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- The Super Tour Of NYC - On Location Tours

- Kualoa Ranch Experience - Hawaii

- Hero Movie Tour - Atlanta Movie Tours

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10 Best Movie Tours In North America, Ranked

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Fans who love movies love guided movie tours. A movie tour can be a tour of a movie studio, shooting locations or movie star homes, even their resting places. They can be walking, riding or biking. On average, they tend to be two to three hours in duration.

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- NYC

-Niagra Fallls

-Central Park

-Acropolis

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Click to see full resolution Key Findings
North America

It's no surprise that the US dominates the location tables, seeing that the US film industry is the most profitable in the world (although Bollywood makes more films). Central Park is a bona fide movie star, with 532 appearances to its name - including a title appearance in a movie from the year 1900 named In Central Park.

Canada's Niagara Falls is a highly cinematic landscape, with a thundering 142 movie credits to its name. Meanwhile, Mexico's top location is another to have been namechecked in the very movies in which it has appeared: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is a gritty John Huston flick in which Humphrey Bogart goes prospecting for gold in the eponymous mountain range.

South America

Chile and Ecuador's number one locations are tied for top 'place' in South America. Each has 50 credited appearances on IMDb. The Atacama Desert in Chile is famous for having the largest radio telescope in the world. The observatory's high-tech appearance makes it ripe for espionage flicks - from Spy Kids to James Bond.

Ecuador's star location is a little more genteel. The Galapagos Islands are the birthplace of the theory of evolution, thanks to the vast diversity of unusual animals who dwell there. This makes it a natural destination for documentary-makers, as well as providing an exotic background for Master and Commander and, ironically, The Bible: In the Beginning (another John Huston picture.)

Europe

London's Trafalgar Square seems to appear in every "arriving in London" montage ever, so it's no wonder it's the top location in Europe. The real-life square is packed with galleries and museums, and frequented by protesters due to its proximity to the UK's political district. This is what makes it so haunting to see it completely abandoned as the zombie flick 28 Days Later unfolds.

Spain's top location is also in our top five. The Cabo de Gata is a coastal region in Andalusia. Sounds a bit broad for a movie location? Not when you realize it is known as " Europe's only desert," qualifying the arid landscape to double for America's wild west in dozens of Spaghetti Westerns, such as Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Middle East and Central Asia

Okay, so Kabul is a whole city, but it's the most-credited location in this region and the fourth most-credited in the world. As the capital of Afghanistan, this exquisite city has found itself at the heart of a series of civil and international conflicts over recent decades, and is therefore the subject of dozens of documentaries. However, locally-produced cinema is on the rise as the city experiences a rebirth.

The number two location in the region is another capital city but with fewer than half the credits of Kabul (113 vs. 45). Damascus, in Syria, has been another focal point of armed conflict. But it is also an important cultural center and one of the region's oldest cities, having been founded in the 3rd millennium B.C. Like Kabul, it owes much cinematic coverage to the documentary form. Syria has a fascinating film history of its own - just much of it doesn't appear on IMDb!

Rest of Asia and Oceania

Feel like you've seen Sydney Opera House somewhere before? Australia's signature building is also the nation's number one movie star (category: locations). In addition to all the live shows that have been filmed and added to IMDb (including Live Aid), the location has also provided a stunning background for action flicks including Mission: Impossible II and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.

In Asia, Japan's top location claims 19 credits across various genres. Mount Fuji is an aesthetic icon, place of reverence, and thrilling landscape. It has played in pictures as diverse as the 1956 Around the World in 80 Days and the Japanese classic, Street Without End.

Africa

Dakar is Senegal's capital and a lot of movies are set here. However, it still seems curious that it is the number one location in Africa, particularly with the mega-industry of Nollywood in Nigeria. Maybe Senegalese producers are more diligent in completing the IMDb paperwork. Senegal has a fascinating cinematic history, although it has tapered off of late. The work of Djibril Diop Mambéty, including Dakar-set Touki Bouki, is particularly worth a look.

Egypt's most-filmed location is the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor. In addition to serving many documentaries, the temple appears in the Agatha Christie adaptation Death on the Nile. And, of course, James Bond has been here to do battle with steel-toothed henchman, Jaws - in The Spy Who Loved Me.

The world of movies offers a caricatured landscape of the real world. Frequently-used exterior shots promote the importance of big national monuments, searing them into the collective memory in a way that doesn't quite match the history of the world outside the cinema. And they look great being blown-up, jumped-off, or kissed beneath by our favorite (human) stars, too.

Don't forget to check out the table below to sort through our full movie location data!
METHODOLOGY
Using IMDb Advanced Search we selected the movies from 01.01.1900 to 31.12.2020 that had data about filming locations.

1. Then we collected these locations from all the movies in our list and compiled a long list of movie / location pairs.

2. We then counted the number of appearances of each location and separated the locations by countries.

The data was collected in December 2020.

Babs is Lead Content Strategist and financial guru. She loves exploring fresh ways to save more and enjoy life on a budget! When she's not writing, you'll find her binge-watching musicals, reading in the (sporadic) Chicago sunshine and discovering great new places to eat. Accio, tacos!

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The Most-Filmed Location in Every Country - NetCredit Blog

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Click to see full resolution Key Findings It's no surprise that the US dominates the location tables, seeing that the US film industry is the most profitable in the world (although Bollywood makes more films). Central Park is a bona fide movie star, with 532 appearances to its name - including a title appearance in a movie from the year 1900 named In Central Park.

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- YouTube

-Netflix

-Hulu

-Disney+

-Apple TV

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"The company asked 2,030 people, ages 23 to 62, to answer questions about books that had turned into movies or TV shows. The results were fairly close. Overall, 34% of people enjoyed the book, compared to 27% of people who liked the movie more."

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The results also reveal the most-watched film adaptation.

As a child, reading was one of my favorite hobbies, and it still is to this day. I've always loved immersing myself in the pages of a novel, entirely captivated by fictional characters and their stories. One part of the experience that almost always left me disappointed, however, was when one of my beloved books became a movie. And according to a recent survey, I'm not the only person who is let down by book adaptations.

SuperSummary, an online resource that provides study guides for fiction and non-fiction books, wanted to know the answer to a burning question: Book or movie? The company asked 2,030 people, ages 23 to 62, to answer questions about books that had turned into movies or TV shows.

The results were fairly close. Overall, 34% of people enjoyed the book, compared to 27% of people who liked the movie more. Although 82% of surveyors said "screen adaptations help books come to life," 46% of people argued that film adaptations "would never be as good as the book." Almost 25% of people declared that movies even ruined the original book. The top three books that people preferred over the films were: The Da Vinci Code with 53.9%, The Chronicles of Narnia series with 52%, and the Fifty Shades trilogy with 47.3%.

The top reasons for not approving the film adaptation weren't surprising. Nearly 32% said that the movie was too different than the book, 13.4% of people said the film lacked key details, and a little more than 10% of surveyors don't like the approximate two-hour movie time limit.

Although respondents were divided on whether they prefer reading vs. watching, they were more aligned with the most-watched adaptation. Forrest Gump took home the top spot, with 76.9% of people saying they've seen it. However, only 5.6% of people said they enjoyed the book. Following Tom Hanks' movie was the Jurassic Park series with 74.8%, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with 73.7%, and the Harry Potter series with 70.1%.

Perhaps the slight preference of the book over the movie is related to libraries being a little more popular than movie theaters. I completely understand why people might prefer watching a live, condensed version of a story on the big screen, but to me, there are few simpler pleasures than getting lost in the pages of a good book.

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Book or Movie? A New Survey Settles the Debate Over Which is Better

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The results also reveal the most-watched film adaptation. As a child, reading was one of my favorite hobbies, and it still is to this day. I've always loved immersing myself in the pages of a novel, entirely captivated by fictional characters and their stories.

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9. Best Movies Based on Books That Are Actually Worth Watching

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9. Best Movies Based on Books That Are Actually Worth Watching

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- Pride and Prejudice

-Crazy Rich Asians

- Gone Girl

-A Simple Favor

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"The main difference between Books and Movies is that Books are something that is being written by, they have authors and poets while Movies are like a long sequence of different scenes that are played by actors. Books can be based on true events, someone's life story."

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Comparing and contrasting Books with Movies is comparing the two best things. It would be like committing a mortal sin. No matter how many stats and facts you have, in the end, you will be unable to choose one amongst them. Books and Movies are something that people enjoy the most as they let them escape reality.

They provide you with a whole different kind of travel where only and only your mind and eyes can travel to. What appeals to a person the most is that every scene of a movie and every page of a movie takes them to another dimension and lets them stay lost in it.

Books vs Movies
The main difference between Books and Movies is that Movies have different genres and are awarded for them too based on their categories, while books have their own novels and novelties or which they are awarded. Books are written by authors or maybe poets, but Movies are something that has many people behind them paying their contributions in different forms.
Books are something that is written by authors. It can be about anything, biography, auto biography, novels, love story, suspense based, anything. Several books have won famous literary awards and not just the awards. They have caused havoc in the market by the time of their release. Books play equally an important role in impacting anyone's life. They can be based on true events too. They are basically channels for creativity.

Movies are something that is played on the screen, have music, picturization of every scene, and the roles are played by the actors. They are something who have many people behind them paying their contributions in different forms. Like there is a writer who writes the dialogues while the story is written by someone else, the movie is directed by another person, produced by another, and the roles are played by someone else.

Comparison Table Between Books and Movies

What are they?
Books are something that is being written by, they have authors and poets.

Movies are like a long sequence of different scenes that are played by actors.

Based on
Books can be based on true events, someone's life story.

Movies are generally hypothetical but they can also be based on true life events.

Awards
Many different literary awards are given to the best books and novels.

There are many great awards like Oscar, Grammy's, and many more for the best movies of all time.

Genres
There are no specific genres for books.

Movies have different genres like- horror, comedy, romantic, mystery, suspense.

What are Books?

Books are something that is written by authors. It can be about anything, biography, auto biography, novels, love story, suspense based, anything. Several books have won famous literary awards and not just the awards. They have caused havoc in the market by the time of their release. Books play equally an important role in impacting anyone's life. They can be based on true events too. They are basically channels for creativity.

Some of the greatest of all these books are listed below, and if you haven't read any of them, you are really missing out on some great stuff. The first one would be 'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy, who is a Russian author. Another one is about kid's fantasy, and the name is one of the most popular ones that is none other than 'Harry Potter' by the world-famous author J.K. Rowling.

What are Movies?

Movies are something that is played on the screen, have music, picturization of every scene, and the roles are played by the actors. They are something that has many people behind it paying their contributions in different forms. Like there is a writer who writes the dialogues while the story is written by someone else, the movie is directed by another person, produced by another, and the roles are played by someone else.

Movies are watched by almost everyone, although it does depends on the taste and genres that everyone prefers. Some of the greatest ones are listed here. The very first would be Citizen Kane by Orsen Welles. The movie is basically full of drama along with mystery. Another great movie that was listed in the top #100 movies is The Godfather, which is based on a novel and has won several awards. It was created by Mario Puzo.

Main Differences Between Books and Movies

1. The main difference between Books and Movies is that Books are something that is being written by, they have authors and poets while Movies are like a long sequence of different scenes that are played by actors.

2. Books can be based on true events, someone's life story. While Movies are generally hypothetical but they can also be based on true life events.

3. There are many different literary awards that are given to the best books and novels, while for movies there are many great awards too like Oscar, Grammy's and many more for the best movies of all time.

4. There are no specific genres for books, but Movies have different genres like- horror, comedy, romantic, mystery, suspense.

5. An example of one of the best books is- Harry potter, while The Godfather is an example of one of the best movies.

Conclusion

It is concluded now that differentiating between Books and Movies is nothing but a never-ending task. They are like some tunnels having both the ends open that allow the audience to be back and forth. Both of them can be based on some real-life event or portraying something that has happened to a person in the past.

But then again, no matter how many stats and facts you have, in the end, you will be unable to choose one amongst them. Books and Movies are something that people enjoy the most as they let them escape reality. It is just pointless to compare the two and has no end.

References

1. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1935-05257-000

2. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11263-016-0987-1.pdf

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Difference Between Books and Movies (With Table) – Ask Any Difference

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Difference Between Books and Movies (With Table)

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"Despite the fact that careers in film can be incredibly rewarding, they typically come with a low level of job security as you'll usually be hired on a film-by-film basis. Wages, working hours and locations vary, depending on the size of the production you're working on and the level of funding behind it."

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While there are plenty of things that need doing on set, breaking into the UK film industry will be your first challenge - explore the range of roles that come together to make a feature film

Career opportunities in film

This is a notoriously competitive industry to get into. Many film jobs aren't advertised in the traditional sense, qualifications aren't as important as experience and film graduate schemes aren't readily available either.

Instead, you'll need to be proactive in contacting film production companies and studios through speculative applications to enquire about any vacancies. Even then, you'll find that structured entry-level programmes such as film internships are scarce.

