What is a foil character? Is it a character who wears tin-foil on their head? Wait no, that’s Joaquin Phoenix in Signs. Foil characters exist to expose something in the main character of a story. You may have heard the term in reference to the works of William Shakespeare, but he’s not the only writer who uses them. We’re going to show you some examples of foil characters from literature, film, and television. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize foils from a mile away and perhaps hatch an idea for your own foil character.Continue reading What is a…
Planning a video or sequence in a film doesn’t come second nature to most filmmakers. Serious prep is required. Lucky for you, there are tools to make this easier. Laying out your vision in a storyboard is one way to do it. What is a storyboard you may ask? It is a roadmap that will guide your journey from script to screen. To really grasp the benefits of storyboarding, we'll go beyond a simple storyboard definition to explore how filmmakers like Ridley Scott and the Coen Bros. rely on this fundamental process and how easy it will be for you to…
Cinematography is the art and craft of making motion pictures by capturing a story visually.It involves controlling light, camera movement, framing, composition, lens choice, and exposure to create the look and emotional tone of a film.In practice, cinematography combines creative decision-making with technical execution, shaping how an audience experiences a story moment by moment.Continue reading What is Cinematography? Defining the Art and Craft
What does tank-warfare and the aspect ratio of movies have in common? Anamorphic lenses! These technological marvels are legendary in the world of cinematography. Over the past 100 years, Hollywood has constantly experimented with various innovations, seeking not just to push creativity but to increase profit. A brief journey through history will help us appreciate the anamorphic format and its unlikely invention and popularity. And if you're a filmmaker looking to get that "anamorphic lens look," we'll go over all the visual characteristics that will get the job done. Continue reading What is an Anamorphic Lens? How to Get that Cinematic…
The Office has proved to be a show that ages like fine wine. Since the series finale in 2013, the mockumentary style sitcom has only grown in popularity and continues to be binge watched around the world. With so many new fans, The Office has provoked a new conversation among its cult following: what are the best Michael Scott quotes? We were wondering the same thing. So we did our homework and compiled a list of the 25 best quotes from the inimitable world’s best boss Michael Scott.Continue reading 25 Best Michael Scott Quotes from The Office, Ranked
We’ve discussed the basics of exposure — overexposure, underexposure and what camera settings control it. But what is double exposure? It isn’t a difficult technique to master, it just takes a little practice. In this post, we'll cover the basics behind this style with some tutorials on how to do double exposure in Photoshop. Let’s define it and learn how to capture it so you can produce creatively unique images on demand.Continue reading What is Double Exposure? Techniques in Photography and Film
Mad Men is one of television's best period pieces. It not only uses the 1960s as a backdrop and setting for the show, it imbues its dialogue, story, and characters with the details of the times. Every character reflects the 1960s in one way or another. In this article, we’ll analyze how Betty Draper’s tragic character arc was developed and written to reflect the times. Be warned there are spoilers ahead.Continue reading Betty Draper: How They Wrote Mad Men’s Most Tragic Character
So, you want to make a mood board without Photoshop. Good, you’ve come to the right place! We’re going to show you how to make a mood board without Photoshop by looking at strategies both on and off-line. By the end, you’ll know how to make a mood board without Photoshop, and more importantly, where to get started.Continue reading How to Make a Mood Board Without Photoshop
Orson Welles used to say “they’ll love me when I’m dead” — well at least that’s what his protege Peter Bogdanovich said. I suppose in some sense that perspective was well-warranted. Although Welles received a lot of acclaim during his life, particularly for writing, directing, and starring in Citizen Kane, he never got the respect many contemporary critics suppose he deserved. Welles’ career was plagued by studio censorship, personal vendettas, and a desire for perfectionism. But still, Welles endured making more than a dozen movies, as well as more than a dozen unfinished movies. We’re going to rank the Best…
Joker Script Download Best Joker Actors Joker Controversy Joker Movie Review Todd Phillips’ Joker (2019) sparked considerable controversy leading up to its release. Joker deals with many thematically disturbing elements — mental health, political violence, and an “incel”-like protagonist. Despite these concerns surrounding the Joker movie controversy, the movie did not inspire violence. Quite the opposite actually. So now, looking back, perhaps we can analyze the Joker movie controversy to see if there are any lessons for filmmakers. Taking a look at Phillips’ and Scott Silver’s script, what can we as screenwriters learn about creating pathos for the psychopaths…
