What Does Cinematic Even Mean?

Filmmaking is an endless journey. What makes an image cinematic? How do we get there? Well, you will need technique and knowledge. I will focus on a few aspects, which I think are most prevalent for contemporary visual storytelling.

Immersion

Dimensionality plays a huge part in image making today. There is a big dichotomy between YouTube and films at the cinema. Dimensionality allows for more 3d images, which feel more lifelike, immersing you in the story. For a film, you don’t want to be looking at your phone or chatting all the time, you want to be absorbed in the experience. There are several aspects that affect dimensionality. Camera is one piece of the puzzle, but light and color grading is arguably more important. They allow more pop and separation with the background, adding layers to create a more believable world despite being projected on a 2D plane.

Composition

Framing and camera work are what turn life into art. Life is not inherently cinematic, or there’d be little purpose to filmmaking. Camera movement can be distracting, but when executed properly in conjunction with aesthetic angles and leading lines, they provide compelling perspectives on our world, even if it’s only for for a few hours at the theatre.

Storytelling

The word “cinematic” has lost all of its meaning, which basically translates to something that looks good. It was supposed to mean something that resembles films, but with streaming platforms and retention based filmmaking for investors, films can look more like commercial shoots nowadays anyway. What I personally find is that the most cinematic shots are not trying to look cinematic. They are trying to serve its story. So here’s a sample of my work dedicated to explore its aspects.

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