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Martin Scorsese Breaks Down the Difference Between Story & Plot
What is story? What is plot? What is the sound of one hand clapping? Who knows? While story and plot might seem, at first, to be synonymous, in fact they are two different things entirely, and if...
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Watch: David Fincher Shows How to Create the Ideal Plot Twist
With The Game, David Fincher crowned himself king of plot twists. What is the feeling we have when we see a remarkable plot twist? It's almost physical: as if your heart stops beating for a second, or...
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Want to Make a Profitable Movie? Turn Toward Science
Turns out there may be a formula for making a commercially successful film after all. All the way back in 2016, a study conducted by a group of graduate students from the Computational Story Lab at...
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What Does the 'Inception' Ending Mean?
We take a crack at deciphering the ending of Inception and explaining what the movie Inception is about. This is, Inception explained! I was watching It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia last week and...
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6 Bulletproof Plot Devices That Will Transform Your Screenplay
Everyone loves a good voiceover, but if it's not serving the plot, it's a problem... Have you ever been stuck in your screenplay and been unsure of how to convey a certain bit of information to the...
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Can Character Development Get in the Way of Good Movies?
How do the best movies balance character development and plot stakes? We've written about how to write internal and external conflict before, and how the two things weave together, but more and more...
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Seth Rogen Explains the Difference Between Story and Plot
Do you know the difference between story and plot? They're not interchangeable and the proper definitions go a long way in your writing. When you sit down to write a screenplay you have so many things...
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The One Rule That Lets Quentin Tarantino Get Away with Anything
Quentin Tarantino is at the height of his powers, and 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' demonstrates his mastery of the medium. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is on pace to become Quentin Tarantino's...
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The One Thing 99% of Screenwriters Fail to Do
In a recent video, script consultant Jill Chamberlain says 99% of screenwriters miss the boat on an essential part of storytelling. As writers, we all make mistakes together. I've found that when I'm...
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This Viral Twitter Thread Takes on Identical Hollywood Movies
Twitter user @KrisTosAplSauce started a viral thread about identical Hollywood movies. And it's fantastic. Hollywood is a place full of original ideas and creators, but every so often a studio gets...
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Get Alfred Hitchcock's Advice, In His Own Words
We dug through the archives to find practical and (mostly) applicable Alfred Hitchcock quotes. If there is a shortlist of the most important directors in movie history, a Mt. Rushmore if you will,...
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What is the 8-Point Story Arc?
There are many techniques to writing. So where does the 8-point arc come into play? When I sit down to write, it's kind of a slog. I try to build out my idea as best I can from logline to outline, but...
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How 'Stillwater' Keeps You Riveted and How 'Let Us In' Found an IP Loophole
Learn from Oscar-winning filmmaker Tom McCarthy, and also writer/director of 'Let Us In,' Craig Moss. Stillwater is the rare instance of a fully engaging adult drama that says powerful things about...
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10 Screenwriting Tips from the Coen Brothers
Does anyone write characters and plots better than the Coen brothers? When it comes to writing, few people seem to have complete mastery over every aspect like the Coen brothers do. Their characters...
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What Is the Plot of a Story? (Definition and Examples)
Are you schooled in writing? What is a plot of a story—do you know? Many people think the plot of a movie or TV show is just the major events that happen. But they're wrong. There's a distinct story...
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What Is the Epistemological Definition? Why Does It Matter for Filmmakers?
If you want to study film and filmmaking, you should take an epistemological approach. There's an old saying that goes something like, "The only person who knows a lot is the person who knows they...
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According to Tarantino, This is How "A Great Plot Unfolds"
Unfold your plot in the best way possible. From classic novels to blockbuster movies, the key to a compelling narrative lies in a well-crafted plot. But what makes a great plot? Whether it's a...
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What's the Average Structure of a Superhero Movie?
Let's dig deep into the superhero movie structure. Superhero movies have become a staple of the modern cinematic landscape, with audiences around the world flocking to see their favorite heroes in...
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Where Does Porn Fit Into Tarantino's 'The Movie Critic'?
We're getting more details about Tarantino's upcoming film. Everyone has been buzzing about Quentin Tarantino's final film. We know it's called The Movie Critic and that it takes place in the 1970s....
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