All posts that are Essays
The Kuleshov Effect
How a cinematic experiment led to a fundamental element of cinematic language. The Myth At some point every acting teacher quotes the oft-told story of [...]
Cinema: Truth or Reality?
What’s the relationship between reality and truth in cinema? Truth vs Reality in Cinema Cinema is the most “realistic” of the art forms. Not because it [...]
Four Spheres of Conflict
A tool for giving your characters a range of obstacles to overcome, which gives your story more dramatic energy and your characters more depth. To [...]
Give That POV a Sandwich
One of the cleanest and most common ways of encouraging the audience to project their feelings onto a character is called a Point of View Sandwich. The Kuleshov [...]
Keep the Audience Hungry to Know
What does the audience want to know? Keeping them actively asking is the key to having them lean forward into the story. Editing for New [...]
Stories without Psychology
The less you explain the underlying psychology behind your characters’ actions, the more the audience will engage. So, keep it to yourself. In 1936, German [...]
Subjective Storytelling and Audience Connection
Cinema creates character psychology collaboratively. The filmmakers supply the dots, and invite the audience to draw the lines. We both contribute, so we share ownership. The difference [...]
The Politics of Script Development
Write cinema, not radio with pictures. Cinema is built on sequences, not scenes The basic unit of cinema is sequences built of shots, sounds, and [...]
Three Key Questions
Three key questions can help you shape your story, giving it substance, shape and a satisfying ending. Three Flavours of Narrative Narrative is shaped by one [...]
Weak Villain, Weak Hero
Weak villains make for weak heroes. That applies to the argument your story is telling as well. Powerful stories need powerful counterforces, across all arenas. Make your story earn [...]
