Tag: Titanic
James Cameron Movies: Ranked with the Filmmaker in Mind
It’s time to stop underrating James Cameron movies. He’s not perfect but he’s better than he gets credit for. Cameron is an auteur working at the highest level of the studio system, like a proto-Christopher Nolan. His budgets are record-breaking but so are the box office returns. (more…)
What is CGI? How CGI Works in Movies and Animation
Cinema has evolved greatly since its inception, especially in the area of visual effects (VFX). In the last few decades, computer generated imagery (CGI) has dominated many movies, from dramas to animated films and major blockbusters. While revolutionary, the use of CGI effects has come under much scrutiny in recent years. But what is CGI and where did its bad reputation come from? Let's look at how filmmakers and animators have been secretly injecting your favorite movies without you even noticing. (more…)
Best Dinner Scenes in Movies and Why They Work
The dinner scene. We’re all familiar with an awkward dinner, but some films elevate this mundane practice into pure art. Screenwriting is all about writing what you know, and these writers knew the dinner table was an ideal place for horror, dramatic irony, and comedy. These are the best dinner scenes in movies of all time. (more…)
Match Cuts & Creative Transitions with Examples – Editing Techniques
Everyone loves to see a great scene transition, but how do you connect scenes on a deeper level? Consider using a match cut. Using similar colors, shapes, actions or even dialogue, match cuts add that extra level of meaning to create a more cohesive and seamless narrative. In today’s post, we’re going to break down match cuts so that you not only understand how they work but also why they are so much more effective than a normal scene transition. (more…)
Best Romantic Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers
There’s more than one occasion to break out the pint of ice cream and dive into the genre of romance. ...
Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time: What Makes a Blockbuster?
When audiences saw James Cameron’s Titanic for the first time in 1997, they were awed by a scale of filmmaking that the world had rarely, if at all, seen before. More recently, blockbuster movies are almost expected to match this type of scale — some have exceeded it. So, what are the highest-grossing movies of all time? Although this list does not adjust for inflation, it is apparent that franchise movies have reached an all-time peak (one-third of this list comes from the MCU). That being said, we will be updating the list every time there is a position change ...
Explore and Read the Best Free Movie Scripts Online (with PDF Downloads)
Introducing StudioBinder's screenplay library — your one-stop-shop for reading, downloading, and analyzing the best movie scripts online. Our collection contains all the feature-length screenplays in our database as well as scripts that we have broken down by plot, character, ending, quotes, and more. Our hope is that screenwriters everywhere can have access to these iconic screenplays and that the lessons therein can make us all better writers. Enjoy! (more…)
Over-the-Shoulder Shot: Examples of Camera Movements & Angles
Why do filmmakers use over-the-shoulder shots? Can they signal to the viewer that two characters are, at the very least, on the same page? The OTS shot is one of the most commonly used shots in film and television, but often it's used without proper application of advanced cinematic language. We'll break down the psychology so your OTS shots drive home an emotional concept. (more…)
What is a Logline? [with FREE Logline Formula Template]
Summarizing an entire screenplay is not an easy thing to do. Let alone in 1-2 sentences. But it is what’s required if you want to pitch your script to a producer or studio. When you send out your script too, the logline sometimes determines if someone even reads it. So, what is a logline? We're not going to stop at the definition, we've got a tried-and-true formula for crafting the perfect hook. (more…)
Michael Bay’s Best Movies, Ranked from Worst to Best
Here at StudioBinder, we’ve written extensively about auteurs in the field of film. We’ve discussed artists like Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, and David Fincher at length. And then, there’s Michael Bay. Love him or hate him, his films have influenced the filmmaking world. His 360 shot and his unique editing strategies have impacted filmmakers young and old alike. For this list, we’re counting down the best Michael Bay films of all time, and yes, there are some pretty good ones. Let’s dive into it. (more…)
57 Best, Sappy, and Romantic Love Quotes from Movies
You know them when you hear them because when you hear them you get all mushy. Or maybe I’m just talking about me. Below is our list of the best love quotes from movies, from the early 20th century cinema to today. (more…)
Ultimate Guide to Movie Genres — 90+ Genre Examples for Film & TV
You’re looking for a movie and TV genre list, maybe for inspiration, but every list you find has categories that are either too broad or so hyper-specific that it becomes overwhelming.We’ve created the perfect movie and TV genre list that will explain the various categories of film and television with their specific subgenres, and we’ll also include helpful examples for each along the way. (more…)
Mise en Scène: 20 Elements Every Filmmaker Needs to Know
Mise en scène can seem foreign, even to filmmakers, film critics, and movie buffs. Why is it important? How do you pronounce it? And what is mise en scène anyway. Grasping mise en scène is critical for anyone who makes or seriously watches any kind of visual content. For directors and producers, mise en scène in film and the script breakdown go hand in hand.In this article, we’ll let you know what mise en scène is and how you can use it — both as a filmmaker and as a savvy viewer. We will define 20 key mise en scène ...
How to Write the Passage of Time in Your Screenplay
You must remember this” begins the lyrics to the enchanting and wistful “As Time Goes By” from the classic movie Casablanca. Time going by in film and indeed screenwriting is an amazing opportunity for writers of all levels to really put creativity into their work. Some films opt for simple titles, while others write the passing of time into the very structure of the screenplay. (more…)
