Silent Movie Acting - Not Just Melodrama

If you have ever seen some of the old TV comedies there is a chance you may have seen an episode or two where they spoof silent movies. In general the parody consists of a lot of title cards and plenty of melodramatic acting.

In many instances they were not that far off the mark. Some silent films because of the story or a director that lacked imagination would use a ton of title cards to get the narrative across.
Sometimes it's a contest to find out what you will see more of the actor's on the screen or the dialogue cards. It's a given with the nature of silents that there must be a certain amount of explanation so audiences could understand what was going on.

However people like Charlie Chaplin showed what was possible. Chaplin was able to make feature length films let alone shorts with the minimum of title cards hereby demonstrating the power of pantomime to carry the narrative.

And his pantomime did not really consist of wild overblown gestures with bug-eyed facial expressions. Charlie Chaplin's acting could be as naturalistic as any actor that came after him. The same goes for America's Sweetheart Mary Pickford. She foregoes many of the melodramatic tendencies and hones in on more true to life style.

Pickford like Chaplin would from time to time exaggerate their countenance as well as body language but more often than not it was done to create a certain effect and then it was back to the natural.

Douglas Fairbanks goes back and forth between these two worlds in Mark Of Zorro. In one scene Fairbanks as the mild mannered Don Diego Vega meets up with some villainous soldiers who demonstrate to him what they are going to do if they ever catch up with Zorro.

Format for Writing a Screenplay - What You Need to Know

What format for writing a screenplay is one of the major stumbling blocks of the budding writer. But it doesn't have to be, as there are numerous scriptwriting aids, downloadable information and examples available, in all aspects of screenplay writing. Why then, you may ask, are questions still being asked on the web. For example I found this writer asking...

"Help! I've been told that one must use a 12pt New Courier font with page margins of 1.5" on left side (for binding) and 1" on the right side, top and bottom. I'm confused, because when I read sample scripts, they invariably seem to be able to cram more lines and character spaces on a page. How?

I agree that your script should be presented in the format the industry expects. It not only makes you look more professional, with the Final Draft being more pleasing to the eye, but more importantly YOUR HARD WORK will be less likely to be thrown out.

Your content and story maybe the next blockbuster, but without that presentation you will fall at the first hurdle.

Five Amazing Chick Flicks

Women love them, men fear them, and Hollywood keeps on making them better and better. Chick flicks are those sappy movies that are best watched with a glass of wine and a box of tissues. Most women have seen the classic chick flicks that include "Dirty Dancing," "Pretty Woman," and "Ghost," but many others are just as amazing although not as well known.

John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale star in "Serendipity," a story about destiny and true love. Jonathan Trager (Cusack) and Sara Thomas (Beckinsale) meet by chance while doing some shopping and feel an instant attraction to each other. Although both of them are engaged to other people, they grab a bite to eat at a small café called Serendipity 3. Deciding that fate is at work, Sara writes down her name and phone number on the inside of a book and then sells it to a used book vendor. She tells Jonathan that if being together is their destiny, he will eventually come across that book and will be able to contact her.

Because it is a true chick flick, the two do find each other again under the stars in a light snowfall at the skating rink in New York's Central Park. The bulk of the film details the twists, turns, and misunderstandings that lead to that point. At various times, the viewer will wonder whether the two will lose each other forever or simply find each other too late.

Viewers should have two boxes of tissues near them when watching "Message in a Bottle," as Robin Wright Penn, Kevin Costner, and Paul Newman will keep them teary-eyed throughout most of the movie. This is a story about true love and gut-wrenching loss. Wright plays the role of Theresa Osborne, a city-dwelling researcher for "The Chicago Tribune" who finds a love letter in a bottle that washed up onshore. She tracks down the letter's author, a seafaring North Carolina native, Garrett Blake (Costner), who hasn't yet come to grips with the death of his wife, Catherine. His father, Dodge (Newman), lives nearby.

Great Movies for Guys to Enjoy Over and Over

A number of movies are made specifically for girls' nights. They usually follow a basic formula, and they star a few famous women and a handful of handsome men. When they end, you can typically be assured that everything will work out well for the lead characters and everyone will live happily ever after.

While a large number of men have watched these movies, they can rest assured that Hollywood is still making movies specifically for men. From mobsters and contract killers to racecars and outer-space adventures, plenty of great guy flicks promise to take viewers away from the real world for a few hours on any given afternoon.

One of the best movies for men is 1994's "Pulp Fiction," which was written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Some fans of the movie who had seen his previous work, "Reservoir Dogs," were already familiar with his nonlinear storytelling style. Those who witnessed his wizardry for the first time felt themselves caught up in a film like never before. "Pulp Fiction" tells the story of two California hit men and the intertwining tales of other lives they touch over a few strange days. From a guy's point of view, this movie has an abundance of male camaraderie, prolific use of colorful language, and a ridiculous amount of gunplay and gore. While many women love the movie, this film is ideal for guys to enjoy time and time again.

