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DRAFT ZERO
§ RESOURCES / SHOT ZERO ↗

THE SHOT ZERO INDEX.

Close analysis of cinematography and visual storytelling — 390 posts published on Substack.
Browse here or read on Substack ↗

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Films covered Abbott Elementary·Alien·Andor·Annihilation·Apocalypse Now All Films →
Anatomy of a Scene: NOBODY LIVES FOREVER Filming Small Beats within Dastardly Cabaret 2026-05-10
Texas Switching a Stunt: Rachel Weisz in THE MUMMY Toppling Bookshelf Dominos, Not Your Lead Actors 2026-05-07
Week 26.18 - Inhuman POV Socials Roundup 27 April - 03 May 2026: looking through eyes which aren't ours 2026-05-06
Two Ways to Smash Glass: PRIDE and JUSTIFIED 2026-05-03
The Eyes [Still] Have It: DEJA VU all over again Revealing a Character's Thoughts Through Showing His POV 2026-04-30
Week 26.17 - UNUSUAL POV Socials Roundup 20 April - 26 April 2026: Spinning, Sideways, Side-eyes, and Superimposed, we've got many ways the camera gives us a unique POV 2026-04-29
The Eyes Have It: DEJA VU How Déjà Vu lets us see through another lens 2026-04-26
A Whole Relationship in One Shot . . . and Two Transitions: ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Making a Oner out of a Three-er 2026-04-23
Week 26.16 - CHANGING ASPECT RATIO Socials Roundup 13 April - 19 April 2026: video games come to life, booty shorts, amateur detective podcasters, supernatural detectives, and a lesbian space princess! 2026-04-22
Intercutting for Connection: HE GOT GAME 2026-04-19
Turn the Camera Sideways: GET MILLIE BLACK 2026-04-16
Week 26.15 - Socials Roundup "Quick Gags with Sound Assists" 06 April - 12 April 2026 Broad City, Man Seeking Woman, My Brilliant Career, Death in Brunswick, 2026-04-15
Die Hard (1988)
THE PITT - "How to Transition" Takeaways what did we learn from every single transition in Episode 2.09 - "3:00 P.M." 2026-04-12
The Pitt (2025)
How to Transition: THE PITT pt4 every single transition from Episode 2.09 - "3:00 P.M." 2026-04-09
The Pitt (2025)
Week 26.14 - REACTION SHOTS Socials Roundup 30 March - 05 April 2026: Reaction Shots! from humans and aliens 2026-04-08
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
How to Transition: THE PITT pt3 every single transition from Episode 2.09 - "3:00 P.M." 2026-04-05
The Pitt (2025)
How to Transition: THE PITT pt2 every single transition from Episode 2.09 - "3:00 P.M." 2026-04-02
The Pitt (2025)
Week 26.13 - FUN WITH LEADING LINES Socials Roundup 23 March - 29 March 2026: Using Lines to Lead the Eyes 2026-04-01
How to Transition: THE PITT pt1 every single transition from Episode 2.09 - "3:00 P.M." 2026-03-29
The Pitt (2025)
Moving an Object to *Reveal* - GRAVITY FALLS 2026-03-26
Week 26.12 - SHADOW PLAY Socials Roundup 16 Mar - 22 Mar 2026: whether made by puppets or people or panthers, shadows can be very effective! 2026-03-25
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
A Transition of Opposites: HAMLET GOES BUSINESS 2026-03-22
The Eyes Have It - LE FIL ROUGE use of ocular imagery in Alice Rohrwacher’s short film. 2026-03-19
Week 26.02 - MY LIFE IS MURDER Socials Roundup 05 Jan - 11 Jan 2026: MY LIFE IS MURDER Season 1 Title Cards 2026-01-14
Shooting in Three Mirrors: DEAD LESBIANS how to (practically) shoot your gays 2026-01-11
Shot Zero - NEXT UP What We're Looking at in 2026 2026-01-08
Week 26.01 - Socials Roundup 29 Dec 2025 - 04 Jan 2026: Compare and Contrast 2026-01-07
Home Alone (1990)
Setting up a Punch Line: THE PITT 2026-01-04
The Pitt (2025)
Blocking a Sneak: DOUBLE INDEMNITY 2026-01-01
Double Indemnity (1944)
Week 25.52 - Socials Roundup 22 Dec - 28 Dec 2025: Happy Holidays call for SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS! 2025-12-31
Knives Out (2019)
Crossing the Line: DOCTOR WHO In Lieu of the Yearly Special, May We Present . . . 2025-12-28
Exposition and Invisible Oners - JAWS, MAD MAX, and THUNDERHEART telling story and depiction power struggles through shots 2025-12-25
Jaws (1975) Mad Max (1979)
Week 25.51 - Socials Roundup 15 Dec - 21 Dec 2025: a scintillating series of short sharp shots 2025-12-24
Die Hard (1988) DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Five Shots: A BITTERSWEET LIFE just what it says in the cryptic 3AM text message 2025-12-21
Moving a Scene through Shots - GRAVITY FALLS angles, motion, surprizes, twins, and a magic book, all within 30 seconds, oh my! 2025-12-18
Week 25.50 - Socials Roundup 08 Dec - 14 Dec Month 2025: Split Diopters, Winged Angels, Stark Staircases, TV Reflections, and Match Cuts 2025-12-17
How to Cross the Line: SUCCESSION terrible people at a dinner table 2025-12-14
Succession (2018)
