76-313 Creative Visual Storytelling in Film Production
9 units, Carnegie Mellon University
Visual storytelling cuts to the heart of the filmmaking process, combining all elements of the craft to engage the viewer. Every picture is comprised of a story, visuals, and, sometimes, sounds. This class is about learning how to understand and control time-based images to better tell your story. We will learn essential skills for becoming a creative technological storyteller - how to think visually and aurally. Fundamental focus will be on understanding the basic visual components -using space, tone, line, shape, color, movement and rhythm- and how they are used to visually tell a story, define characters, communicate moods, emotions, thoughts and ideas. We often are not consciously aware of them within a film but are critical in establishing the relationship between story structure and visual structure. Through readings, film analysis, creative brainstorming, assignments and individual critiques this class will guide each student into translating their creative vision into a short final film.
Prerequisites: 76-101 or 76-102 or (76-106 and 76-107) or (76-106 and 76-108) or (76-107 and 76-108)
Offered: Spring 2027, Spring 2026
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