Vertical format: The future of cinema?
If you are a movie lover, you might have noticed a new trend in the film industry: vertical format. This is when the movie is shot and displayed in a portrait orientation, rather than the traditional landscape one. Why is this happening? And what does it mean for the future of cinema?
One of the main reasons behind the rise of vertical format is the popularity of mobile devices. According to a report by Statista, in 2020, 50.81% of global website traffic came from mobile phones, and this number is expected to grow in the coming years. Many people watch videos on their phones, and holding them vertically is more comfortable and natural than horizontally. Therefore, some filmmakers have decided to cater to this audience by creating movies that fit their screens.
Another reason is the artistic potential of vertical format. Some filmmakers argue that vertical format offers a different perspective and aesthetic than horizontal format, and that it can enhance the storytelling and the emotional impact of the scenes. For example, vertical format can create a sense of intimacy, isolation, or claustrophobia, depending on how it is used. It can also emphasize the vertical elements of the environment, such as buildings, trees, or mountains.
Some examples of vertical format movies are:
- Quibi: A streaming platform that launched in 2020 and offered short-form content designed for mobile viewing. Quibi featured shows such as Most Dangerous Game, Survive, and The Stranger, which were shot in both horizontal and vertical formats and could be switched by rotating the phone.
- Soderbergh: A renowned filmmaker who experimented with vertical format in his 2019 movie High Flying Bird, which was shot entirely on an iPhone. Soderbergh used vertical format to create a contrast between the basketball scenes and the business scenes, and to convey the power dynamics between the characters.
- Damien Chazelle: An Oscar-winning director who created The Stunt Double, a short film that premiered on Apple’s Shot on iPhone series in 2020. The film is a tribute to different genres of cinema, such as western, action, and sci-fi, and uses vertical format to create a dynamic and immersive experience.
However, not everyone is a fan of vertical format. Some critics and viewers claim that vertical format is unnatural and uncomfortable to watch, especially on larger screens such as TVs or cinemas. They also argue that vertical format limits the creative possibilities of filmmaking, as it reduces the amount of information and context that can be shown in each frame. They say that horizontal format is more suitable for cinematic storytelling, as it mimics the human vision and allows for more dynamic and immersive compositions.
So, is vertical format the future of cinema? It is hard to say for sure, but it seems that it is here to stay, at least for some genres and platforms. Vertical format might not replace horizontal format completely, but it might coexist with it as an alternative option for filmmakers and viewers who want to experiment with new ways of expression and consumption. Vertical format might not be for everyone, but it is certainly an interesting phenomenon that challenges the conventions and expectations of cinema.