Sherlock Hound: DRAWING A STUNT making an aquatic chase fun and followable 2025-12-11
Staging a Phone Call - Socials Roundup Week 25.49 how do I talk to thee? let me count the ways 2025-12-10
Michael Clayton (2007)
Five Shots: ANDOR "Narkina 5" just what it says on the blaster handle 2025-12-07
Andor (2022)
Spike Lee's Red: GIRL 6 2025-12-04
Week 25.48 - Socials Roundup - NOIRVEMBER Pt 4 24 Nov - 30 Nov 2025 - lots of light and shadows in this one! 2025-12-03
Five Shots: HEATWAVE just what it says on the fire index sign 2025-11-30
Shot-Reverse-Mirrored-Shot: WHITE HEAT 2025-11-27
Week 25.47 - Socials Roundup - NOIRVEMBER Pt 3 17 Nov - 23 Nov 2025 A Different World; High and Low; No Country for Old Men; Veronica Mars; Safe in Hell 2025-11-26
Veronica Mars (2004) No Country for Old Men (2007)
GET MILLIE BLACK: showing off your location just what it says on the paperwork 2025-11-23
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST: Demonstrating Theme with Stairs or, literally going up and down 2025-11-20
Week 25.46 - Socials Roundup - NOIRVEMBER Pt 2 10 Nov - 16 Nov 2025: Pitfall, See How They Run, Notorious, Michael Clayton, White Heat 2025-11-19
Michael Clayton (2007)
Blocking and Framing for Character: HIGH AND LOW how an angel and a devil fight over a businessman in a living room 2025-11-16
Glow (2017)
Art of the Chase: SHERLOCK HOUND making an aquatic chase fun and followable 2025-11-13
Week 25.45 - Socials Roundup - NOIRVEMBER Pt 1 03 Nov - 09 Nov 2025: Happy Valley; Intimidation; Ladies in Retirement; Giri/Haji; The Last Stop in Yuma County 2025-11-12
Opening Oners: THE BIG CLOCK putting together a jaw-dropping sequence 2025-11-09
MARS EXPRESS: Roundup 2025-11-06
Mars Express (2023)
Week 25.44 - Socials Roundup 27 Oct - 02 Nov 2025: Heatwave; The X-Files; Da Sweet Blood of Jesus; Portrait of a Lady on Fire 2025-11-05
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Practical Tricks: M how Fritz Lang made what is now a special effects shot, practically. 2025-11-02
Five Shots: MONSTERLAND "New Orleans, LA” just what it trumpets loudly in the streets 2025-10-30
Week 25.43 - Socials Roundup - Spooktober! 20 Oct - 26 Oct 2025: KPop Demon Hunters, The Haunting of Hill House, Monsterland 2025-10-29
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE is a ghost story 2025-10-26
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
The Eyes Have It - KPOP DEMON HUNTERS how animation manipulates eyeballs - both characters and ours! 2025-10-23
Week 25.42 - Socials Roundup 13 Oct - 19 Oct 2025: (Spike Lee) He Got Game, Jungle Fever, Mo’ Better Blues, Bamboozled, 25th Hour 2025-10-22
Frames Within Frames: DAWN OF THE DEAD how Romero creates mini-tableaus within scenes, divides characters, and more 2025-10-19
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Visual Alienation: CROOKLYN 2025-10-16
Week 25.41 - Socials Roundup 06 Oct - 12 Oct 2025: Evil, Cat People, Lisa Frankenstein, Rosemary’s Baby 2025-10-15
Passing Time: JUNGLE FEVER Spike Lee's mastery of visual language 2025-10-12
Stairs as Leading Lines a short love letter to a very particular shot 2025-10-10
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Week 25.40 - Socials Roundup 29 Sep - 05 Oct 2025: Betty Blue, Saving Face, Evil, The Babadook, Fish Tank, Agatha All Along 2025-10-08
The Babadook (2014)
How To Transition #002 - Motion is Lotion Irma Vep and Different Motions Through the Frame 2025-10-05
Week 25.39 - Socials Roundup 22 Sept - 29 Sept 2025: 12 Angry Men, Malcolm X, Raw, Taskmaster, Dickinson 2025-10-01
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY: Roundup five reasons Abbott is one of the best shows of the 2020s 2025-09-28
Abbott Elementary (2022)
Colour Theory: TOKYO POP 2025-09-25
Week 25.38 - Socials Roundup 15 Sept - 21 Sept 2025: Blindspotting, Giri / Haji, Saving Face, Ponyboi, Crooklyn 2025-09-24
Colour Theory: MALCOLM X delineating a life in colours 2025-09-21
Five [more] Shots: WHEN NIGHT IS FALLING just what it says on the marquee: five [more] of our faves 2025-09-18
Week 25.37 - Socials Roundup 08 Sept - 14 Sept 2025: (Frames Within Frames) Dollhouse, Andor, Tea and Sympathy, Time Without Pity, Nothing Sacred 2025-09-17
Andor (2022)
Frames Within Frames: WHEN NIGHT IS FALLING just what it says on the marquee 2025-09-14
Frames Within Frames: TEA AND SYMPATHY creating isolation within the larger picture 2025-09-11
Week 25.36 - Socials Roundup 01 Sept - 07 Sept 2025: Bob’s Burgers, Tokyo Pop, Succession, Do the Right Thing 2025-09-10
Succession (2018) Do the Right Thing (1989)
Five Shots: TEA AND SYMPATHY just what it says on the tin 2025-09-07
What's In A Line Cross? a shot by any other angle may smell as sweet 2025-09-04
