There are many amazing movies out there to see. However, Filmmakers are often struggling for new ideas to keep the target audience's attention. Using these five secrets, you will be able to grab and keep the attention of your target audience in your next film.
1. Story MUST Have A Beginning, Middle And End.
In order for a story to work, it must be a complete story. Most films have a beginning and a middle, but no end. The ending is the essential piece because it establishes resolution to the main plot in your film. Just like books have an end, the end is a must have for films. The Three Act Structure shows that there are three acts in a film. Act One is the beginning. Act Two is the middle. Act Three is the end. This is the standard guideline for film production to ensure a story has all three key parts.
2. Twists, Turns, And Small Subplots Keep The Audience's Attention
Twists and turns always keep the audience's attention because they don't know what's going to happen next. "Is the good guy going to turn evil? Is the bad guy going to be good?" These are all common questions by audiences about character's behavior throughout the film. Small subplots also keep their attention by adding another situation. However, too many subplots will ruin the movie.
3. Camera Shots And Angles Can Build Emotion
The camera angle and shot composition can also be used to keep the audience's attention. Using Extreme Close-ups during a dramatic conversation builds an emotional effect by showing at close range how the character is feeling. It would also be boring to have the camera zoomed out at two people having an argument. You have to get up close to really feel the tention. Also, angles can alter the appearance of the world. Using a lower camera angle on a short subject creates the illusion that the subject is taller than they appear. Using a higher camera angle makes the subject appear shorter. Over-The-Shoulder (OTS) Shots add a variety of different emotions or a sense of mystery which depends on how you want the audience to feel.
4: Cinematography Continuity Is Key To A Successful Film
One of the most important things, if not the most important, is continuity. I'm not just talking about characters wearing the same clothes for a scene that's being reshot a few days later although still important. The story has to match what's going on in the film. The music, camera shots, and lighting play a role. Location also plays a role. If you're shooting a scene in one location, the lighting has to match with the other camera shots. It helps to give the film a high grade finish. "Does the lighting from that one scene have to match the rest of the movie?" No, it just has to match the scene because each scene is different. It could be indoors or outdoors. You could recreate an outside world in a soundstage, but not in a house. Camera shots also have to match. If you have dialogue between two characters, one shot is an Over-The-Shoulder and the other is a Close-up, it's not going to work well. That's why Continuity plays in, it ensures the technological aspects are consistent throughout the film. There's also instances where you may have a foreign object in a shot that is not supposed to be there such as a guy wearing a baseball cap in a Wild West gun fight, or a propane tank on a gladiator chariot.
5: Set Deadlines And Timelines For The Film
If you do not have a deadline for a film, create one that you believe will fit the time frame of each scene. Also, make a timeline on a calendar to organize your deadlines. Make deadlines for each scene as well, spend an equal amount of time on each scene. You can always go back and reshoot it if necessary. Most importantly, have fun with it. Filmmaking is a stressful process, but it can also be fun in the long run.