Graduates may be able to secure a week or two of film work experience as a runner, but you'll need to grasp the opportunity by impressing the film crew with your skills and by turning your hand to anything asked of you in order to land a contract for the next shoot.

If you didn't go to film school or study the subject at university, you can develop your filmmaking skills by working on student or local productions. There are plenty of resources online to learn about screenwriting, or you could join likeminded individuals in making a short film through relevant social media groups.

Despite the fact that careers in film can be incredibly rewarding, they typically come with a low level of job security as you'll usually be hired on a film-by-film basis. Wages, working hours and locations vary, depending on the size of the production you're working on and the level of funding behind it.

Also, the majority of film set jobs are filled by freelance workers, so it's up to you to show dedication to the craft and make a name for yourself.

Read about some of the most common filmmaking occupations and explore those best suited to your talents and aspirations.

Sign up to get personalised job alerts and shortlist your favourites

Film director

The most popular of all film industry jobs and crucial to the completion of any film, directors are responsible for overseeing all aspects of the creative process and bringing them together.

This involves managing budgets, holding meetings with all departments at the planning, execution and post-production stages of filming, and concisely and effectively communicating your vision for the film.

You'll need strong communication skills, a fair but firm approach to giving orders, excellent time management and the ability to problem solve under pressure.

While a degree in film production will provide you with a deeper understanding of what's involved in making a film, practical experience will help you build a network of contacts in the industry and allow you to develop your filmmaking skills.

Learn more about becoming a film director.

Director of photography

Otherwise known as cinematographers, the director of photography (DoP) will work with the film director to realise scenes in line with their visions. They manage the camera and lighting crews on a film set, make artistic and technical decisions and review footage in the post-production stage.

You'll need an in-depth knowledge of camera and lighting equipment and what will and won't work for certain shoots, an excellent eye for detail, the ability to make reasoned decisions quickly, and be prepared to both give and take direction. You'll oversee film crews, but if the director has specific intentions, you may have very little control over how a scene is shot.

To progress to this advanced position, you'll likely start in a junior role - for example, as a runner or camera assistant, where you'll gain the experience needed to direct others.

Film producer

You'll oversee the creative process of a film from conception to completion, working closely with the director to make artistic and technical decisions about shooting, budgets and post-production.

A strong head for figures, excellent leadership skills and the ability to make reasoned decisions under pressure to ensure the smooth running of production are what's needed.

Progressing to this senior role as a film producer will require genuine passion and creativity, carrying out work experience and networking at any opportunity. You may have to start in a junior role, such as a runner or programme researcher, to get your foot in the door.

Take a look at what else is involved with being a film producer.

Film editor

Working with raw footage in post-production to compile an end result that's suitable for release, a film editor will often work closely with the director to ensure their work is in line with the director's intentions for the film.

It's no simple task - crucial, 'invisible' aspects of film, such as comedic timing, pacing and suspense, are what often elevate a production from good to outstanding quality and are the result of sharp, seamless editing. This may involve changing up the order of scenes or removing some completely.

Successful editors pay close attention to detail, bring creative flair and a passion for film to the role, and have the patience and self-motivation to experiment with editing.

To become a film editor, you'll need to build a wealth of experience working in TV and on smaller productions before progressing to editing feature-length films. You might enter the industry as a runner, trainee or second assistant, moving up the ranks to first assistant before becoming an editor in your own right.

Learn more about the role of a film editor.

Lighting technician

In any film, good lighting is crucial to creating the right atmosphere. This is what a lighting technician brings to the production process through technical knowledge, a good level of physical fitness for lifting heavy lighting equipment as well as creative flair.

Many lighting technicians working in the film industry are already qualified electricians, while some may also have a specialist degree in a relevant subject such as lighting technology or design.

Whichever route you choose, pre-entry experience into this role is essential - whether that's through finding a job as a technician, helping on student film projects while you're studying or securing work experience with a professional.

Find out about a lighting technician's salary, working hours and more.

Runner

If you're wondering how to get into the film industry, you'll find that while the runner is the most junior position in any film production department, it's often the entry point into this career.

It's a runner's job to carry out administrative tasks and aid the smooth running of film production. Your film work will involve setting up locations for a shoot, hiring props and transporting equipment, among other tasks required by the director, actors and other members of the film crew.

As this is a varied and time-demanding role, you'll need to be resilient, enthusiastic and work diligently.

Many runners are hired by being in the right place at the right time or through their contacts rather than their qualifications and can remain in the position for a year or longer before progressing onto researcher roles.

See what else you need to know about being a runner in the film industry.

Location manager

A location manager is responsible for researching, identifying and organising access to sites for film shoots. It's a demanding role, where you'll need to manage both cast and crew to ensure your stints on location are completed within the time and budget constraints.

Location managers are organised, good problem solvers and work well under high levels of pressure.

While you won't need a degree in a particular subject, those related to media or production will give you an advantage. You may also look into completing a course accredited by the industry's skills body, ScreenSkills.

Discover what you'll need to do to become a location manager.

Sound technician

It's the job of a sound technician to operate the equipment needed to record, mix and enhance the audio of a film. In this role you could either be working on set, liaising with producers to meet their sound requirements and monitoring the recording process, or in post-production where you'll integrate audio with visual content and create and alter sound effects.

Many film productions require a team of sound technicians in order to run smoothly, so you'll have to be an excellent communicator and good team player. You'll also need patience to work with the meticulous attention to detail and timings the role requires.

You don't need a degree to become a sound technician in film. However, as you'll need an in-depth understanding of the technicalities, equipment and practices the role encompasses, studying for a relevant HND or degree would be to your advantage.

Discover the full range of responsibilities a sound technician has.

Programme researcher

As a programme researcher on a film, you'll provide support to the producers, director and writers by carrying out factual and picture research to ensure what's being shown in the film is accurate.

As well as using the internet, film archives and museum collections to carry out your research, you'll be responsible for gaining copyright clearance for the use of music and literary material in the production.

This area of work is open to all graduates, although having a degree in a relevant subject will be an advantage. You may be required to have specialist knowledge depending on the genre of the film.

Learn more about becoming a programme researcher.

Hair and make-up artists

Providing a crucial visual aspect to any film, hair stylists and make-up artists ensure the actors in a film appear authentic to the time period the film is set, its geographical location and age of the character they're playing.

This role requires a keen eye for detail as well as a broad and deep understanding of the hair and make-up industry and its history.

You'll need to be technically qualified to at least Level 2 standard in media make-up and Level 2 or 3 in hairdressing. You'll also benefit from gaining work experience wherever you can, even if this is in a salon or theatre rather than a film set.

Find out what else is required to be a hair stylist or make-up artist.

Other film industry jobs

Find out more

Written by Daniel Higginbotham, Editor

Prospects · January 2023

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Discover how to enter the UK's thriving film industry and learn about the variety of roles available, what each job involves and what you'll need to be successful.

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Why Pursue a Career in Film? People who plan for a career in film come from multiple backgrounds and have different interests and skills. However, most individuals enter the field as a way to express their creativity and passion for cinema. If you have both of these traits, you may be well-suited for a career in film.

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Production Assistant (PA)

Associate/Assistant Producer.

Apprentice/Assistant Editor.

Camera Operator/Assistant.

Boom Operator/Sound Trainee.

1st/2nd Assistant Director.

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The reason we love movies is because filmmakers cater to our fears, desires, and necessities. Film can be used as a distraction from our everyday life, a wake up call to our society, or comic relief when life seems to just be too serious.

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"Movies affect many of us powerfully because the combined impact of images, music, dialogue, lighting, sound and special effects can elicit deep feelings and help us reflect on our lives. They can help us to better understand our own lives, the lives of those around us and even how our society and culture operate."

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"The studies reveal the influence of films on people's beliefs and opinions, stereotypes and attitudes. Movies can have a significant impact on gender and ethnic stereotypes [21,22], change attitudes towards certain groups of people and cause newly formed opinions on various issues."

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Abstract

Nowadays films occupy a significant portion of the media products consumed by people. In Russia, cinema is being considered as a means of individual and social transformation, which makes a contribution to the formation of the Russian audience's outlook, including their attitudes towards topical social issues. At the same time, the question of the effectiveness of films' impact remains an open question in psychological science. According to the empirical orientation of our approach to the study of mass media influence, our goal was to obtain new data on the positive impact of films based on specific experimental research. The task was to identify changes in the attitudes of young people, as the most active viewers, towards topical social issues after watching a specifically selected film. Using a psychosemantic technique that included 25 scales designed to identify attitudes towards elderly people, respondents evaluated their various characteristics before and after watching the film. Using a number of characteristics related to the motivational, emotional and cognitive spheres, significant changes were revealed. At the same time, significant differences were found in assessments of the elderly between undergraduate students and postgraduate students. After watching the film, postgraduate students' attitudes towards elderly people changed in a positive way, while undergraduate students' negative assessments only worsened. The revealed opposite trends can be explained by individual differences of respondents, which include age, educational status as an indicator of individual psychological characteristics, the experience of interaction with elderly people and, as a result, attitudes towards elderly people at the time before watching the movie. The finding that previous attitudes mediate the impact of the film complements the ideas of the contribution of individual differences to media effects. Most of the changes detected immediately after watching the movie did not remain over time. A single movie viewing did not have a lasting effect on viewers' attitudes, and it suggests the further task of identifying mechanisms of the sustainability of changes.

Keywords: psychology of cinema, influence of mass media, impact of films, attitudes, attitudes towards elderly people

1. Introduction

With the development of information technology, a person's immersion in the field of mass media is steadily increasing. A significant portion of consumed media products is occupied by cinema. According to sociological surveys, going to the cinema is the most popular way of spending leisure time in Russia today ( http://www.fond-kino.ru/news/kto-ty-rossijskij-kinozritel/); the audiences of cinemas are growing, the core of which are 18-24 years olds, as well as the frequency of visits-every tenth Russian goes to the cinema several times a month ( https://wciom.ru/index.php?id=236&uid=1785; https://wciom.ru/fileadmin/file/reports_conferences/2018/2018-04-03_kino.pdf; http://www.fond-kino.ru/news/portret-kinoauditorii-rezultaty-monitoringa-za-i-kvartal-2019-goda/), the opportunities and frequency of Internet viewings is expanding, while interest in TV shows is also increasing. The importance of the role that cinema plays in Russia is also confirmed by the close attention currently being paid to the development of the cinema industry: the priority topics of state financing are defined (e.g., "Law and order: the heroes of modern society in the fight against crime terror, extremism and corruption", "On the continuity of military generations, on the successors of military traditions", "Images, patterns of behavior and creative motivation of our contemporary-a man of labor, in the military or a scientist"), while state programs are being launched to open new cinema theatres in small towns. Сinema becomes a "tool for broadcasting state ideology to the masses" (according to S. Zizek [ 1]), and is also being considered as a "means of individual and social transformation" (according to T. Kashani [ 2]) [ 3]. As a result, films are expected to form beliefs, influence opinions and change attitudes, including towards topical social issues.

However, the question of the efficiency of films remains open in psychology. In general, this is a key issue for mass communication research: how much emotion, cognition and behavior are changed under the influence of mass media [ 4, 5]. There are various concepts about this: from "theories of a minimal effect" to "theories of a strong effect" [ 6]. Thus, for example, cultivation theory considers that mass communication contributes to the assimilation of commonly accepted values, norms and forms of behavior [ 7]; and a meta-analysis of studies leads to the conclusion that there is a relationship between the broadcast mass media image of reality and people's attitudes towards it [ 8, 9]. Despite criticisms, cultivation theory is currently being developed [ 10, 11, 12, 13]. On the other hand, supporters of the opposite viewpoint point out the weak effects of mass communication, caused, for example, by the fact that people are becoming more and more subject of their mass media activity as a result of a wider variety of sources of information now and expanding their choices [ 14, 15].

It seems difficult to identify a single mechanism of mass media impact on the human psyche and behavior and to obtain an unambiguous answer to the question about its efficiency [ 6]. This is due to the interconnection of various factors that mediate the influence of mass media (personal experience, realistic content, depth of identification with heroes, personality traits, etc.) [ 16, 17, 18], as well as those factors that constantly impact persons besides those in the media. Therefore, our thoughts and ideas about this issue are largely based on empirical research data, and are not limited to one theory [ 19].