Week 25.35 - Socials Roundup 25 Aug - 31 Aug 2025: Dead Presidents, None Shall Escape, Thief, Mo’ Better Blues, Romeo Must Die 2025-09-03
It Was All A Dream - TEN POUND POMS 2025-08-31
THE BEAR and Time: Season 4 pt2 how every episode marks the passing of time 2025-08-28
The Bear (2022)
Week 25.34 - Socials Roundup 18 Aug - 24 Aug 2025: Out of the Fog, The Bear, P-Valley, Taskmaster 2025-08-28
Paying Homage: LEGENDS and I LOVE LUCY 2025-08-24
Anatomy of a Scene: They Shoot GILMORE GIRLS, Don't They? 2025-08-21
Week 25.33 - Socials Roundup Posts from 11 August - 17 August 2025 2025-08-20
The Bear (2022)
From Closeup to Wide in Moving Shots: SOY CUBA 2025-08-17
Five Shots: DO THE RIGHT THING just what the boombox says 2025-08-14
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Week 25.32 - Socials Roundup Posts from 04 August - 10 August 2025 2025-08-13
Abbott Elementary (2022) The Bear (2022)
THE BEAR and Time: Season 4 pt1 how every episode marks the passing of time 2025-08-10
The Bear (2022)
Blocking and Framing an Eavesdrop: FRESH MEAT 2025-08-07
Week 25.31 - Socials Roundup Posts from 28 July - 03 August 2025 2025-08-06
The Bear (2022)
It Was All A Dream - WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? 2025-08-03
Echoes and Homage: M and IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE 2025-07-31
Week 25.30 - Socials Roundup Posts from 21 July - 27 July 2025 2025-07-30
The Bear (2022)
Frames within Frames: ALL OF US STRANGERS 2025-07-27
Five Shots: THE PLAYER just what it says on the VHS sleeve 2025-07-24
Week 25.29 - Socials Roundup Posts from 14 July - 20 July 2025 2025-07-23
Blocking and Framing a Two Person Confrontation: THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL 2025-07-20
Tricks of the Light: ALIAS NICK BEAL 2025-07-17
Week 25.28 - Socials Roundup Posts from 07 July - 13 July 2025 2025-07-16
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
The Eyes Have It: STRANGE DAYS 2025-07-13
Shifting Aspect Ratio in Real Time: ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING 2025-07-10
Week 25.27 - Socials Roundup Posts from 30 June - 06 July 2025 2025-07-09
Andor (2022)
Wiiiiide Aspect Ratio Blocking: RIDE WITH THE DEVIL Or, Ang Lee likes a blocky bit! 2025-07-06
Two Uses for Rack Focus: NOW, VOYAGER 2025-07-03
Week 25.26 - Socials Roundup Posts from 23 June - 29 June 2025 2025-07-02
Circular Origin Story: I'M A VIRGO 2025-06-29
How To Transition #001 - MATCH CROSSFADES The Fall (2006); Watchmen (2019); A Haunting in Venice (2023) 2025-06-27
Watchmen (2009) Watchmen (2019)
Week 25.25 - Socials Roundup Posts from 16 June - 22 June 2025 2025-06-25
The Farewell (2019)
Practically Going in Circles: INSOMNIA 2025-06-22
THE BEAR and Time: Absence Makes The Heart Take Notice 2025-06-20
The Bear (2022)
Week 25.24 - Socials Roundup Posts from 09 June - 15 June 2025 2025-06-18
Goodfellas (1990)
Five Shots: DEAD PRESIDENTS just what it says on the paper 2025-06-15
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Two Techniques, One Effect: INSOMNIA 2025-06-12
Week 25.23 - Socials Roundup Posts from 02 June - 08 June 2025 2025-06-11
Stunt Breakdown: LIFE ON MARS 2025-06-08
The Eyes Have It: WATCHMEN 2025-06-05
Watchmen (2009)
Week 25.22 - Socials Roundup Posts from 26 May - 01 June 2025 2025-06-04
Putting Us In Their Shoes: MOONTIDE 2025-06-01
Five Shots: ROAD HOUSE just what it says on the neon sign 2025-05-29
Week 25.21 - Socials Roundup Posts from 19 May - 25 May 2025 2025-05-28
Five Shots: BUCK AND THE PREACHER just what it says on the tin badge 2025-05-25
Using Sound to Link Scenes: ANDOR 2025-05-22
Andor (2022)
Week 25.20 - Socials Roundup Posts from 12 May - 18 May 2025 2025-05-21
Double Indemnity (1944)
Contrasting Within One Sequence: IRMA VEP clothes make the woman 2025-05-18
Five Shots: SHERLOCK HOUND just what it says on the case files 2025-05-15
Week 25.19 - Socials Roundup Posts from 05 May - 11 May 2025 2025-05-14
Editing Misdirection: THE PENGUIN 2025-05-11
Transitions with Massive Size Discrepancies: LEGENDS OF TOMORROW "The Final Frame" takes us from ultra-wide to super-close 2025-05-08
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Week 25.18 - Socials Roundup Posts from 28 April - 04 May 2025 2025-05-07
Person of Interest (2011) DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Five Shots: THE QUICK AND THE DEAD just what it says on the badge 2025-05-05
Blocking a Oner: THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL 2025-05-01
Week 25.17 - Socials Roundup Posts from 21 April - 27 April 2025 2025-04-29
POKER FACE: Season 1 Roundup 2025-04-27
Time Period, Genre, and Tone all at once: DOCTOR WHO 2025-04-24
Week 25.16 - Socials Roundup Posts from 14 April - 20 April 2025 2025-04-23
