LEARNING STORYTELLING THROUGH MOVIES_ BY SUMAILA UMAISHA

Watching movies can be an effective way to acquire storytelling skills. I don't mean in the sense of simply following the storyline and later regurgitating it. That approach would only produce imitation. Rather, the value lies in observing the details; the actions, gestures, dialogues, and settings that bring a story to life.

One may ask why movies, when reading other works is an option. Certainly, books offer a deeper psychological and intellectual connection to a story, and reading should continue to be a central practice. However, movies provide unique advantages. In books, a reader works with cold printed words, and comprehension often depends on one’s intellectual capacity and imaginative ability to recreate the physicality of events in the mind. Movies, by contrast, present a near three-dimensional world, engaging both sight and hearing. The story unfolds before you, leaving less to imagination while still allowing observation and analysis.

A compelling storyline alone does not guarantee a good narrative. A story with weak execution of details will fail to resonate. Movies teach lessons in these details; how events unfold through individual behaviour, how dialogue is delivered, and how gestures and facial expressions convey meaning beyond words. By carefully observing these elements, a viewer can read between the lines, understanding subtext and emotional nuance that may not be explicitly stated.

Developing this habit of critical viewing enhances the enjoyment of films while sharpening storytelling skills. Writers who pay attention to such details can bring greater credibility to their work, making fiction feel authentic. In short, movies offer a rich, sensory education in narrative technique. Watching movies train writers to notice the subtleties that elevate a story from ordinary to compelling.

So, when next you watch a movie, don't just watch, study it.

© Sumaila Umaisha

- Nigeria