue reading What is Primitivism — Movement, Style & Artists Explained
Have you ever snapped a photo, been incredibly happy with the composition of it, the lighting! But suddenly you become overrun with dread to see red and blue color fringing around your subject? This, my friend, is chromatic aberration. In this article, we’ll take a look at the chromatic aberration definition as well as what… Continue reading What is Chromatic Aberration — Types and Examples Explained
Better Call Saul is one of the most critically lauded shows on TV — and its cinematography is a big reason why. The Better Call Saul cinematography excels in just about every area: lighting, framing, focus, camera movement. You name it, BCS knocks it out of the park. We’re going to break down the Better… Continue reading Better Call Saul Cinematography — How Visuals Elevate Story
In the middle-part of the 18th century, the art world ditched the gaudy baroque style and went back to the classics. This period (and style) is known as Neoclassicism; or Neoclassical art. But what is Neoclassicism really? We’re going to break down Neoclassicism by looking at its history, with examples from Jacques-Louis David, Angelica Kauffmann,… Continue reading What is Neoclassicism — Movement, Artists & Art Explained
What is Fluxus? Or rather, what was Fluxus? It’s a complicated answer to unravel with a colorful history and far-reaching cultural ramifications. We will explore the inception and evolution of the movement, take a look at the founder and other notable Fluxus artists, and break down the historical significance of the movement. But first, let’s… Continue reading What is Fluxus — The Fluxus Art Movement & Works Explained
Short films are unique in the sense that they’re usually produced under tighter budgets and stricter time-frames than their feature-length counterparts. As such, we thought it would be a good idea to break down how to make a short film schedule, so you can plan your production as efficiently as possible. By the end, you’ll… Continue reading Short Film Schedule Tips — How to Plan Your Entire Production
What does avant-garde mean? What does it mean for a piece of artwork, a book, or a film to be labeled as avant-garde? We’ll be breaking down the term, exploring what constitutes the movement and why it is important. We’ll also take a look at some important examples of avant-garde art, books, and films. But… Continue reading What is Avant Garde — Movement, Artists & Works Explained
What is the MPAA? You may or may not have heard the acronym before, but you have definitely seen and felt the influence of this organization if you have been to the movies in the past 99 years. The acronym was recently shortened to the MPA, but most people will be more familiar with their… Continue reading What is MPAA — History of the Hollywood Ratings System
Have you ever wondered why movies are rated the way that they are? The rating a film receives can have a significant impact on its audience size and, by the same token, on its box office revenue. But, what do all of the various letter ratings really mean? We will be explaining each of the… Continue reading Movie Ratings Explained — Origins & How They’ve Changed
You’ve most likely heard of breaking the fourth wall, a phrase which refers to when a character directly addresses the audience. The popularity of the term has recently given rise to a new, related term: breaking the third wall. So what is breaking the third wall, and how can it be used? Let’s look into… Continue reading Breaking the Third Wall — Semi-Meta Examples & Techniques
While not always necessary for story-telling, freeze frames are a timeless tool in film and television. Whether for stylistic purposes or to draw attention to particular aspects of your film, it’s important to whittle down the motivation for your freeze frame. Read on to dissect successful freeze frame movie examples and ways you can implement… Continue reading What is a Freeze Frame — The Best Examples & Why They Work
At one point or another, we’ve all asked the question: what was the first movie ever made? Was it the one with the train robbery? Was it the one where the moon had a face? Both The Great Train Robbery (1903) and A Trip to the Moon (1902) were early examples of movies, but neither… Continue reading What Was the First Movie Ever Made — Film History Explained
Filmmaking can be an incredibly daunting task. But it can be even more daunting with a lack of preparation. With all the moving parts that go into making a film from cinematography to production design to blocking, preparation is essential. One of the most common ways to prepare for a film is previsualization. What is… Continue reading What is Previs — The Art and Process of Previsualization in Film