When referring to research of cinema, we can find data on the diverse effects of film exposure. It should be noted that the effectiveness of the impact is determined by what it is directed at: it is more difficult to change human behavior than to influence opinions or attitudes [ 4, 6]. In this regard, there is still a debatable problem on the influence of the media on the aggressive behavior of people [ 20]. This research focuses on the potential of pro-social, "humanistic" impact of films and their effectiveness in solving topical social issues. The studies reveal the influence of films on people's beliefs and opinions, stereotypes and attitudes. Movies can have a significant impact on gender and ethnic stereotypes [ 21, 22], change attitudes towards certain groups of people and cause newly formed opinions on various issues. For example, HIV films contributed to sympathy to people living with HIV [ 4], TV series with transgender characters contributed to positive attitudes towards transgender persons [ 23]; the portrayal of mental disorders in movies had an effect on people's knowledge about and attitudes toward the mentally ill [ 24, 25]. Also, viewing an empathy-arousing film about immigrants induced more positive attitudes toward them [ 26], and watching a movie offering a positive depiction of gay men reduced homophobia [ 27]. Other films influenced people's attitude towards smoking and their intentions to quit [ 28, 29], while a series with a positive donation message helped viewers to make decisions about their own donation [ 30]. It has been shown that emotional involvement in viewing, evaluated using surveys drawing on theories of social learning and social representations, increases the effectiveness of influence [ 30]; immersion in narrative, that correlates with the need for cognition, and is characterized by a shift of focus from the real world to the depicted one, explains the power of impact within the framework of transportation theory [ 31, 32].

Cinema can change people's opinions on specific issues without affecting more stable constructs: for example, the film "JFK" dedicated to the Kennedy assassination influenced judgments about the causes of this crime, but generally did not change the political beliefs of the audience [ 33]; at the same time, the movies "Argo" and "Zero Dark Thirty" changed viewers' opinions about the U.S. government that reflected in an improvement in sentiments about this government and its institutions [ 34]. Movies create images of other countries and stimulate interest in them. For example, European films shaped young viewers' ideas about other European countries-such results were obtained in a study of the role of films and series in the daily life of young Germans through interviews and focus groups [ 35]. Another study showed that whether the movies were violent, scary or happy, the more the viewers were immersed in the stories, the more favorable impressions they had of the places featured in them [ 36].

Various positive effects of films on children and adolescents were revealed. Dramatic films taught teenagers about social interaction with the opposite sex and adults [ 37], had a positive impact on their self-concept [ 38], and, as shown by experiments, increased ethnic tolerance [ 39]; humanistically oriented movies improved skills of children in communicating with peers, increased their desire to help and understand others [ 40, 41].

One of the prime examples of positive impact is Cli-fi movies, which clearly show what we can expect in the near future, and offers ways to think about what can be done to avoid the darkest predictions. Thus, after watching the film "The Day After Tomorrow" (2004), viewers recognized their responsibility for the Earth's ecology and the need to change consumer attitudes towards nature [ 42]. In general, the screening of films on climate issues increases the number of online requests and media discussions on these issues [ 43].

It should be noted that when analyzing the impact of films, conclusions about their effectiveness are the result of different methodological approaches, which have varying advantages and limitations. Content analysis reveals the images, attitudes, stereotypes broadcast by films (e.g., stereotypical portrayals of India [ 44], or images of scientists and current scientific ideas [ 45]) on large data sets; however, questions remain about effectiveness, strength and sustainability of the impact on the audience. The influence of films can be investigated through a survey of viewers; based on this, conclusions are drawn about the links between a person's attitudes and his/her viewer experience, such as in the study of gender attitudes and their correlations with teen movie-viewing habits [ 21]. In experimental studies, exposure effects are detected using pre- and post-film questionnaires; however, the time interval between testing and a film screening, such as a few weeks before viewing the film or a several days after [ 26, 27, 29], can lead to distortion of the results that are caused by the influence on the viewers' attitudes of other factors besides the film; moreover, usually it is not investigated whether new attitudes are retained over time. Often the effects of films are analyzed in experimental conditions where participants watch only short cut scenes from existing films [ 24], which limits the extrapolation of the results.

According to the empirical orientation of our approach, the goal was to obtain new data on the positive impact of films based on a specific experimental study. The task was to identify changes in young people's attitudes towards topical social issues after watching a specifically selected film. Participants had to watch the full version of an existing fiction film. They were tested just before and immediately after watching the movie in order to avoid the influence of other variables on viewers' attitudes. Repeated testing (two weeks after the first viewing) was intended to reveal the sustainability of the changes caused by the film.

In the process of developing the design of the work, it was specified what attitudes would be studied. The choice was determined, first of all, by the social relevance of the topic, but outside the focus of the media in order to reduce the impact of other media sources, and on the other hand, by the availability of a suitable film. Important topics as ethnic stereotypes, attitudes toward people with disabilities, etc. were considered. However, the choice of the topics had to be restricted for various reasons. For example, identifying attitudes toward certain professions (e.g., engineer), whose prestige has significantly declined in Russia in recent decades, was difficult due to the lack of relevant films popularizing them. At the same time, despite the availability of humanistically oriented films dedicated to people with disabilities, the identification of changes in attitudes to them was complicated by the need to take into account additional factors caused by increased attention to the topic and active discussion in various media, which could distort the influence of a film.

Given the limitations and opportunities for the implementation of research tasks, the subject of this study the attitudes towards elderly people. At present, attention to the topic concerning elderly people is growing in Russia, but there is still a prevalence of negative stereotypes [ 46]. A characteristic manifestation of age discrimination against the elderly-ageism-is a biased attitude towards them, especially among young people, as well as a low assessment of their intellectual abilities, activity and "usefulness" for society.

Studies show that the mass media have a significant impact on negative attitudes towards the elderly [ 47]: children have already demonstrated the same stereotypes of the elderly that were depicted in the media [ 48], while young people at large viewed the elderly in general as ineffective, dependent, lonely, poor, angry and disabled, which corresponded to the negative representations of elderly people in the most popular teen movies that cultivated their stereotypes [ 49]. Research of TV films from the 1980s-1990s revealed the stereotypes of elderly people as being social outsiders [ 50], but at the same time a display of positive prejudice contributed to an increase in tolerance towards them within society.

Improving the attitudes of young people towards elderly people is an important social and educational task, the solution of which involves the use of diverse opportunities. Various social projects can be implemented for this purpose, for example, "friendly visitor" types of programs in which young people visit the elderly [ 51, 52], but also mass media, including films, which have a high potential for impact [ 53, 54]. It was found that watching documentary films had a positive effect on both knowledge about aging and attitudes towards the elderly [ 55]; these films significantly improved empathy towards elderly people among university students [ 56].

We suggested that fiction movies, popular especially among young people, could contribute to changing existing biased attitudes towards elderly people. Based on this, the hypothesis states that there is a connection between watching a positive film about the elderly and changes in young people's attitudes towards them in a positive way.

2. Methods

2.1. Participants

A total of 70 individuals participated in this study. Group one contained 40 students of The State Academic University for Humanities (25% male and 75% female). The average age was 19 (M = 19, standard deviation SD = 2.4). Group two consisted of 30 postgraduate students from Russian Academy of Sciences (47% male and 53 % female). The average age was 24 (M = 24, standard deviation SD = 1.6).

All subjects gave their informed consent for inclusion before they participated in the study. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the local ethics committee (Review Board).

2.2. Materials

2.2.1. Film

The film-"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2011), the main characters of which were elderly people, was chosen to be shown to the respondents ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1412386/). Prior to this, a qualitative analysis of empirical material revealed the impact of this film on the attitudes towards elderly people among Russian viewers of different ages. Their reviews on the film, taken from Internet resources devoted to cinema, indicated cognitive effects, expressed in positive changes of ideas about the elderly; the film was perceived quite optimistically and gave hope [ 19]. It was supposed that the movie that humorously shows various situations happening to the elderly heroes would also affect the opinion of young people about elderly people, as it allowed to look at them from new viewpoints, to see that age is not an obstacle to having a full life, and even, conversely, open up new prospects.

2.2.2. Measures

To achieve the goal of the study, a psychosemantic approach is used, which is the most appropriate for studying a person's attitudes towards various objects of reality by reconstructing individual meanings [ 57]. This approach allows us to determine the differences in evaluations of the same object (caused by mass media as well), made by different groups of respondents at different times. For example, changes in the stereotypes of viewers were revealed in relation to representatives of another nation (Russians about the Japanese) during viewing of a TV show [ 57]. In this work, the psychosemantic technique was used, developed specifically to identify attitudes towards the elderly (based on the Kelly's Repertoire lattice method) [ 46]. The technique included 25 7-point scales, according to which respondents rated elderly people. For comparative analysis, the modern youth were evaluated by participants with the same scales.

The respondents also noted the frequency of watching movies ("every day"/"several times a week"/"several times a month"/"several times a year and less"), and evaluated the level of enjoying the film shown ("did not like"/"rather did not like than liked"/"rather liked than disliked"/"liked").

2.3. Procedure

The study was conducted in three stages: the respondents filled out the psychosemantic test before watching the film, then immediately after viewing and again in 2 weeks. During stage 3, only group one participated in the study.

The respondents did not see the film before participating in the study.

2.4. Statistical Methods

In accordance with the data characteristics, non-parametric comparative methods were used. To determine the differences in the assessments before and after watching the movie, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used. To determine the differences in the assessments between different groups of respondents, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. The IBM SPSS Statistics 20 statistical software package was used for data processing.

3. Results and Discussion

As a result of the preliminary data analysis of the group one (students), significant differences were obtained in the assessments given by them to the elderly before and immediately after watching the movie (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.05). However, the analysis of the combined sample (students and postgraduate students) did not reveal such significant differences. Therefore, it was decided to compare the assessments of these two groups of respondents. It appeared that the evaluation of elderly people differed among students and postgraduate students before the film was shown (18 of 25 scales, Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.05). This result could be explained by the individual differences of the participants (students and postgraduates), which led to the necessity to correct the hypothesis and form additional research tasks, including the comparison of groups. Further analysis was carried out separately for each group of respondents, but not for the united group.

Significant differences shown by respondents of the group one before and immediately after watching the film (students) were found in 12 out of the 25 scales ( Table 1 ).

The group of students revealed changes associated with ideas about activities. The respondents saw the elderly as having less initiative, and being purposeless and weak. Moreover, they defined elderly people's way of life as more passive, having no desire for knowledge or for living a full life. The results immediately after watching the film demonstrated that the audience perceived the elderly as being those who strived less to learn new things and perceived them to be less positive and more limited in their interests. Also, the changes of assessments related to the emotional sphere were discovered. The elderly were characterized as even more unrestrained and conflict-prone with a tendency towards depression and showing no emotions.

Comparative analysis of assessments of elderly people before and after watching the film, given by respondents of the group two (postgraduate students), showed significant differences on 14 of the 25 scales ( Table 2 ). Postgraduate students evaluated the elderly, unlike students, more positively after watching the film. Changes on 9 common scales (purposeless - purposeful, cheerful - prone to depression, passive - initiative, conflict - peaceful, traditional - modern, etc.) for students and postgraduate students turned out to be of different directions. After watching the film, the elderly seemed to be more purposeful, active and successful, responsible and with a good sense of humor. There were changes in assessments of the emotional sphere (more cheerful, peaceful) and cognitive (more intelligent) in references to novelty and life in general (the strive to learn new things, the desire for a full life).

Thus, the data revealed changes in attitude towards the elderly people after watching the film. According to a number of their characteristics related to motivational aspects-regulatory, emotional and cognitive spheres-significant changes were revealed, but the tendency of these changes was unexpected. After group one (students) watched the film, a tendency of worsening assessments was found. It was also determined that before the film, students described the elderly more negatively as being less intelligent and interesting, more conflict prone, angry and aggressive than young people (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.01). This generally negative attitude can be explained by a special view of quite young people on the "old age". But why, despite the attempt of the filmmakers to make the image of the elderly positive enough, did the film fail to change students' attitude? Instead, it made the image of elderly persons even less attractive. Meanwhile, there was an opposite trend in group two (postgraduate students). Their assessments of elderly people after watching the film changed for the better. The postgraduate students, unlike undergraduate students, had already demonstrated a more "adequate" view on the elderly before watching the film. Despite a number of negative assessments, the elderly were seen by them as smart and striving for a full life, sociable and interesting.

Comparison of the two groups of respondents confirmed significant differences between students and postgraduate students in the evaluation of the elderly after watching the film ( Table 3 ). The assessments given by undergraduate students and postgraduates differed significantly on 21 out of 25 scales.

The opposite tendencies found in assessments after watching the film could be explained by differences in individual characteristics of respondents, which were not initially considered in our study as factors mediating the impact of the film: age of respondents (more subtle differentiation), educational status, as an indicator of individual psychological characteristics and experiences of interactions with elderly people. The suggestion of differences between students and postgraduates by personality is consistent with the results of other studies [ 58], and is indirectly confirmed by the fact that only about 1 out of 40 students become postgraduate students (data for Russia). In our study, differences between students and postgraduate students already manifested in differences in their attitudes towards the elderly before watching the film.

