Exploring the Realm of Storytelling (Essay Sample)

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The Realm of Storytelling
Discussing "The realm of storytelling is more important than that of the visual effects necessary to bring a scene to life…." and… "In the world of Digital Effects, anything imagined is possible..."
Of late, filmmakers have embraced the application of special effects, especially digital effects in film production. However, introduction of these special effects brought an upsurge in the demand for special effects. Visual effects have been judged from photorealism and accuracy- ability of the viewers to accept the content of the film, thereby suspending their disbelief momentarily. Nonetheless, a great effect will always be measured by its achievement in storytelling. As argued by Jackson Peter, “in the world of Digital Effects, anything imagined is possible... which in a way brings the emphasis back on storytelling,” as well as Lucas George’s, “the realm of storytelling is more important than that of the visual effects necessary to bring a scene to life,” this study seeks to give reflections of the above statements by focusing on modern films.
Producers and actors in the artistic world have used film as a type of art and medium in telling stories from generations to generations (Marmoset). Just as argued by Morgenstern “You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words; that is your role, your gift” (Morgenstern, 2011, p. 68.). The present technological advancements and the integration of technology into film production have enabled stories to be expressed in numerous and diverse approaches across different genres that could otherwise not have been accomplished during the onset of film productions. The gradual advancements in technology have resulted in the upswing of film leaving the audience with a spectacular visual effect. With new entry of movies being accomplished annually, a significant number of them regrettably fall into the jurisdiction of being excessively reliant on visual effects measures used to astound an audience but eventually ends up misplacing the theme of the story.
The predominant aim of watching a movie is to comprehend the story behind it, therefore visual effects eventually ought to be integrated to further the plot rather than being a diversion (Marmoset). Of the numerous movies being produced annually, a few of them have been able to effectively incorporate effect work towards enriching the story by generating immersive worlds and appealing actors, besides enriching the visual experience. As found in Marmoset, “A lot can happen in just a few minutes. Short films are a testament to this idea by proving that compelling stories can be told in little time. We believe that film and music play a large role in shaping a powerful story through picture. A perfect soundtrack and movie clip can cut to an emotional core and leave a lasting, powerful impression long after the credits roll” (Marmoset).
A significant number of movie directors and producers have been misled by the assumption that excessive effects will independently entice the audience. Regrettably in such instances, these visual effects only assist in bringing a bit of glamor but the time set for the wonderful explosions, fight scenes, or chance scenes are misused and get rid of valuable time in plot development (Pruner). Some extreme instances involving extension of such visual effects for lengthy durations of time loses the attention of the viewers. A perfect example of this situation can be seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2011), since the director chose to censor important deaths and instrument help of Harry’s escape from Voldemort at the expense of focusing on a flying motorcycle chase via tunnels with numerous trickeries of dodging vehicles and careening upside-down. Regardless of the great improvement with the effect works, especially compared to the earlier films, the vast poor choices made in movies such as Prequel (2011), Tron: Legacy (2010), The Hobbit (2014) among Harry Potter movies fail to hold up well. Some of these movies comprise of numerous deep plot holes and outward inconsistencies considered flounced but poorly hidden.
Just as explained by Lucas George, “the realm of storytelling is more important than that of the visual effects necessary to bring a scene to life”. With the introduction of visual effects in the film sector, the demand by viewers for them increased to unanticipated heights. This compelled directors to consider neglecting the application of excellent storytelling and substituted it with bigger, improved special effects-resulting in debility of significantly “good” films. The perception of sacrificing key aspects of a narrative for shenanigans is worrying; hence the need for filmmakers to concentrate highly on storytelling instead of visual effects. Lucas witnessed the first painfully unsatisfactory outcome in his film “The Phantom Menace.” Among other movies, Phantom Menace did not manage to facilitate the viewers with a significant crucial aspect of a great film: an excellent story. A filmmaker should always aim to tell the perfect story. Special effects should only be mere tools used to attend to the story itself. It is disheartening to see that in recent years that aim has been distorted significantly.