Best Thriller Movies of All Time, Ranked for Filmmakers

When it comes to the best thriller movies of all time, there’s a lot to choose from. While great thrillers involve the protagonist in constant and terrifying danger, some are more light hearted, while still juggling with the concepts of life and death.With such a broad genre, there are many movies in the thriller genre to choose from, including horror, psychological, true crime, and black comedy. Since it can sometimes be difficult to choose good thrillers, we decided to make the job easier for you.Listed here are the best thrillers from cinema, ranging from new classics to old favorites, along…

What is Assonance — Definition and Examples for Writers

One of the most effective ways at making a line of text in literature memorable is by creating rhythm. Writers have a few ways of creating rhythm such as rhyming and alliteration. However, both can become redundant because of their more obvious nature. A more subtle literary device that creates rhythm is assonance. What is assonance? The effects of assonance are similar, but are technically achieved in a different way. In this article, we’ll discover how by looking at the assonance definition and examples.Continue reading What is Assonance — Definition and Examples for Writers

46 Literary Devices Every Writer Should Know

Anyone who’s sat down to write knows it isn’t for the faint of heart. Whether penning a poem, a screenplay, or a novel, a writer needs a few tools in their toolbelt. Enter common literary devices, literary elements and literary techniques. Besides listing, defining, and providing examples, this article will also take a moment to consider how and why a writer might use these common literary devices in the first place.Continue reading 46 Literary Devices Every Writer Should Know

What is a Villain? Definition, Types & Characteristics

There is no doubt that cinema and literature are filled with iconic heroes. But often it is the relationship between villain and hero that makes the hero so iconic. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to define a villain and how they might differ from an antagonist in a story. We’ll also analyze some iconic examples and what characteristics they share on their path to villainy. Continue reading What is a Villain? Definition, Types & Characteristics

Best Steven Spielberg Movies, Ranked for Filmmakers

If you loved movies as a child, then there’s a good chance you owe a debt of gratitude to Steven Spielberg. He’s directed some of the best, most entertaining, and most influential films of all time. Honestly, he has about 10 films you could put as #1 on a list of his best movies, and no one would be mad. He’s been a producer, writer, and even an actor over the years, but for this list, we’re only looking at the 31 feature-length, theatrically-released films in his filmography. Get ready to be inspired because we’re counting down the best Steven…

70 Hilarious Dark Comedy Movies & TV Shows

The best dark comedy movies and TV shows go for the jugular. It’s not enough to just be edgy, or even malicious. You need to tap into deep, disturbing levels of discomfort… and build a summer home.We made the ultimate list of dark comedy movies and TV shows, plus a video essay that takes a deep dive into one dark comedy, The Lobster. Let’s jump into our list of the best dark comedy movies and TV shows.Continue reading 70 Hilarious Dark Comedy Movies & TV Shows

What is a Metaphor — Definition and Examples

The metaphor is a fundamental pillar of figurative language. Few tools can paint a picture as efficiently and evocatively. As such, metaphors are employed by nearly every kind of writer, whether you are a poet or a playwright. To better understand the literary technique, we’ll look at its definition, subtypes, and many uses, while providing examples from famous works.Continue reading What is a Metaphor — Definition and Examples

20 Mise en Scène Elements Every Filmmaker Needs to Know

Mise en scène can seem foreign, even to filmmakers, film critics, and movie buffs. Why is it important? How do you pronounce it? And what is mise en scène anyway. Grasping mise en scène is critical for anyone who makes or seriously watches any kind of visual content. For directors and producers, mise en scène in film and the script breakdown go hand in hand.In this article, we’ll let you know what mise en scène is and how you can use it — both as a filmmaker and as a savvy viewer. We will define 20 key mise en scène…

Academy Award for Best Director — Oscar Winners Ranked

The Academy Award for Best Director is the most prestigious honor any director can receive -- well, at least in theory it is. You may be shocked to find out that many of “the greatest directors of all-time,” like Alfred Hitchock, Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Fritz Lang, Ingmar Bergman, and Federico Fellini never won the award. Of all of the Academy Awards, the Best Director category probably has the greatest discrepancy between its winners and its retrospective, critical consensus. No matter though, we’re going to list all of the Academy Award Best Director winners, then we’ll rank some…

25 Best Opening Scenes in Movies & What Makes Them Great

In psychology, there’s something called the serial position effect. It means people tend to remember what comes first and last, not what occurs in the middle. Filmmakers know this phenomenon all too well. Combine that with today's stream-ability and countless options… and the opening to a film is as important as ever. Today, we study the best opening scenes in movies to see how the best in the business grab the audience and never let go.  Continue reading 25 Best Opening Scenes in Movies & What Makes Them Great