We go a little mad over Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and discuss: Cinematography, using shadows, camera moves, visual storytelling; Story & Writing, MacGuffins, rule of resistance; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Fear isn’t so difficult to understand. After all, weren’t we all frightened as children? Nothing has changed since Little Red Riding Hood […]

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We level with Tom Cruise’s “Digger” and discuss: Story & Writing, satire, showing the reaction instead of the event, what makes a great monologue and a great argument on the page; Cinematography, the flat color palette and pillarbox framing, wide-angle close-ups; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I have never made but one […]

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We sit (Ubu, Sit! Good dog.) through Brad Pitt’s “Heart of the Beast” and discuss: Cinematography, composing a nice image; Story & Writing, man vs nature, structure; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Learning does not make one learned: there are those who have knowledge and those who have understanding. The first requires […]

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We dive into Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” and discuss: Video game adaptations; Cinematography & Directing, single source lighting, building a moment; Story & Writing, choosing the right character for the story, theme?; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Look, whispered Chuck, and George lifted his eyes to heaven. (There is always a last […]

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We relive Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day” and discuss: Story & Writing, humor, theme; Finding a surprise supporting actor; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world […]

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We dip into Ketchup’s “Coyote vs Acme” and discuss: Story & Writing, underdog stories, rule of threes; Based on a true story gag, favorite moments; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Turn me over, I’m done on this side!“ – Saint Lawrence, while being executed on a hot iron griddle Notes & References: […]

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We fiddle with “The Banshees of Inisherin” and discuss: Story & Writing, clear stakes, script vs film; Performances, playing the space between the lines; Metaphors, and distracting ourselves from the inevitable; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “The literal meaning of life is whatever you’re doing that prevents you from killing yourself.“ – […]

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We jackhammer Monica Barbaro’s “One Night Only” and discuss: Story & Writing, humor as a plot device, physical comedy, script vs the movie; and other such stuff and things and stuff. “Nobody knows anything… Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what’s going to work. Every time out it’s […]

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