Best Mumblecore Movies — Ranked for DIY Filmmaker in You

Mumblecore is one of those genres that’s difficult to put into words, but you know a mumblecore film when you see it. There generally isn’t a lot of action. The plot’s mainly driven by dialogue that has a naturalistic feeling. They are intimate stories focused on the small parts of existence most people wouldn’t pay… Continue reading Best Mumblecore Movies — Ranked for DIY Filmmaker in You

How to Start a Script — Process Tips, Ideation Strategies & More

I want to write a film script, you say, but I don’t know where to start! What are the steps of writing a movie script? How do I begin the work that might result in a classic of page and screen? Every writer, no matter how great or famous, confronts the blank page. This is particularly… Continue reading How to Start a Script — Process Tips, Ideation Strategies & More

Best Screenplays to Read for Aspiring Screenwriters — Top 10

By GenreOpen menu Comedy Sci-Fi Drama Crime TV Scripts Horror ResourcesOpen menu FREE Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Best Screenplays to Read Shane Black Movies & Screenwriting Explained Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Best Horror Movie Scripts to Download Write Your Script for Free → What are the best… Continue reading Best Screenplays to Read for Aspiring Screenwriters — Top 10

The Best Villains of All Time — 23 Vile and Vicious Evildoers

Sometimes, a hero is only as good as their villain. Whether they’re a charismatic villain that you love to hate or pure, unadulterated evil, these villains will stick in your mind for years to come. Be sure to check out our How to Write a Villain video essay below for a breakdown of three villainous… Continue reading The Best Villains of All Time — 23 Vile and Vicious Evildoers

What is Dialogue — A Writer’s Guide to Spoken Words

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 → Movies are a visual medium first and foremost, which means making on-screen imagery as effective as possible. And if you’re making a narrative feature, you will more… Continue reading What is Dialogue — A Writer’s Guide to Spoken Words

Inglourious Basterds Script PDF Download and Analysis

By GenreOpen menu Comedy Sci-Fi Drama Crime TV Scripts Horror ResourcesOpen menu FREE Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Best Screenplays to Read Shane Black Movies & Screenwriting Explained Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Best Horror Movie Scripts to Download Write Your Script for Free → Inglourious Basterds was a… Continue reading Inglourious Basterds Script PDF Download and Analysis

What is Backlight Photography — Lighting Techniques Explained

BasicsOpen menu Basics of Film Lighting What Does a Cinematographer Do What is Cinematography What is Digital Cinematography Cinematography Terms What is Motion Blur Lighting EssentialsOpen menu 3-Point Lighting What is Key Light What is Fill Light What is Backlight What is Practical Lighting When is Golden Hour E-BooksOpen menu FREE Ebook: Camera Lenses Explained… Continue reading What is Backlight Photography — Lighting Techniques Explained

How to Write Transitions in a Script — Tips & Formatting

How to Format a ScreenplayOpen menu Scene Headings Sluglines Action / Description Dialogue Transitions TV Script Format 101 FREE Movie Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Write Your Script for Free S creenplay transitions in cinema have been used ever since filmmakers had the ability to edit. At first, what was a simple cue to an editor of… Continue reading How to Write Transitions in a Script — Tips & Formatting

How to Write Shots in a Script — Screenplay Formatting Tips

There is much debate around the use of shot descriptions within a screenplay. Despite many people discouraging the use of writing shots into a screenplay, there are a plethora of examples of shots being used in scripts of major feature films.  Knowing how to write shots into a screenplay is important for any screenwriter, whether you… Continue reading How to Write Shots in a Script — Screenplay Formatting Tips

25 Best Movie Soundtracks That Changed the Game

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 25 Best Movie Soundtracks That Changed the Game

Pulp Fiction Dance Scene — What Makes This Scene So Great?

How does a director create a memorable scene? The Pulp Fiction scene dance made a lasting impact in pop culture consciousness, still inspiring Halloween costumes, hairstyles, and dance moves nearly two decades later. But what techniques did Quentin Tarantino use to make the Pulp Fiction dance scene so indelible? Using StudioBinder’s pre-production software, we break… Continue reading Pulp Fiction Dance Scene — What Makes This Scene So Great?

Quentin Tarantino’s Favorite Movies of All Time — 20 Cinematic Gems

When people ask me if I went to film school, I tell them no, I went to films. – Quentin Tarantino Quentin Tarantino is not just a world-class filmmaker but also a renowned film lover. He is a lifelong cinephile with an encyclopedic knowledge of the medium. Tarantino always packs his films with homages to the… Continue reading Quentin Tarantino’s Favorite Movies of All Time — 20 Cinematic Gems

What is a Spaghetti Western — History and Legacy Explained

Cowboys, outlaws, deserts, shanty towns, and gunslinging. These are familiar elements seen in the genre known as the Western, in both literature and cinema. But for many genre fans, it specifically refers to Spaghetti Westerns, a genre that emerged during the 1960s. Traditional Westerns they weren’t, as they were often low budget, featured violence and… Continue reading What is a Spaghetti Western — History and Legacy Explained

What is Blaxploitation — An American Film Movement Explained

What is blaxploitation? Blaxploitation refers to a genre, a film movement, and an important period of cinema history. In this post, we’ll define Blaxploitation, explain the historical context, look at the most important films of the movement, and even take a look at the status of this genre and style in our modern film industry.Continue… Continue reading What is Blaxploitation — An American Film Movement Explained

What is Imagery — Definition & Examples in Literature & Poetry

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 → Describing sensory experiences through the medium of writing and text can be difficult. By enlisting the use of imagery, writers are able to vividly describe experiences, actions,… Continue reading What is Imagery — Definition & Examples in Literature & Poetry

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… Continue reading 25 Best Opening Scenes in Movies & What Makes Them Great

How to Write A Compelling Script with Dual Protagonists

Writing dual protagonists is generally frowned upon, unless you’re one of the select few who can break the rules, like Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) or the late William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Critics argue that writers, especially amateur ones, can get lost in the logistics attempting to craft… Continue reading How to Write A Compelling Script with Dual Protagonists

Screenwriting Terms — Abbreviations, Definitions & Vocab

Cinematography Terms 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. But don’t worry, we’re going to cover… Continue reading Screenwriting Terms — Abbreviations, Definitions & Vocab

Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay — Top 20 Ranked

By GenreOpen menu Comedy Sci-Fi Drama Crime TV Scripts Horror ResourcesOpen menu FREE Scripts: StudioBinder Screenwriting Library Best Screenplays to Read Shane Black Movies & Screenwriting Explained Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Best Horror Movie Scripts to Download Write Your Script for Free → One of the most… Continue reading Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay — Top 20 Ranked