Shaping My Cinematic Vision: Influences, Inspirations, and Emerging Styles

As I continue to explore filmmaking, photography and hone my creative voice, it becomes increasingly important to look back at the filmmakers who have shaped my vision.

Their work has influenced my understanding of cinematic language and storytelling, inspiring me to experiment with my own style.

Here’s a look at some of the filmmakers who have deeply impacted my work, and how I’m now diving into the worlds of Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock and more to further enhance my craft.

Quentin Tarantino: The Art of Dialogue and Structure

Quentin Tarantino is a master of dialogue, unconventional narrative structures and is hands down my favourite movie maker of all time. I appreciate how he builds tension and humor through conversation combined with nonlinearity in his storytelling. The best examples can be found in Pulp Fiction and Inglourious Basterds, but many of his other works showcase this ability, too. How Tarantino uses music, combined with often unpredictable pacing, teaches me about the rhythm of both story and scene composition. As a huge martial arts film fan i love what he done in the Kill Bill films and just how stylistic he makes each movie which I am learning i think to do with LUT’s and colour choices.

Stanley Kubrick: The Perfectionist’s Eye for Detail

Stanley Kubrick’s meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create a haunting atmosphere are major influences on my approach to visual storytelling. Movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange show how Kubrick uses the environment, lighting, and camera movement to reflect the inner worlds of his characters.

I can remember the first time watching A Clockwork Orange anf being blown away by the feel of the film and I was WAAAAAAYYYY younger than I should have been.

Kubrick’s compositions are often symmetrical and highly controlled, which has inspired me to think about how every element within the frame contributes to the story.

Martin Scorsese: Master of Character and Pace

When I think of Martin Scorsese, I think of incredible character-driven stories and a flawless command of pacing. His stuff usually digs into some pretty complex moral issues and features a lot of psychological depth, like in Taxi Driver and The Irishman.

He always nails the pace to fit the story. The way Scorsese uses music to heighten those emotional moments and those cool camera moves, as in Goodfellas, really makes me want to play around with rhythm in my own storytelling.

Kevin Smith: The Power of Dialogue and Authenticity

Kevin Smith really knows how to make characters feel real and relatable, especially through their dialogue. In movies like Clerks and Chasing Amy, he shows just how powerful it is when characters open up and share their true feelings and experiences in a way that feels genuine. His stuff reminds me how crucial it is to have honest conversations and stay true to what the characters would actually say.

I actually listen to his podcasts and love his run on Green Arrow comics, generally a big fan of him as a person as much as his work.

Though I’ve long admired the work of the filmmakers listed above, there are two giants of cinema I haven’t yet explored fully… Akira Kurosawa and Alfred Hitchcock. I’ve never watched a full film by Kurosawa, and I haven’t seen any Hitchcock films since I was a child.

However, I’m about to change that. Both of these directors have left an indelible mark on filmmaking to wich i keep reading them in EVERY SINGLE “must watch” list of filmakers I see online, and I’m eager to explore their work through a creative lens.

Akira Kurosawa: Having created such great works as Seven Samurai and Rashomon, Kurosawa revolutionized action and storytelling. His use of composition, framing, and innovative camera work has influenced so many filmmakers, and I look forward to studying how his visual style and use of time shape the narrative in his films.

Alfred Hitchcock: the maestro of suspense and psychological drama, unrivaled. In films like Psycho and Rear Window, he showed how tension could be built through visual storytelling and clever editing. These are areas that I will be looking to delve deeper into: Hitchcock’s careful manipulation of audience expectations and his pioneering work within the thriller genre.

Where These Influences Meet My Work

As I keep working on my filmmaking style, I look to these amazing directors for tips and storytelling vibes. They all have their own cool take on visual language, character development, and pacing. By checking out what they do, especially Hitchcock’s knack for suspense and Kurosawa’s skills in action, I’m aiming to expand my creative toolbox and add some fresh elements to my own projects.

Ultimately, cinematic inspiration is about blending influences while forging your own path. The key is not to simply emulate but to take the lessons of the past and use them to fuel the creative journey ahead.

Comic Book Inspirations

So with my background in comic book writing, it only makes sense that comics would play a giant part in how I do visual storytelling.

Books like Saga, Maus, Y: The Last Man, and a ton of others have shown me how important visual rhythm is and how sequential art can totally mimic a film’s pacing.

Where These Influences Meet My Work

When I sit down to make a film or a photo series, I always have these influences buzzing around in my head.

You know, inspiration is everywhere; it’s not about ripping off styles but learning how to blend these techniques into your own flavor. As I keep learning and trying new things, I really want to make something that means something to people the way those films and comics meant something to me.

Regards

Alex