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).
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
Adages, idioms, axioms, aphorisms: what makes each unique? We’re going to break down what makes aphorisms unique by asking the question “what is an aphorism?” and by exploring aphorism examples. By the end, you’ll know what aphorisms are and how to utilize them in everyday writing and conversation. Continue reading What is an Aphorism — Definition,… Continue reading What is an Aphorism — Definition, Examples and Writing Tips
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?
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Catharsis Motif Plot Protagonist Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Foreshadowing Irony Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Write Your Script For Free → What is subtext? The age-old adage says that subtext is what’s inferred by reading between the lines, but how do we know what to look for? In… Continue reading What is Subtext — How to Use Subtext in Screenwriting
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 hero? Heroism is a concept we’re taught at a very young age. But is the definition… Continue reading What is a Hero — Definition, Examples & Types Explained
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
Negative connotation plays an important role in how we regard words and symbols – but what is a negative connotation? We’re going to explore the meaning of negative connotation by looking at examples in literature and film. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize words, signs, and objects with negative connotations, and how to… Continue reading What is a Negative Connotation — Definition and Examples
Connotation has an enormous influence on how we regard words and symbols – but what is a positive connotation? We’re going to break down what it means for words and symbols to have a positive connotation by looking at examples in literature and film – but first, let’s define positive connotation.Continue reading What is a… Continue reading What is a Positive Connotation — Definition and Examples
Narrative essays can present a serious challenge for even the most seasoned of writers, but fear not, we’ve compiled some great narrative essay topics to inspire your next paper! Follow along as we explore prompts relating to life, school, and more. By the end, you’ll be prepared to tackle narrative essays from a variety of… Continue reading Narrative Essay Topics — Prompts & Ideas For All Grade Levels
What is an anecdote? In simplest terms, an anecdote is a short story that illuminates a nuanced facet of a greater subject matter. We’re going to break down anecdotes by looking at their definition — and anecdote examples in film and literature. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and implement anecdotes in your… Continue reading What is an Anecdote — Definition, Examples, and Functions
Have you ever heard an expression but had no idea what it meant? If you have, it’s probably because it was an idiom. Writers are always looking for the most natural way to write dialogue and literary devices like the idiom are just one technique available. But what is an idiom? We’re going to answer… Continue reading What is an Idiom — Definition, Examples & Tips on Writing Them
It’s no easy task cutting down a list of the best Sci-Fi movies of all time to just 25, as Sci-Fi has been on the bleeding edge of storytelling since the beginning of time. Although some Sci-Fi stories have parabolic elements of warning, most do so with optimistic intentions. Those that don’t typically are more… Continue reading 25 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers
What’s the most difficult aspect of writing dialogue? Ask any ten writers and you’re bound to get a range of answers. But “getting started” is no doubt one of the most popular. So, we’re going to break down some dialogue prompts to kickstart your writing process! By the end, you’ll have options to choose where… Continue reading Dialogue Prompts for Writers — Lines To Get You Writing Now
Editing EssentialsOpen menu What is Film Editing Types of Editing Transitions How to Become a Film Editor What is a Film Cut What is a Freeze Frame DownloadablesOpen menu Free Video Transitions Free Sound Effects for Video Editing Best Free Video LUTs Ding Sound Effect Download Muzzle Flash Effect Download Free Fog Overlay Templates Editing… Continue reading Best Laptops for Video Editing: A Buying Guide
Suspension of disbelief gives artists the liberty to create worlds in a realm separate from reality. But what is suspension of disbelief? Where did suspension of disbelief originate? And why is suspension of disbelief important to artists and connoisseurs of art? We’re going to answer those questions by defining suspension of disbelief and by looking… Continue reading What is Suspension of Disbelief — How It Works in Storytelling
What is Deductive Reasoning What is Abductive Reasoning What is Inductive Reasoning Context clues are integral to how we make sense of things. But what are context clues? And why are context clues important? We’re going to break down context clues in sentences and situations so that you can see why they’re such an important… Continue reading What are Context Clues — Definition, Examples & Purpose
Brad Pitt is one of the most iconic American actors today, simultaneously revered for his good looks and depth as an actor. In this list, we’re going to rank the best Brad Pitt movies. The ranking of these films are in regards to their quality and impact, not Brad Pitt’s performance. But every film on the… Continue reading Best Brad Pitt Movies List — Top Films Ranked
Most filmmakers have heard RED digital cinema cameras, but there have been so many changes to their lineup over the years that keeping track can be a bit daunting. This post will make things simple. We’ll explain the RED video camera lineup in layman’s terms, and then provide a look back at RED cameras all so… Continue reading Which RED Camera to Buy? RED Digital Cinema Lineup Explained
Storyboard EssentialsOpen menu What is a Storyboard Best Storyboard Examples How to Storyboard Ultimate Guide to Storyboard Rules Best Storyboard Software Storyboard TemplatesOpen menu Storyboard Templates Pack How to Make a Storyboard Template How to Use a Storyboard Template Music Video Storyboard Template Commercial Storyboard Templates Movie Storyboard Template Create Your Free Storyboard Here →… Continue reading How to Storyboard a Video — Examples & Techniques Explained
If you want to live stream content, then you’re going to need a live stream camera. But what is a live stream camera? Well, a live stream camera is pretty much any camera that’s capable of streaming in real-time. Before we rank the best streaming cameras, consider what you might want to use a live stream… Continue reading Best Streaming Cameras — Gaming, Video, PC, Mac
