Mastering the Art of Cinematic Expression: Discovering Your Film Style
Introduction
The first question every aspiring filmmaker has is "how do I find my filming style?" Well, it's not as easy as it may seem! In fact, I think that one of the hardest parts about being a filmmaker is finding your own unique way to express yourself through your films. However, with some experimentation and failure along with some sweet success along the way, you'll eventually be able to figure out what kind of style works best for you so that you can stand out from the rest of the crowd.
Finding your filming style isn't something that just happens overnight.
It comes with a lot of experimentation and failure, along with some sweet success.Finding your filming style isn't something that just happens overnight.
It comes with a lot of experimentation and failure, along with some sweet success.
It takes time to find the right combination of equipment and settings for you, but once you do, it'll be one of those things that makes it all worth it!
Before you make your first move, it's time to do a little research.
Before you make your first move, it's time to do a little research. Research can be done in a variety of ways and places:
Online
In person (in libraries, museums and other cultural institutions)
Through books, magazines and other printed media
You have a few things going for you in the beginning stages of finding your filming style.
First off, as a beginner, you have a lot of things going for you. You don't have any expectations of yourself or others about your work. This is an amazing position to be in because it means that no matter what happens with the video, it can only get better!
As far as finding your filming style goes: there are no rules. There are no right or wrong ways to make videos; there are just different approaches and techniques that filmmakers use based on their own preferences and needs. So don't worry about what other people think about how they would do something differently than how YOU did it--just focus on doing what works best for YOU!
The first step to finding your filming style is to define what it is that interests you about filmmaking, or at least what it is that makes you want to be a filmmaker in the first place.
The first step to finding your filming style is to define what it is that interests you about filmmaking, or at least what it is that makes you want to be a filmmaker in the first place.
Are you interested in telling stories with characters? Are you more interested in creating worlds and environments? Do you like being able to tell stories through film because of how powerful the medium can be compared to other forms of media?
Or maybe there's something else about filmmaking that excites and drives you. Maybe it's just being able to work with other people who share your passion for bringing their visions into reality through the power of cinema; maybe it's working with actors who bring life and humanity into characters written by someone else; maybe it's knowing how much work goes into making even one scene look good enough for audiences worldwide - whatever inspires YOU as an individual will help guide which areas need improvement when learning new skillsets (elements like lighting) so they fit within YOUR taste preferences instead simply mimicking others' techniques blindly without understanding WHY those techniques work well together visually speaking...
Once you've figured out what kind of films or shows interest you most, you can start looking at the styles that have been used in those films and shows.
Once you've figured out what kind of films or shows interest you most, you can start looking at the styles that have been used in those films and shows. Think about what your favorite style is, and why it appeals to you.
Is there any particular film or show that stands out in terms of cinematography? Is there an aesthetic element of this movie that really stands out to you? Do certain colors pop out at certain times? How does lighting play into this effect? Is there something about the camera movement that seems interesting to watch (or maybe not so interesting)?
When trying new things out, try to keep it simple so that things don't get too complicated when they're not necessary. It's better to keep things basic than overdo an idea that doesn't need overdoing in order to succeed.
When you're trying new things out, keep it simple. It's better to keep things basic than overdo an idea that doesn't need overdoing in order to succeed.
Keep it simple, stupid! KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid. This concept applies to all aspects of filmmaking--the lighting and camera angles you choose, how you frame shots and edit them together--but most especially when writing dialogue for your characters.
Avoid overdoing your dialogue with fancy words or complex sentence structures; instead focus on making sure each line says exactly what it needs to say without being too obvious about what it means (you don't want people thinking "Did he just say...?"). If at all possible try not even having any tags at all ("I love you," she said), because those are usually just filler anyway!
It's important to remember that there's no right way or wrong way to do this kind of thing; there just is what works best for each individual filmmaker. So if something doesn't work out according to plan, don't fret! Just try again until you find something that does work for what you're trying to do with your film(s).
It can be tempting when starting out in filmmaking to compare yourself against other filmmakers who have been doing it longer than you and are more experienced than you. But the truth is that everyone starts somewhere--and everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, favorite techniques and methods of working through problems in their films. The important thing is not necessarily finding a specific "style" but rather finding what works best for YOUR style as an artist/filmmaker/storyteller--and then following through on those ideas until they become second nature (or at least comfortable enough) so that they become part of how YOU tell stories visually rather than someone else's methods being forced upon them...
Film style is like art; it comes from within
Film style is like art. It comes from within, and you have to be willing to experiment and fail in order to find it. You've got to be patient as well: there's no right or wrong way of doing things--just your way. If you want your work to be unique and meaningful, then it needs your touch!
Conclusion
Remember that finding your filming style is a journey and not a destination. You will probably have to try out many different things before you find something that works for you, but don't be discouraged if something doesn't work out according to plan! Just keep trying until it does work--and then keep going from there.
