What are the best ways to create a sense of movement and energy in your cinematography?

Camera movement should be intentional and add value/enhance the shots/scene. Choosing the right tools to achieve this motion is equally as important.

Movement is an important part of the visual narrative. Ask “what is this camera move telling in your story”. Are you giving an object importance by tracking with it? Are you adding a dramatic direction to the character’s thought process. The viewer always tries to find something to fix onto in a frame. Movement draws attention to something. Make sure it is important. Paul Greengrass uses a shaky camera to represent a documentary hand held feel, and therefore suggests an extra level of realism to the story. See Captain Phillips (2013). If you are having a lot of movement or fast action cuts, try and keep the flow for the viewer smooth by keeping the focus point the same for consecutive frames. See Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

Enhance the pace, rhythm, and impact of the visual storytelling. Quick cuts, rapid transitions, and dynamic pacing can inject a sense of urgency and excitement, propelling the narrative forward and captivating the audience's attention. Utilising jump cuts, where sections of footage are spliced together, can intensify the tempo and create a vibrant, fast-paced sequence. Visual effects like speed ramps or time-lapse sequences can further heighten the video's energy, adding a sense of movement and dynamism. Syncing the edits with a lively soundtrack or utilising sound effects can significantly contribute to the overall energetic feel, amplifying impact and engaging the audience on a visceral level.

Sometimes, the best move to make when shooting a scene for urgency and movement is to take a different point of view. Simple framing techniques, such as where the talent is placed in respect with another subject, can generate energy. A great example of framing is in Handmaid's Tale - they make use of many framing techniques to really change how we feel about the situations at hand, or show how one character is exuding power over another.

Elevating the energy in visual storytelling through lighting and colour techniques involves manipulating visual elements to evoke emotions and intensify the narrative impact. Bright and vibrant colours, particularly warm tones like reds, oranges, and yellows, can infuse a scene with energy and excitement. Cooler tones like blues and greens can convey a sense of calmness or introspection. Bold contrasts or dynamic lighting setups can add depth and dimension to the visuals, emphasising specific elements and creating a heightened sense of drama. Lighting effects such as strobes or changing intensities can further amplify the energetic atmosphere, fostering a sense of movement and vitality within the frame.

Using sound and music can transform the audience's emotional engagement. The strategic implementation of upbeat rhythms, pulsating beats, or high-tempo melodies can inject vitality and excitement into a video, effectively setting the pace and intensifying the narrative's impact. Utilising sound effects like sharp transitions, dynamic whooshes, or heightened ambient noises can create a sense of urgency and movement, enhancing the overall energetic feel. Syncing these auditory elements precisely with the visual cues enhances the video's dynamism, heightening emotions and reinforcing the desired mood. Carefully selecting and integrating soundscapes and music amplifies the storytelling experience's energetic resonance.