You won’t want to miss our weekly 48-hour film challenge tips, leading up to the CHALLENGE WEEKEND.
Top Tip 3: Show, don’t tell
In any production from theatre to a feature-length film, there is the absolute necessity of making physical the ideas and emotions of the story. DVMISSION wants the ideas and emotions written in your script to be physically seen and felt on screen. The phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words” is completely true in cinematography, you can see how someone feels from their body language and expression before they physically tell you they’re sad, it’s part empathy in human nature and this should be echoed in your film in order to be convincing.
Having Roger Deakins-esque shots are welcomed, but if the message you’re trying to send contained in the script is lost through the blocking and body language of the actors, then the composition, camera movement, and lighting can become quite uncompelling. Having all of these creative aspects tie together perfectly can often be challenging, but ironically, where’s better to take that on than the upcoming CHALLENGE WEEKEND?
Try to practise the art of visual storytelling by finding shots from successful filmmakers you feel are creative yet still support the story. You need to see and feel the script content, rather than delving into technical aspects, this will help you to train your eye and heart to become a successful visual storyteller.
Below, we have linked a creative guidebook which includes case studies on visually cinematic shows and documentaries, tools, tables, and worksheets (great to use as practice before your real shoots on CHALLENGE WEEKEND!) on how to enhance students and experienced filmmakers with strong visual storytelling possibilities. It breaks down all you need to know (and more!) to be great this CHALLENGE WEEKEND.
You can read even more great film-making tips in Basic Cinematography, A Creative Guide to Visual Storytelling, 1st Edition By Kurt Lancaster
#DVMISSION20 is supported by Focal Press|Taylor & Francis, Portsmouth City Council, University of Portsmouth, Creative Network South and Portsmouth Film Society.
