Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time: What Makes a Blockbuster?

When audiences saw James Cameron’s Titanic for the first time in 1997, they were awed by a scale of filmmaking that the world had rarely, if at all, seen before. More recently, blockbuster movies are almost expected to match this type of scale — some have exceeded it. So, what are the highest-grossing movies of… Continue reading Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time: What Makes a Blockbuster?

Guide to Camera Shots: Every Shot Size Explained

Shot SizeShot FramingCamera AnglesCamera FocusCamera GearCamera MovementCamera Lenses You’re looking for a list of the different types of camera shots and shot sizes in film, TV, or animation, but you also want great examples that come with clear explanations of when and why to use a specific shot size? We’ll provide you with a downloadable… Continue reading Guide to Camera Shots: Every Shot Size Explained

Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

Nothing gets the blood pumping like a good, old-fashioned action flick. From incredible set pieces to beautifully-choreographed action to, of course, amazing one-liners, action is a popular film genre for a reason. And now, it’s time to rank the best action movies of all time. Popular action movies take all shapes and forms. This list has… Continue reading Best Action Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

22 Screenwriting Tips for Better Movie Dialogue in Your Scripts

Learning how to write dialogue is not easy. You’ve written a pretty good script, but you know it could be GREAT. Could writing better dialogue in your screenplay be that missing piece? Want screenwriting tips that teach you how to write dialogue in a script with writing examples from movies and TV to go with each… Continue reading 22 Screenwriting Tips for Better Movie Dialogue in Your Scripts

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

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 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… Continue reading 20 Best Movies of the Decade, Ranked for Filmmakers (2010—2019)

The Best Movies of 2015 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 Cinema had a wide-ranging scope in 2015. Mad Max: Fury Road proved there was still room for high-concept, big-budget spectacle. And then you had films like Tangerine, filmed on an iPhone, to tell the intimate story of a transgender sex worker. 2015 proved filmmakers haven’t run out of ideas yet as long as… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2015 — The Year in Review

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,… Continue reading 10 Best Cyberpunk Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

How to Write a Car Chase Scene in a Screenplay [with Examples]

T here’s something about a car chase that captivates an audience.  Maybe it’s the need for speed, or, perhaps it’s the knowledge that at any moment the scene can come to an abrupt end that gets the heart racing. But is it easy to pull off?  Nowadays, sophisticated audiences require more from their action scenes.  Car… Continue reading How to Write a Car Chase Scene in a Screenplay [with Examples]

The Rule of Six: How to Edit Effectively with Walter Murch’s Eye Trace

Directors and cinematographers shoot with purpose, as they match their technical shot choices with the intended tone or emotion of the story. Of course, they’re not the only ones making critical choices. Editors’ decisions hugely determine the success of a film.  It is up to the editor to assemble every scene, every cut in a… Continue reading The Rule of Six: How to Edit Effectively with Walter Murch’s Eye Trace