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).
Screenplay Structure 101Open menu Three Act Structure Freytag’s Pyramid Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu Exposition Inciting Incident Rising Action Climax Falling Action Denouement Write Your Script For Free → An inciting incident is an essential part of every story. But what… Continue reading What is an Inciting Incident — Definition & Script Examples
Anaphora is an important rhetorical device for emphasizing concepts and ideas. But what is anaphora? Fear not, we’re going to explain anaphora by exploring a variety of anaphora examples. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and utilize anaphora in writing.Continue reading Anaphora Examples — Literature, Film, Music, Poetry & More
What is Point of ViewOpen menu First Person Point of View Second Person Point of View Third Person Point of View Third Person Point of ViewOpen menu Third Person Point of View Third Person Omniscient Point of View Third Person Limited Point of View What is third person limited point of view? Third person limited… Continue reading What is Third Person Limited Point of View
Have you ever cringed at a lifelike robot? Or watched a CGI movie and thought to yourself “that’s creepily real”? If you have, then you’ve stumbled upon the uncanny valley. But what is uncanny valley? And what does uncanny valley mean? We’re going to answer those questions by examining the uncanny valley effect, from its… Continue reading What is the Uncanny Valley — Explaining the Phenomenon
ConnotationOpen menu Connotation Negative Connotation Positive Connotation Denotation Connotation vs Denotation Connotation vs denotation: one is subjective, the other is objective. Can you guess which is which? Fear not, no guessing required; we’re going to explain everything there is to know about connotation vs denotation by breaking down examples from literature and film. By the… Continue reading Connotation vs Denotation — Examples & Differences Explained
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 → What are the types of characters in a story? Some of us have heard terms like protagonist and antagonist… Continue reading What Are the Types of Characters in a Story
Screenplays By GenreOpen menu Comedy Sci-Fi Drama Crime TV Scripts Horror ResourcesOpen menu FREE Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Best Screenplays to Read Shane Black Movies & Screenwriting Explained Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Best Horror Movie Scripts to Download Write Your Script for Free → The Taxi Driver… Continue reading Taxi Driver Script PDF Download — Plot, Quotes, & Ending
What is Rhetoric Rhetorical DevicesOpen menu Alliteration Anaphora Hypophora Onomatopoeia Oxymoron Simile Write Your Script For Free → Abraham Lincoln famously said that “no government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall perish from this Earth.” But did you know that “the people” is a famous example of an epistrophe? So,… Continue reading What is an Epistrophe — Definition, Examples for Writers
Dialogue, or a conversation between two or more people, is something that dominates just about every work of fiction. So, why is dialogue so hard to write? We’re going to explore the nature of dialogue by breaking down a series of dialogue examples, from literature to games. Hopefully, by the end, you’ll know how a… Continue reading Dialogue Examples — Film, TV, Theatre, Fiction & Video Games
What is Deductive Reasoning What is Abductive Reasoning What is Inductive Reasoning Inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning represent two polar approaches to critical reasoning. But what is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning? We’re going to break down inductive vs deductive reasoning by looking at their definitions as well as some examples. By the… Continue reading Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning — Differences & Usages
Intertextuality is an incredibly important concept for writers to understand – but what is intertextuality? We’re going to break down everything there is to know about intertextuality by looking at examples from film, television, literature, and games. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize intertextuality, and institute it in your own works.Continue reading What… Continue reading What is Intertextuality — Definition and Examples
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 → What is a foil character? Is it a character who wears tin-foil on their head? Wait no, that’s Joaquin… Continue reading What is a Foil Character — Definition, Examples in Lit. & Film
No genre has influenced the public’s perception of criminals more than Gangster Movies. For more than 80 years, the best gangster movies have fascinated and allured the minds of millions; from Prohibition-era pre-code crime to 21st Century gang life. Our list of the 30 best gangster movies of all time includes films that span the… Continue reading Top 30 Best Gangster Movies of All Time, Ranked
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 Web Design Mood Board — Examples & Tips
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 Use a Mood Board Template — FREE Download
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 Mood Board Layout Explained — Rules, Sizes & Dimensions
Metatextuality plays an important role in the relationship between a text and its audience. But what is metatextuality? And why does it play an important role in the relationship between a text and its audience? We’re going to answer those questions by defining metatextuality, as well as by examining metatextual examples in films/games. By the… Continue reading What is Metatextuality — Definition, Examples & Types Explained
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
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 trope? How is it different from an idiom or a cliche? In this article, we’re going to break down and define tropes, then show… Continue reading What is a Trope? Definition and Examples
