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@media (min-width: 300px){.thrv_symbol_91218 [data-css="tve-u-171dbaca69d"]{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_91218 [data-css="tve-u-171dbaca69f"]{letter-spacing: 1px;font-size: 14px !important;text-transform: uppercase !important;}.thrv_symbol_91218 [data-css="tve-u-171dbaca69e"]{font-size: 14px !important;}} Browse Film Terms A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Whether you’re working on your first or 100th film, there is always something new to learn. When you need to update your film terminology, this resource will be your best friend.… Keep reading
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Screenwriting Terms
Film Terms
There are a lot of intricacies in scripts that present challenges to even the most veteran of screenwriters. The process of writing a script is difficult enough but the vocabulary, abbreviations, and defintions related to the job can be a bit elusive.… Keep reading
Of all of the parts of a screenplay, the opening scene is perhaps the most important – not only because it has to establish the world of the story, but because it also has to grab the attention of the script-reader. We’re going to look at a few different ways you can start your screenplay with a bang, with opening scene script examples from Chinatown, Blade Runner, and more. By the end, you’ll be equipped with a variety of new strategies to tackle screenplay opening scenes like Robert Towne and Orson Welles.
Continue reading Screenplay Opening Scene Examples — 6 Ways to Begin a Script
Everyone loves to see a great scene transition, but how do you connect scenes on a deeper level? Consider using a match cut. Using similar colors, shapes, actions or even dialogue, match cuts add that extra level of meaning to create a more cohesive and seamless narrative. In today’s post, we’re going to break down match cuts so that you not only understand how they work but also why they are so much more effective than a normal scene transition.
Continue reading Match Cuts & Creative Transitions with Examples – Editing Techniques
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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 this article, we’re going to define what subtext is, then look at some strong examples from screenplays. By the end, you’ll be ready to apply subtext into your own scripts.
Continue reading What is Subtext — How to Use Subtext in Screenwriting
What is tone? To answer that question we have to place tone in an appropriate context. Tone can refer to the intonation/pitch of acoustics, the meeting of light and shadow, the firmness of muscles, etc. — but we’re going to focus on what tone means in storytelling. Tone is how an artist feels towards the art they create — sounds simple enough right?
Well, consider this: how do we know how an artist feels? We’re going to explore that question by looking at examples from William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe and more. By the end, you’ll know what makes tone different from mood and how to recognize it in film and literature.… Keep reading
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What is an allegory? An allegory is an important part of a symbolic story. Many of us have heard the term used when describing literature or film, but how do we know what it means? We’re going to get to the bottom of those questions by looking at famous examples. But first, let’s define allegory through exploring its etymology.
Continue reading What is an Allegory? Definition and Examples
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H
ave you ever wondered why the mockingbird sings in Harper Lee’s classic, or what the green light at the end of the dock means in The Great Gatsby? Or perhaps you’ve pondered on the deeper significance of the spinning top in Christopher Nolan’s Inception. These aren’t just random elements thrown into the mix to make the story intriguing. They are symbols — powerful tools that authors and filmmakers use to convey profound meanings subtly yet impactfully. Let’s uncover the types of symbolism that often go unnoticed yet hold the power to transform a simple tale into an unforgettable masterpiece.… Keep reading
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 own works.
Continue reading What is an Anecdote — Definition, Examples, and Functions
Motion pictures have enticed and inspired artists, audiences, and critics for more than a century. Today, we’re going to explore the history of film by looking at the major movements that have defined cinema worldwide. We’re also going to explore the technical craft of filmmaking from the persistence of vision to colorization to synchronous sound. By the end, you’ll know all the broad strokes in the history of film.
Note: this article doesn’t cover every piece of film history. Some minor movements and technical breakthroughs have been left out – check out the StudioBinder blog for more content.
Continue reading The History of Film Timeline — All Eras of Film History Explained
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Writing a script can be a daunting task – but there are strategies for making it an engaging and fun exercise in creative practice. We’re going to answer the essential questions involved in writing a script, with character arc and plot examples. Then we’ll explain how to use our script analysis worksheet so that you can ensure you’re hitting all the major narrative, structural, and emotional beats needed to deliver a satisfying story.
Continue reading Script Analysis Worksheet PDF — How to Analyze a Script
Swiss philosopher Carl Jung theorized that all people are connected by a collective unconscious; which dictates we understand a collection of archetypes and symbols. But how do we understand these archetypes and symbols? Where do they appear? And how are they used? We’re going to answer those questions by exploring “repetition in art,” from character archetypes to semiotics and everything in between. By the end, you’ll know why repetition is such an important part of art.
Continue reading Repetition in Art — Patterns, Meanings & Techniques Explained
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You’re pretty familiar with Bruce Wayne, aka Batman. He lives in Gotham City, he stops crazy villains, and he spends a lot of his time with bats. But did you also know his parents are dead!? That’s what we call backstory, something most characters in fiction have with them whenever we start their story. So even if you start the story understanding where the character is at presently, there may be more to them that is not made immediately apparent.… Keep reading
