Altered States

Bullet time, next generation. [video]

Movies make a great visual for altered reality. Time distortion, or bullet time, first shown in the film, The Matrix, is characterized by an extreme slow-down of time as the camera moves around the scene at a normal speed. (more…)

Stand for Your Vision

Few are the first to recognize innovation.

More than 200 million people have visited the Eiffel tower since its construction began in 1887.  But at it’s selection as the centerpiece of the Paris Exposition, there was a huge storm of vitriol, mockery and lawsuits. (more…)

Smart Movie Review

Movie Plots should be this simple.

Great films should have a story so easy to understand, that even a three year old can get it. Watch this three year old give an insightful review of the first Star Wars movie.

Is this Real, or Am I Crazy?

A great question.

Great stories are based on a great question. One of my favorites is “Is this real or am I crazy?” Movies ask this question, creating a mystery the audience has to figure out. (more…)

Pictures Say More than Words

Who to write without words. [video]

Writing novels and films is very different. In fact, one of the biggest differences between novels and films is how the emotions and thoughts of characters are conveyed. In novels, this is done primarily though a narrator or character telling the reader their inner thoughts. In writing parlance, this is also known as the inner dialogue. Assuming that the characters have a colorful inner life, this can make for a great novel. But in films this present a unique challenge because there is no way to hear it.
Show it, don’t say it.

The challenge for the screenwriter is how to get this powerful inner dialogue to the screen. If characters speak their thoughts, it often seems forced or didactic. Another method is narration. But this can only be used for one character, and get’s old fast. And narration doesn’t use films greatest power – the image.

A foundational rule in good writing is, show it, don’t say it. It’s best to learn the characters through the choices that they make. Choices demonstrate motivations. Actions do speak louder than words.

A THOUSAND WORDS, directed by Ted Chung.

The short film below tells an engaging story with no dialog. It has a clear narrative, inciting incident, romantic goal, road trip and some surprising twists. Great use of the camera, too. See it all done in just four minutes.