Then the film, which showed some negative aspects of life for elderly people (loneliness, needlessness, diseases, fears, physical limitations "comic" behavior), despite the optimistic ending, could strengthen the negative attitudes of very young people (students) towards the elderly, whose images might not yet be fully formed. On the other hand, postgraduate students might have a more complex view on elderly people, because of age and more diverse interactions with the elderly, for example, in scientific work. In this case, their perceptions of the film could be focused on its positive ideas, strengthening their previously formed positive image of an elderly person. In addition, postgraduate students, who have chosen the scientific career path, most likely have a high level of analytical skills that contributed to more complex perceptions of the world and a deep assessment of the phenomena that could affect their attitudes towards the older generation and the interpretation of their images in the movies. At the same time, the characteristics of the film itself, as well as the cultural differences between its creators and viewers, might cause additional negative impacts on students' perceptions. Comedy, as a genre, could have an opposite effect. Younger people perceived the desire of older characters to give their lives new meanings in their own way and they saw a futility in these attempts. Respondents with more experience could be more tolerant to the specifics of the genre, and their perception of the film was more complicated and implemented in a broader context.

Thus, comparison of the results of the analysis for both groups of respondents suggests that the different changes in viewers' attitudes towards objects of reality that occur after watching a movie can be explained by differences in the attitudes before watching the film. This effect can also be explained by the degree of identification with the characters [ 31, 59, 60], which is influenced by the previous attitudes of the viewers. For example, a study of the impact of films on attitudes towards migrants showed that greater identification with the characters induced more positive attitudes toward immigration, but only when previous prejudice was low or moderate [ 26]. In this regard, the various effects of the film on students and postgraduate students could be caused by the different degrees of their identification with the characters of the film, despite the fact that a large difference in age with the characters could complicate this process for all participants in the study. The conclusion that previous attitudes mediate the impact of the film complements the ideas of the contribution of individual differences to media effects [ 61]. In addition, this conclusion has practical value: in order to achieve the desired impact of films, it is necessary to identify the viewers' individual attitudes before a screening.

At the third stage of the study, it was examined whether changes remained over time. Two weeks after watching the movie, respondents (group one) re-took the test.

Significant differences were found only on 4 scales (strives to a full life - lost the meaning of life, craving for spirituality - limited interests, quickly tired - high in stamina, traditional - modern) ( Table 4 ). The continuing changes in the characteristics related to the inferiority and limitations of elderly people's lives may indicate the most striking and memorable moments in the film that had the greatest impact on viewers. The assessments of the other characteristics did not differ significantly from those that were identified before watching the film. That leads to the conclusion that a single movie viewing, in general, did not have a lasting effect on the viewers' attitudes toward the elderly. Most of the changes discovered immediately after watching the movie did not remain over time. Studying the mechanisms of the formation of sustainable changes is a task for future research. One of the directions of such research could be to investigate the influence of additional cognitive processing (e.g., discussion after watching the movie) on the viewers' attitudes towards objects and the sustainability of changes over time.

The correlation between the gender of the respondents and changes in attitudes after watching the film was determined by comparing the assessments separately for males and females in each group. As a result, in group one, women were found to have significant differences in ratings on 13 scales, and men in three, two of which were common (no desire to learn anything - the desire to learn new skills, traditional - modern, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.05). The data showed greater changes in the attitudes among women than among men after watching the film. At the same time, a comparison of the male and female participants in the group two did not reveal such results. The analysis found an equal number of significant differences in assessments (on 10 scales) before and after watching the film (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p < 0.05). Thus, it can be assumed that gender had a lower impact on changes in attitudes after watching a film than other individual characteristics of respondents.

The data on the frequency of watching movies was obtained: 56% of respondents watch movies several times a week and more often, 44%-several times a month and less often. However, there were no differences between these viewers in the assessments before and after watching the film (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). The degree of general interest in cinema did not affect the change of viewers' attitudes after watching the film.

It was not possible to determine the connection between liking the film and the changes in attitudes, since the differentiation of respondents by this factor was not found. Only six young people noted they did not like the film, while the others gave it a positive evaluation.

The study has limitations caused due to an assumption of no significant differences between students and postgraduates in the effectiveness of the film's impact on them. The revealed differences between undergraduate students and postgraduate students led to the initial sample of young people being divided into two samples with smaller sizes already used during the research. In addition, for the same reason, some variables that could more accurately demonstrate the differences between students and postgraduate students and explain the effects of the film were not considered. The respondents' attitudes before watching the film were taken into account, as well as additional factors on the impact effectiveness, such as the degree of general interest in cinema and liking of the viewed film, which could presumably increase its impacts. But a deeper study, for example, of the processes of identifying viewers with the film characters, probably linked to the viewers' attitudes before watching, could reinforce these findings.

4. Conclusions

As a result of the study, changes in the viewers' attitudes after watching the film were identified. Young people changed their assessments of regulatory, cognitive and emotional characteristics of the elderly people after watching a film about the elderly. At the same time, significant differences were found between students and postgraduate students in their assessments of the elderly. After watching the film, students' negative attitudes towards elderly people got worse, while postgraduate students' assessments, on the contrary, changed for the better. The revealed opposite trends can be explained by individual differences between the respondents, which include age, educational status as an indicator of individual psychological characteristics, experience of interaction with elderly people and, as a result, attitudes towards elderly people at the time before watching the film. Most of the changes in the viewers' attitudes detected immediately after watching the movie did not remain over time.

In general, the study confirms the potential for a positive impact, as in the case of improving the postgraduates' attitudes, but at the same time demonstrates the need to take into account the individual differences of viewers to achieve desired results. In particular, differences in attitudes before watching a movie are probably causes of differences in the effectiveness of the film's impact. The initially negative attitude towards elderly people among students could contribute to the negative influence of the film on them. The obtained results form the basis of further research and pose the important questions: clarifying the contribution of individual differences to the effectiveness of the impact, forecasting the positive influence of movies on different groups of people and determining the mechanisms of the sustainability of changes.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the engagement and involvement of the research participants.

Funding

The research was carried out within a state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, project №0159-2019-0005.

Conflicts of Interest

There is no conflict of interest.

References

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Articles from Behavioral Sciences are provided here courtesy of Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

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Impact of Films: Changes in Young People's Attitudes after Watching a Movie

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Nowadays films occupy a significant portion of the media products consumed by people. In Russia, cinema is being considered as a means of individual and social transformation, which makes a contribution to the formation of the Russian audience's outlook, including their attitudes towards topical social issues.

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- Writing

- Structure

-The Vision

-Actros

-Cinematography

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Every time I watch a movie I don't like, or that I think is bad, I find myself wondering: what are the key ingredients that separate good movies from bad movies? What actually makes a movie good?
The key ingredients that make a movie "good" are when the acting, directing, writing, cinematography, and overall production value all come together to tell one cohesive, entertaining, and impactful story. In essence, a good movie uses all these tools of filmmaking to tell a compelling story that makes you feel.
That's just the short version, of course. There's so much more that goes into creating a good movie, and since certain ingredients, like writing or directing, can be subjective to the viewer's individual tastes and opinions, separating good movies from bad ones can be complicated.

However, it is impossible for a movie to be considered "good" without all or most of these key ingredients involved. Because film is such a collaborative medium, it requires multiple artists with various talents all working together to make one cohesive product.

So let's have a look at each individual ingredient that goes into a good movie and see how they all add up and interact with each other to make a movie most people can objectively call good!

Ingredient #1: It all starts with good writing.

In case you didn't know, every great movie that was ever made started with a great script.

In fact, almost every movie that gets made has to start with a script. Unless it's a big franchise tentpole movie a studio has planned years in advance (I'm looking at you, fourth Spider Man reboot!), you need a locked script written before you can start working on a movie.

Without a script, how would the production designers know what sets they need to build? How would the casting directors know who to cast? How would the cinematographers know what to shoot or the director what to direct?

Screenplays are blueprints that every other department working on a movie uses to inform their own decision-making.

You might think that directors are the ones who tell everyone else what to do, but you'd be remiss to think costume designers and sound mixers don't reference the script to inform their decisions on how to tell the story.

And while directors have a vision that guides the work of the other departments, their vision still refers back to the movie that jumps off the page and into their head when they read the words of the script.

What makes good writing?

Good screenplays do more than just describe what happens in a movie; good writers will write visual metaphors woven in throughout their work to reinforce their story's themes.

They will characterize actions and dialogue choices so each word chosen tells you something about the characters and how they are feeling - without writing out how the characters are feeling like novels do.

Good writing is also entertaining; it keeps the action moving and always keeps the audience asking what's next?

Beyond these generalizations, there is something else that every good screenplay has that makes a movie feel like it's good: story structure.

What is story structure?

In traditional western narrative storytelling, story structure is the gears churning behind the clock face that makes the hands turn on time. Story structure in movies refers generally to the traditional three-act narrative arc, where the movie has a beginning, middle, and ending.

While there are many categorical systems, theories, and even formulas different writers use to define the story structure of any given film, most modern American stories follow similar narrative conventions that adhere closely to Joseph Campbell's theory of The Hero With a Thousand Faces.

Most stories follow a single character, the hero, who ventures forth from their familiar world after an inciting incident and takes up the call to adventure to achieve a particular goal, where they face a series of trials and tribulations, overcome a lowest moment, face a final confrontation, then return home having changed.

Why story structure matters.

When a movie follows the above formula, it feels satisfying to the viewer. That's because we've all seen hundreds of movies that follow the same structure, and have been trained what to expect from a film.

When certain elements are missing from the familiar structure we're used to, like a character never overcoming a lowest moment, or a final confrontation that feels underwhelming, we feel as if something is missing or wrong with the movie.

Sometimes a movie follows the structure too perfectly - and feels like a hundred other movies we've seen before. In this case, the audience will feel the film is too predictable and boring, and not feel as invested in the story because they aren't asking themselves what comes next.

The secret to writing a good movie is writing something familiar that feels new - either by blending two genres into something that feels original, or writing something that twists the normal conventions we are used to, but in a way that feels exciting as opposed to confusing.

A good script keeps you guessing while also rewarding you for paying attention. This is where little narrative tricks like plants and payoffs help you - by planting a detail early in the script that comes back and pays off at the end, those audience members will be surprised - but also satisfied.

Ultimately, the success or failure of a script comes down to how satisfying an experience the viewer has while watching the film. Do they feel invested? Do they care what happens to the characters? Do the characters change in ways that make sense? Do they feel what the characters feel? Or what the writer feels?

Writing is communication - and communicating your story in a way that makes the viewers feel what you want them to feel while telling a compelling story is the key ingredient to good writing.

Ingredient #2: Directing with a vision.

Did you know that the only two requirements to be a director is to 1) have a vision and 2) be able to communicate it to your team?

A directing teacher in college told our class this once and I never forgot it.

That's because it's true; the director doesn't have to know how to light a scene, work a camera, or edit the film. Does it help if they know what everyone else does? Of course! But it's not required.

Instead, the director only has to know how to communicate what they want (their vision) and hire talented people who can do all of that other stuff.

What makes good directing?

The most important thing that separates good directors from bad directors is how well they can communicate with their cast and crew in order to get what they want on screen.

When one or two individual elements of a film aren't working as well as the others, like great actors wearing bad wigs in an important scene, it is often because the director didn't put as much focus in that department as, say, the cinematography.

Or it could be the director wasn't able to communicate properly what they wanted, and the result became mixed.

Good directing, instead, is when the director is able to guide the choices of every department towards one singular, cohesive story.

Every decision on a screen, no matter how small, should be made in service to the original story, and should play a part; from the placement of the camera to the clothes an actor wears, everything is visual information being conveyed on the screen, and the best directors keep this in mind when they make decisions and guide their teams.

Good directors motivate actors to make choices that best tell where the character is in the life of the story.

Good directors work with cinematographers to light the scenes and place the cameras in ways that creatively emphasize important story points.

Good directors let the costume and production designers communicate how the world around the characters impacts them and their choices.

If you want to learn more about directing and filmmaking from the masters themselves, have a look at our article Best Masterclasses For Filmmakers and Directors Online.

Also, if you're an aspiring director yourself, you can read a lot of advice in our article How To Be A Good Director.

The role of editing in the direction of a film.

There is another element to directing a film I haven't touched on yet; the editing. Editing is the act of putting together the various shots of the film into one continuous flow that makes up the movie.

There's a phrase I've heard tossed around by various industry insiders that I'd like to paraphrase: "You write the movie three times; when you write the script, when you shoot the film, and when you cut it together."

That's why I'm including editing as part of the directing ingredient of a film; because the choices a director and editor make together on when to use (or not use) each shot, reaction, sound effect or line of dialogue are some of the most important a director ever makes.

Good directors are often good editors themselves, but the best directors allow others to edit their movie. That's because the editor is the first audience for the footage that the director and their team created.

By letting the editor take a stab at putting the footage together, the director will often get a new perspective on their own work, which can help them see what they've created with fresh eyes.

The best directors will find great editors and work with them to allow the editor's narrative voice to come through, just as much or even sometimes more than their own.

The more editors and directors work together, the more they start to understand what each other likes. If the combined result resonates with audiences, then that team will want to work together again to create more great movies.

This is true of every department head a director works with on a film; the more film crews work as a team that understands each other's strengths and weaknesses, the better they will get at working together, and they can create great work more consistently.

Directing the music and sound of a film

Besides the acting and cinematography, one of the most important choices a director must make is deciding the tone of the film.

