Video Essays

What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay

In the era of the internet and Youtube, the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of expressing ideas and concepts. However, there is a bit of an enigma behind the construction of the video essay largely due to the vagueness of the term. What defines a video analysis essay? What is a video essay… Continue reading What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay

Kyle DeGuzman

How Christopher Nolan Films use Circles to Warp Sight & Sound

Best Nolan MoviesNolan’s Directing StyleNolan Directing Tips Nolan’s CirclesNolan’s Shot List Understanding how Christopher Nolan approaches filmmaking is an important step to improving your own skills, but his films are complicated puzzles that are built to confuse and perplex viewers. His use of visual and narrative circles creates intricate and layered films. In this post,… Continue reading How Christopher Nolan Films use Circles to Warp Sight & Sound

SC Lannom

How the Dan Harmon Story Circle Can Make Your Story Better

T he act of storytelling has always been with us. Anthropologist Joseph Campbell took stories from around the world and found they all shared the same basic structure. Campbell’s Hero’s Journey laid out each of the fundamental steps in this story structure. A few decades later, Dan Harmon took this same idea and created the Story… Continue reading How the Dan Harmon Story Circle Can Make Your Story Better

StudioBinder

Over-the-Shoulder Shot: Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Types of FramingOpen menu Establishing Shot Single Shot Two Shot Over the Shoulder Insert Shot POV Shot More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now Why do filmmakers use over-the-shoulder shots? Can they signal to the viewer that two characters are, at the very least, on the… Continue reading Over-the-Shoulder Shot: Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

SC Lannom

Parasite Movie Analysis, Synopsis and Ending Explained (Video Essay)

Parasite director Bong Joon-ho’s insightful and engaging comedy/thriller became one of the most talked about films of the year. It also set a new precedent for how a South Korean movie can connect with American audiences. The film is packed with social commentary, thrilling moments, and plenty of meaty writing worthy of a full Parasite… Continue reading Parasite Movie Analysis, Synopsis and Ending Explained (Video Essay)

Sam Kench

What is Jojo Rabbit About? Synopsis, Quotes, & Video Analysis

Director Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit was the anti-hate satire that many felt was needed at this precise point in history. Modern-day intolerance was challenged through the lens of a period piece comedy with a big heart. What is Jojo Rabbit about? We’ll start with a synopsis before jumping into our Jojo Rabbit analysis and how Waititi… Continue reading What is Jojo Rabbit About? Synopsis, Quotes, & Video Analysis

Sam Kench

The Irishman Scene Breakdown — How Martin Scorsese Opens an Epic

By now, you’ve heard the jokes. One Netflix user timestamped The Irishman scene by scene so people could watch it as a mini-series. Others have recommended Martin Scorsese’s 209-minute epic to pass the time amidst the coronavirus outbreak: To survive months in isolation, just watch it once! We get it: The Irishman is long. Such… Continue reading The Irishman Scene Breakdown — How Martin Scorsese Opens an Epic

Max Weinstein

Color Theory in Film: Filmmaking Techniques for Visual Storytelling

Ep1: Film ToneEp2: Prod DesignEp3: Film BlockingEp4: Camera Movement VIEW ALL EPISODES → EPISODE 5Filmmaking Techniques: Color Theory In FilmHow directors and editors work together using color theory in film to accentuate the story. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel ← WATCH PREVIOUS EPISODE VIEW ALL EPISODES → FILMMAKING TECHNIQUES: EPISODE 5How can I accentuate my movie color… Continue reading Color Theory in Film: Filmmaking Techniques for Visual Storytelling

Shant Kiraz

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Analysis — How Tarantino Directs Suspense

Best Tarantino MoviesQT’s Directing StyleQT Directing Tips QT DialogueOnce Upon a Time AnalysisBasterds Breakdown Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood was one of the biggest hits of 2019, and for good reason. It is a film packed with great characters, memorable scenes, and Quentin Tarantino trademarks. Join us on our Once Upon… Continue reading Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Analysis — How Tarantino Directs Suspense

Sam Kench

Medium Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Close UpsOpen menu Extreme Close-Up (ECU) Close-Up (CU) Medium Close-Up (MCU) Medium ShotsOpen menu Medium Shot (MS) Cowboy Shot (CS) Medium Full Shot (MFS) Wide ShotsOpen menu Full Shot (FS) Wide Shot (WS) Extreme Wide Shot (EWS) More ShotsOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List Now W e’ve all… Continue reading Medium Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

