Earnestness and Irony: The Double-Minded Cinema of ‘Carrie’
New Hollywood. I might have known it would be New Hollywood. Read More
March 26, 2021
The Queue
The Art of Movie Explosions (And Why They Don’t Look Like Real Ones)
Fire in the hole! Or...multiple holes, safety padded with foam, and directed towards the camera. Read More
March 22, 2021
Shadow Play: The Art and History of Cinematic Chiaroscuro
There's a reason chiaroscuro lighting has been around for hundreds of years. It's effective and dynamic, and it tells a… Read More
March 19, 2021
A Beginner’s Guide to Rotoscoping
What do a dancing walrus and a long-legged ghost have to do with jazz superstar Cab Calloway? Well, in a… Read More
March 17, 2021
What is the Purpose of a Director’s Cut?
Watch a video essay explaining the idea and how it became so commonly accepted as the most authentic version of… Read More
March 15, 2021
A Tale of Two Ripleys: Gender and Genre in ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’
What's better, a relatable final girl or an '80s power fantasy? Here's a breakdown of why each Ripley, in 'Alien'… Read More
March 12, 2021
The Brilliant Sound Design of ‘Sound of Metal’
From the dropped frequencies to the powerful contrast, here's how the film uses sound to convey its protagonist's subjective experience… Read More
March 10, 2021
The Beginner’s Guide to Chloé Zhao
The indie darling is set to become a household name with Oscar buzz and an upcoming Marvel film. Here's a… Read More
March 8, 2021