Dramatic Metaphors

Dramatic Metaphors

A Dramatic Metaphor is one in which a character or group of characters have a specific relationship to an image or symbol. As your story evolves, the emotional content in the symbolism of that metaphor will change.

Dramatic Metaphors change over the course of the story

Like everything in a screenplay, Dramatic Metaphors are plotted out. They usually start as simple images taken on face value. But with repetition and re-occurrence, they begin to suggest ideas about the point of view and emotional content of a characters internal journey.

Less is More

One trick when working with metaphors is to not over-use your images. The “rule of three” is a good guidepost to start with. If you introduce an important image in the beginning, the audience or may not notice it. If they do, they will merely register it as an interesting image in the film.

But 90% of information transferred to the brain is in the form of visual information. And 50% of one’s brain capacity at any time — other than while inside a deprivation tank — is occupied processing visual information.

This means the second time an image appears in your film, your audience will remember it. It will draw them into the story. It will make them aware of the narrative of your film in a positive…