Storytelling
The Tone Paradox in Deadpool 2
It’s no surprise that Deadpool 2, the ultra-violent R-rated superhero action comedy with the heart of a cartoon puppy, has a tone problem.
Armchair Sociology
Sollers Point: Unraveling Masculinity Onscreen
Sollers Point has its finger on the pulse of a huge American problem: masculinity in crisis. Writer-director Matthew Porterfield is a dedicated chronicler of Baltimore’s lesser-told stories, and in Sollers Point he finds a true diamond in the rough. The story follows Keith (McCaul Lombardi), whose life after house arrest Read more…
Armchair Sociology
Westworld: Reality, A.I., and the God Problem
When I was about 5 or 6, I had a thought that both exhilarated and terrified me. I was riding in the car with my parents, looking out the window, and I thought… How do I know if I’m real? Beyond that… how do I know if “reality” even exists? Read more…
Storytelling
Avengers: Infinity War Shows How to Write a Huge Ensemble Story
Why Marvel’s biggest movie yet is a great example of how to write for a large ensemble of characters.
Storytelling
How Iron Man Created the Formula for Every Marvel Movie
10 years after Marvel Studios released Iron Man, here’s how that movie’s success has been duplicated in every MCU film since.
Storytelling
How Jordan Peele Changed Get Out from Script to Screen
Compare the biggest changes between Jordan Peele’s screenplay for Get Out and his finished film.
Storytelling
Why Black Panther and Wakanda Are the Keys to Marvel’s Future
How the success of Black Panther changes action movies and lays the groundwork for Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Storytelling
The 3 Story Elements That Jumanji Gets Right
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is satisfying despite its shortcomings. How? Because it gets the three most important aspects of any story right.
Storytelling
3 Worldbuilding Details Your Fantasy Story Needs (and 3 It Doesn’t)
If your story doesn’t hook your audience early, they won’t keep reading. Here are three assets every good story needs, and three more that make readers (okay, me) quit.
Storytelling
How Good Editing Saved Star Wars
From Star Wars to Casablanca, some of Hollywood’s best-loved classics were saved in the edit. Here are three ways editing can make or break a film.