In the world of cinema, there’s an intriguing space where creativity meets passion, free from the constraints of big-budget studios. This is the realm of independent, or ‘indie’, films. The term ‘indie’ has become synonymous with uniqueness, originality, and autonomy in filmmaking. In this article, we will delve into the world of indie films, exploring their… Continue reading What is an Indie Film — Definition & History Explained
Best Horror MoviesOpen menu Best Horror Movies of All Time Best Zombie Movies Best Vampire Movies Best Jump Scare Movies Best Stephen King Movies and TV Shows Best Underrated Horror Movies EssentialsOpen menu What is Horror Body Horror Explained Giallo Films Explained Horror Movie Tropes Found Footage Filmmaking What is a Grindhouse Movie Horror WritingOpen… Continue reading What is a Grindhouse Movie — Definition & Iconic Examples
Martin Scorsese is the true king of cinema. While most filmmakers are lucky to have just one film that stands the test of time, Scorsese has had hit after hit across five decades. Saying “the best Martin Scorsese films” is like saying “the best chili cheese fries” because even when they’re not the greatest, they’re… Continue reading Best Martin Scorsese Films — His Entire Filmography Ranked
Cinematography Terms Screenwriting Terms Film Terms What is film theory? Is it just the theory of film? Or is it something more? Fear not, we’re going to answer the question “what is film theory?” with a film theory definition. We’re also going to examine a variety of different aspects of film theory, both technically and… Continue reading What is Film Theory — How to Study Film (And Why)
Every screenwriter wants to write quippy, smart dialogue that makes the page sparkle and keeps the actors inspired. But how do you do it? There are dozens, if not hundreds, of lists and guides that provide useful tips for how to write dialogue in a story. In this post, we’ll look at dialogue writing examples,… Continue reading How to Write Dialogue — Examples, Tips & Techniques
H ave you ever found yourself captivated by a film that strays from the predictable plot lines of mainstream cinema, instead immersing you in a world of unique storytelling and artistic vision? Welcome to the realm of Arthouse Cinema. But what is an ‘arthouse film’ exactly, and how did this fascinating genre originate? Dive with us… Continue reading What is an Arthouse Film — Definition & Examples
Metaphor Mixed Metaphor Visual Metaphor Metaphors are an important part of any writer’s lexicon. At their best, metaphors can crystalize an image or meaning in just a few words. Sometimes, however, they’re not operating at their best. Some of the most maligned metaphors are called dead metaphors, and most writers avoid them. But what is… Continue reading What is a Dead Metaphor — Examples & How to Avoid Them
Dialogue, or a conversation between two or more people, is something that dominates just about every work of fiction. So, why is dialogue so hard to write? We’re going to explore the nature of dialogue by breaking down a series of dialogue examples, from literature to games. Hopefully, by the end, you’ll know how a… Continue reading Dialogue Examples — Film, TV, Theatre, Fiction & Video Games
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 Non-Diegetic Sound — Definition and Examples
There are many responsibilities that fall onto the shoulders of a director. One of the most important responsibilities they have is to direct the actors of a film. How do great directors bring out great performances from an actor? What is the relationship between director and actor? How should a director communicate with an actor?… Continue reading How to Direct Actors for Film — 12 Tips & Techniques Explained
Types of Camera GearOpen menu Tripod Handheld Drone Dolly Steadicam Crane Shot TypesOpen menu All Shots & Angles Camera Shot Ultimate Guide Camera Movement Master Class Create Free Shot List Now → Every camera movement should be chosen with intention and purpose. For that reason, it is important for every filmmaker to understand the fundamental… Continue reading What is a Boom Shot — Camera Shot Definition and Examples
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 a Sound Bridge in Film — Scene Transition Techniques
Great performances, direction, cinematography, and even production design are all essential for creating an engaging dialogue scene. But one of the most important aspects of a great dialogue scene is effective editing. Editing can make or break a dialogue scene even if all of the other filmmaking elements fall into place. So how do you edit… Continue reading How to Edit a Dialogue Scene — Tips and Techniques for Editors
While cinema is known for being a primarily visual medium, there is no doubt how much of an impact music can have on a film. Some of the most iconic scenes in history are remembered with a song attached. Sometimes the music choices are left to a director far after the screenplay is written. However,… Continue reading How to Write Music into a Screenplay — Examples & Tips
Screenplay StructureOpen menu What is The Three Act Structure What is Freytag’s Pyramid What is a Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey What is Save the Cat Dan Harmon’s Story Circle 5 Stages of A StoryOpen menu What is Exposition What is an Inciting Incident What is Rising Action What is the Climax of a… Continue reading What is Story Structure — Definition, Examples & Types
Plot TropesOpen menu What is a Trope What is a Cliche Flashback MacGuffin Plot Twist Red Herring FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free What is a trope? How is it different from an idiom or a cliche? In this article, we’re going to break down and define tropes, then show… Continue reading What is a Trope — Definition and Examples in Movies
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 → How do writers make characters into people we can empathize with and understand? One way is through the use… Continue reading What is Characterization — A Guide to Character Building
Best Tarantino MoviesQT’s Directing StyleQT Directing Tips QT DialogueOnce Upon a Time AnalysisBasterds Breakdown How do you learn filmmaking techniques from a director like Quentin Tarantino? You can watch his films, and learn his filmmaking process with quotes from Quentin Tarantino interviews. We also built a video with directing tips and examples from Quentin Tarantino… Continue reading Quentin Tarantino Interviews, Directing Tips & Quotes on Film
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 60 Best Movie Songs Of All Time — Top Needle Drops, Ranked
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 an antagonist? The simplest explanation is that an antagonist represents the opposite of the protagonist. But there’s much more to the term than that. They… Continue reading What is an Antagonist in a Story — Definition & Examples