25 Best Opening Scenes in Movies & What Makes Them Great

In psychology, there’s something called the serial position effect. It means people tend to remember what comes first and last, not what occurs in the middle. Filmmakers know this phenomenon all too well. Combine that with today’s stream-ability and countless options… and the opening to a film is as important as ever. Today, we study the best… Continue reading 25 Best Opening Scenes in Movies & What Makes Them Great

How to Make a Short Film — 12 Steps from Idea to Finished Film

ProcessOpen menu Insert Image How to Make a Short Film Insert Image How to Write a Short Without Dialogue Insert Image Short Film Schedule Tips Insert Image Write a Short That Gets Noticed Insert Image Making a Short Film Insert Image How to Storyboard a Short Film Insert Image Phases of Short Film Pre-Production Insert… Continue reading How to Make a Short Film — 12 Steps from Idea to Finished Film

How to End a Story — Different Types of Story Endings Explained

Human beings have been telling stories for as long as we have roamed this Earth. Storytelling has gone from oral tradition to a natural part of the cinematic landscape. And in-between it all, we have learned how to end a story. Throughout our years telling stories, we have learned that there are ultimately four ways… Continue reading How to End a Story — Different Types of Story Endings Explained

Screenwriting Terms — Abbreviations, Definitions & Vocab

There are a lot of intricacies in scripts that present challenges to even the most veteran of screenwriters. The process of writing a script is difficult enough but the vocabulary, abbreviations, and defintions related to the job can be a bit elusive. But don’t worry, we’re going to cover a variety of screenwriting terms that… Continue reading Screenwriting Terms — Abbreviations, Definitions & Vocab

What is a Character Study — Character vs. Plot-Driven Narratives

Have you ever watched a movie that seemed more focused on the inner life of its central character than following a traditional plot? Plenty of movies have great characters, but how many of those same movies would have the same plot if you removed that character? This is part of what makes character studies special,… Continue reading What is a Character Study — Character vs. Plot-Driven Narratives

Academy Award for Best Cinematography — Top 20 Winners

Major Awards:Open menu Insert Image Best Picture Insert Image Best Director ActingOpen menu Insert Image Best Actress Insert Image Best Supporting Actress Insert Image Best Actor Insert Image Best Supporting Actor WritingOpen menu Insert Image Best Original Screenplay Insert Image Best Adapted Screenplay TechnicalOpen menu Insert Image Best Film Editing Insert Image Best Visual Effects… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Cinematography — Top 20 Winners

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (December 2020)

Amazon Prime Video is chock-full of great movies but it’s a nightmare trying to find them. Unlike Netflix which offers strong curated playlists, Prime Video does a poor job of highlighting all the amazing movies on its service. Don’t fret though, we’ve scoured the depths of Prime’s film catalogue to deliver our list of the… Continue reading The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (December 2020)

Daniel Plainview: There Will Be Blood True Story Explained

In film, there are memorable characters and there are iconic characters. The latter is a result of great writing, directing, and acting. Auteur directors flesh out these iconic characters to create a whole person. The screen has been graced with iconic characters like Jack in The Shining, Travis in Taxi Driver, or for this article,… Continue reading Daniel Plainview: There Will Be Blood True Story Explained

55 Best Movie Directors of All Time and Their Greatest Films

The best movie directors of all time — the idea of such a list sparks immediate debate. Rather than try to impose any sort of definitive or objective best directors list, consider this more of a celebration of the entire medium. Woefully underrepresented on this list are women. While women have been an integral part… Continue reading 55 Best Movie Directors of All Time and Their Greatest Films

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (November 2020)

Amazon Prime Video is chock-full of great movies but it’s a nightmare trying to find them. Unlike Netflix which offers strong curated playlists, Prime Video does a poor job of highlighting all the amazing movies on its service. Don’t fret though, we’ve scoured the depths of Prime’s film catalogue to deliver our list of the… Continue reading The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (November 2020)

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (October 2020)

Amazon Prime Video is chock-full of great movies but it’s a nightmare trying to find them. Unlike Netflix which offers strong curated playlists, Prime Video does a poor job of highlighting all the amazing movies on its service. Don’t fret though, we’ve scoured the depths of Prime’s film catalogue to deliver our list of the… Continue reading The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (October 2020)

How to Use Color in Film like Kubrick: Mise-en-Scène Elements Explained

Color BasicsOpen menu Insert Image Color Grading vs. Color Correction Insert Image What is Color Space Insert Image What is Color Temperature Insert Image What is a Vectorscope Insert Image What is LUT Insert Image What is a Colorist Insert Image What is a Color Checker Insert Image What is Technicolor Insert Image First Color… Continue reading How to Use Color in Film like Kubrick: Mise-en-Scène Elements Explained

Academy Award for Best Director — Oscar Winners Ranked

Major Awards:Open menu Insert Image Best Picture Insert Image Best Director ActingOpen menu Insert Image Best Actress Insert Image Best Supporting Actress Insert Image Best Actor Insert Image Best Supporting Actor WritingOpen menu Insert Image Best Original Screenplay Insert Image Best Adapted Screenplay TechnicalOpen menu Insert Image Best Film Editing Insert Image Best Visual Effects… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Director — Oscar Winners Ranked

Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (September 2020)

How often do you find yourself scrolling through Netflix for an hour trying to find something to watch? The next time that happens, put down the remote for a second and bring up this list. We’ll be updating this guide to the best movies on Netflix monthly, so all of you aspiring filmmakers out there can… Continue reading Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (September 2020)

The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (September 2020)

Amazon Prime Video is chock-full of great movies but it’s a nightmare trying to find them. Unlike Netflix which offers strong curated playlists, Prime Video does a poor job of highlighting all the amazing movies on its service. Don’t fret though, we’ve scoured the depths of Prime’s film catalogue to deliver our list of the… Continue reading The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now (September 2020)