Most movies have a straightforward plot, with events happening in the right order. For example, The Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump. This method makes it easy for the listener to follow the story.
However, movies like Pulp Fiction and Memento tell the story in a different order. These nonlinear plots test how well people can put together pieces of knowledge. I remember that one of my students was having trouble with a short film project because he insisted on using flashbacks but couldn’t get the transitions just right. It’s important to give people just enough to stay interested without giving them too much, I told him.
Going Back and Forward in Time
If you use flashbacks and forwards in the right places, they can help you understand a character’s story better and build suspense. Take The Godfather Part II as an example. Michael’s change is shown even more clearly through flashbacks to Vito Corleone’s past.
But too many flashbacks could throw off the flow. A short movie I saw one time went back and forth so quickly that it felt like a time-travel movie. There is a thin line between using them when they add to the story and just using them because they look “artistic.”
The Unreliable Subject
The person telling the story doesn’t always tell the whole truth. Movies like Fight Club and The Sixth Sense do a great job with this technique. You believe one version of the story until you find out you were lied to.
When you use an unreliable narrator, the viewer has to stay interested and question everything. It’s a great way to give a movie more depth, making people want to watch it again and again to find all the secret details.
There Are Different Points of View and the Rashomon Effect
This method, named after the movie Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa, shows the same event from different points of view, showing how our thoughts can change what really happened. Because it’s like real life—everyone sees things differently—it’s one of my best ways to tell a story.
A few years ago, I helped a student write a play that showed a murder scene from three different points of view. Each version was a little different, which showed new information. It was hard to keep all the points of view equal, but when done right, it makes for an interesting, thought-provoking story.
How Film Aesthetics Are Used to Tell Stories
There’s more to good writing than just telling a story. It’s also about how the story looks and feels.
1. Cinematography: Shooting, Lighting, and Putting Together the Shots
The way a scene is set up can completely change what it means. If you zoom in on a scene, it feels more personal. If you zoom out, it feels like the figure is alone.
Lighting is also very important. Think about a scary movie that doesn’t have any shadows or a crime movie that doesn’t have any dramatic contrast. Without the neon-lit future, would Blade Runner still feel the same? Not a chance.
2. Color Theory and Meaning
Colors can change how you feel. Red often means love or danger (The Shining), while blue usually means sadness (Blue Valentine). Color palettes are used by directors like Wes Anderson to tell stories. They give each scene a specific feel.
3. Control of Editing and Montage: Speeding Up
Montage scenes can shorten the time between scenes, like in Rocky, as he gets ready for his fight. The speed of a movie is controlled by editing; shortcuts create a sense of urgency, while long takes create tension. Take the fight scene in the hallway in Oldboy, which is shown in a single shot that feels real and draws you in.
4. Sound and Music: The Storyteller You Can’t See
The tone of the music is intense. Even though the Jaws theme is only two notes long, it builds tension like nothing else. Silence might work just as well—in No Country for Old Men; the audience leans in because the silence makes them scared.
Another important way to tell a story is through diegetic sound (sound that happens in the movie world) and non-diegetic sound (sound that is added for dramatic effect). A figure who is listening to the radio has a different mood than an audience listening to a big orchestral piece.
Combining Methods to Get the Most Out of Them
Something magical happens when story methods and film aesthetics come together. For example, Inception has both a nonlinear plot and great graphics. The story of Mad Max: Fury Road is pretty easy, but the over-the-top cinematography and quick editing make it stand out.
I tell my kids that story is more than just speech. A picture can sometimes say more than a thousand words.
Using These Methods for Things Other Than Film
These strategies aren’t just used in movies. Cinematic storytelling methods can help anyone who makes content, like people who make YouTube videos or people who build a social media brand.
For instance, writing interesting Instagram posts is a lot like directing a play. Framing, pace, and story are all important ways to get people’s attention for more views. Great stories aren’t just found on the big screen; they can be found everywhere.