Abbott Elementary (2022)
The Eyes Have It: WESTWORLD 2025-04-20
What You Don't See: WIDOWS examining a shot which doesn't show much 2025-04-17
Week 25.15 - HACKS Special Edition Posts from 07 April - 13 April 2025 2025-04-16
Setting the Tone: TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. starting a film with a bang, and as you mean to go on 2025-04-13
Anatomy of a (oner) Scene: THE STUDIO 2025-04-10
Week 25.14 - Socials Roundup Posts from 31 March - 06 April 2025 2025-04-09
Sorry To Bother You (2018)
Every Angle In A Bottle: BOJACK HORSEMAN 2025-04-06
BoJack Horseman (2014)
Framing [between] Them: SHAUN OF THE DEAD 2025-04-03
Shaun Of The Dead (2004)
Week 25.13 - Socials Roundup Posts from 24 Mar - 30 Mar 2025 2025-04-02
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Crossing The Line: SIX FEET UNDER 2025-03-30
Six Feet Under (2001)
Character Introductions 010 - The Villain (John Herod) The Quick and the Dead and the Villain Makes Four 2025-03-27
Week 25.12 - Socials Roundup Posts from 17 Mar - 23 Mar 2025 2025-03-26
Character Introductions 009 - The Lady (Ellen McKenzie) The Quick and the Dead and the Lady Makes Three 2025-03-23
SEVERANCE: Season 2 Roundup a look at some of our favourite shots [and meanings, and feelings] across the season 2025-03-20
Week 25.11 - Socials Roundup Posts from 10 Mar - 16 Mar 2025 2025-03-19
Happy Endings (2011) BoJack Horseman (2014)
Five Shots: THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY just what it says on sign nailed to the clapboard wall of the diner parking lot 2025-03-16
Small and Large Physical Comedy: BRINGING UP BABY 2025-03-13
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Week 25.10 - Socials Roundup Posts from 03 Mar - 09 Mar 2025 2025-03-12
Angles to Distinguish Point of View: THE PENGUIN 2025-03-09
Montage and Style: BOJACK HORSEMAN 2025-03-06
BoJack Horseman (2014)
Week 25.09 - Socials Roundup Posts from 24 Feb - 02 Mar 2025 2025-03-05
Delivering Jokes Through Editing: BOJACK HORSEMAN 2025-03-02
BoJack Horseman (2014)
Telling Stories Across Montage: TWO FOR THE ROAD 2025-02-27
Week 25.08 - Socials Roundup Posts from 17 Feb - 23 Feb 2025 2025-02-26
Alien (1979)
Five Shots: THE BRUTALIST just what it details on the blueprint 2025-02-23
Wordless Cold Opens: SEVERANCE 2025-02-20
Week 25.07 - Socials Roundup Posts from 10 Feb - 16 Feb 2025 2025-02-19
Nope (2022)
Editing an Emotional Jolt: WITNESS 2025-02-16
Witness (1985)
Five Shots: BETTY BLUE and Dramatic Blocking 2025-02-14
Week 25.06 - Socials Roundup Posts from 03 Feb - 09 Feb 2025 2025-02-11
Witness (1985)
Five Shots: BETTY BLUE and Frames Within Frames 2025-02-09
Five Shots: BETTY BLUE and Colour just what it says on the paint can 2025-02-06
Week 25.05 - Socials Roundup Posts from 27 Jan - 02 Feb 2025 2025-02-05
Mars Express (2023) Silo (2023)
Anatomy of an Ambush: ARCANE 2025-02-02
Going in Circles: SOLARIS 2025-01-30
Week 25.04 - Socials Roundup Posts from 20 Jan - 26 Jan 2025 2025-01-29
Abbott Elementary (2022)
Five Shots: REALITY BITES just what it says on the VHS cover 2025-01-26
Reblocking without Crossing the Line: MARS EXPRESS 2025-01-24
Mars Express (2023)
Week 25.03 - Socials Roundup Posts from 13 Jan - 19 Jan 2025 2025-01-22
Heightened Flashbacks: CAN'T HARDLY WAIT how transitions and melodrama show us a narrator's reliability 2025-01-19
Shooting Objects to Distinguish Timelines: MULHOLLAND DRIVE 2025-01-16
Week 25.02 - Socials Roundup Posts from 06 Jan - 12 Jan 2025 2025-01-14
Five Shots: WOMAN ON THE RUN 2025-01-12
Go Big or Go Home: NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE 2025-01-09
Week 25.01 - Socials Roundup Posts from 30 Dec 2024 - 05 Jan 2025 2025-01-07
BoJack Horseman (2014)
Five Shots: THE STICKY just what it says on the bottle 2025-01-05
Compare the Pairs: How ONE DAY Uses Shots to Contrast Relationships 2025-01-02
Week 24.52 - Socials Roundup Posts from 23 Dec - 29 Dec 2024 2024-12-31
Carol (2015) Home Alone (1990)
Five Shots: MARS EXPRESS just what it says on the label 2024-12-30
Mars Express (2023)
Week 102: Socials Roundup Posts from 16 Dec - 22 Dec 2024 2024-12-23
Die Hard (1988) BoJack Horseman (2014)
Passing Years in One Shot: DOCTOR WHO "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" 2024-12-19
Week 101: Socials Roundup Posts from 09 Dec - 15 Dec 2024 2024-12-17
Shrinking (2023) Blockers (2018)
Leading Up to a Stunt: LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 2024-12-15
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Five Shots: YOU AND ME Five of our favourites from 1938 comedy-melodrama-noir YOU AND ME 2024-12-12
Week 100: Socials Roundup Posts from 02 Dec - 08 Dec 2024 2024-12-11
Telling Without Showing: LURED 2024-12-08
Match Cutting: AUDITION how to use clever cuts to link concepts as well as scenes 2024-12-05
Week 99: Socials Roundup Posts from 25 November - 01 December 2024 2024-12-03
Woman of the Hour (2024)
Five Shots: MARMALADE just what it says on the jar 2024-12-01
Frames Within Frames: TIME WITHOUT PITY using architecture and props to divide your frame, and your characters 2024-11-28
Week 98: Socials Roundup Posts from 18 Nov - 24 Nov 2024 2024-11-27
Art of the Chase: THE CHASE 2024-11-24
Creating Homage: PERSON OF INTEREST 2024-11-21
Person of Interest (2011)
Week 97: Socials Roundup Posts from 11 Nov - 17 Nov 2024 2024-11-20
Person of Interest (2011)
Using the Frame: PICKUP ALLEY / INTERPOL 2024-11-17
Switching Scenes Mid-Conversation: INHERENT VICE 2024-11-14
Week 96: Socials Roundup Posts from 04 Nov - 10 Nov 2024 2024-11-13
Fun with Angles: BARB WIRE 2024-11-10
Simple & Complex: SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT how blocking and framing can give big surprises and small emotional cues 2024-11-07
Week 95: Socials Roundup Posts from 28 Oct - 03 Nov 2024 2024-11-06
Colour Theory of Life and Death: AGATHA ALL ALONG how colours show Alice's gradual acceptance of Death 2024-11-03
Distorting for Terror: THE CRUCIBLE 2024-10-31
Week 94: Socials Roundup Posts from 21 Oct - 27 Oct 2024 2024-10-30
Combining Stages: THE WOMEN Filming a Break onto Stage and into Fantasy 2024-10-27
Revealing It's a Dream: MATLOCK 2024-10-24
Week 93: Socials Roundup Posts from 14 Oct - 20 Oct 2024 2024-10-22
Effects of Unusual Framing: LEOPARD SKIN 2024-10-20
Shooting Transformations: THE WITCHES 2024-10-17
The Witcher (2019)
Week 92: Socials Roundup Posts from 07 Oct - 13 Oct 2024 2024-10-15
Veronica Mars (2004) Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Art of the Title - NO TIME TO DIE 2024-10-13
Insinuating with Match Cuts: SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN 2024-10-10
Week 91: Socials Roundup Posts from 30 Sept - 06 Oct 2024 2024-10-09
Chaotic Edit, Clear Outcome: DOCTOR WHO "Smith and Jones" 2024-10-06
Setting Up a Jump Scare: THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR 2024-10-03
Week 90: Socials Roundup Posts from 23 Sept - 29 Sept 2024 2024-10-03
Filming a Global Phenomenon: DICKINSON 2024-10-02
What a Tease: DOCTOR WHO editing promos which convey a show's themes, genre, and content 2024-09-29
Five Shots: BRIGHTON ROCK Five of our favourite scenes and shots from 1948 noir Brighton Rock. 2024-09-26
Week 89: Socials Roundup Posts from 16 Sept - 22 Sept 2024 2024-09-25
Colour Theory: DESERT HEARTS 2024-09-22
A Sex Scene of Suggestion: SHAFT 2024-09-19
Week 88: Socials Roundup Posts from 9 Sept - 15 Sept 2024 2024-09-18
Colour Theory: LOVE LIES BLEEDING 2024-09-15
Framing a Threesome: DESERT FURY 2024-09-12
Week 87: Socials Roundup Posts from 2 Sept - 8 Sept 2024 2024-09-11
Character Introductions 008: Pinkie Brown Few Words, Big Impact 2024-09-08
Making Narrative Exposition Painless: DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY Piling On Jokes Through Cuts 2024-09-05
Week 86: Socials Roundup Posts from 26 Aug - 1 Sept 2024 2024-09-04
Using J-Cuts: BLUE JEAN and DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY What's a J-Cut, and how is it used for Drama, Comedy, and Exposition 2024-09-01
Colour Theory: BLUE JEAN 2024-08-29
Week 85: Socials Roundup Posts from 19 Aug - 25 Aug 2024 2024-08-28
Person of Interest (2011)
Don't Make It Obvious (til hindsight): MISFITS and Visual Foreshadowing How To Make a Death Feel Surprising, Yet Inevitable 2024-08-25
Series Roundup: PACHINKO 2024-08-22
Week 84: Socials Roundup Posts from 12 Aug - 18 Aug 2024 2024-08-21
Fleabag (2016)
Chaotic Edit, Clear Outcome: DEATH RACE 2000 2024-08-18
Art of the Shot: WYNONNA EARP Demons and Delights: Compiled! 2024-08-15
Week 83: Socials Roundup Posts from 05 Aug - 11 Aug 2024 2024-08-14
Art of the Title Sequence: PACHINKO Using Theme in Your Intro 2024-08-11
Ratcheting Tension in a Scene: SILO 2024-08-08
Silo (2023)
Week 82: Socials Roundup Posts from 29 July - 04 Aug 2024 2024-08-07
Art of the Title Sequence: ELEMENTARY from crafting an inventor's dream to to tipping the deerstalker to other Holmes detectives 2024-08-04
Setting Up and Paying Off Audience Expectation: ABBOTT ELEMENTARY directing to keep theme in frame 2024-08-01
Abbott Elementary (2022)
Week 81: Socials Roundup Posts from 22 July - 28 July 2024 2024-07-31
Ominous Objects: SUSPICION and the Glowing Glass 2024-07-28
Character Introductions 007: Dr. Leland Townsend Introducing Evil's Antagonist 2024-07-25
Week 80: Socials Roundup Posts from 15 July - 21 July 2024 2024-07-24
Fight Club (1999)
Destabilisation and Point of View: EVIL *this post about a sequence from the pilot contains no spoilers 2024-07-21
Terror within Point of View: INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE 2024-07-18
Week 79: Socials Roundup Posts from 8 July - 14 July 2024 2024-07-17
The Bear (2022) Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Why to Oner - PERSON OF INTEREST Directing Episodic Television with Choreographed Moves 2024-07-14
Person of Interest (2011)
Anatomy of a Scene: THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (2004) showing us who Marco is by how he lives 2024-07-11
Week 78: LEGENDS Bonus Episode! Homage Away! 2024-07-11
The Matrix (1999) Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Week 78: DC's Socials Roundup LEGENDS Edition Posts from 1 July - 7 July 2024 2024-07-10
Mirroring and Shattering in THE BOYS "Herogasm" Shows Us Who Homelander [Thinks He] Is 2024-07-07
Shooting Magical Sequences: DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 2024-07-04
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Week 77: Socials Roundup Posts from 23 June - 30 June 2024 2024-07-03
Veronica Mars (2004) The Bear (2022)
Meta Filmmaking: TAGUMO ATTACKS!!! or, the one where DC's LEGENDS OF TOMORROW makes TV about making a monster movie where monsters are shown within fake camera footage then humans fight like monsters on a miniature movie set 2024-07-01
The Eyes of WATCHMEN 2024-06-27
Watchmen (2009)
Week 76: Socials Roundup Posts from 17 June - 23 June 2024 2024-06-26
Watchmen (2009) Watchmen (2019)
Character Introductions 006: Dusty Chandler A Formula and Cigarettes 2024-06-23
Lighting and Shadows and Monsters Oh My in CAGED 2024-06-20
Week 75: Socials Roundup Posts from 10 June - 16 June 2024 2024-06-19
Silo (2023)
Five Shots: CLOCKERS just what it says on the label 2024-06-16
Blockers (2018)
Ominous Objects: NOTORIOUS and the Poisoned Cup 2024-06-13
Week 74: Socials Roundup Posts from 03 June - 09 June 2024 2024-06-12
Practical Lighting and Effects in DETOUR making the most of scene transitions, with zero dollars 2024-06-09
Framing to Signify Character Relationships: HALT AND CATCH FIRE how framing and blocking can show characters' feelings about each other 2024-06-06
Week 73: Socials Roundup Posts from 27 May - 02 June 2024 2024-06-05
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Business with Intent: SHADOW OF A DOUBT from fixing coffee to unpacking suitcases - using props to specific ends 2024-06-02
Anatomy of a Scene: PERSON OF INTEREST "Sotto Voce" how a silent scene speaks crystal clear 2024-05-30
Person of Interest (2011)
Week 72: Socials Roundup Posts from 20 May - 26 May 2024 2024-05-29
Long Shot (2019) Forrest Gump (1994)
Comparing and Contrasting Transitions: LEOPARD SKIN 2024-05-26
Switching Point of View: LEOPARD SKIN how to switch from 'Omniscient Third Person' to 'Subjective First Person' POV 2024-05-23
Week 71: Socials Roundup Posts from 13 May - 19 May 2024 2024-05-22
ALIEN Aesthetic (Pt 3) - Framing Ripley 2024-05-19
Alien (1979)
Art of the Chase: BARRY versus motorbikes shooting with clarity even amidst chaotic action and changing POVs 2024-05-16
Week 70: Socials Roundup Posts from 6 May - 12 May 2024-05-15
Blocking for Shifting Sympathies in THE REVOLT OF MAMIE STOVER 2024-05-12
Visual Ellipses in ONE DAY and BEGIN AGAIN editing which jumps through time (and the boring parts of arguments) 2024-05-09
Week 69: Socials Roundup Posts from 22 April - 6 May 2024 2024-05-08
Veronica Mars (2004)
Art of the Title Sequence: LITTLE WOMEN an animated sequence with symbolism and flair 2024-05-05
Little Women (1994)
ALIEN Aesthetic (Pt 2) - The Ensemble 2024-05-03
Alien (1979)
ALIEN Aesthetic (Pt 1) - The Visual Strategies 2024-04-29
Alien (1979)
Week 68: Socials Roundup Posts from 15 April to 21 April, 2024 2024-04-24
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
Jail Bars and Exposure in ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW a beautiful bit of lighting and camera choreography for fun and foreshadowing 2024-04-21
Strong Openings: IL CONFORMISTA 2024-04-18
Week 67: Socials Roundup Social Media posts from 8 April to 14 April, 2024 2024-04-16
Six Feet Under (2001)
It's the Small Things: REMEMBER THE NIGHT 2024-04-14
Stunt Breakdown: PAIN & GAIN's car v human 2024-04-11
Week 66: Socials Roundup Social Media posts from 1 April to 7 April 2024-04-10
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Strong Openings: PAIN & GAIN 2024-04-07
Suggestive Blocking in GASLIGHT (1944) 2024-04-04
Week 65: Socials Roundup Posts from 25 March to 31 March 2024-04-02
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011) Pain & Gain (2013)
How OCEAN'S 12 Uses a Match Cut to Stitch Two Very Different Scenes 2024-03-31