StudioBinder

How to Write a TV Show Treatment [with Examples] — TV Writing & Development: Ep1

EPISODE 1TV WRITING & DEVELOPMENT MASTERCLASSHow to Write a TV Treatment (with Examples)So you have an idea, now what? We take you through the process of writing a TV treatment that takes it from a concept to a series with legs. SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE ← BACK TO SERIES PAGE WATCH NEXT EPISODE → How to write… Continue reading How to Write a TV Show Treatment [with Examples] — TV Writing & Development: Ep1

Shant Kiraz

There Will Be Blood: Analysis of a Power Struggle — Director’s Playbook

How does one create a power struggle in film? What are the techniques available that will help to communicate this battle through a visual lens? Let’s look at how Paul Thomas Anderson builds a power struggle with blocking, staging, framing, set dressing, and camera control. Make sure to read through to the end for more examples of… Continue reading There Will Be Blood: Analysis of a Power Struggle — Director’s Playbook

Chris Heckmann

The Directing Style of David Fincher

If you’re familiar with David Fincher movies, you know they focus on serial killers, robbers, brawlers, and murderers alike. You might also know that he has a reputation for being an exacting, obsessively technical director.  However, dark subjects and visual meticulousness belie Fincher’s overlooked secret weapon: his ability to connect with actors on a human level… Continue reading The Directing Style of David Fincher

Brent Dunham

The Godfather: Analysis of a Scene — Director’s Playbook

The Godfather is rightfully one of the greatest films ever made. Everything works magnificently together. But one of the most overlooked aspects of the film is how well the blocking and staging are. Today for our film analysis of The Godfather, we’re examining a pivotal scene in the character development of Michael Corleone. In particular,… Continue reading The Godfather: Analysis of a Scene — Director’s Playbook

Mike Bedard

What Happened to Every Frame a Painting? — A Eulogy

In April 2014, a YouTube channel named Every Frame a Painting was created and it changed the course of film criticism forever. Over the course of three years, Every Frame a Painting founders Taylor Ramos and Tony Zhou released 28 video essays addressing everything in film from the style of Akira Kurosawa to the editing… Continue reading What Happened to Every Frame a Painting? — A Eulogy

Chris Heckmann

High Angle Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

Types of Camera AnglesOpen menu Insert Image Low Angle Shot Insert Image Eye Level Shot Insert Image High Angle Shots Insert Image Dutch Angle Shot Insert Image Overhead Shot Insert Image Aerial Shot Explore More ShotsOpen menu Insert Image All Camera Shots Insert Image Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Create Free Shot List The way you… Continue reading High Angle Shots: Creative Examples of Camera Movements & Angles

StudioBinder

The Wolf of Wall Street Long Take — Director’s Playbook

How does one create a great tracking shot in film? What strategies are available to keep the shot interesting for the audience without becoming too chaotic? With this example from Martin Scorsese’s excellent film The Wolf of Wall Street, we’ll show you how a master filmmaker uses eye lines, blocking, and framing to create a… Continue reading The Wolf of Wall Street Long Take — Director’s Playbook

Chris Heckmann

Star Wars Lightsaber Duels — What Makes Them Great?

The Star Wars universe has given the world so much. From backwards-talking aliens to familial plot twists, Star Wars has sparked millions of people’s imaginations. However, the films also introduced us to one of the coolest weapons ever to grace the big screen: the lightsaber. We’ve already discussed how superb cinematography can enhance any lightsaber… Continue reading Star Wars Lightsaber Duels — What Makes Them Great?

Mike Bedard

How to Shoot a Lightsaber Duel — The Last Jedi Throne Room Breakdown

Few fight scenes in cinema are as exhilarating as a lightsaber duel in the Star Wars franchise. Everyone has their own personal favorites, but one of the most well-choreographed and filmed lightsaber combat scenes put to film is the Throne Room scene in The Last Jedi.  A lot of people may watch this lightsaber fight and… Continue reading How to Shoot a Lightsaber Duel — The Last Jedi Throne Room Breakdown

Mike Bedard