The Scribblers Film School
Greetings my fellow scribblers, filmmakers, iPhone Vloggers, and procrastinating storytelling enthusiasts! Over the next few weeks, we’re doing ye olde refresher course re: visual storytelling. Whether you're crafting a heart-pounding teaser or an Emmy-worthy episode, mastering the art of showing (not telling) - along with some of the other fundamentals - we’ll level up your narrative game faster than you can say "Action!"
Cinematic storytelling isn't just about making things look pretty (though that never hurts). It's about grabbing your audience by the eyeballs and never letting go. It's taking complex ideas, character arcs, and world-building and delivering them straight to the lizard brain in a way that dialogue alone never could.
In this crash course, we'll be breaking down the key elements that'll turn your content from "Meh, swipe this channel" to "Holy smokes, clip and share that shizz!" We're talking:
Establishing shots that drop viewers into your world like they've always belonged there, like the breathtaking opening of “Alias” that pulled us into Sydney Bristow's high-stakes world of espionage or the iconic opening of “Apocalypse Now” that plunges us into the chaos of the Vietnam War. Or the opening shot of “Blade Runner: 2049,” which immerses us in a dystopian future with its sprawling cityscape. Consider the iconic opening of “Breaking Bad,” where the stark New Mexico desert set the tone for the entire series.
Character introductions that speak volumes without saying a word, like the way “Lost” intro’d the enigmatic John Locke, making us desperate to unravel his mysteries, or “The Godfather” introduces us to Don Corleone, conveying his power and influence without him uttering a single line. Or the introduction of the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” where his chaotic nature is evident from the very first scene? Think about the opening scene of “Mad Men” where we meet Don Draper, instantly getting the vibe of his charm and complexity.
Visual metaphors and symbolism that'll send YouTube down a rabbit hole of theory crafting, such as the recurring motif of “Lost” island, representing the characters' isolation and need for connection, or the green light in “The Great Gatsby,” symbolizing a poor little rich boy’s unattainable dream. In “The Matrix,” the constant imagery of mirrors and reflections symbolizes the duality of the real world and the simulated one. “Inception” uses the spinning top as a metaphor for the thin line between dreams and reality. The red balloon in “It” serves as a symbol of danger and the omnipresence of Pennywise.
Pacing and editing techniques to keep eyes glued to the screen, like the heart-pounding action sequences in “Heroes” that kept Millennials and Boomers on the edge of their seats or the masterful crosscutting in Inception that ratchets up the tension. The frantic cuts and overlapping timelines in “Pulp Fiction” keep the audience engaged and guessing. The quick cuts and relentless pacing of the “Bourne” series make every action scene feel urgent and intense. The seamless, single-take action sequences in “1917” keep the tension high and the audience fully immersed.
Color, lighting, and composition tricks that set the mood better than a cinematic score, such as the eerie greens and shadows that drenched the world of Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal, reflecting the twisted psychology of its characters, or the vivid reds in Amelie that express the titular character's passion and whimsy. A Fuller fave, as you can probably guess. Blue tones in “Blade Runner” create a sense of coldness and detachment. The warm, golden hues in “The Grand Budapest Hotel” evoke nostalgia and whimsy. The stark contrasts and shadows in “Sin City” create a gritty, noir atmosphere.
So grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, fire up that beginner’s brain, and let's get cinematic. By the time we're done, you'll be forging storytelling opportunities with every scribbled line and captured frame - - unleashing the power of cinema via the Scribblers Toolbox!
And for the TLDR set, I curated a playlist of YouTube content that covers some of these topics. Feel free to cut to the chase!
