June 30, 2018

Deus Ex Machina, the Laziest Way to Spoil Your Screenplay

While a deus ex machina may save your character’s life, it’ll often kill your script.

There is no right or wrong way to write a screenplay—but there are some seriously lazy tropes that you may be unintentionally employing in your narrative. One of these is a plot device called deus ex machina. Even if you’ve never heard the term before, you’ve definitely seen it a thousand times and unless the move is self-aware and/or for laughs, it pretty much never leaves the audience satisfied.

In this video essay, Fandor’s Jacob T. Swinney dives into the concept of deus ex machina, what it is and how it different filmmakers have used it (sometimes successfully but mostly unsuccessfully) in their films. Check it out below:

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Source: NoFilmSchool

June 30, 2018

3 Things That Make Quentin Tarantino’s Dialogue So Damn Good

Quentin Tarantino is one of the best at writing dialogue, mostly because he always includes these three storytelling devices.

If you’re a fan of movies with quick-witted, clever dialogue, then Quentin Tarantino is probably high on your list of favorite filmmakers. From Pulp Fiction to The Hateful Eight, the director’s films are well written, funny, and suspenseful, but—they’re also incredibly wordy. But wait, isn’t the standard axiom in cinema “show, don’t tell?” Tarantino is doing a hell of a lot of telling, don’t you think? Well—yeah, that’s true. His films tend to have copious amounts of dialogue, which would mean certain death to other films, however, his always seems to work. Why?

In this video essay, Henry Sharpe of The Closer Look delves into the way Tarantino expertly crafts his dialogue in order to pinpoint the narrative devices he uses to keep the audience entertained, engrossed, and on the edge of their seats. Check it out below:

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Source: NoFilmSchool

June 29, 2018

At What Age Do Directors Typically Make Their First Feature Film?

Age ain’t nothing but a number, right? Then why is your creative clock ticking more ferociously the older you get?

Alright, gang. It’s time to talk about something that almost all of us have or are or will go through as filmmakers. (And I only use “almost” as to not make sweeping generalizations, but, yeah—all of us). It’s the obsession over how old we’ll be when we make our first feature film. If you’re like me, you wanted to be a friggin’ wunderkind like Orson Welles and make a masterpiece and not even be able to go to the bar afterward to celebrate. If you’re like me, you also blew right past that milestone, settled down, had a couple of kids, and looked at your sullen, aging face in the mirror and wondered if it’s too late for you to become a feature filmmaker. “Am I too old to make a movie?”

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Source: NoFilmSchool

June 29, 2018

Watch: How the Screenplay For ‘Jurassic Park’ Creates Conflict Amongst Its Characters

Here’s how ‘Jurassic Park’ uses its screenplay to do far more than merely showcase dinosaurs.

Ever since the on-screen introduction of Jurassic Park back in 1993, the franchise’s main attraction has been those pesky dinosaurs and the hijinx they get up to on that island where nothing could possibly go wrong.

But as this video from Michael Tucker and Lessons from the Screenplay illustrates, what’s more important are the way the filmmakers create “interesting characters who are used to explore an important modern theme,” presenting what’s ultimately more than a typical rollercoaster theme park summer movie.

The Theme

Quoting from the superb Into the Woods: A Five-Act Journey into Story by John Yorke, Tucker gives the definition of theme: a theory is posited; an argument explored; a conclusion reached. “That, in a nutshell,” says Tucker, “is what theme is,” continuing, “Subject matter is a static, given. Theme, on the other hand, is an active exploration of an idea.”

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Source: NoFilmSchool

June 29, 2018

Try before you travel — Kayak launches virtual reality exploration tool

Not so sure exactly what destination to head to next? Kayak VR is a new Google Daydream app designed to help travelers scope out a new destination ahead of time and pre-plan trips. The app includes travel tips and an audio tour.

The post Try before you travel — Kayak launches virtual reality exploration tool appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR

June 27, 2018

Everything we know about Project Santa Cruz and the Oculus Rift 2

Oculus’ Project Santa Cruz looks to offer PC-quality VR without the need for a PC. From revamped Oculus Touch controls to its sleek design, here’s everything we know about the next-gen headset so far.

The post Everything we know about Project Santa Cruz and the Oculus Rift 2 appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR