What is an Arc Light in Film?

What is an Arc Light in Film? The arc light was once a key element in the filmmaking industry used on sets to illuminate the scene. However this Hollywood trend has long since seen its use dwindled down to a point in which it is not readily even known what an arc light is in […]

What’s the Difference Between a Film Treatment and a Synopsis?

So you’ve written an entire script? That’s an amazing accomplishment, and as a beginner, I bet you thought that was all you had to do in order to have your work considered for production on broadcast television, cable, or one of various streaming app like Hulu or Netflix. If that’s the case, you definitely thought wrong! […]

Understanding Computer Ethics and Film Piracy Laws

Understanding Computer Ethics and Film Piracy Laws Is film piracy ethical? The question arises frequently on college campuses, in film study programs, and at home. Another question that comes up frequently surrounds computer ethics and when it is acceptable to download films, software or other products and when it’s not. Information should be free, right? […]

What is Fabula and Syuzhet in Film and What Does it Mean?

When writing a film screenplay or script, there are various literary devices that apply and can be used throughout the storytelling process. According to early Russian Formalism studies, each story is represented by a fabula and syuzhet. In film, the storytelling process includes a fabula which represents the timeline of events and the syuzhet which represents […]

What is Phenomenology in Film?

What is Phenomenology in Film? Film theorists have a variety of different viewpoints on the study of and interpretation of film, media and the arts. One such theorist, Vivian Sobchack, would become to be known as one of the most influential American film theorists of her time when, during the 1990s, she would become the […]

Is Verisimilitude in Film the Same As Realism?

When an audience enjoys a film they typically make connections with the elements of the plot and individual actions taking place within the story. They will follow along with the facts that are delivered as the story progresses and they will find the story most meaningful if there is verisimilitude, or in other words, if […]

What are Ozploitation Films & Why Are They So Popular?

What are Ozploitation Films & Why Are They So Popular? The Australian New Wave was a period which began in the 1970s and would largely evolve into a hodge podge of various genre films featuring elements of horror, comedy, and action all packed in a single experience. The resulting ozploitation films that would become so […]

What is a Fabula in Film?

What is a Fabula in Film? In film there are often terms that have multiple meanings and varied means of how the terms can potentially be used. The context often gives way to one particular meaning or the other much like context can largely change how a term is perceived when it’s used in a […]

What is a Phenomenological Approach in Film?

According to definitions, phenomenology represents a qualitative research focus on answering specifically “What is it” rather than quantitative focus on answering questions of frequency such as “how much” or “how many.”  Thus, phenomenology in film focuses on how conditions and aspects of the film experience impact the relationship between the filmgoer and the film. But exactly what is […]

Is Vertical Integration in the Film Industry Legal Again?

Is Vertical Integration in the Film Industry Legal Again? About a year ago a federal judge granted a motion to terminate the movie industry’s previous licensing rules which had been in effect since the 1940s and largely prevented any vertical integration in the film industry from occurring. So does this mean that vertical integration in […]