Shot-Reverse-Shot with Split Diopters in GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE 2024-03-28
Week 64: Socials Roundup Posts from 18 March to 24 March 2024 2024-03-26
Side Effects (2013)
Editing as Imperfect Memory in THE FAREWELL how Lulu Wang uses an unusual technique to great effect 2024-03-24
The Farewell (2019)
Edit Flashes: How SUNSHINE Uses Split Second Insert Shots to Great Effect 2024-03-21
Week 63: Socials (and logos) Roundup Posts from 11 March to 17 March 2024 2024-03-19
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Split Diopters in CARRIE 2024-03-17
Title Sequence Breakdown: TRUE BLOOD what "Bad Things" images and editing say about True Blood's themes 2024-03-14
Week 62: Socials Roundup Posts from 4th March through 10th March 2024 2024-03-12
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Basic Establishing and Transitioning in WYNONNA EARP "Constant Cravings" Having Fun, Creating Movement, and Hiding Demons, all in one! 2024-03-10
Strong Openings: PAN'S LABYRINTH 2024-03-07
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Week 61: Elevator Roundup Posts from 27 February to 04 March 2024 2024-03-06
Star Trek (2009)
Geometric Framing in SAINT OMER Using Image to Compare Characters and Demonstrate Their Interiority 2024-03-03
Character Introductions 005: Barry Egan Or, When Lack of Big Introduction Speaks for Itself 2024-02-29
Week 60: Socials Roundup Posts from 20 February to 26 February 2024 2024-02-27
Past Lives (2023) The Lego Movie (2014)
Visual Themes in PERSON OF INTEREST “IF-THEN-ELSE” Using set design, blocking, cinematography, repetition and deviation - basically everything - to visually illustrate key themes and motifs 2024-02-25
Person of Interest (2011)
Character Introductions 004: Phyllis Dietrichson 2024-02-22
Week 59: Socials Roundup Posts from 13 February to 19 February 2024 2024-02-20
The Princess Bride (1987) Double Indemnity (1944)
How THE MARVELOUS MRS MAISEL Creates A Compelling Opening Oner 2024-02-18
Matt Zoller Seitz on Repetition, Framing, and Montage in CAMP X-RAY 2024-02-16
Week 58: Socials Roundup Posts from 6th February to 12 February 2024 2024-02-14
DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016) Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Transitions as Exposition in LEGION Using crossfades to give clever visuals and tell character's history 2024-02-11
Practical Perspective in I'M A VIRGO 2024-02-08
Week 57: Socials Roundup Posts from 30th January to 5th February 2024 2024-02-06
Pulp Fiction (1994) Annihilation (2018)
Editing a Descent into Madness: THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER Or: How To Smoothly, Calmly Depict A Mental Break 2024-02-04
POV in BOB'S BURGERS 2024-02-01
Week 56: Socials Roundup Posts from 23th January to 29th January 2024 2024-01-30
The Big Short (2015) Annihilation (2018)
How To Dispatch A Villain in Six Easy Shots 2024-01-28
Practical Perspective Tricks in WILLOW Or, Having Fun With Size! 2024-01-25
Week 55: Socials Roundup Posts from 16th January to 22nd January 2024 2024-01-23
The Remains of the Day (1993) DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016)
The Importance of Oners in LEGION How Legion uses specific shots to seperate objective and subjective POV 2024-01-21
How LOST GIRL Grabs Attention With A Hot Cold Open 2024-01-18
Week 54: Socials Roundup Posts from 9th January to 15th January 2024 2024-01-16
Using Extreme Angles: Study of a FORTY GUNS Showdown 2024-01-14
Subtly Separating Character Emotions in REACHER 2024-01-11
Week 53: Socials Roundup Posts from 2nd January to 8th January 2024 2024-01-09
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Split Diopters in THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE How Should We Use A Split Diopter? 2024-01-04
Week 52: Socials Roundup Posts from 26th December 2023 to 1 January 2024 2024-01-02
Fun With Sex in VIDA just because a scene is overtly hot and explicitly sexy doesn't mean you can't also be silly and suggestive 2023-12-29
Blocking and Cutting for Comedy in I AM NOT OKAY WITH THIS 2023-12-28
Week 51: Socials Roundup Posts from 19th December to 25 December 2023-12-26
Parasite (2019) Steven Universe (2013)
DIE HARD: integrating inserts in the action 2023-12-24
Die Hard (1988)
How WILLOW's Camera Angles Demonstrate Kit's Character Arc Willow's direction clearly considers character journeys, start to finish. 2023-12-21
Week 50: Socials Roundup Posts from 11th December to 18 December, 2023 2023-12-20
Colour as Character Emotion in ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS a brief look at what four colour changes tell us about characters' shifting emotions 2023-12-14
