All the stories

All stories

Essays and explainers on the choices behind screen stories. Browse by subject, then follow the questions that catch your eye.

The Information Gap: Why Some Stories Keep Us Guessing

The information gap in film storytelling helps writers choose between curiosity, suspense and dramatic irony by…

Nov 3, 20267 min read

Mystery or thriller: learn how investigation differs from pressure and pursuit, so you can identify the engine that…

Nov 1, 20266 min read

When a film changes the ending of its source, trace what the new choice does for character, tone and screen form—not…

Oct 30, 20268 min read

Serial film storytelling took shape in early cinema through cliffhangers, recurring heroes and linked adventures, each…

Oct 28, 20268 min read

A rewatch for character choices reveals what a film’s people value: track small decisions, the pressure behind them…

Oct 25, 20267 min read