In the golden era of the Internet and technologies, media content becomes more accessible. Now we can choose and watch any movie or TV series with no restrictions. Netflix, Amazon, and other platforms are incredibly fruitful – you can find classical and fresh content there. If you are a writer, you might be more interested in books than movies. However, the trick is that watching movies can be no less useful for your writing skills than reading! A film is a narration that keeps the audience hooked due to the imagery, metaphors, symbols, and other artistic devices. This medium can make your creative juices flow – just use it wisely! Let’s discuss how to do watch movies in the right way.
Analyze what you see
First of all, you need to learn how to analyze movies and watch them like a creator. Try to imagine yourself in the director’s shoes and ask yourself: How did they do that? Why did it work? Why don’t other things work? Note the details and reflect on scenes that impress you. If you want to learn something from movies – be attentive, watch them for a couple of times, and learn to think visually.
If you are not a profound watcher, you need to know what to focus on. Don’t worry – we will explain everything right now!
Light is everything
First of all, pay attention to the light. Light conveys the emotions, feelings, and mood of the scene. The same location can look different when the light changes. The main question you should ask about light is: how does it uncover the feeling behind the scene? The light can make the scene more anxious or vice versa – calming and relaxing. It brings the atmosphere and conveys the characters’ emotions.
Where are the events happening?
Location is no less important than the light. Places uncover the plot and provide watchers with the environment for interaction with actors. Pay attention to the areas and try to answer the following questions: why did they choose this particular place? What does it mean for the story? Just hop over to this website, like writers from this service, you need to be analytical and discover connections. Some places can be real, the others – fictional, but there are no locations without a meaning. Try to imagine yourself there – how would you feel yourself? What are the smells around you? How does it influence your mood?
Dialogues as a part of the narration
Conversations play a significant role in all types of creative writing. Screenwriters pay special attention to them, as well. This means that you can learn from them! When watching a movie, note the central theme and the way dialogues reveal it. In a good film, each conversation has a meaning, even though it might be hidden.
Note also the acting: movements, pauses, and mimics. Think carefully about the way acting uncovers the relationships between the characters. Sometimes, they don’t speak but stay in a dialogue: no words are said, but you understand the scene and the way characters relate to each other.
The camera is an eye of the movie
Not only camera adds technical effects like speed, lenses, and filters. It also becomes your eyes and leads your attention throughout the film. The camera shows particular details, but there are also some things that it doesn’t capture. Remember that both are important! For example, in a disturbing scene, a character swallows pills, and the camera shows a close-up of his mouth. What we don’t see is another bottle of pills that stands on the table nearby. We think that this is a suicide, but this might be misleading. The camera makes suggestions and hints, so learn how to read them.
When writing movies, plot creators may describe a situation from different angles. There might be a view of a central character who swallows pills. Then the camera might switch to the outside view and describe everything from an objective point. Pay attention to the positions the camera takes and reflect on what you see. Track the movement and try to understand the trajectory.
Conclusion
Even if you are not a professional movie critic and don’t study film-making at college, you can still watch movies like a pro and benefit from them. You just need to know what to focus on and how to analyze different visual and narrative elements. The basic techniques described above are simple, and you can quickly adapt them to start watching movies like a real guru. Perceive them as lessons and use this information on the practice. When you learn to watch the movies this way, you will never think that your time was wasted. Switch from child-like emotional perception to a sophisticated analysis that will help you become a better author!
Author’s Bio:
Sandra Larson is a blogger, creative storyteller, and screenwriter. She believes that transforming stories into visuals reveals the core of the human being. Currently, Sandra is working on a novel series and plans to publish them soon.
