Within the first thirty seconds of the montage, the two families at the church display the contrasting sides of Carl and Ellie perfectly, with Ellie’s side shouting and cheering against the mundane, straight-faced relatives of Carl. This four-minute sequence is so complex that it could have been the whole movie’s plot, yet Pixar executes it in an incredibly effectively montage. Not only does the montage give an audience a clear sense of Carl and Ellie’s relationship, but it also shows their goals (saving for paradise falls). This scene is highly recognised as one that engages audiences with very minimal dialogue and creates the perfect opportunity for an audience to invest within the characters’ journey. WARNING: This one certainly is a tear-jerker! One of the most famous and loved examples of this can be seen in the opening to Pixar’s UP… Visual storytelling can also be used to show a lot in a short space of time. After all, actions speak far louder than words. While the action of throwing a loaf of bread in the bin may be a simple one, it displays Benny’s anger in a matter of seconds. In relation to Benny again, a writer can’t write a paragraph on the heartache Benny feels at the sight of Claire’s ring, instead, they must show how he feels. While novels and plays allow a writer to demonstrate what a character is thinking, either through lengthy descriptions or monologues, screenplays rely solely on what a character does.Ī screenwriter can’t write what a character is thinking. For example, something as simple as Benny staring at Claire’s engagement ring in the above scene example. In relation to how visual storytelling works in screenplays specifically, it is best to consider what visual storytelling includes.Ĭonsider all of the visual descriptions within a script:Īnything within your script that aims to create a visual picture can be considered visual storytelling. How Does Visual Storytelling Work In Screenplays? It is fair to say this isn’t necessarily an acquired taste either- as seen with the box office success of A Quiet Place. For years, this was all filmmakers were limited to but still to this day, people watch and enjoy silent films. Still not convinced? Consider the very concept of a silent film. For decades, filmmakers have made some of the greatest films in the world without a single word of dialogue. To apply this concept, writers must consider the vital lesson of ‘ show don’t tell‘. Dialogue can say a lot about a character, but so can what an audience sees. But the key point here is that while dialogue can create engaging moments onscreen, what many screenwriters tend to forget is that film is a visual medium. This may not be the most exciting of scenes either way. Why would Benny throw the bread away? Did he know Claire worked there all along? Had he gone in to speak to her? Not only is it more interesting to visually see that Claire has moved on, but Benny’s reaction when he leaves the store creates a more engaging hook for an audience. While this may be a completely realistic scenario, consider how the version below compares… Now Consider, Which Scene Would Be More Engaging For An Audience to Watch? In this example, Claire announces she is seeing someone else. Within both of these scenes, Benny walks into a bakery and sees his ex-girlfriend working behind the counter. To get a better sense of this idea, let’s take a look at the following two examples… Many filmmakers believe that some of the best scenes ever written follow this rule. The goal of visual storytelling is to convey complex thoughts and emotions without the use of much dialogue. The very fact that film began solely as a visual art suggests just how important visual storytelling should be within screenwriting. Until the introduction of audio within film, all cinema-makers could do was show and not tell. When considering the very beginning of cinematic history, visual storytelling was all that filmmakers were limited to. This can include anything from photography, video or illustration, which is then enhanced by the use of music, sound or audio. What Do These Scenes Have In Common Though?īy definition, visual storytelling is a story told through a visual medium. Why Is Visual Storytelling So Important?.How Does Visual Storytelling Work In Screenplays?.Now Consider, Which Scene Would Be More Engaging For An Audience to Watch?.
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