Articles focussing heavily on Film.
What is a Documentary Script? Documentary filmmaking is a non-fiction form of storytelling that depicts reality. The purpose behind the film could be to educate, inform or simply to document. …
Dream Sequences: Avoiding the Lazy Screenwriter’s Crutch It was all a dream! First the audience gasps. Then they sigh and roll their eyes. Through overuse and poor execution, dream sequences …
Writing Tension: The Difference Between Shock and Suspense Take an ordinary scene where for five minutes three people are sitting around a table talking about their day. Suddenly, BOOM! A …
What is a Reboot? In the realm of movie-making, a reboot is a reimagining of an existing franchise that rebrands or restarts the established fictional world. The most notable franchises …
Since his debut film, Cronos, Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has been captivating audiences with a unique blend of fantasy and realism. We’ve compiled 15 Guillermo del Toro quotes that …
How Do Filmmakers Approach a Script? The screenplay is the spine of the movie. But the way it is interpreted for the screen is the key to turning a great …
Dual Protagonists: Breaking the Mould There is no law in screenwriting that dictates you must only have one protagonist, or main character, in your screenplay. Granted, most writers choose to …
Creating Characters: A Daunting Process When writing a screenplay, the process of creating characters can be so arduous yet so enlightening, so varied yet at the same time so individually …
What Is Visual Storytelling? By definition, visual storytelling is a story told through a visual medium. This can include anything from photography, video or illustration, which is then enhanced by …
David Mamet MasterClass Scores for the David Mamet MasterClass: Lessons- 9/10 Workbook- 8/10 Community- 7/10 Value- 8/10 Overall Verdict– Thumbs Up! Who is David Mamet? Pulitzer Prize winner, David Mamet, …
“It’s all about who you know”. Anyone remotely connected to the film industry has heard that phrase. And they’ll often approach the whole subject of film networking, of making contacts, …
Genre mashups, also known as cross-genres or hybrid genres, are commonly found in many art forms – film, music or literature. It’s when an artist combines two or more genres …
Steve McQueen is an acclaimed British Director and a Turner prize-winning artist, most famously known for directing the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave (2013). Steve McQueen quotes, particularly from his …
In screenwriting terms, the antagonist of a story is arguably as important as the protagonist. In the very simplest terms, if your protagonist is the hero, then the antagonist is …
So you’ve made a film and you want more people than just your friends and family to see it. Well, film festivals are a great way to get your project …
Both playwrights and screenwriters practice the art of dramatic writing with the same goal in mind. To tell a compelling story that leaves a lasting impact on audiences. The truth …
Heartbreak is the key feature of a tragic romance. The central love story ends in heartbreak and, as a result, audiences walk away from the film feeling heartbroken. Most people …
When you think of a fight scene, what film first comes to mind? Maybe you think of Stallone’s knock out punch in Rocky? Or perhaps you picture Keanu Reeves swerving …
A mockumentary is a satirical film or television show that combines documentary-style filmmaking with fictional subject matter. But although mockumentaries feature fictional events, they differ greatly from traditional narratives. And this …
In film and TV, great monologues have the power to hit an audience more than any other moment in a story. They can be gut-wrenching emotional confessions, pivotal moments of …
Have you always had an affinity for animation? Do you have a story idea that you think would be perfect for an animated film? Are you simply finding that your …
External conflict is an essential part of screenwriting in that it’s essential in driving any plot. It is different to internal conflict in that whilst internal conflict is within the …
The Western was one of the earliest cinematic genres and it has had a number of resurgences and reinventions over the last one hundred years. It’s a genre that through …
In this series, we’ll take a look at great, well-known scenes from films and TV. We’ll analyse these scenes to figure out what makes them work so well, what they …
Christopher Nolan is the recipient of over 30 Academy Award nominations, and 10 wins. He is one of the most influential auteurs working in the industry today; his films having …
