Great performances, direction, cinematography, and even production design are all essential for creating an engaging dialogue scene. But one of the most important aspects of a great dialogue scene is effective editing. Editing can make or break a dialogue scene even if all of the other filmmaking elements fall into place. So how do you edit a dialogue scene? What editing techniques can be used so that a dialogue scene stays interesting and engaging? We’ll learn how to edit a dialogue scene and what techniques go into a great dialogue scene in this article. Continue reading How to Edit a Dialogue Scene…
Story structure is the framework of a narrative, providing a roadmap for authors to build compelling stories. Whether it be in books, films, plays, or television shows, story structure is an integral part of storytelling that helps guide writers and makes sure they have all the necessary elements in place to tell an engaging story. By understanding these different types of narrative structures, writers can dive deeper into the art of storytelling and make sure that their stories are engaging, meaningful, and memorable.Continue reading What is Story Structure — Definition, Examples & Types
How do writers make characters into people we can empathize with and understand? One way is through the use of characterization. But what is characterization? We’re going to answer that question by looking at an example from Kill Bill, and by listening to the perspective of some of the world’s foremost writers. But before we get into the examples, let’s review what makes direct characterization different from indirect characterization.Continue reading What is Characterization — A Guide to Character Building
Best Tarantino MoviesQT's Directing StyleQT Directing Tips QT DialogueOnce Upon a Time AnalysisBasterds Breakdown How do you learn filmmaking techniques from a director like Quentin Tarantino? You can watch his films, and learn his filmmaking process with quotes from Quentin Tarantino interviews. We also built a video with directing tips and examples from Quentin Tarantino films. Become a better filmmaker by learning from the best.Continue reading Quentin Tarantino Interviews, Directing Tips & Quotes on Film
In cinematography, there are fundamental shot sizes like the close-up, the medium shot, and the wide shot. But what about everything in between? In this article, we’ll be taking a look at one of those inbetweeners — the medium full shot. While you may not have heard of it you have definitely seen it used in some of your favorite films. What is a medium long shot? Why would filmmakers opt for a medium long shot over a close up or regular medium shot? Let’s find out.Continue reading What is a Medium Long Shot — Types of Shots in Film…
What’s the most difficult aspect of writing dialogue? Ask any ten writers and you’re bound to get a range of answers. But “getting started” is no doubt one of the most popular. So, we’re going to break down some dialogue prompts to kickstart your writing process! By the end, you’ll have options to choose where to start your next dialogue exchange. Continue reading Dialogue Prompts for Writers — Lines To Get You Writing Now
Art is inherently referential; everyone is influenced by something that came before. Great (and not-so-great) artists all get inspiration from somewhere and will sometimes show it in their works. If an artist makes a reference to something in their own work, that is often seen as an homage. But what is homage? Is it anything like copying? And how much is too much when it comes to references?Continue reading What is Homage — Definition & Examples in Art and Film
How long is a movie script? Or perhaps better questions are how long are scripts in general and how many pages should a screenplay be? While there is a degree of variety to how many pages is a movie script, there is far less flexibility when it comes to the length of a screenplay than one might expect. Unlike prose writing such as a novel, there is very little wiggle room for a script’s page count. In this post, we will explain why page counts are so important, let you know the average page count to shoot for, the average…
If you’re an aspiring cinematographer or director, you know that the camera is your primary storytelling tool. How you move the camera or how you frame a subject communicates intangible information to the audience. The zoom shot is just one of these techniques and adds a very particular and nuanced message. Knowing what this message is is critical to deciding when to use it. So, what is a zoom shot?Continue reading What is a Zoom Shot and When You Should Use One
There are a few iconic films that have transcended cinema and impacted culture at large and Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon is certainly one. Kurosawa’s exploration of truth and its expression in the film led to a term that would be used both in and outside of cinema — the Rashomon Effect. The Rashomon Effect is used in a range of subjects from storytelling to psychology to law. So what is the Rashomon Effect? In this article, we’ll be taking a look at its origins, what it means, and its influence on both film and culture. Continue reading What is The Rashomon Effect in…