Unless specifically dictated by the script, the director will be the guiding hand in determining the film's tone.

Outside of the performances of the actors, the score and soundtrack of the film is the director's main lever for manipulating the tone and emotions of the audience.

By using different songs, two different directors can direct the same scene, and one could be a somber tear-jerker while the other a hilarious darkly comedic romp.

If you don't believe in the power that music has on the movie-going experience, just watch this video:

Read our interview with sound designer Peter Albrechsen here.

Ingredient #3: Actors that bring the story to life.

As film is a human art form, no film would be complete without at least some type of human story for us to relate to.

One of the most successful production companies on Earth is known for doing exactly that, but with non-human characters; I'm talking about Pixar of course!

It doesn't matter if we're watching a Pixar movie about anthropomorphized bugs, toys, fish, or feelings, Pixar has a way of honing in on the human story behind every frame of their movies.

It's impossible for Pixar to do this without great performers behind the cameras. For instance, how would we be able to feel for Woody in Toy Story without the heartstring-pulling vocals of Tom Hanks? Or the lovable ditzy-ness of Ellen playing Dory in Finding Nemo? Or what about the lovable cooing and beeping in the little robots Wall-E and Eva in Wall-E?

What makes good acting?

It might seem ironic to start any discussion on acting by referencing digitally created characters, but the power of performance is vital to our experience as viewers. How are we supposed to invest in a story if we don't feel something?

It's through great acting that we empathize and relate to the characters on screen. Even though we know it's all pretend, great actors make us believe that they are real people with real problems in a real world outside our own. If something is important to a character, it should feel important to us. That's what great performances do.

Where bad actors make the lines they read feel cheesy or cringey, great actors make their lines sound inspired, impromptu, and natural. Where a bad actor struggles to communicate how they are feeling even when the lines are written for them, great actors can communicate an entire backstory with just one look.

The best actors work well together and feed off one another; when a scene comes alive, it's because all the actors in that scene are living and breathing the world of that film and gaining momentum from each other's energy - which is why casting is so important.

The role of casting in the quality of acting.

Casting is the process of finding the actors to play all of the parts in a movie. Overseen by casting directors, casting is a vital part of getting a movie made, and an even more important aspect of whether or not the overall acting of a film will feel good or bad.

When you think of casting for Hollywood movies, you probably think about leading roles and leading actors like Leonardo Dicaprio, Viola Davis, Tom Hanks or Denzel Washington (like how great would a movie be between those four?!)

However, casting directors have to work with the director to cast everyone from the leads and supporting roles all the way down to the background talent in the background of every shot.

Believe it or not, a ton of what we consider good or bad acting depends entirely on whether or not an actor was properly cast for the role.

This isn't to say that there's a right way or a wrong way to cast a film; rather, the role of a casting director is to find talented (and / or popular) actors that embody the essence of a particular character.

On top of that, the ensemble of a film can make or break the success of a film. If the cast works well together, it will elevate the entire film; but if even one or two miscast actors don't seem to fit into the world of the movie or the characters they are playing, it can make the whole film feel somewhat awkward or off-balance.

Great movies feel immersive; they feel like their own world, where the stakes, story, and everyone involved in it feel real to us. Even imagined characters need to feel real in their own world for us to imagine them generously. Which is why it is important for great acting to create that sense of reality, even inside the fantastical.

Great actors make us feel what they are feeling and identify as them - even if they look different from us or live lives that are radically different from our own. To understand each other is to understand ourselves, right?

When we identify with their on-screen trials and tribulations, we are called to a deeper level of understanding of the human condition - which is what makes great acting feel so magical, and makes a good movie even better.

Ingredient #4: Cinematography that awes and inspires.

Cinematography is the art of photographing moving pictures. It's what we refer to as "the shots" of a movie.

The cinematographer, or director of photography, is the person in charge of the visual look and feel of the film and works closely with the director to tell the story on the page in the style of the director's vision. They can operate the camera themselves, but don't always do so.

What makes great cinematography?

The best directors and cinematographers work closely together to carefully craft each frame of the film, and by doing so, use each frame to convey meaning and importance to the overall story.

Everything from the angle of the camera to the subject matter being captured therein should convey something important about the story, characters, and meaning behind everything happening on screen.

In this way, great cinematography is both visually stunning and narratively important.

Think about a shot of a boy running up the side of a hill at dawn, taken from far away so the boy looks diminished compared to the vast world around him. So much is being conveyed - his sense of adventure, his role in the world around him, the vastness of everything he doesn't understand, even the new-morning light can be a visual metaphor for his whole life ahead.

It's not just a pretty picture - it's a work of art in itself, telling its own story in a single frame.

The role of the camera in cinematography.

When we talk about cinematography, we're talking about the placement of the camera and the lighting of the scene as well as the lens the camera is using and even the camera itself. All of these elements come together to create the visual look of the film, and different choices in each area can convey different things.

For example, a popular cinematography trick to do nowadays is to shoot scenes in different aspect ratios, like 4:3, to convey a "period" style look that was exemplified by the VHS video cameras of the 80s and early 90s. This dates the footage and creates an interesting visual motif.

Camera choices can be much more subtle, however. Choices like filters and focal lengths are all decisions that cinematographers make to change the look and feel between each shot. Even the camera you choose can determine certain things about the look and feel of a scene.

All aspiring cinematographers love to work with cinema-cameras; but what if a cinematographer and director choose to film their entire feature film on an iPhone?

That doesn't necessarily mean the film will be bad - instead, it could be a creative choice to convey a certain feeling throughout the telling of the story, like if it was a film about a bunch of poor kids who escape their day to day struggles by skateboarding and posting skate videos on TikTok.

Is that a good story idea? Who knows - but the choice to tell it all via iPhone is creative and supports the story.

In the case of focal lengths, a cinematographer might use a 50 millimeter lens for a close-up on an actor for an emotionally vulnerable moment, then switch to an 18 millimeter wide-angle lens for a heated exchange to distort the faces of the various characters yelling over each other.

The point I'm trying to make here without getting too deep into cinematography theory is that good cinematography is motivated by story, and the best cinematography comes from choices that support and better tell the story while also looking visually stunning and awe-inspiring.

Not every shot has to be a masterpiece - but they must help tell the story of the film.

Ingredient #5: Production value that supports the scope of the film.

Movies are intended to transport you to another world; as a visual and auditory medium, all the elements of a film should work together to immerse the audience in the story. Which is why the overall production value of the film should support the scope of the story.

Production value is the combination of all the elements that create the world of a movie coming together. A film with high-quality production value has good props; great sets; excellent visual effects and camera work and amazing sound design, all coming together to create a cohesive movie-going experience.

Sound Design

Speaking of sound, sound design is one of the most important elements of production value, that if a great movie does well, you shouldn't even notice. Great sound design embellishes and immerses the viewer in the world of the film.

Think about big sweeping epics like Star Wars or the Marvel cinematic universe franchise - so much of the feeling and world-building of those films are all in the sound design.

It's not just laser, droid, and Wookie sounds that make great sound design - even the quietest dramas have to have an excellent sound design team in order to feel full and lived in, and the masters of cinema know this.

One of my favorite examples is the understated sound design of No Country for Old Men and how it builds anticipation and dread with every little moment.

Plus, nothing, and I do mean nothing, ruins a movie than bad sound design - it's one of the hardest things to get right when creating your first films as a first-time filmmaker.

If you don't believe me, try attending a high school student film festival and not notice the sound design. I'm not saying they are all bad - but you'll definitely notice the ones that are.

What makes good production value?

We just mentioned filming a feature film on an iphone. If you're filming an indie-feature about skateboarding teens, filming with iPhone quality footage is an interesting and informed creative choice that affects the overall production value.

If you tried to film something more like, say, Avengers Endgame on an iphone, the production value of the footage captured wouldn't go nearly as far.

That's not to say you couldn't film a superhero movie with an iPhone, or that it wouldn't be entertaining; just that the production value might not fit the scope of the story being told.

It's important to distinguish that overall production value is not necessarily tied to budget. For example, a film that's made for $30 million could have a much worse overall production value than a film that's been made for $5 million.

This is because production value is the end result of everyone working together to create a single, cohesive story.

Remember earlier when I explained how the job of the director is to work with and guide the department heads to all come together under a unified vision? That synergy of unified vision is the production value.

Good production value or bad production value depends entirely on how well everyone worked together to bring the story of the film to life. The better everyone works together, the more satisfying, immersive, and "good" the movie should feel.

How production value affects the overall quality of a film.

Think about a movie that looks amazing; the cast is full of talented actors, and the visual effects are stunning. There's just one problem - none of the dialogue lines up with the actor's mouths and it looks like everyone is talking with a five second delay. Watching this movie would drive you insane - and ruin an otherwise beautiful, perfectly fine movie.

Now imagine you've got heartthrobs Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in their third movie together. After keeping them separated the whole film, trying to "requite" their unrequited love and get back to each other in the middle of an intergalactic space-war, the time has come for the lovers to finally be reunited.

There's just one problem - the VFX budget looks like it ran out at the end, and you can tell the set design is clearly a greenscreen, like someone just photoshopped a desktop screensaver behind them. Talk about production value gone wrong!

There are so many movies that you can probably think of off the top of your head that missed the mark in more than a few areas and still somehow got distributed to the public.

That's because at a certain point, Hollywood studios just have to make as much money back on their investments as they possibly can, even if something (or multiple somethings) went wrong and the movie they set out to make got lost along the way.

This could be because of budgetary reasons or it could be because of creative ones, but if the problems behind why a film just doesn't work are more with the making of the film itself as opposed to the film's story, it's pretty much a production value issue.

Which is why it is so important for every department to be working in service of the story they are telling - and the tone of the story as well.

Now you know how to create a great film!

That's it! That's all the ingredients you need to bake up a good movie. What are you waiting for? Go get cooking!

Just kidding - obviously there's so much more that goes into the creation of a film. So many choices on so many levels - we barely broke the surface of everything that goes into making a movie, let alone a good one.

Rather, the larger point I want you to take away from what makes a great movie is how everything works together to service a single story so that it can be easily understood while also satisfactory to watch for the audience.

This starts with the script, but doesn't end with it; a good movie takes a good story and uses good acting, good cinematography, and good overall production value and unites it all with good directing.

When done the right way, it looks easy and impossible, and the sum seems bigger than the individual parts. It goes unnoticed and then all at once, becomes overwhelmingly impressive. It's the magic that drew you to the movies in the first place.

Ultimately, a good movie makes you feel; good comedies make you laugh, good dramas make you cry, good thrillers make you tense and good horror makes you scared and good action adventures get you fired up!

Without feeling, a movie is just a string of moving pictures; with feeling, a movie means much more - it matters.

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The 5 Key Ingredients To A Good Movie 2022

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DISCLOSURE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. AFFILIATE LINKS ARE MARKED WITH #ad. "I" IN THIS CASE MEANS THE OWNER OF FILMDAFT.COM. PLEASE READ THE FULL DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

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Effect on Emotional Intelligence

"Watching a good documentary or a thought-provoking movie can help you boost your emotional intelligence. They may also trigger empathy and various emotions like hope, aspirations, or even fears. They also make us think about certain issues that we do not often think about."

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Reasons Why Watching Movies Is Actually Good For You

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Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay Let’s admit it. Laughter is indeed one of the best medicines, and movies are a good source of it. In fact, at times even crying helps you lower your anxiety levels. So, shedding a few tears on a climax scene while watching a movie might actually be a relief ...

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1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) | 9.2 |  |
| 2. The Godfather (1972) | 9.2 |  |
| 3. The Dark Knight (2008) | 9.0 |  |
| 4. The Godfather: Part II (1974) | 9.0 |  |
| 5. 12 Angry Men (1957) | 8.9 |  |
| 6. Schindler's List (1993) | 8.9 |  |
| 7. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) | 8.9 |  |
| 8. Pulp Fiction (1994)

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1. Start with yourself. Before you start looking outward, look inward at your own ways of thinking and behaving.

2. Be objective.

3. Be willing to adapt.

4. Stay curious.

5. When in doubt, ask.

6. Empathy

7. Be friendly.

8. Patience is a virtue.

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What does it take to work effectively across cultures? In today's world, many businesspeople and organisations work across different cultures every day. With offices around the world, projects that cross borders or simply a diverse workforce, understanding how to work with people from different backgrounds, regions, countries or continents is becoming an ever more valuable skill.

By following RICS Recruit's top ten tips for working across cultures, you will be able to approach these interactions a little differently.

1. Start with yourself

Before you start looking outward, look inward at your own ways of thinking and behaving. It's important to understand the impact that your preconceptions and subconscious actions have on others. Take time to consider your responses to different situations instead of continuing to act unreflexively.

2. Be objective

Remember that all approaches to work have their own advantages and disadvantages. How can you use a different approach, such as collectivism or a focus on relationships, to the advantage of yourself or others in a different context? Be aware that your usual way of working may not be the best approach.

