5 Tips for Better Storytelling
The difference between a good film and a great one often comes down to storytelling.
Whether you're shooting a documentary, narrative film, or adventure video, mastering the art of storytelling can take your project to the next level. In this blog post, we’re going to break down five essential tips for filmmakers to improve their storytelling skills and create unforgettable films that resonate with audiences. These tips will not only help you engage your viewers but also make them care deeply about the stories you’re telling. Let’s dive in!
Tip #1: Start with a Strong Concept
The Foundation of Every Great Film
Every story begins with a strong concept. This is the foundation of your film, the initial spark that will guide every decision you make from pre-production to post-production. A good concept is clear, engaging, and offers something unique that sets it apart from the countless other stories being told.
Crafting a Clear and Engaging Concept
Think about the core of your film: What’s the big idea? It should be a premise that piques curiosity, something that will make your audience want to know more. A strong concept can be based on a compelling conflict, a unique setting, or a relatable protagonist that draws viewers in from the start.
For example, in my project "Unseen Peaks", the core concept was not just about outdoor adventure, but about Addie, a blind athlete, seeking acceptance within the outdoor community. This gave the film emotional depth, while still highlighting the grit and challenges of climbing and skiing as a disabled person. The concept hooked viewers from the beginning because it was not just about physical feats, but a deeper human journey.
Pro Tip: Brainstorm and Refine
Spend time brainstorming multiple concepts. Write them down, test them out, and refine them. Sometimes the first idea isn’t the best one, but the more you hone it, the clearer your direction will become. Before you commit to one concept, ensure that it has layers and potential for growth, so it can evolve throughout your storytelling process.
Tip #2: Develop Relatable Characters
Connecting Your Audience with Your Story
At the heart of every great story are characters that your audience can connect with. Relatable characters give your viewers a way into the story, helping them emotionally invest in what happens. A well-developed character should have depth, with motivations, flaws, and growth that unfolds throughout the film.
Building Depth Through Character Development
A great way to develop your characters is by thinking about their backstory, even if much of it doesn’t end up in the final cut of your film. Consider what motivates them, what their fears are, and how they change by the end of your story. Audiences are much more likely to root for a character who feels like a real person, with strengths, weaknesses, and complexities.
In my film "The Summit Within", the veterans climbing the mountain were not just defined by their physical capabilities but by the emotional scars they carried. By diving deep into each of their personal journeys—why they needed this climb to heal—audiences connected with them on a human level. Their resilience became the core of the story.
Pro Tip: Invest Time in Backstories
Even if certain elements of your characters’ backstories don’t make it into the final cut, spend time developing them. This will give your characters more depth and help you understand how they should react in different situations, making the story feel more genuine and cohesive.
Tip #3: Focus on Structure and Pacing
Keeping the Audience Engaged from Start to Finish
A well-structured story with the right pacing is essential for keeping your audience engaged. A story that drags on too long without tension or one that rushes through important moments can lose its emotional impact. Having a solid story structure gives your film flow and builds excitement for what’s to come.
Classic Story Structures and Flow
One of the most popular storytelling frameworks is the three-act structure: setup, conflict, and resolution. Another classic structure is the hero’s journey, which works particularly well for adventure films. These structures help maintain flow, guiding the audience through rising tension, conflict, and ultimately resolution, without losing momentum.
During my project "Canopy Climbers", we followed a rising structure as the group of tree climbers faced increasingly difficult challenges. The pacing allowed for moments of awe in the beauty of the jungle but kept building toward the climax—reaching the highest branches of Costa Rican trees—making the story engaging without losing the audience’s attention.
Pro Tip: Plan and Review Your Structure
Before you start shooting, outline your story structure. You’ll want to review and refine it during editing to make sure the pacing is just right. Sometimes a scene that feels perfect during filming will slow down the story later, so don’t be afraid to cut or trim where needed to keep the flow tight.
Tip #4: Show, Don’t Tell
The Power of Visual Storytelling
Filmmaking is a visual medium, and one of the golden rules is “show, don’t tell.” Instead of relying on dialogue or narration to explain what’s happening, use your camera to visually communicate emotions, actions, and ideas. This allows your audience to experience the story more directly, without feeling like they’re being spoon-fed information.
Using Visuals to Convey Emotions
Think about how you can use framing, lighting, and movement to convey emotions. A close-up shot can show the vulnerability of a character, while a wide shot can emphasize isolation or grandeur. These visual cues often speak louder than words, drawing your audience into the experience rather than just telling them about it.
In "Goat Surf Club in Senegal", we used sweeping drone shots of the endless waves and the chaotic energy of local protests to show the unpredictability of the trip. These visuals told a story of resilience and adventure without needing much dialogue, letting the audience feel the tension and thrill of the moment.
Pro Tip: Remove Unnecessary Dialogue
Challenge yourself to reduce the amount of dialogue or narration in your film. Ask yourself if there’s a way to visually convey the same information. By doing so, your film will become more immersive, allowing your audience to feel like they’re living the story with your characters.
Tip #5: Build Emotional Stakes
Why Emotional Stakes Matter
The best stories are the ones that resonate emotionally with the audience. It’s not enough to have a great concept and well-developed characters—there need to be real emotional stakes. Without conflict and tension, your audience may not feel invested in the outcome.
Creating Tension and Resolution
To build emotional stakes, introduce conflicts or challenges that force your characters to make tough decisions. This tension keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and makes the eventual resolution more satisfying. Emotional stakes can be personal (internal struggles) or universal (external challenges), but they need to be clear and compelling.
In "Ignite Your Spirit - A Disabled Ski Bum Story", the protagonist’s battle wasn’t just against the physical challenge of skiing post-paralysis, but also against his inner demons. By weaving these emotional stakes into the story, we were able to engage viewers on a deeper level, making them root for him to succeed.
Pro Tip: Tap Into Universal Themes
Emotional stakes often revolve around universal themes like love, loss, perseverance, and redemption. These are themes that everyone can relate to on some level, which is why they have such a strong emotional pull. Make sure your story taps into one of these core human experiences to create a powerful connection with your audience.
Conclusion
Bringing It All Together
Crafting unforgettable stories takes time and effort, but by following these five essential tips—starting with a strong concept, developing relatable characters, focusing on structure and pacing, showing rather than telling, and building emotional stakes—you can take your films to the next level. Whether you're working on a documentary, a narrative film, or an adventure project, storytelling is what will ultimately leave a lasting impression on your viewers.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be afraid to experiment and refine your storytelling techniques as you grow as a filmmaker. The more time you invest in developing your craft, the better your stories will become. As you continue to hone your skills, you’ll find that storytelling is at the heart of every great film, no matter the genre or subject.
Let’s Connect!
Roo is an Emmy nominated documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has directed documentaries for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside Magazine throughout Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, and photographed among indigenous communities in South America, and has received notable recognition in his hometown of Orcas Island in Washington State for his work telling uplifting stories in the outdoor space.