Week 49: Socials Roundup Posts from 4th December to 10th December, 2023 2023-12-13
Sound and Absence in ATLANTA 2023-12-10
Subjective Passage of Time in SEX EDUCATION or, how 'three dots during sexting' demonstrates time dilation 2023-12-07
Week 48: Socials Roundup Posts from 27th November to 3rd December, 2023 2023-12-06
Deep Impact (1998)
EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN high low wide close How Ang Lee uses simple angles to demonstrate dynamics in a scene 2023-11-30
Week 47: Socials Roundup Posts from 20th to 26th November, 2023 2023-11-29
Moonlight (2016)
Comedy and Drama with Whip-Pans and Doors in THE BIG STEAL 2023-11-26
Week 46: Socials Roundup Posts from 13th to 19th November, 2023 2023-11-21
Zodiac (2007)
Why a Split Diopter is the Best Choice for Certain MINX scenes 2023-11-19
Dark Like Our Souls: Drinking Coffee in Noir detective or fugitive, lover or killer, they can't live without it 2023-11-15
Aspect Ratio in LUST, CAUTION Ang Lee's preferred frame for literally and figuratively centering character expressions 2023-11-12
Visual Tension and Split Diopters in THE THING How can you use split diopters to create visual tension? 2023-11-10
The Thing (1982)
BLANCHE FURY's Shock Effect Through Editing 2023-11-07
Week in Review: Spooky Edition! Horrifying, Hilarious, Halloween Shots 2023-11-02
Abbott Elementary (2022) The Babadook (2014)
Perp & Victim 2: Opening Kills in Horror (2000s+) How do modern horror films use oners to create tone? 2023-10-30
It Follows (2015) Hereditary (2018) Get Out (2017) Talk to Me (2022) The Babadook (2014)
Perp & Victim 1: Opening Kills in Horror (<2000s) How are oners used to align the audience with the perpetrator or the victim? 2023-10-29
Art of the Chase: Editing for Feel Over Real in CAT PEOPLE (1942) 2023-10-27
Cut Points and How To Direct Them 2023-10-22
ROME, OPEN CITY - Finding Comedy Amongst Trauma Two scenes bring humour in different ways; one through editing, one through a single take, both with careful blocking and timing. 2023-10-18
Art of the Chase: BODY DOUBLE and Cutting Without Losing Anything 2023-10-15
THE GOOD FIGHT: Using Still Shots to Reveal (and eyelines to cut) or 'how to make the simple, sublime" 2023-10-11
Character Introductions 003: Cora Smith 2023-10-08
Anatomy of a Scene: JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL 2023-10-03
Character Introductions 002: Hans Gruber Why is Hans Gruber’s character introduction in DIE HARD so iconic? 2023-10-01
The Gags of the Scene - DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS (2003) 2023-09-27
How Different Camera Moves Hit Different Notes SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS demonstrates how constant camera moves versus sudden moves from stillness can draw our attention differently 2023-09-24
Art of the Chase: BARKING DOGS and Changing Directions what we can learn from a chase sequence in Bong Joon Ho's first feature 2023-09-18
Electric Dissolves in STEVEN UNIVERSE and CITIZEN KANE and MANK Electric Dissolve? Who made that up?! 2023-09-14
Citizen Kane (1941) Mank (2020) Steven Universe (2013)
Visual economy in STEVEN UNIVERSE 2023-09-12
Steven Universe (2013)
Character Introductions 001: Johnny Guitar 2023-09-11
Love/Hate in DO THE RIGHT THING 2023-09-06
Do the Right Thing (1989)
LOVE/HATE Knuckles and the Weight of Homage How Framing Lends Weight to Film and TV References 2023-09-04
The Game of the Scene - GAME NIGHT A sense of play! 2023-08-31
Game Night (2018)
THE BEAR and Time: Season 2 How every episode of THE BEAR S2 shows the passage of time 2023-08-28
The Bear (2022)
Exposition and Invisible Oners - THUNDERHEART How can an invisible oner make us feel a character's sense of revelation? 2023-08-24
Exposition and Invisible Oners - MAD MAX 2023-08-22
Mad Max (1979)
Selling Physical Comedy with Camera Cuts (or lack thereof) 2023-08-21
Exposition and Invisible Oners - JAWS 2023-08-16
Jaws (1975)
Shot Size and THE BEAR Making It Personal 2023-08-14
The Bear (2022)
Time and space in staging "Oners" via Goodfellas, Children of Men, and The Adventures of Tintin 2023-08-06
Goodfellas (1990) Children of Men (2006) The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
Angles and Point of View in LA STRADA 2023-07-31
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE is a ghost story 2023-07-26
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Time as Constant Runner in THE BEAR 2023-07-24
The Bear (2022)
Staging the violence in TOTAL RECALL 1990 vs 2012 How can staging a scene differently completely change how we feel about a character? 2023-07-19
Total Recall (1990) Total Recall (2012) The Bourne Identity (2002)
Opening Shot (Zero) 2023-07-19