Wednesday afternoon saw a panel entitled ‘Exploring Storytelling Trends’, focusing on the development of narrative techniques and trends in the modern era of filmmaking. Moderated by Amon Warmann, film & TV critic and contributing editor at Empire Magazine, the panel consisted of Wayne Borg, Managing Director of Media Industries, NEOM; Michel Reilhac, Head of Studies for Venice Biennale College Cinema and Cinema VR; Giacomo Durzi, screenwriter, director, story editor and creative producer and H.B. Siegel, Former CTO Lucasfilm and IMDb.
The session began by addressing how the rise of streaming services and the increasing popularity of binge watching has influenced narrative pacing, character development and plot structuring, noting how this model is forcing storytellers to create narrative arcs up to the very end of each episode in order to encourage the viewer to continue watching.
The rise of cinematic stories within an episodic format created a lively discussion on the ways in which creators can maintain narrative coherence and character continuity across multiple episodes, and the panellists agreed that streaming platforms and binging culture have a role to play in this development, with modern audiences looking to be challenged and consistently engaged by their content to avoid fatigue.
They also debated how complex character studies are becoming less popular in favour of clarity of storytelling and exposition that sets out the rules of engagement of a story, which has occasionally prompted an overuse of storytelling techniques that artificially create the effect of complexity, such as flashbacks.
Virtual Reality was a key topic of discussion, with the panel discussing how technology has enhanced narrative immersion for viewers. With the medium of 360 degree video, the fourth wall still protects the viewer but is circular, and rather than following a linear storyline, the audience finds their own way through a VR film, sometimes missing crucial scenes. The panel touched on how to use these immersive experiences as a way of conveying a deeper message in the moments surrounding the main plotline.
They touched upon the importance of representation and diversity to keep things fresh for audiences, asserting that having a wide range of opportunities when creating characters can offer new perspectives on stories and the historical boundaries set around them, and that it is important to create an environment that best facilitates content for all audiences.
The panel also highlighted that enabling more people to tell their stories means that a wider audience will be interested in viewing them, a positive impact on the financial aspects of filmmaking. The panel also explored the ways in which the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence is impacting storytelling, with the panellists debating the pros and cons of the technology but agreeing that it will continue to increase in its presence in filmmaking. In the wake of growing financial pressures and budgets, some argued that AI can be a useful tool to help writers better realise their ideas, but others asserted that the creative process is sacred and that AI is more dangerous than helpful.