There are many responsibilities that fall onto the shoulders of a director. One of the most important responsibilities they have is to direct the actors of a film. How do great directors bring out great performances from an actor? What is the relationship between director and actor? How should a director communicate with an actor? In this article, we will answer all of these questions and lay out actionable tips on how to direct actors for film that will help any director get the best performances. Continue reading How to Direct Actors for Film — 12 Tips & Techniques Explained
Every camera movement should be chosen with intention and purpose. For that reason, it is important for every filmmaker to understand the fundamental effects of every camera movement available. One of the most effective movements, specifically when it comes to capturing location and setting, is the boom shot. The boom shot goes by many names such as the jib shot or crane shot. It is one of the camera movements that almost immediately adds production value to a film. What is a boom shot and what are its unique storytelling functions? Continue reading What is a Boom Shot? Camera Shot…
Are you having trouble transitioning from one scene to the next? Maybe you feel like there’s something missing in the cut. Or maybe the cut is just far too abrupt and distracting. Sound bridges are an incredible editing technique that can be found in nearly every film you’ve seen. What is a sound bridge in film and how is it used? In this article, we’ll take a look at various ways filmmakers use sound bridges to tell their stories and move them along in an engaging way. Continue reading What is a Sound Bridge in Film — Scene Transition Techniques
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
