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- Twain's Secret Writing Trick, Why Good Filmmaking is Hard, & Mocap 101
Twain's Secret Writing Trick, Why Good Filmmaking is Hard, & Mocap 101

Twain's Secret Writing Trick, Why Good Filmmaking is Hard, & Mocap 101
Hey Filmmakers,
We’re back at it—just sharing some helpful tips on screenwriting, directing, and editing so you can keep leveling up your craft and doing your thing behind the camera.
First up—great stories don’t just burst out of a brilliant writer’s brain. They’re meticulously worked on over time, pruned and rewritten until the great story begins to emerge underneath. This was even true for legendary writer Mark Twain, who had a rewriting process that you should definitely take a look at.
Also, we go over why Ben Affleck thinks making a movie is so hard these days, as well as everything you need to know about mocap.
Let’s get to it!
🖌️ Screenwriting
If you think that the most talented screenwriters just have great stories flow out of them on the first draft, you’re wrong. It takes a ton of time, effort, and rewriting to get a story ready for market.
Just ask Mark Twain.
Twain is one of the most legendary writers in history, but even he had to work painstakingly on his first drafts…and second drafts…and third and fourth and…
Let’s go over the important process of rewriting, one that Twain wielded like a secret weapon in his own work.
Continue Reading - You've Got to Try Mark Twain's Secret Writing Trick
🗞️ Quick Reads for Screenwriting
• What Is The "Unity of Opposites" in Storytelling? - We go over this powerful concept and what it means for writers.
• Study The 7 Best Animation Scripts - Read and download some of the best stories in the medium.
• A Huge List of Sound Effect Words For Screenwriters - Ever search for the right term to describe a sound? We've got you covered.
🎥 Cinematography
Even if you’re not sure exactly what motion capture (mocap) is or how it’s done, you know what it produces. So many films, TV shows, and video games use it to create animations with realistic motion, including The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and Planet of the Apes.
In this deep dive, we go over exactly what mocap is, how it works, and how you can start using it in your own projects even if you’re on a budget.
Continue Reading - What Is Motion Capture? How Does Mocap Work?
🗞️ Quick Reads for Cinematography
• DP Alvin Sun on the Importance of Shadows in 'The Killgrin' - “We used Nosferatu (1922) as a compass for composing our shadow shots.”
🎬 Directing
Filmmaking can be such a difficult pursuit that just completing a film is a humongous accomplishment. Forget whether it’s good or not — it’s done! But seriously…if it’s that hard to make a movie, how much harder is it to make a good one?
Let’s let Ben Affleck answer that question.
While out promoting The Accountant 2, Affleck stopped by Theo Von's podcast to talk about Hollywood and the film industry at large. It’s a fascinating discussion, but there is this twelve-minute segment where Affleck breaks down just how hard it is to make a good movie.
Continue Reading - Ben Affleck Explains Why It's So Hard to Make a Good Movie
🗞️ Quick Reads for Directing
• Take a FREE Filmmaking Class From the First AD of 'Adolescence' - Get insight on how they performed all those long takes.
• In 1974, Francis Ford Coppola Directed The Two Most Important Movies of the Year - Has any director ever had a year like it?
• What is a Second Unit Director? What Do They Do? - Working as a second unit director is one of the best ways to level up to being a director.
📚 Recommended Reads:
Creative Screenwriting Exercises, Character, and Dialogue Prompts
Writing exercises for screenwriters can kickstart your creativity.The Platonic Definition and Plato's Allegory of the Cave
Plato's allegory of the cave and the "platonic" definition will help your writing and directing shine."Show, Don't Tell" in Film and Television
You've heard the adage, "Show, don't tell"—but do you know what it means?How to Make a Lookbook for Your Film or TV Project
Impress your audience before you've even set up your camera.The Paintings That Inspired David Lynch's Cinematic Style and Philosophy
David Lynch's great love of art shows in his very peculiar, mundane/macabre cinematic visual style.What Is a Bridging Shot?
We go over the definition and examples of the camera shot.Explore more articles → Visit No Film School
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