30 Best Thanksgiving Movies — What to Watch on Turkey Day

Every family has their own Thanksgiving traditions. Some play football in the backyard after filling up on turkey while others go straight from the dinner table to those Black Friday deals. But if you’re like us, you like to let the tryptophan settle in while you’re cuddled up watching one of the best Thanksgiving movies… Continue reading 30 Best Thanksgiving Movies — What to Watch on Turkey Day

20 Best Movies of the Decade, Ranked for Filmmakers (2010—2019)

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 As much as people bemoan Hollywood being devoid of ideas, the truth is that major studios and independent filmmakers alike continued to push the boundaries of what you could do with film in the 2010s. From small-scale projects to blockbusters that doubled as art, movies delivered in this last decade. If you’ve been… Continue reading 20 Best Movies of the Decade, Ranked for Filmmakers (2010—2019)

The Best Movies of 2018 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 From grim dramas to breathtaking action films, 2018 was a great year to go to the movies. It was a year of seismic changes in the cinematic landscape as Marvel’s Black Panther was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, showing that superhero films could be serious fare, too. However, it was also a year… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2018 — The Year in Review

The Best Movies of 2016 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 By 2016, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was in full swing. However, superheroes were far from the only films coming out in the mid-2010s as a resurgence of independent filmmaking came to the forefront. Filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese, would make films radically different than anything that would come before and after. It was… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2016 — The Year in Review

The Best Movies of 2015 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 Cinema had a wide-ranging scope in 2015. Mad Max: Fury Road proved there was still room for high-concept, big-budget spectacle. And then you had films like Tangerine, filmed on an iPhone, to tell the intimate story of a transgender sex worker. 2015 proved filmmakers haven’t run out of ideas yet as long as… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2015 — The Year in Review

The Best Movies of 2014 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2014 was a year of innovations. Boyhood was shot over the span of 12 years to show the young actor growing up in real-time. Birdman brought the concept of a one-shot (or seemingly one-shot) film to the masses. But it was also the year where entertaining blockbusters (Captain America: The Winter Soldier and… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2014 — The Year in Review

The Best Movies of 2013 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2013 was an idiosyncratic year at movie theaters. Yes, you had hopeful tales of love, but many films dealt with the economic downturn still reverberating throughout the country from the Great Recession. You saw more characters struggling to make ends meet, and economic anxiety was still a prevalent theme during this year. It’s… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2013 — The Year in Review

The Best Movies of 2012 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2012 has one of the most eclectic lists in StudioBinder’s series on the past decade. From raucous comedies to quiet introspections on political figures to superhero movies, 2012 had it all. No matter what kind of cinephile you consider yourself, there was plenty to choose from at cinemas. Chances are good you’re number… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2012 — The Year in Review

The Best Movies of 2011 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2011 was a year where ambitious filmmakers embarked on deeply personal projects. From Terrence Malick’s ambitious chronicling of the universe in Tree of Life to Martin Scorsese’s tribute to filmmakers of the past with Hugo, there was plenty for cinephiles to chew on this year. Now that there’s been some hindsight, StudioBinder presents… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2011 — The Year in Review

The Best Movies of 2010 — The Year in Review

Best of…20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2010 was an interesting time in the film industry. Franchises like Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings were dormant for the time being. “Cinematic universe” had yet to become a Hollywood buzzword. It was a great year for independent filmmaking, which makes for ranking the best movies of 2010 an interesting… Continue reading The Best Movies of 2010 — The Year in Review

How to Write Dialogue Like Quentin Tarantino — Kill Bill Analysis

Best Tarantino MoviesQT’s Directing StyleQT Directing Tips QT DialogueOnce Upon a Time AnalysisBasterds Breakdown Quentin Tarantino is known for many things as a filmmaker. His films have unpredictable violence and masterfully-crafted scenes. But above all else, Tarantino is known for his dialogue.  It’s not easy holding an audience’s attention for even two minutes, but Tarantino somehow… Continue reading How to Write Dialogue Like Quentin Tarantino — Kill Bill Analysis

10 Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (Nov. 2019)

After you enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, what are the rest of your plans for the long weekend? Before you head back to the set, you should kick back, relax, and enjoy some excellent films on Netflix. From serious dramas to scary horror films, there is something for every taste. For November of 2019, here are… Continue reading 10 Best Movies on Netflix — A Playlist for Filmmakers (Nov. 2019)

Best Original Song — Every Oscar-Winning Song, Ranked

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 Best Original Song — Every Oscar-Winning Song, Ranked

Writing and Directing for Suspense: Inglourious Basterds

Quentin Tarantino has created some of the most memorable scenes in film history. However, none are quite so impactful, tense, and amazing as the Inglourious Basterds opening scene.The scene lasts for just under 20 minutes, but during that time, Tarantino employs a vast array of framing techniques and angles to help tell the story to… Continue reading Writing and Directing for Suspense: Inglourious Basterds

Why is Brad Pitt Always Eating in Movies? Top 5 Scenes Ranked

Why is Brad Pitt always eating in movies? Don’t believe me? Google it. He’s been doing it in a staggering amount of his movies going back 30 years. And he’s darn good at it. Many actors like “busywork” — something for them to do that accents their performance (e.g., smoking cigarettes). Brad Pitt has mastered… Continue reading Why is Brad Pitt Always Eating in Movies? Top 5 Scenes Ranked