It’s no question that one of the most powerful elements in a story is dialogue. In film, dialogue builds the overall tone of the movie, establishes the relationships between characters …
How to Write a True Crime Movie: Working with a True Crime Story The phrase “Based on a true story” is one guaranteed to make any moviegoer perk up in …
This article will explore the cliffhanger, as a screenwriting mechanism, and how best to deploy it in your screenplay. We’ll examine the following: What is a Cliffhanger? What Effect Does …
The courtroom drama, also known as the legal drama, is a long-standing staple in entertainment. This noteworthy genre of film has generated such timeless classics as To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 …
Charlie Kaufman is a name that commands widespread respect, from his industry peers, to critics and cinephiles. Charlie Kaufman quotes, whether embedded in his written dialogue or interviews, are sure …
Chekhov’s gun is a term that – in its simplest form – bestows purpose upon any object, character or situation within a narrative, on which the writer explicitly chooses to …
A first impression counts. We all know that. And in screenwriting it’s no different. Your screenplay’s opening scene is vital. Screenplay readers will often tell you that the first ten …
The montage is an ever present part of modern screenwriting. Filmmakers and screenwriters frequently use this technique, regardless of genre. But what are the best montage examples and what do they teach …
This article will delve into the dynamic world of video games and video game logic. Many video games have been translated on-screen into video game movies, and the line between …
This article will delve into what film noir is and its common tropes. We’ll offer pointers on how to write a film noir that both honours the traditions of the …
How To Write a Love Triangle This article will offer some key pointers on that most time-trodden (and wildly successful) cinematic device – the love triangle – and hopefully assist those …
How to Write the Best Script Outline Possible Achieving the extraordinary usually requires extraordinary planning. Hence before writing a great screenplay, you need a great script outline. The world of …
15 Inspiring Barry Jenkins Quotes for Writers & Filmmakers Barry Jenkins is undoubtedly among this generation’s most influential and important directors, producers and screenwriters. We have complied a list of …
How to Get the Best Out of a Nonlinear Narrative The nonlinear narrative is a common feature of contemporary movies (and TV as well). It has become such a familiar …
The 67 Different Sub Genres Two decades and a century since the dawn of cinema, it is safe to say the medium has by now produced a colossal variety …
How to Write a Heist Movie (or TV series): The ULTIMATE 10 Steps A band of misfits. A slick elite group. “Getting away clean”. Whatever the stakes. A heist …
How to Write a Surrealist Film: The Core Principles of Surrealism Surrealist film tends to fall far from the aims of the original Surrealist movement. This article will demonstrate how …
Forever Changing: 15 Danny Boyle Quotes for Writers and Filmmakers His mother had plans for him to go into the priesthood. But Danny Boyle left the path of Catholicism and …
How to Write a Synopsis That Stands Out You might think writing a movie synopsis is a chore when you’re slumped at your desk. Your eyes straining against the harsh …
How to Use (and Not Use) a Framing Device in Your Screenplay An elderly narrator sits down in a chair. They talk directly to camera. They are the storyteller. We …
Writing a Scene: Breaking Down the 10 Key Steps in Getting Started As with most stages of the screenwriting process, writing a scene is a journey of discovery. It is useful …
Voice-Over Narration—How to Get it Right and How to Get it Very Wrong A common piece of advice given to newer screenwriters is: avoid voice-over narration at all costs. This …
15 Brilliant Flashback Examples That Show How to Best Use It It’s almost hard to think of a modern film that doesn’t have a flashback example somewhere within it. Of …
How to Write a Great Post-Apocalyptic Movie The post-apocalyptic movie feels eerily relevant. Deserted streets, daily political briefings, biotech-clad figures. These are no longer just science fiction fantasies. But …
15 Todd Phillips Quotes for Writers and Filmmakers While some of the best directors find themselves permanently in one niche, Todd Phillips seems to thrive by bouncing around. A …
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