Film has the unique ability to transport us to another place and time completely, if only for a few hours. But the way films do this can vary. Scale, spectacle, and grandiose VFX can allow us to escape into other worlds. But naturalist movies transport us by blurring the lines between film and reality. It attempts to make the brush strokes behind the creation of a film invisible so that we may experience the film as authentically as we experience reality. In this article, we’ll define naturalism and examine its role in cinema.Continue reading Naturalist Movies — Characteristics of Naturalism in…
Martin Scorsese is widely considered one of the finest filmmakers of his or any generation. Of his long list of masterpieces, his enduring classic Taxi Driver remains one of the most beloved. One scene in particular has permeated the zeitgeist in a way few scenes manage to do: the iconic and oft-quoted “You talking to me?” scene. Watch our Taxi Driver analysis, where we took aim at the directorial decisions that led to the scene becoming so iconic. And in this post, we’ll be digging into the details of how the "You talking to me" scene was made from the…
When people ask me if I went to film school, I tell them no, I went to films. - Quentin TarantinoQuentin Tarantino is not just a world-class filmmaker but also a renowned film lover. He is a lifelong cinephile with an encyclopedic knowledge of the medium. Tarantino always packs his films with homages to the movies he loves. He even uses his renown as a means to provide exposure to films that he believes deserve more success. These are often foreign language films or older films that never found their audience. The following list is not in order of preference.…
Films based on book adaptations earn a stunning 53% more at the worldwide box office. But just how does a story go from Barnes & Noble shelves to international silver screens? In this article, we’ll break down the murky middle and take you through the creative process of how to write an adaptation. We’ll put words and facts to what seems like, well, magic.Continue reading How to Write an Adaptation — Script Development Explained
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, as these are films whose whole premise is based around the main protagonist — their trials, struggles, hopes, and dreams. So what is a character study and how do you know when you’re watching one?Continue reading What is a Character Study — Character vs. Plot-Driven…
What makes a great music score? Does it need to dominate the soundtrack or can go unnoticed in the background? Should a contemporary movie always use modern music or is it blasphemy for a period piece to include pop songs? Whether you have answers to these questions or not, there's no denying the power of music in how we experience movies. These are the best movie scores of all time — some you will spot a mile away, others will raise some eyebrows, but all will get you thinking about what music you'll use in your next project.Continue reading 23…
How do you learn from a director like Martin Scorsese? You can watch his films, and you can learn by watching his interviews. We took the best Martin Scorsese quotes from his various interviews.Then we compiled a video with examples from his films, so that way you can perfectly understand the directing tips he makes in each interview. Continue reading Martin Scorsese Film School: Interviews and Quotes on his Techniques
Joker Script DownloadBest Joker ActorsJoker ControversyJoker Movie Review Few movies in recent years have caused as contentious of a critical rhetoric as Joker has. Todd Phillips’ take on the clown prince of crime is more than just an ultra violent super-villain story though, it’s a riveting re-examination of a classic character in a new light.The script is full of intricate details and a few differences that didn’t make it on screen. In this article, we’re going to breakdown the Joker screenplay, through characters, quotes and references to classic cinema.Let’s jump in!Continue reading Joker Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
What’s black and white and red all over? It could be a newspaper — or it could be a neo-noir film.It's hard to tell. Neo-noir is notoriously difficult to classify. An offshoot of the historical film noir genre, it's painted in such broad strokes that it can subvert, parody, heighten, or reimagine the prototypical stories of its predecessor and still be considered "neo-noir."Many of the greats have made their bones in the genre, even if their movies don't appear the same at surface level.So — how can you tell? We’ve put together a list of the best neo-noir movies to…
Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 From grim dramas to breathtaking action films, 2018 was a great year to go to the movies. It was a year of seismic changes in the cinematic landscape as Marvel’s Black Panther was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, showing that superhero films could be serious fare, too. However, it was also a year where more idiosyncratic films, such as The Favourite, found an audience. Regardless of your sensibilities, 2018 had something for everyone.This list continues StudioBinder’s ongoing series to review the best films of the last decade. For this article, I’m running through my opinions on what I…