3. Be willing to adapt

A major challenge in working across cultures is that the world doesn't stand still. An ability to adjust quickly to new circumstances is vital. Cultures change and adapt as they come into contact with others, and with the impact of ever-evolving technology. Tread carefully when you make assumptions about the people you're working with and be willing to alter your perceptions based on experience.

4. Stay curious

Every culture views the world from a narrow perspective, seeing things in a certain frame. It is only by staying curious and being willing to learn that we expand our view of the world. A lack of interest can quickly be perceived as disrespectful or dismissive. Ask specific, open-ended questions and pay attention to the answers so you can demonstrate your willingness to learn.

5. When in doubt, ask

If you don't understand something, or even if you only think you do, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. You may find that your assumptions were incorrect because you weren't considering the other person's perspective. For instance, certain words may not translate into other languages just as customs may not translate across cultures.

6. Empathise

It is hard to see the world through other people's eyes, even in the same cultural setting. However, to collaborate properly, you need to try. Sit down with others to understand their approaches to aspects of business such as communication, decision-making and information sharing. You don't necessarily need to agree, but it is worthwhile to take the steps towards understanding.

7. Be friendly

Relationship building is important in many cultures, making it critical to be liked and trusted as an individual. Make an effort to get to know people on a personal level. It may sound simple, but avoid being cynical or abrasive. Success in other cultures can often be about no more than being liked.

8. Patience is a virtue

Don't expect to learn, or produce results, as quickly as you usually would. It is easy to get frustrated when things aren't moving as fast as we'd like, but this leads to burn-out, ultimately meaning that we retreat back into our own culture as a comfort zone. Give talent more time to shine in new cultural situations.

9. Use your perceptiveness

Without the ability to identify differences and similarities between people, cross-cultural working will fail. Go into these relationships with your eyes open and ready to see the differences between cultures. Without perception, you can't adapt.

10. Find your resilience

Finally, crossing cultural borders can be exhausting. Being alert the whole time to a different culture takes a lot of concentration and energy. A good sense of humour can help you to get through difficult times and achieve success.
Are you thinking of working abroad? RICS Recruit is global, so see what opportunities we have available around the world.

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10 Ways to Work Effectively Across Cultures

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What does it take to work effectively across cultures? In today's world, many businesspeople and organisations work across different cultures every day. With offices around the world, projects that cross borders or simply a diverse workforce, understanding how to work with people from different backgrounds, regions, countries or continents is becoming an ever more valuable skill.

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- Learn to be proud of who you are and you the things you do based on where you are from and the people around you

-It helps others digest new informatuion

-It's fun to be proud of who you are

- Everyone loves to hear about different people and they way they live

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- more meaningful interactions
-deeper connection
-KNOWLEDGE

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-photography can be a creative outline
-express yourself in a way you didn't know
-You tell the story w/ your photos

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- Visual reminder
-Shareable
-unforgettable

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How many times have you heard the phrase "You only live once?" No matter how often you hear it, the meaning is always applicable-no two days are the same, even the mundane ones, and you can find something memorable from each one.

As you get older, your routine, loved ones, and hobbies change, and it becomes easy to forget about memories that were once part of your everyday life. We almost always have a camera right in our back pocket to capture these precious memories; learning why you should capture everyday moments can remind you why you should keep even the most humdrum times of peace forever locked in your memory banks.

You Have More Storage for Mundane Photos

One of the many things that prevents us from taking more photos of our everyday lives-especially for older generations-is the idea that we have a limited number of pictures to take. Cameras were once used only for major events; you'd take pictures at a family vacation, as your children grew up, and other important milestones. You only had as many pictures as you did canisters of film, so it was important to make every shot count.

Today, not only do you have the storage on your phone for photos, but you also have cloud-based online storage solutions. Hard drive and memory card storage space continues growing larger as technology improves, as well. You have nearly limitless storage to contain and organize both the precious and commonplace moments in your life-you need only to take the pictures!

It's Easy To Forget the Little Things

You may have no problems remembering the most important moments of your life, whether they were good or bad, but what about the small things? Will you remember the day your partner made you breakfast in bed after a bad day? What about the moment you felt at home in your new house? It's important to capture these moments because they're fleeting and forgettable-it may take a year or more to forget them, but without a timeless, visual reminder, you can lose the feeling and never dig it up again.

A photo can bring back the emotions, memories, and scents attached to the image. You may be surprised what you'll remember just from one candid photo!

Stories for Future Generations

It's impossible to predict the flexuous path that the future holds. What may be common and mundane to this current generation could become rare or archaic to upcoming generations. Part of why you should capture everyday moments is so you can share with others-especially future generations. Whether it's sharing the way that you live or the things that you do, all knowledge is valuable for the sake of understanding the past.

Retaining these visual reminders of the past and present on a form of media that easily transfers to future technologies is essential when keeping your valuable memories. Keep your physical photos, audio tapes, and video recordings safe by using DiJiFi's media digitizing services to secure them digitally, and never forget the small, precious moments again.

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How many times have you heard the phrase "You only live once?" No matter how often you hear it, the meaning is always applicable-no two days are the same, even the mundane ones, and you can find something memorable from each one.

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Images can keep the memory of a loved one alive, hold a moment in history for future generations, be a witness to tragedy or joy. They can also change behavior, stimulate understanding and create a sense of urgency that will move people to action. Photography is the universal language that speaks to the heart.

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Photographers and Photo Editors on the Passion That Drives Them

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Why we do it? 13 photographers and photo editors talk about their motivation

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2. Linking the Past to the Future Through Memory

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2. Linking the Past to the Future Through Memory

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Memory does not only hold important knowledge about our lives and our personal attributes and traits; through mental time travel, episodic memory can also directly transport us into past, to the person that lived through our previous experiences, and into the future, to the person we are yet to become.

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Our past, present, and future are intimately linked by our memories. Scientists know now that the same brain processes we use to remember the past, also help us plan for the future and imagine different possible scenarios. even suggests that in depressed people, impaired memory not only makes it difficult for remember past events but also to imagine different outcomes - making their situation feel even more dire.

will discuss that work - and the larger body of work linking memories of our past to how we see our future - at the upcoming CNS conference in San Francisco. A recipient of this year's , Addis gave CNS a preview of her talk, including the factors that shape how we view our past and futures, such as new work that highlights the role of individual differences in creativity.

Memory is not just for remembering. It is becoming increasingly apparent that memory has an important role to play in other functions that directly impact our psychological well-being.

CNS: Please explain the link between episodic memory and future planning.

Addis: Recent research has shown that episodic memory - our memory for past personal experiences - does more than simply allow us to remember our pasts. It also appears to be intimately linked to our ability to imagine our futures. So, for instance, although I have never given a talk at the CNS conference, I can of what this experience might be like, drawing on my previous experiences of giving talks, my memories of being at this conference venue in previous years, and recalling the people I often see at this conference, and so forth. Thus, it seems that our episodic memory provides for us the "fodder", the details of people we know and places we have been, that we can use to construct a novel scenario in our imagination.

CNS: How did you become interested in studying human memory?

Addis: Many of my colleagues have said they study memory because they've never had a good memory. My experience is completely the opposite - I have always had a really good memory especially for episodic detail. When writing exams I could see my pages of handwritten notes in my mind's eye, and when recounting past events, vivid multi-sensory detail comes back. The way our minds can allow us to re-experience moments from the past - mental time travel - is an amazing ability.

CNS: What have you been most surprised to learn about human memory?

Addis: One of the most surprising discoveries to emerge during my short time in the field is the increasing understanding that the hippocampus - the brain structure quintessentially associated with memory for over 50 years - does more than just memory. It is now clear that, beyond memory, the hippocampus also plays a role in perceiving our visual worlds, processing language, holding information in mind, navigating around environments, creativity, and as my research has shown, imagining the future. One of the essential functions of the hippocampus may be the ability to integrate or "bind" different elements. So when we need to integrate information together - whether different features of a perceived object, disparate elements into a creative idea, two landmarks across town, or episodic memory details into an imagined scenario - the hippocampus makes an important contribution to making these links.

CNS: How do you test episodic memory and future simulation abilities in the lab?

Addis: Because I am interested in autobiographical memory and imagination, I have aimed to keep my studies as naturalistic as possible while still retaining sufficient experimental control. Many of my studies have incorporated two important design elements: (1) using personally-tailored stimuli (based on a participant's own memories) to elicit memories and simulations; and (2) collecting ratings about the participant's subjective inner experience.

A typical experiment involves two sessions. In the first session, participants recall episodic memories from their past, identifying a person, place and object featuring in each memory. Often we need over 100 memories for a given experiment, so this session can take up to 4 hours! Approximately a week later, they come back to the lab or to the MRI scanner. During this session, we present participants with cues to trigger the retrieval of memories or the imagination of future events. After remembering or imagining as much detail as possible, participants make a series of ratings regarding their subjective experience.

In fMRI studies, this design enables us to compare and contrast brain activity during memory retrieval and future simulation and how this changes according to subjective experience. In behavioral studies, participants describe their memories and imaginings aloud; we then score in very fine detail the different kinds of content comprising their descriptions.

These basic methods have enabled me to investigate many fascinating questions, including: Do the subjective qualities of memories and imaginations influence hippocampal activity? What is the specific role of the hippocampus in future simulation? Do all kinds of future simulation result in similar patterns of brain activity? What makes some simulations memorable and other forgettable? How do particular disorders or damage affect the content of memories and simulations? And what changes to brain activity and connectivity are evident in individuals with impaired memory and imagination?

CNS: What are you most excited to share about your work at the CNS meeting?

Addis: I am most excited to be presenting some of our latest findings at CNS. This includes some recent work exploring changes in the ability to imagine the future in depression.

CNS: What factors are most important in shaping our episodic memory and then, in turn, our future simulations?

Addis: Factors that can influence the vividness and accessibility of autobiographical episodic memories include the memory's emotional tone and personal significance, how remote the event is from the present, whether the memory is experienced from a first or third person perspective, and how often the memory is rehearsed. Moreover, episodic memory is a constructive process; although memories may seem like verbatim recordings of the past, they are actually reconstructed from constituent details every time we retrieve them. Although the constructive nature of episodic memory does make it vulnerable to distortions, such as incorporating an incorrect detail into a memory, that the advantage of this constructive system is that episodic details are easily extracted for use in future simulations.

CNS: What do you most want people to understand about your work?

Addis: Memory is not just for remembering. It is becoming increasingly apparent that memory has an important role to play in other functions that directly impact our psychological well-being. Memory contributes to our ability to imagine future events, which in turn aids our future planning abilities; by allowing us to mentally try out different strategies and work through potential outcomes, simulation can increase coping and decrease worry about upcoming events.

Moreover, memory is critical for our sense of who we are - in the past, present and the future. Memory does not only hold important knowledge about our lives and our personal attributes and traits; through mental time travel, episodic memory can also directly transport us into past, to the person that lived through our previous experiences, and into the future, to the person we are yet to become.
-Lisa M.P. Munoz Addis will give her award lecture on Sunday, March 29, 2015, 1:30 -2:30 pm, in the Grand Ballroom A in the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.

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Linking the Past to the Future Through Memory - Cognitive Neuroscience Society

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Our past, present, and future are intimately linked by our memories. Scientists know now that the same brain processes we use to remember the past, also help us plan for the future and imagine different possible scenarios. Recent research even suggests that in depressed people, impaired memory not only makes it difficult for remember past [...]

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Develop a Closer Relationship with a Loved One.

Happy Memories Help You Declutter.

When You See Something Beautiful Once, Why Not See It All The Time?

Feeling Great Increases Productivity.

Be Reminded of How Easy It Is to Forget.

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Seeing pictures on Instagram is one thing. Having them printed and hung wherever you like is another. Perhaps it's a photo of you and you significant other on your most recent vacation. Maybe it's an image of you with your grandchildren. Be reminded of these experiences and of your deep relationship by having the photos printed.
02. Happy Memories Help You Declutter.
Hanging happy memories on your wall will make your room feel stress free, neat and clean. Bonus: decluttering and styling can also provide major inspiration. Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by happy memories?
03. When You See Something Beautiful Once, Why Not See It All The Time?
Photographs have a way of bringing us back to a particular time, place or memory. You remember how you felt, what you saw, etc. Why not feel this way as often as you can? Be reminded of this beauty all the time by printing these memories.
04. Feeling Great Increases Productivity
Offices devoid of pictures, plants, or any other personal items can be the most toxic space you can put yourself in. People perform better and feel more inspired images are added to any workspace. Photographs incite something in us that helps us engage and become happier, according to this article. Make your office space more yours by filling it with your memories. Our advice? Always have a framed photo within eyesight of your workspace. We bet if you look up from your work and see something meaningful to you, you'll feel more relaxed and productive. Use TurnGram to help you be more productive at work and more stress free.
05. Be Reminded of How Easy It Is to Forget
If you're the kind of person that posts an Instagram photo and forgets about it, you're not alone. It's all too easy to lose track of all the memories we create. Don't forget about the daily events and activities that make your life so special. It's great to post your memories on social media and share them with others, but if it's worth sharing, it's worth remembering.

