Films have been a form on entertainment for a very long period of time. We have seen them evolve using unique methods to wow an audience. One of these methods is the psychological aspect that helps immerse the audience even more into the world of the film.
Techniques Used in Filmmaking
All popular movies have one thing in common, and that is how well they were able to capture the audience. To capture an audience, we need to understand how much the evolution of film relates to visual perception. Many techniques have been introduced over time into film to stay in touch with any changes in viewer psychology. One major technique used is the shortening of shot lengths. This is related to an effect known as the Flynn Effect, where the rising IQ of the general population also indicated a higher level of visual processing. Since we are able to pick up information faster and more efficiently, short shots are now used more often in films. Fractal patterns, which are certain moments repeated on a larger scale, are another technique also used in filmmaking. These fractal patterns help exhibit a sense of rhythm throughout the movie for viewer attention.
The Film Experience
Films hold a lot of power to immerse us into a fantasy world. This can be explained by two rules – the mirror rule and the success rule. The mirror rule is the subconscious compulsion to perform or do the same thing that the people around us are doing. This explains why viewers are more prone to exhibit the emotions of someone else, regardless of being on or off screen, such as sadness or happiness. The success rule is a simple “do what worked in the past” move, such as preparing a fight-or-flight mode when someone is faced with danger. The idea is to override those natural responses to help you feelthe action that you would perform when faced with the actual danger.