You need a MacGuffin! You've probably heard that before, or at least the term. "MacGuffin." It's such a silly-sounding word. But what exactly IS a MacGuffin? And why do you need one on your story? Josh and Ira break it down for you.

Film School

MacGuffin: What It Is and How To Use It (Cutting Room Floor #127)

Big things have small beginnings. Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif suit up for the roles of a lifetime in, arguably, the most epic of the epic era. Lawrence of Arabia still might have the most impressive cinematography ever put to film, but how does the story hold up? The performances? We discuss it all this week!

Lawrence of Arabia (AFI Top 100 Films #7)

Hideaki Anno has been making Evangelion for 26 years. 2021 saw the release of the final (?) film in his theatrical film re-make of the 1995 TV series. Ira . . . has become a bit obsessed with the series and subsequent films, but IS it good? Or, is there somewhere between bad and good, or maybe even outside of those two things when it comes to ART? And OBSESSION? The recommendations took over this week, but the topic was too good to pass up diving into. Art is messy.

Art is Messy (The Evangelion Rant) (Cutting Room Floor #126)

The list is life. All around its margins lies the gulf. Unquestionably, it's Spielberg's most "grown-up" film. Even more than Saving Private Ryan--which is also very grown-up--this film is about something incredibly, deeply important: we can never forget the holocaust. It's the job of "witness" or films to be difficult to watch, and this one is no exception. But, so often in witness films, the message supersedes the narrative. Does Spielberg manage to avoid that? We discuss!

Schindler's List (AFI Top 100 Films #8)

How do you hook an audience, and KEEP them hooked?

Tips To Hook Your Audience (Cutting Room Floor #125)

Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere . . .

Vertigo (AFI Top 100 Films #9)

This week, we break down the Editor's Six Core Questions from Story Grid.

Story Grid's 6 Core Questions (Cutting Room Floor #124)

The Wizard of Oz (AFI Top 100 Films #10)

We do our best work when we're having a good time. But, how do you find the fun when the storytelling is hard?

How to Keep it Fun (Cutting Room Floor #123)

City Lights (AFI Top 100 Films #11)

How do you write/create to satisfy an audience?

Write to Market (Cutting Room Floor #122)

The Searchers (AFI Top 100 Films #12)

When resistance is CHOKING you . . . how do you deal with that? What worked?

How to Beat Resistance at its Worst (Cutting Room Floor #121)

You already have, Luke. You already have . . .

Return of the Jedi

You can't stop thinking about them. What scenes from movies will you never forget?

What Movie Scenes Live Rent-Free in Your Head? (Cutting Room Floor #120)

A filmmaker and a writer tackle the AFI's Top 100 Films and beyond to educate themselves about movies and storytelling. Welcome to Film School!

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Film School

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