Mastering the Christmas Movie: Home Alone

Okay, is there anyone who doesn’t choke up when little Zuzu Bailey says, “Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings,” at the the end of It’s a Wonderful Life? The best Christmas movies vary in style and tone, but they tend to possess certain thematic elements such as forgiveness, charity and devotion. A film from the modern era that truly embodies these themes is Home Alone. In this post, we examine how Home Alone stands out amongst Christmas films due to its sound design, production design and cinematography.Continue reading Mastering the Christmas Movie: Home Alone

Mastering the Shot List: Alejandro González Inarritu

Filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has said, “Fear of the unknown is a great creative partner.”Throughout Inarritu's filmography the director has continually embraced the uncertainty of life’s moments; allowing his audiences to cry with joy and scream with fear.Here are four ways Inarritu's shooting style influences the emotions of his narratives.  Continue reading Mastering the Shot List: Alejandro González Inarritu

Mastering the Shot List: Andrei Tarkovsky

Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky once said, “If during my work I find that a shot or a take might resemble what has already been done by another great director, I modify the scene to prevent that from happening.”Although the auteur only completed seven feature films, his singular cinematic style continues to inspire audiences.Here are some ways Andrei Tarkovsky movies employ effective shot design.Continue reading Mastering the Shot List: Andrei Tarkovsky