Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the prestigious Academy Award for Best Picture. Since its inception, this coveted accolade has been the pinnacle of recognition for filmmakers and movie enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will take you through a complete list of every film that has had the honor of receiving this esteemed award. From groundbreaking classics to modern masterpieces, join us as we celebrate the cinematic achievements that have shaped the world of cinema and left an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences worldwide. Continue reading Academy Award for Best Picture — Full List & Top 20 Ranked
All too often, the term “static character” carries a negative connotation. Some think this implies that a character is boring, overly simple, or even poorly written. However, the complete opposite can be true. Some of cinema’s most memorable characters are also static characters such as The Dude from The Big Lebowski, Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men, and Captain America from the MCU. What is a static character and why are they important? In this article, we’ll define static character as well as how they are different from other types of characters and how they function within a story. Continue…
A great story is often, if not always, synonymous with great characters. Crafting great characters is not an easy feat. So it’s no wonder that readers and writers alike gravitate toward the best characters in storytelling. Analyzing characters can be incredibly helpful for crafting your own characters or simply understanding your favorite story more deeply. In this article, we’ll dive into how to write a character analysis by asking the right questions, analyzing characterization, and retaining curiosity throughout the process. Continue reading How to Write a Character Analysis — Tips and Techniques
Villains come in all shapes and sizes. From cruel dictators to menacing ghosts, these villains are often the driving force behind a story's narrative. Through their evil deeds, villains create tension and keep readers on the edge of their seats. Whether they're out for revenge or simply seeking power, every villain has their own unique motives and endless list of misdeeds. In this blog, we'll explore the different types of villains that inhabit our stories and discuss how they differ from each other.Continue reading Types of Villains — 10 Forms of the Villain Archetype Explained
A climax in storytelling is the most intense, exciting, or emotionally charged point in a narrative. It is the conclusion of an arc in which readers see the main characters make decisions and face obstacles that define who they are and what they stand for. The climax allows stories to build to increasingly satisfying resolutions or tragic endings. This blog will explore the different types of climaxes used in storytelling and how these create engaging endings for readers. Due to the sheer nature of a story’s climax, there are major spoilers ahead. That said, let’s dive in!Continue reading What is the Climax…
There are certain compositional techniques that make a shot visually beautiful. There are other compositional techniques that are effective at visually telling a story. The frame within a frame does both. And any compositional technique that can tell a better story while simultaneously creating a more cinematic shot is worth learning about. What is a frame within a frame in film and photography? You may be familiar with the term, but in this article we’ll dive a bit deeper. Let’s take a look at the different effects this technique has on an audience and the different ways to create one. Continue reading…
Ever since The Great Train Robbery introduced filmgoers to the joys of a glorious gunfight in 1903, shootouts have become a staple of cinematic spectacles. Throughout movie history, filmmakers have tried to one-up each other by creating the most titillating exchange of gunfire possible. Over a century since its inception, the shootout continues to be a favorite attraction of audiences. They can be gory and horrific or stylized and fun; they can be slow and quiet or chaotic and bombastic. Let’s look at some of the best to ever grace the silver screen.Continue reading Best Movie Shootouts of All Time…
What are the best movie scripts to study as an aspiring screenwriter? Reading great screenplays is an important part of the learning process for any developing screenwriter. By looking at the work of great writers, we can explore a multitude of styles and approaches. Studying great scripts can strengthen and inform your own writing. We’ll be discussing the 10 best movie scripts to study. Let’s get started.Continue reading Best Screenplays to Read for Aspiring Screenwriters — Top 10
Whether you are a cinematographer or photographer, you are very likely to come across a project that will require the use of hard light. High contrast photography, Chiaroscuro lighting, and dramatic images in general are all created with some type of hard light. What is hard light and how does it differ from soft light? We’ll answer these questions and give you some tips to create and shape hard light so that you can use it to create the images you see in your mind. Continue reading What is Hard Light — Examples and Techniques in Film & Photo
Roger Deakins movies include Fargo, Skyfall, Sicario, No Country for Old Men, and recently he won the Academy Award in Cinematography for Blade Runner 2049 and 1917. But these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the best Roger Deakins movies. We watched every one of them to see which films we think qualify as the best of the best in cinematography. Continue reading Roger Deakins Movies — His 16 Best Ranked for Filmmakers