In 1999, David Fincher introduced a testosterone-fueled film called "Fight Club." Starring Edward Norton and Brad Pitt as two men who start an underground fighting ring, this film is full of explosions, blood, and violence. At the start of the film, the protagonists are simply trying to find a way for men to get in touch with their baser instincts in order to truly appreciate their lives. Brutal fistfights are cleverly interspersed with humorous situations, a combination that male audiences can easily appreciate. "Fight Club" is another film that was viewed in theaters by men and women alike, but it is replayed on networks for men, such as FX and Spike.

Those looking for an enjoyable trip to the movies are likely to enjoy "Rush," which hit theaters on September 27, 2013. Every eighteen months or so, director Ron Howard treats audiences to a film that is big on energy and excitement, and this year's offering is no different. "Rush" tells the amazing story of Formula One racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda before and after the 1976 German Grand Prix. In a sport with virtually no room for mistakes, both drivers pushed their bodies and their machines to the limit in the quest for that year's championship. Lauda almost lost his life in a horrific crash that year, and he had to overcome third-degree burns on his face and head in an attempt to finish the season. Howard does an exceptional job showing the speed and danger the two drivers faced in one of the best racing movies-and best guy movies-of all time.

Empowering The Youth To Take Action Against Crime

In the last year, the various crimes against women have been brought under the spot light. Although these crimes may have been taking place before, they were not given due importance in the newspapers and the various other forms of media.

However, after the gruesome rape case that took place in Delhi, the nation was jolted into the reality of how serious the problem really is. The fact is that there are a number of crimes that are being committed every single day. Many of these cases include a violation of the rights of women and children.

In recent time, the media has played a major role in making sure that these crimes are highlighted. It is because of this effort that the public have become aware of the situation. They can now raise their voice and work to make sure that the safety of the common people remains a priority.

News channels play a major role in bringing crime under the spotlight. In order to further this effort, a number of entertainment channels have joint the team as well. There are shows that are dedicated to crime and helping the public understand the mind set of criminals.

A great example of this genre of television is Gumrah. The show recreates crimes that have taken place in India. A set of actors in act the entire crime from the planning stages to the implementation. It is explained to you in details so that you can understand the thoughts of the criminals.

Films That Race to the Finish

It used to be that films about car racing catered to a specific audience, mostly young and predominantly male. But recently, car racing films have tried to reach across the aisle and bring in more female fans. With more complex plots and terrific action sequences, car racing films have grown in popularity in recent years.

Much is expected of a new biopic film released in September 2013. "Rush" tells the story of the Formula One rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the mid-1970s. Directed by acclaimed American master Ron Howard, the film is a joint production effort between Universal Pictures (United States), StudioCanal (United Kingdom), and Pathé Productions (France). Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl take on the roles of Hunt and Lauda, respectively. The film was released to critical acclaim, with many calling "Rush" the best sports drama film in a long while. Apart from "Rush," there have been many other car racing films that have achieved success at the box office. Some of the most memorable are elaborated upon in greater detail below.

"Days of Thunder"

Directed by the late Tony Scott, "Days of Thunder" features Tom Cruise teaming up with "Top Gun" director Scott once again. The film, which also stars Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, and Cary Elwes, follows the fortunes of a young NASCAR racing driver, Cole, played by Cruise. The early part of the film sees Cole and his archrival Rowdy Burns battle it out on the racetrack. At the Firecracker 400 in Daytona, each of them suffers major injuries from crashes that bring them together in the process. Cole takes longer to recover than Rowdy, and as a result he is shut out from the racing team. After Rowdy suffers another accident, Cole is allowed to get back on the race track. The final race is the Daytona 500, in which Cole overcomes the new hotshot Russ Wheeler to become the new champion. Film critics were mostly positive about the film, but some called it "Top Gun" on wheels.

Great Riddlers: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective invented by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, conceptualized in 1887 and this series ended in 1927. During this time the character became very popular with the novels and short stories appearing in magazines. Since this time the character of Sherlock Holmes has been adapted into countless TV shows, plays and movies. Most famously and most recently Holmes was portrayed by Robert Downey Jr in the film Sherlock Holmes in 2009. He received a Golden Globe award for this portrayal and it did well enough to warrant a sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. In addition to this movie there are currently two popular TV shows based on Sir Conan Doyle's works entitled 'Sherlock' and 'Elementary'. Both of these shows were picked up for extra seasons.

On to the character himself, Holmes is an eccentric man who cares little for the plainness of society. He is somewhat inverted and he is always calm and collected. But his main character trait that we are concerned about is his ability to take the smallest and meaningless facts or traits of a person or situation to draw large assumptions. In this sense he is very good at solving riddles.