What other benefits are there to surrounding yourself with memories? Share your tips here, let us know in the comments below!

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5 Benefits to Surrounding Yourself with Memories

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Seeing pictures on Instagram is one thing. Having them printed and hung wherever you like is another. Perhaps it's a photo of you and you significant other on your most recent vacation. Maybe it's an image of you with your grandchildren. Be reminded of these experiences and of your deep relationship by having the photos printed.

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- Strengthen our sense of identity and purpose '
-"Happy memories are an important ingredient in present happiness. When we are young, everything is new."

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I have been thinking a lot about the importance of making memories. What with the end of the decade and the departure of my eldest son for university, I've been somewhat preoccupied with holding onto memories of my kids as little ones. And also, if I'm honest, a little fearful about how many more opportunities there will be (or won't be) to make new family memories.

I'm not a huge fan of New Year Resolutions as I'm not convinced they lead to real change. But I do like to set my kids a bit of a challenge to mark the New Year. You might remember, a couple of years ago I asked them to write my New Year Resolutions for me with interesting results! This year, I asked them to come up with their five favourite family moments from last year.

As usual, what I thought was a bright and clever idea taught me a salutary lesson in teenage priorities. "Five?!" they said. And scratched their heads. I could see them wracking their memory banks for a single important event last year at which I was present. They could remember lots of great times, but none of them included family! In the end, the eldest came up with four rather vague memories (one of which actually happened in 2018 and the other was being dropped off at university - a double-edged sword of a family memory for sure!). The youngest cribbed two memories from his brother, made one up that I know he hated and concluded "We need to do more 🙁 ."

Aaagh! As if I hadn't been desperately trying to get him to join in with family life for the whole year!

It's one thing to understand, intellectually, that you are no longer the focus of you teens' attention. And completely another thing to be absent from their memory banks entirely. And all of this after I had been waxing lyrical in The Sunday Times Magazine about the importance of using Christmas traditions to lay down family memories!

Why do memories matter? According to Meik Wiking (author of The Art of Making Memories), happy memories are essential to our mental health. They strengthen our sense of identity and purpose and bond our relationships. Happy memories are an important ingredient in present happiness. When we are young, everything is new. We are doing so many things for the first time that we form very strong memories. But as we get older, we have to work harder to turn events into memories and to benefit from their happiness-inducing qualities.

For my teenagers, the novel and exciting things in their lives right now are all connected with friends/work/uni. In other words, life outside the family. (Interestingly, they both named my birthday as one of their memorable moments due to an unplanned first-time-ever trip on the London Eye). But their wholesale erasing of me from their brains has certainly made me want to work a little harder at making memories with them.

You can help a memory to 'stick' by, firstly, a conscious decision at that moment to take it all in through your senses in as much detail as possible. And, secondly, by revisiting that memory to mark it as important (not-to-be-deleted) in your brain.

Revisiting memories as a family helps build a sense of family identity. When my kids were little, we used to do this by creating a family Yearbook each year filled with important photos or ticket stubs or momentos. I've now resurrected this (to combat teenage forgetfulness) as a digital photo frame with a slide show of favourite moments. Not the photos in which everyone looks good but the ones which provoke happy thoughts about what was happening in that moment.

I am hoping that, as a result, come next year my teens will find it a bit easier to remember more than one time in the whole year in which their mother was present. But maybe that's just another case of maternal optimism over experience!
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The Importance Of Making Memories | Anita Cleare

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I have been thinking a lot about the importance of making memories. What with the end of the decade and the departure of my eldest son for university, I've been somewhat preoccupied with holding onto memories of my kids as little ones.

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- Relieve stress
-Boosts creativity
-Reduces heart disease

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For many people across the globe, traveling is associated with fun and excitement. You get to take a few days away from work or your regular routine to dive into a new culture, explore a foreign city, indulge in a variety of foods, and learn how a different community of people live. In addition to the fun and excitement of traveling, a quick vacation can also provide you with scientifically documented health benefits, especially when you head to a destination you've never visited before.

If you're contemplating whether or not you should continue contributing to your travel fund to plan your next getaway, you may need a reminder about the positive effects travel has on your mind and body. Here are five scientifically-proven benefits of travel.

1. Travel Decreases Risk of Heart Disease

High blood pressure and the risk of heart disease are real issues for many Americans. It's a well-known fact that a healthy diet, exercise, and positive lifestyle changes can help with this health condition. But did you know that traveling is also attributed to a decrease in the risk of heart disease? Even if you have a pre-existing condition or health risk factor, such as high blood pressure, embarking on an annual vacation to a new destination can reduce your risk of developing this dangerous condition.

A joint study from the Global Commission on Aging and Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies and the U.S. Travel Association concluded that women who vacation at least twice per year significantly lowered their risk of a heart attack when compared to those who only traveled once every six years. The same study also concluded that men who don't take vacations at least once a year increased their risk of heart disease by 30% and their risk of death by 20%.

2. Travel Relieves Stress

Lying on a beach in Maui with a fruity drink and a floppy hat is bound to melt your stress away. But the stress-relieving effects you feel from traveling don't disappear when you head home. Studies have found that your stress levels stay low, even after you've unpacked.

A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health concluded that participants who recently traveled home from a vacation felt better rested, less anxious, and simply in a better mood three days after returning. Many of these returning travelers reported feeling more relaxed weeks after they got home, well after they were knee-deep in their everyday routines.
When you feel well-rested and less anxious, you may see your relationships and work performance improve. If you have less stress, you can approach emotional situations with a clearer head. Your refreshed attitude can also allow you to focus better at work so you can make more thoughtful decisions and increase your productivity.

3. Travel Promotes Physical Activity

It's so easy to get stuck in a rut when you're following the same routine regularly. Even if you've implemented exercise routine into your daily schedule, you may only be staying physically active for an hour or less each day. Travel allows you the opportunity to be active throughout the entire day, visiting local attractions, participating in fun activities, or just generally exploring. Most of the time, you probably won't even notice that you're working your muscles more frequently because you're so excited to learn about your new destination.

When you book a trip to a new place, whether it's a beautiful resort in Maui or a quaint bed and breakfast in London, be prepared to get in a lot more steps and movement than you usually do at home. A stroll down the beach at sunset or a walk through the bustling city at night is an exhilarating way to immerse yourself in your new destination and find out more about the culture, while also getting extra exercise.

It's important to remember that your actual travel days can be more sedentary than usual. You might have to sit on a plane, bus, or train for hours without much movement. Keep yourself energized and feeling good by eating healthy while traveling so you don't start your vacation with low energy.

4. Travel Boosts Creativity

Creativity isn't just useful if you're a writer, artist, or musician. You can use creativity to improve your everyday life and to inform how you approach your daily routine. A boost in creativity can help you figure out how to more efficiently complete tasks at work, design or organize your home, or improve your daily schedule.

Adam Galinsky, a researcher from Northwestern University, has been studying the link between multicultural traveling and boosts in creativity for years. He found that "multicultural experience may foster the creative expansion of ideas." When you travel to different places and are immersed in foreign culture, you learn new concepts and ideas, some of which you may want to expand on and implement into your life at home. Essentially, traveling opens you up to new cultures and experiences, which can expand your mind and put you in the proper headspace to contemplate new ideas and creativity.

5. Travel Makes You Happy

The excitement of traveling can make you happy, but so can simply talking about and planning your next trip. A study conducted by Cornell University found that discussing potential destinations, and the exciting attractions you might find once you get there, can keep your mind off of daily stresses at work or home and boost happiness.

The more details you discuss, such as the decadent foods you want to eat, the resort amenities you'll take advantage of, and the shops you plan to visit, the higher your happiness level. Planning for a fun trip gives you a future experience to look forward to, boosting your current mood and making your daily responsibilities easier to tackle. What are you waiting for? It's time to get happy and pick out your next travel destination!

For more information and for 29 tips useful tips for travel for spiritual growth check out this useful post, and to make your next dream vacation to Maui a reality contact us.

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Mental & Physical Health Benefits of Traveling

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Traveling isn't just a fun way to see new places and enjoy new experiences; a growing body of scientific research indicates that traveling is highly beneficial for your health. Check out these 5 scientifically-proven health benefits of traveling and get ready to pack your bags!

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- More culturally aware
- Takes us out of our comfort zones
-Embrace adventure!

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10 Reasons to Love Travel | What Motivates You to Travel?

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Travel should excite and inspire you, educate and challenge you, and most of all, it should humble you. Our Editor Claire Trickett shares her 10 reasons to love travel.

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- more personal
- connect on a farther level with audience
-strike a bigger connection that images

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"That's because videography is an entirely different creative process than photography. Creating videos not only helps you see the world in a different way, but it also helps you figure out how to capture moving and dynamic imagery rather than simply static images."

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Video Storytelling

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Stories are as old as the human race itself. The earliest recorded stories - the Bible, ancient mythology, and philosophy - are still widely read and explored today.

And video? Since the first 'moving pictures' at the start of the twentieth century, digital video has become the most popular form of media for information and entertainment. Indeed, 72% of consumers say they prefer video marketing to text.

In a world filled with a growing number of distractions, brands are engaged in a constant battle to capture people's attention. Many of them succeed by combining the power of story with the popularity of video. Let's take a look at what video storytelling is, and how you can effectively apply it to your marketing strategy.

What is Video Storytelling?

Video storytelling is a marketing tactic that uses the naturally engaging video format to tell a story about a brand, company, or product. Video storytelling guides viewers through relatable narrative-based content that gets to the heart of their pain points, ignites an emotional connection, and presents a satisfying solution. People get pulled into what's happening due to a combination of factors, ranging from camera angles to the soundtrack, the characters, and the emotion of the story itself.

Video storytelling is much more than a sales pitch. It doesn't focus on the product, but rather, it relates a story that directly or tangentially ties into the brand, product, or customer pain point. Telling stories with video engages all the senses - eyes, mind, and heart - which makes it more powerful and immersive, and very effective in driving engagement.

Video storytelling basics: How to start

The first stage of the video storytelling process is to address these foundational questions:

Plot: What story do you want to tell? What is its structure? (Powerful stories typically consist of an introduction, conflict or complication, and resolution.)

Purpose: Why do you want to convey this story to viewers, and what do you want them to do afterward?

People: Who are the main characters in your video story? How do they relate to your audience?

Place: What's the main location for the video, and how does the setting shape the narrative?

Audience: Who will primarily see this video? Will they be new customers, potential customers, employees, or another group?

Distribution method: How will you share the video story with others, and where will it be hosted (ie. YouTube, your website, elsewhere)?

Once you've answered these, you'll have a solid framework from which to operate. Think about how you can connect to your audience, what techniques would make the video especially memorable to viewers, and what could make it shareable. Going viral is every marketer's dream, but it doesn't happen often, For a video to be considered viral, it should get around 5 million views on YouTube in a week, or around 1 million views on TikTok within a few days.

How to Make a Storytelling Video

Excelling at the art of video storytelling requires first understanding how to tell a good story.

Remember that people have short attention spans, and you want to tell a story that keeps them hooked from beginning to end. If you do manage to grab the interest and attention of the audience throughout a video story, it is usually because you have aroused the viewers' emotions.

Also, remember the key principle of "show, don't tell". Edit the video smartly, so you're not spelling out every single idea to the audience, but only those elements that are necessary to weave a compelling tale that leaves them asking for more.

Here are 5 steps to make a storytelling video:

1. Identify your goal and target audience. Once you know what you want to achieve with your video story and which viewers you want to target, it'll be easier to move forward with confidence.

2. Create a narrative. You may want to hire people with screenplay experience to get your story told well. It's crucial that the plot of the video is clear, and that the characters are well-defined and memorable, especially since most viewers will probably only see it once.

3. Decide on a video format (animated, live actors, special effects). This decision may largely depend on your budget. Your overall timeframe and other deadlines will also play a role in determining the video format, too. Filming a live-action video will take more time and resources than creating a story from stock video clips. Don't forget the potential of video AI tools, which are improving every day.

4. Assemble a production team or hire a production studio. When choosing professionals or companies to take part, find out about their prior experience and watch their previous videos to see if the style and vibe match your goals.

5. Create a promotional strategy to get your video seen. Your promotional plan may include social media coverage, press releases, native video distribution, and even one-off local events where you show the video. Make sure you have the marketing game plan in place before the video goes live because you'll need to start spreading the word immediately.

Of course, there is also the question of your video marketing budget. If this is your first time diving into the world of video storytelling, you may want to hire a video production company to steer the process and make trustworthy recommendations. Those experts can inform you of whether your budget is realistic for what you want to achieve, plus help you plan a reasonable schedule for creating your video storytelling piece.

On the other hand, you can try out DIY video creation tools or freelance video creators and see what quality level you can produce with a smaller budget. After all, if you have a very strong narrative and script, you may be able to create a powerful video story, even without the backing of a professional video producer.

