Chris Heckmann is a Professor of Media & Communication at Roger Williams University and graduate of UCLA’s Cinema & Media Studies Master of Arts program. When he’s not writing or teaching, he’s probably playing video games (or thinking about the next great Boston sports trade).
Mood Board Essentials & TemplatesOpen menu Mood Board Templates Top Mood Board Apps What is a Mood Board How to Make a Mood Board Mood Board Layout Mood Board Examples How To Mood BoardOpen menu Aesthetic Mood Board Writer Mood Board Photography Mood Board Graphic Design Mood Board Wedding Mood Board Film Mood Board Create… Continue reading How to Make a Mood Board Without Photoshop
ProcessOpen menu How to Make a Short Film Short Film Schedule Tips Write a Short That Gets Noticed How to Storyboard a Short Film Phases of Short Film Pre-Production How Whiplash Went From a Short to a Feature ResourcesOpen menu Best Short Films of All Time Best Short Film Ideas Crowdfunding Movies The Ultimate Film… Continue reading How to Storyboard a Short Film — Examples and Templates
The ending of The Godfather Part II is one of the best movie endings of all time. Today, we’re going to break down everything that makes The Godfather Part II ending great – from plot and characters to music and production design. By the end, you’ll know how Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo, and all… Continue reading The Godfather 2 Ending Explained (& Why It’s One of the Best)
What is Deductive Reasoning What is Abductive Reasoning What is Inductive Reasoning What is abductive reasoning? We know that “abduction” means “ to take away,” so is abduction what we take away through reason? Well, it is and it isn’t. Abductive reasoning is the least referenced type of critical reason, but it plays a huge… Continue reading What is Abductive Reasoning — Problem Solving for Writers
Plot TropesOpen menu What is a Trope What is a Cliche Flashback MacGuffin Plot Twist Red Herring FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free What is a plot twist? It’s a term we’ve all heard before – but we rarely ever hear it defined. So today, we’re going to define plot… Continue reading What is a Plot Twist — Definition, Examples and Types Explained
Index & TimelineOpen menu Art Styles Explained Art History Timeline Renaissance & Classical (1400-1600)Open menu Renaissance Gothic Art Rococo Baroque Classicism Neoclassicism Romanticism & Contemporary (1827-20XX)Open menu Avant Garde Post Impressionism Romanticism Expressionism Contemporary Art Modern Art Naturalism vs realism: two different but similar things. So, what is the difference between realism and naturalism? We’re… Continue reading Naturalism vs Realism in the Arts — Two Styles, Similar Goals
Types of CharactersOpen menu Protagonist Antagonist Hero Anti Hero Tragic Hero Foil Character Character TropesOpen menu Common Character Types Types of Villains Femme Fatale Mad Scientist Mary Sue Damsel in Distress Write Your Free Script → How do writers make characters into people we can empathize with and understand? One way is through the use… Continue reading What is Characterization — A Guide to Character Building
EssentialsOpen menu What is Sound Design Sound Editing vs Sound Mixing What is Voice Over What is Diegetic Sound What is Non-Diegetic Sound What is a Film Score TechniquesOpen menu Ultimate Guide to Sound Recording Filmmaker’s Guide to Sound Effect Techniques What is a Sound Bridge What is The Shepard Tone How to Design a… Continue reading What is Dolby Atmos — A Leap Forward in Exhibition Sound
Oh yes, we’ve come back to the ever-feared spec script; code-word for a script that isn’t commissioned. Writers far and wide, famous and infamous, all work on spec scripts. But what is a spec script? And what does it look like? Fear not, we’re going to answer those questions by looking at some spec script… Continue reading Spec Script Examples — What Does a Spec Script Look Like?
BasicsOpen menu What is Post-Production What is VFX What are Special Effects What is Virtual Production What is CGI What is Matte Painting ProcessOpen menu How to Move the Anchor Point in After Effects How to Mask in Premiere Pro Best After Effects Plugins Best Free After Effects Templates Inception Special Effects How They Shot… Continue reading What is Compositing — VFX Compositing Techniques Explained
