In this time of constant scrolling through social media, storytelling has had to adapt its pace for today’s audiences. A reel is not simply a video but rather a story created in a short format (ie: a heartbeat) of emotions. Regardless of its length, its purpose is still to capture our attention by telling us something that causes us to temporarily stop.
Every reel begins with a moment: a glimmer of light, a line of poetry, something heard that triggers an emotional memory, etc. The challenge is finding that initial humorous or emotional reaction before editing occurs. Whether the image involves a cloud of steam around a cup of chai or sunlight resting gently on top of a notebook, the story can be found within the everyday.
Visual rhythm is also very important. Transitioning from one shot to another is similar to taking a breath. The length of the transitional shot will affect the emotional pacing of the story. For example, a pan out shot will evoke feelings of longing and a dark to light quick cut will create feelings of excitement. The pacing of the music helps establish the rhythm of the reel (isn’t it amazing how many different types of music can produce opposite feelings for the same event?) Therefore, music should establish how quickly or slowly the story is told.
Captions help complete this communication. For example, one brief line in caption form can create an emotional connection with the viewer (which is ultimately all we want to accomplish when creating emotional experiences).
Storytelling in reels is about creating a connection with your viewer (to invite them into your world) for at least a split second. Sometimes a story simply needs a moment (as with a fifteen-second reel) in order to be memorable.
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