20 Questions Film » CineFix

Visual Emotion Is In The Detail

Mads Black — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 21:36:57 +0000

Go ahead, cry your heart out. A blunt visual representation of a certain emotion (like the image of a crying baby) may have the desired effect of making your viewers recognize what it is you want them to feel, but it’s only when you let the emotion live in the details of your shot, that they will really feel all the feels.

CineFix dives into the holy grail of filmmaking in this video essay on emotion and try to pin-point three distinct ways of visually imbuing a scene with emotion.

The biggest take-away from this essay is detail. The old adage goes “show it, don’t tell it” and there is certainly truth to that. But it’s a simplification. Because the reason we want to show it – the emptiness, the loneliness, the juxtapositions, the flaws, the hope, the despair – is that we are telling a story. And stories, no matter how many times they are told, are much better if you let your listener (or in this case your viewer) fill in the blanks and allow their feelings to shape the narrative.

So let this be not just a lesson in cinematography and directing, but also in screenwriting. Write around the obvious and let the emotion live in the unwritten layers.

h/t CineFix

Inspiration: 10 Best Scenes of All Time

Mads Black — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 20:31:28 +0000

I don’t necessarily agree 100% with these choices, but a quick “best of” list from the knowledgable crew at CineFix is always an inspiration and will help me get going on even the most mundane of Mondays. So here you have it; the Top 10 Best Scenes of All Time – according to CineFix.

And let’s not forget about these gems, either… Now, be inspired and go create!

Friday Fluff: 5 Brilliant Moments of Action

Mads Black — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 22:17:04 +0000

Thanks, CineFix, for another thoughtful list of cinematic magic. Here are 5 brilliant moments of actions – and why they’re so damn awesome.

Watch and learn, friends. The take-away? Even in the fightiest of fight scenes, the importance should not be on bloodshed, but on story.

Inspiration: Brilliant Moments In Film

Mads Black — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 19:52:36 +0000

Thank you, CineFix, for compiling – and explaining – not just one but two lists of brilliant moments in film. Sit back, take note and enjoy a brief master class in directing.

The take-away from all this? “It’s not about what we’re being told. It’s about what’s being withheld.”

For more inspiration, check out our list of YouTube channels you need to subscribe to. And, of course, sign up for our newsletter!