I have read countless volumes of
these guide books for screenwriting and filmmaking over the years.
Barnes and Noble has a whole section devoted to this subject. At
first I was surprised to see how many authors of these books have not
one produced film to their credit, yet they profess they are an
authority because they are a film critic or teach cinema studies at a
university. More often than not, the good books are written by the
people with film credits because there is no substitute for
experience. Every once in a while I open a book that looks at this
subject from a different perspective, it inspires me to continue to
write and grow as an artist. The Age of the Image: Redefining Literacy in a World of Screens by Stephen
Apkon is one of those books.
This ten chapter guide deals with
filmmaking as a language and explains the science behind why moving
pictures is the most visceral and impactful art form we have. The
theory behind this starts long before even the wheel was invented.
Apkon observes that our brains are hard wired to respond to moving
images with more urgency than any other medium because of our fight
or flight response; the need for survival that has been with us all
from the beginning. In fact, neuroscientist now know that the brain
begins to categorize and make sense of an image within 150
milliseconds; that's what I call fast.
The Age Of The Image begins
with a foreword written by filmmaker Martin Scorsese and the
chapters that follow prove to be worthy of such an introduction. One
chapter focuses on the brain. Apkon states that “up to 85 percent
of the brain is dedicated to the processing and making sense out of
the visual stimulation that flows in at an astonishing rate.” He
uses studies conducted with FMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance
Imaging) brain scans to determine what types of images are most
likely to capture our attention and light up our brains like a
Christmas tree. It turns out these are visuals that trigger our most
basic instincts which are home to the most primitive part at the base
of our brains commonly known as the reptilian brain.
This book then defines what this
means to us; the artist who not only view these images but create
them to be watched on the big screen and countless small screens
alike. There is one chapter that gives examples of some of the most
popular Youtube videos ever uploaded and seeks answers to what made
these videos so popular in their reach. Another eye opening chapter
focuses on advertising and sets out to prove that the most effective
advertisements are image based. Even the way that film and home
video have proved to be the strongest motivators for political causes
is the focus of one compelling chapter. The best commercials, just
like a feature film; are a concise form of visual storytelling. Our
brains and hearts are constantly searching for meaning, it is up to
us, the fortunate few, the purveyors of the moving image to give it
to them. This profound and well written book; The Age Of The
Image, will help us do exactly that.
- Curt Wiser is the author of the
suspense novel Box Cutter Killer and Writer-Director of the
feature film Cam-Girl. He is currently writing his own guide
to screenwriting titled How To Write A Screenplay That Gets
Produced.
Official web site: www.webcamthefilm.com