Video Storytelling Techniques

Video storytelling techniques that are most suitable will vary depending on your primary aim. For example, if you're making an explainer video, you might rely on animation or statistics to drive your points home. But if the video story is primarily aimed at selling a new product, you may want to use actors to tell a story that relates to the audience's key pain point. Although more expensive, incorporating actors can strengthen the human element far more than animated video, and may boost customer relatability and engagement. This is something to consider if your budget allows for actors.

Whichever way you go, here are a few video storytelling techniques that can turn a simple story into a powerful marketing tool:

Create a strong arc. This makes it easy for audiences to follow along with the story, become immersed in the twists and turns, and keep them watching through to the end.

Make your protagonists lovable and relatable. People should ideally see parts of themselves in the video's stars. Avoid using polarizing characters because that may turn off certain audiences and prevent them from appreciating the message.

Edit the video for maximum storytelling effect. If there are aspects of the video that don't do anything to push the story forward, cut them out. It may be useful to have an outside party, ideally someone who matches your target audience, provide feedback about whether any parts take away from the story rather than adding to it.

Make it visually beautiful and appealing to the senses. Think about how camera angles, scenery, and background music could help your video stick in the minds of viewers and make them want to watch it again.

Video Storytelling Tips

It can be difficult to know where to begin with developing a video story. Before you get started, consider these video storytelling tips to maximize the video's plot and mood, and to grab the audience's attention and hold it:

Choose a proven plotline format

If you look closely at different types of stories, they tend to follow certain plotlines. One type is called 'Overcoming the Monster', and it often involves the underdog eventually conquering their most significant challenge. Many sports films take this approach.

Selecting a narrative where a hero embarks on a quest is another popular option that can work well for businesses. In that instance, the story's main character encounters foes or obstacles, but undergoes a transformative journey in the process, learning things about themselves that they didn't know before and eventually arriving at a better place

Mind your audience's attention span

Marketers often want to know the best length for a storytelling video, and the answer varies depending on the platform.

In the 2024 State of Video report, Wistia found that video engagement consistently lowers according to the video length. Videos under 60 seconds get the highest engagement.

However, this does not mean that you can't or should not produce longer videos. It depends on the story you want to tell, the target audience, and the platform where the video appears. In the right context, long-form videos can also perform very well, as long as the story is powerful and moving.

Use emotional triggers

Filmmakers use a variety of tactics to capture emotions visually and communicate the character's feelings to the audience via the screen. For example, slow motion can emphasize the significance of a feeling or exaggerated facial expressions and can help the audience internalize the emotion of the scene.

Video storytelling ads are shorter of course than feature films, however, the same principles can be used to create emotional triggers.

Harness the power of music

The right music can take video storytelling efforts to greater heights by complementing what's happening on the screen. Music creates powerful emotional associations that people link to events in their own lives.

The music you choose will depend on the mood you are trying to create in your video story. An upbeat track might seem to be the best, as it generates happy feelings, however, research indicates that people get positive benefits from listening to sad music too. Melancholy music has been shown to lead to better emotional regulation and spark the listener's imagination. If a slow, pensive track fits in with your plot and characters, you can go with that instead of gravitating toward happy tunes.

Here are some bonus tips that can go a long way to enhancing your video story:

Be relatable. Tell a story that shares a common human experience so more people can relate to it.

Be economic. Ensure that each part of the video drives the story forward.

Consider POV. Create a story from the point of view of a typical target audience member. See the story unfold from their perspective, rather than the company's.

Use a natural, informal tone. This helps audiences better understand and connect to your message.

Take design and visual factors into account. These include lighting, wardrobe, and color palette. When done right, these will better support your video storytelling goals and message.

Video Storytelling Examples

Visual storytelling need not be elaborate to have an impact. This method of reaching an audience often pays off when people can see something of themselves in the story. Take the example of a University of Phoenix animated story ad that tells a simple yet common story: a mom finds herself unemployed when her job gets taken over by automation. So she reskills with a degree from the university and starts a new career in IT. The animation is done beautifully, with emotional expressiveness, and the accompanying song sets just the right tone.

Then Airbnb's "We Accept" video narrative strikes a chord with audiences by showcasing some of the brand's values. It has a simple design of rapidly changing faces that represent Airbnb's customers and put the viewer in the center.

These examples show that sometimes, simplicity is the best route to take.

Here's an example of a way more technically complex and richly narrated video story. It's the 2019 Christmas video by the UK department store chain John Lewis, featuring a blend of live actors and animation. The powerful background song by Bastille and the whimsical fantastical setting of the film made it a popular video storytelling example that successfully communicated the values of the holiday season (and the huge, soulful eyes of Edgar the young dragon certainly pulled on the heartstrings):

Best Brand Storytelling Videos

The best brand storytelling videos hold viewer attention by highlighting and resolving a problem that resonates with the audience. Plus, they incorporate other elements, such as humor, parody, emotion, and plot twists to help strengthen the viewer's connection to the story.

Take a look at some recent examples of the best brand storytelling videos:

Kia - Perfect 10

This ad for the Kia auto brand is a perfect example of video storytelling that drives emotion (in this case, literally!). A young girl performs in an ice skating competition, but the closeups of her sad expression and her proud but equally sad father in the audience next to an empty chair show that someone is missing. The story arc flows as smoothly as the Kia EV9 in the snowy landscape, and the heartrending music and emotional expressions of the actors create a gripping crescendo. Top scores for this video storytelling example!

IKEA - Smart home

In this short IKEA ad, the story is one that we can all relate to: that feeling when you wake up in the morning. The star of the video is cozy in bed, and with her smart home setup, uses her mobile phone to turn on the side lamp and brew a cup of coffee without getting out of bed. Take note of the sound and music; it does a great job of supporting the story, which is told without words.

McDonald's - WcDonald's

This video series by McDonald's takes the popular anime cartoon genre and uses it as a storytelling and branding tool. In the anime world, McDonald's has long been referred to as "WcDonald's", turning the golden arches upside down to avoid copyright issues. The McDonald's brand decided to use this to its advantage, creating a complete anime universe with the name WcDonald's. The WcDonald's video series goes beyond simple video storytelling; it is a world of characters and stories in the anime fantasy style that will keep audiences watching for the next installment.

Corporate Video Storytelling

Video storytelling is a powerful and valuable way to stir emotion in viewers and engage potential audiences.

However, corporate video storytelling has another crucial angle that must be considered. With corporate video, it's particularly important to be aware of where the video will air and which audiences will see it and ensure that the chosen narrative can cross cultural boundaries. A video story may seem perfect for a certain market or culture, but can easily sink or get lost in translation in another.

Also, it's wise to avoid controversial topics or those that arouse strong opinions. If you are skirting controversy, strive to get your point across in the most diplomatic way. In 2017, a Pepsi ad starring Kendall Jenner received scathing criticism on social media for making light of the police violence issue that disproportionately affects people of color. Pepsi ultimately pulled the ad soon afterward.

The Power of Video Storytelling

Video storytelling works so well because it draws people in, holding their attention spans and making them feel invested in what's happening. Video stories can be educational, as with explainer videos. Other video stories don't have a lot of dialogue but speak volumes visually and with the help of the right music.

It will take time and effort to make video storytelling work for you, but success can pay off in the form of thousands of views, increased brand recognition, and more. Even if you have a modest budget, it's worth seeing what your visual storytelling options are and how you can use them to boost your brand and customer engagement levels.

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What is video storytelling and how to use it? - Outbrain Blog

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Let's take a look at what is video storytelling, and how you can apply it to your marketing strategy to boost your business.

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1.  Travel = happier

2. Get to disconnect and recharge.

3. Relieves stress and anxiety

4. Studies show it makes you physically healthier

5.  Boosts creativity!

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As I write this, the world is in the midst of the second wave of the coronavirus crisis. Travel is far below the level it was at back in 2019, and it'll be some time before it picks back up to pre-pandemic levels.

So, it feels a bit weird to write an article on the benefits of traveling and why travel is important.

But, travel will make a comeback. When it does, health and safety risks will remain. Many fair-weather travelers may be hesitant to return to the skies, roads, rails, and seas.

However, traveling is important and its benefits far outweigh the risks involved.

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Here are some of the most important benefits of traveling:
1. Travel Makes You Happier

Sure, a travel experience easily makes you happier by getting you away from your daily grind. And, if you can get away from your parents, kids, freelance work, pets, homework, piano lessons, part-time job, studying for exams or any other things possibly weighing you down, that will definitely put a smile on your face, to say the least.

However, travel makes you happier in another way, as well. According to a study by Amit Kumar, Matthew A. Killingsworth, and Thomas Gilovich from Cornell University, that money spent on doing something (called "experiential purchases") will leave you with a longer-lasting sense of happiness than money spent on having something (called "material purchases").

The study says that "waiting for experiences tends to be more positive than waiting for possessions." And, it goes on to say that "people derive more happiness from the anticipation of experiential purchases and that waiting for an experience tends to be more pleasurable and exciting than waiting to receive a material good."

Related Read: The Best Work-Life Balance Quotes to Know

2. Travel Lets You Disconnect & Recharge

One of the best things you can do for your mental health every now and again, especially as a busy college student with an evening job or a young professional working 12-hour shifts, is to disconnect in order to recharge.

Working or studying for days, weeks, and months on end may help get you where you're looking to go. However, you deserve a break every once in a while from the chronic stress. If not, you may suffer from burnout, depression, anxiety, and a whole host of other problems and ailments.

If traveling to a foreign country or experiencing a different culture doesn't sound like a true break from everyday life and its stressful situations, stay local or do a solo trip to someplace remote and serene. The important thing for your is to unwind. That's a health benefit and travel tip all rolled into one!

3. Traveling Relieves Stress and Anxiety

In a randomized controlled trial conducted by Austrian researchers and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, one of the many great travel benefits is that it can reduce stress levels and anxiety.

The researchers found that even just one short-term vacation (~3 days in length) "independent of the mode, has large, positive and immediate effects on perceived stress, recovery, strain, and well-being." Furthermore, the beneficial effects last quite a while after you return home. "The effects can still be detected at 30 days (recovery) and 45 days (well-being and strain) post-vacation."

Just make sure the way you travel doesn't cause you stress, either! If you have a fear of air travel or a disdain for family travel, go by rail or take a solo travel experience. The important thing is to break away from the chronic stress of everyday life in order to calm down and reset your mind.

Related Read: How to Set Goals You Will Actually Achieve

4. Travel Exposes You to New Things

When you travel, you are stepping outside your comfort zone, for one thing. Even if your destination is relatively nearby (across the country rather than internationally), you are still experiencing new things.

Mark Twain said it best in one of my favorite travel quotes:

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

5. Travel Exposes Others to New Things

When you meet someone new, whether it's in another town nearby or in a city halfway around the world, they also are meeting you. And, just as you're being exposed to new foods, culture, languages, traditions, and so forth, they're also getting a taste of yours. Just remember to be a good ambassador for your hometown, values, and beliefs!

When you visit a new place, meet new people, and learn about a new culture, whether through group travel or when traveling solo, the benefit to your life is immense, but it also benefits your friends, family, and other loved ones. Not only will you get to experience new things, but you'll also bring what you learn back to your school, workplace, and hometown.

Related Read: 15+ Best Educational Podcasts to Listen to for Everyday Learning

6. Travel Makes You Physically Healthier

If you're an active individual and asking why is travel important, there are some great benefits of traveling in store for you! From running through airports and train stations to make that tight connection to hiking through uneven terrain on your mountain climbing adventures to getting some vitamin D as you catch some rays on the beach, there are many reasons why travel is beneficial to your health.

According to a study by the Global Commission on Aging and Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, in partnership with the U.S. Travel Association, travel decreases the risks of heart attacks and makes your brain healthier. The study determined that men who take an annual vacation are 30% less likely to die from heart disease, among other findings.

7. Traveling Can Boost Your Creativity

Are you a student, artist, writer, photographer, chef, advertising manager, or video game designer struggling with coming up with your next great idea? Traveling can help! If you're looking to reignite your creativity, head on to Kayak and start booking some international flight tickets.

"Foreign experiences increase both cognitive flexibility and depth and integrativeness of thought, the ability to make deep connections between disparate forms," Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School, tells The Atlantic. Cognitive flexibility plays a major role in overall creativity, defined as the ability for a person to be able to entertain various ideas and viewpoints one after the other.

So, when it's safe to do so, get back out there and travel.

You'll improve your happiness and mood, get exposed to new things, strengthen your mind and body, remove stress and anxiety, and so much more!

Got any questions, feedback, or other great reasons why travel is important? Let us know in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

Related Read: 21+ Growth Mindset Quotes to Know for Success, Happiness & Fulfillment

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Why is Travel Important? Here Are 7 Important Benefits of Traveling

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Wondering why travel is an important part of life? Here are the most impactful benefits of traveling, including health, happiness, and more!

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1. Traveling
2. Memories
3. Videography
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