If even a good night’s sleep on your newly bought 2019 mattress can’t help you get over a mental block when conceptualizing for a new project, try exploring cinematic architecture.

What is cinematic architecture?

Architecture in cinema doesn’t merely serve as a backdrop to frame a film — It plays a huge role in setting the mood, the story, and as well as the hidden nuances in film. Certain environments give rise to certain emotions, and meanings. Although not said through words, the visual stimulus of space makes us imagine and analyze how the people in space operate and move, and sometimes who and what they are in society.

Below are three tips involving architecture that can help you be inspired for your upcoming project:

 

Visit spaces that inspire you to create, spaces with stories to share

Spaces that inspire you aren’t limited to grandiose castles, iconic buildings, or funky galleries, they can branch-out to your own space at home, your favorite spot in the park, or a dilapidated warehouse. Revisiting old and exploring new spaces creates more opportunities for you to meet new people who can inspire you and vice-versa, It also helps you to rack-out your memory and imagination for forgotten and new ideas, leading you to create new characters with unheard stories.

Observe the existing and explore your imagination: photography and quick sketching

Throughout your visits pack-up a camera or a sketchpad with you, hone your other artistic skills and make use of them. Photographs and quick sketches of your travels can serve as a rough template for your storyboards or can serve as pieces of inspiration for concepts and characters. Create copies of your photos and overlay drawings on them. Get your imagination moving, add and subtract elements from your sketches or from your photos, sometimes a more visual and hands-on approach is more effective when conceptualizing ideas.

Explore and re-watch: Get inspiration from existing films and observe how spaces influence the story/scene.

Getting inspiration from existing films is a good way to get you inspired. When watching a film, try analyzing the nuances expressed by architecture and how they affect the movie. Get back on your photos and sketches, what nuances, elements and stories can you add to them?

Film influences space just as architecture influences film, check out this article about real life spaces inspired by film. Finding films where architecture plays a key role in the story? Check out this list of movies to watch before bed this 2019.