film school

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Starting with a stop: How theme is everything

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This is probably the most important topic in all of storytelling, and go figure, it’s one of the things that gets the least attention. When we talk about what makes a story work...

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Visiting crazy town: How to heighten your comedy

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You’re watching a TV show. A young woman, Sonia, somewhere in her 20s, sits her parents down. She’s holding a Tickle-Me Elmo doll...

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How to Use Improv in Your Film or Show

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Your editor is probably a nice person. So maybe he doesn’t call his mom enough. Or she switches lanes without using a signal. Or he farts on a crowded subway...

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Top Critics Share What Makes a Show Good vs. Great

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I talked to top TV critics, bloggers, and podcasters--including Sean T Collins and Alyssa Rosenberg--asking them the question "what is the difference between a good show and a great one?"

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How to Create Awesome Character Duos: Reinventing the Color Wheel

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Beavis and Butthead. Arya and the Hound. Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy. Lucy and Ethel. Walter White and Jesse. Bert and Ernie. Some of the greatest duos ever on TV...

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5 Great Things to Do Before You Write Your TV Pilot

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Motivation grabs you and whips you around like a professional tango dancer. Or at the very least, it grinds against you like a drunk guy in a nightclub...