Directing Attention Without Cuts

Great directors control your eyes without making a single cut. It is all about

manipulating visual hierarchy to hack the viewer's brain. Start with lighting because the brightest

part of the frame always wins. If you want a character to pop, hit them with a

hard rim light or silhouette them against a bright background. Then use focus.

A shallow depth of field forces the viewer to look at the only sharp thing on screen.

Even sound is a cheat code. By stripping away background noise and isolating specific

audio, you physically force the audience into the character’s head.

You aren't just filming, you are directing attention.