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).
There are plenty of great shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, but HBO still reigns king in the world of TV streaming. Since 1972, the ‘Home Box Office’, better known as HBO has produced dozens upon dozens of top-tier TV shows. We’re going to rank the best shows on HBO, from ‘72 to 2020 so that you can find a new series or a forgotten classic that is 100% worth viewing.Continue reading The Best Shows on HBO Right Now (October 2020)
HBO’s Watchmen was a smash-hit with critics in 2019, due to sharp writing, great production design, and memorable characters. The first, and likely only season of Watchmen, featured some characters we already knew, like Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias, and some new characters, like Night Sister and Looking Glass. Of all the new characters, Looking Glass is perhaps one of the most interesting. We’re going to break down his character by looking at his backstory, costuming, and comparisons to Rorschach. So put on your reflectatine mask as we uncover the man behind the Looking Glass. Spoilers Beware.Continue reading Looking Glass —…
Mise en scene plays a huge role in communicating the tone of a story -- but what is mise en scene? In classical terms, mise en scene is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play or film. Today, mise en scene is regarded as all of the elements that go into any single shot of a production. Four of the most important aspects of mise en scene are: sets, props, costume/hair/makeup, and lighting. We’re going to show you how master filmmakers apply color to these four aspects of mise en scene with examples from films by Stanley…
The Dark Knight Rises script laid the groundwork for the final film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Although it wasn’t as well received as its predecessor, The Dark Knight Rises still had plenty of great moments. We’re going to break down The Dark Knight Rises script by looking at characters, dialogue, and story-arcs. But first, let’s remind ourselves of who wrote The Dark Knight Rises screenplay. Make sure to download a PDF copy of the script below to read along!Continue reading The Dark Knight Rises Script PDF Download: Ending, Quotes, and Characters
Netflix has garnered a reputation in recent years for being the go-to destination for TV streaming. That’s because the service has a little something for everyone -- dramas, comedies, documentaries, mockumentaries, and anything else you might think up. But finding the next great show to watch on Netflix can be difficult. Don’t worry though, we’ve done the research to deliver you our list of the best shows on Netflix. Continue reading Best Shows on Netflix Right Now, Ranked for Filmmakers (September 2020)
Flashback is a term that we hear nearly every day in life — but what is a flashback in writing? A flashback is sometimes used to give context to the past, but there’s a lot more to the technique than that. We’re going to break down flashbacks by looking at how they’re used by writers, with examples from classical literature like The Odyssey and recent films like Manchester By The Sea. But before we jump into our examples let’s define flashback.Continue reading What is a Flashback? Definition and Examples in Literature and Film
Manchester By The Sea garnered a lot of critical acclaim upon release in 2016, including two Academy Awards: Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. There’s a lot we can learn from the Manchester By The Sea script, from its characters to its dialogue. We’re going to break down the Manchester By The Sea screenplay so that you can see how Kenneth Lonergan uniquely writes his scripts. But first, download a copy of the Manchester By the Sea movie script PDF and follow along as we review the story summary.Continue reading Manchester By The Sea Script PDF Download: Plot, Dialogue, and…
There are plenty of great shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, but HBO still reigns king in the world of TV streaming. Since 1972, the ‘Home Box Office’, better known as HBO has produced dozens upon dozens of top-tier TV shows. We’re going to rank the best shows on HBO, from ‘72 to 2020 so that you can find a new series or a forgotten classic that is 100% worth viewing.Continue reading The Best Shows on HBO Right Now (August 2020)
Every month, dozens of movies arrive on Netflix, but it can be a hassle keeping track of all the great content that comes and goes. Don’t fret though, we’re going to break down the best new movies on Netflix each month to help you decide on what to watch. These are the best of what’s coming to Netflix in June, 2020. Continue reading Best New Movies on Netflix, Filmmaker Playlist (August 2020)
Netflix has garnered a reputation in recent years for being the go-to destination for TV streaming. That’s because the service has a little something for everyone -- dramas, comedies, documentaries, mockumentaries, and anything else you might think up. But finding the next great show to watch on Netflix can be difficult. Don’t worry though, we’ve done the research to deliver you our list of the best shows on Netflix. Continue reading Best Shows on Netflix Right Now, Ranked for Filmmakers (August 2020)
