Jonathan received his B.A in Cinema Arts from CSUN and his M.F.A. in Screenwriting from APU. He works as a writer in Southern California.
For anyone shooting a single-location movie with an extremely short schedule, The Guilty (2021) is an excellent film to study. Plus, a majority of the film focuses on a single character having “one-sided” phone conversations. On top of those constraints, the director was quarantined in a van and directing the film remotely. Here’s cinematographer Maz… Continue reading The Guilty — Cinematography Breakdown with DP Maz Makhani
What makes Jurassic Park a timeless story? While there are many reasons, one of the most important is the fantastic screenplay. Despite its age, the Jurassic Park script is a monument to classic story-telling. In this breakdown, we will provide a Jurassic Park summary, as well as why this script stands tall above all of… Continue reading Jurassic Park Script PDF Download: Characters, Quotes, and Plot
Why do we love superheroes? Is it because we fantasize about having powers that make us greater than what we are? Is it because we long for justice in an unjust world? Is it because we’re bored and there’s nothing better to watch? Yes, but there is more to our fondness of the superhero genre… Continue reading What is a Superhero? Definition, Types and Characteristics
In a cinematic universe inundated with super heroes, what makes Black Panther stand out? It has great action, a strong black lead with a strong supporting cast and its cultural impact has been significant. All this, however, would not have been possible if there had not been a great screenplay first. In this article, we will… Continue reading Black Panther Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
What makes The Departed so great? Is the gritty storytelling, character growth and fantastic dialogue? Yes, but it has something else going for it; a dual-protagonist plot. Based on a Chinese film called Internal Affairs and loosely based on the real-life gangster Whitey Bulger, The Departed script is a master class in storytelling. In this… Continue reading The Departed Script PDF Download: Quotes, Plot, and Ending
Every year, A Christmas Story plays on December 25th for 24 hours straight. Why? Tradition only goes so far. A timeless, high-quality story is what really makes a movie stand out. In this article we will analyze A Christmas Story script so we can better understand why this particular film has lasted for so many years.… Continue reading A Christmas Story Script PDF Download: Quotes & Characters
Have you ever watched a movie and wondered why you loved the main character so much? Or, perhaps you found the lead to be unlikeable and dozed off halfway through? Today, we will be going over several protagonist examples, what makes them great and why the strength of the protagonist will make or break a… Continue reading Protagonist Examples — Do’s and Don’ts for Screenwriters
Are practical effects still useful in modern cinema? In the battle of practical vs CGI (computer-generated images), who wins? Practical effects have a rich history in cinema, influencing generations of filmmakers and movie goers alike. Oftentimes, practical effects movies can produce a more realistic look and feel than CGI. In the article, we analyze practical… Continue reading Practical Effects in Film — How Filmmakers Do It For Real
In the plethora of slasher-horror films from the ’70s and ’80s, none stand out more than the Halloween (1978) script. Why does this older horror film stand the test time, both critically and with fans? Regardless of the genre, every great movie starts with a great screenplay. In this article we will break down the… Continue reading Halloween Script PDF Download: Plot, Quotes, and Analysis
So you’ve written a script; great! Now what? Well, if you’re like me, you’ll obsess over making every scene perfect (a screenplay is never “perfect,” but that’s a discussion for another time). You have a solid 3-act structure, good dialogue, and a few punch-lines to keep the reader hooked. But something is off. Do your… Continue reading How to Write a Scene in a Screenplay — 4 Keys to a Great Scene
Disney is well known for its charming, witty and emotional animated stories, and the Zootopia script is no different. Writers Jared Bush and Phil Johnston provide a thought-provoking screenplay that is, in fact, a thinly veiled commentary on prejudice and stereotypes. As we break down the script and provide a Zootopia summary, we will show… Continue reading Zootopia Script PDF Download: Characters, Quotes, and Plot
If you are looking for the definitive science-fiction/horror screenplay, then look no further than the Alien script (1979). Writers Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett seamlessly blend the two genres into a story that excels at building tension and inciting fear. As we break down the screenplay, we will provide an Alien summary, plot points and… Continue reading Alien Script PDF Download: Plot, Characters and Ending
Why are humans drawn to the horror genre? From books to film, we can’t seem to get enough of what scares us most. In this article, we will look at the definition of horror and why we enjoy the genre so much. We will also look at a brief history of American cinema and how… Continue reading What is Horror? Definition and Examples in Film
If you were to make a list from best-to-worst, what would be the greatest Star Wars movie ever made? While the rest of the list is hotly debated on internet forums, most agree that The Empire Strikes Back is the definitive Star Wars film. Of course, every great movie starts with a great screenplay. In this… Continue reading The Empire Strikes Back Script PDF Download and Analysis
