How To Make A Non-Visual Story Visually Compelling

Posted August 18, 2020

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Shooting a visually compelling story is easy.

But not everyone is always chopping the carrots.

Sometimes you may want to tell a story that just is short on the visuals.

History can present this problem.

You can do a Ken Burns, with stills, but not everyone has access to a vast treasure trove of Civli War photos in their attic.

As well, you are going to want to interview an 'expert', and we all know that interviews are the kiss of death in TV.

So how to proceed?

Spectrum News 1 LA MMJ Timothy Parker (a graduate of our bootcamp) gives a great example of how to make a non-visual story visually compelling

In this piece (see above), Timothy has found a great character to interview.

He could just sit him down in a chair and depose him.

He could, but he doesn't.

Instead, Timothy has him walking into the map archives room.

(Who would connect map archives and great visuals?)

Instead of going with the traditional (and visually dead) on screen graphics, Timothy has the character interact with the maps.  It's the character and his actions that hold our attention here. 

He even has him going down an escalator.

The movement subconsciously gives the viewer a sense that someting is 'happening' - that our subject is going 'somehwere'.

This coveys an inherent and all important Arc of Story.

Marry this to a great story and you have a sure-fire winner.

Well done, Timothy.