The inciting moment is not preserved for fiction film alone, but is an essential part of any compelling story. Having a clear conflict helps the audience to move from the opening scene to a more compelling narrative experience. Without the inciting incident, there is little for the audience to be concerned with.
The inciting incident typically evolves within the very beginning of the story. According to McKee this first story driver even occurs on page 0/120 (a screenplay for a fiction film lasting 120 minutes is written on approximately 120 pages). Placing the story’s problem close to the opening scene helps to create a hook explaining your audience why this video exists, and why they should keep watching.
Even when there is no concrete story arc as can be the case in a corporate production, there is surely a need which drives the investment of the video. It is up to the filmmaker to portray the hidden desires which drive the video and its characters.
To make the conflict which drives the video stick, it is important to communicate with the cinematographer about the inciting incident. He or she can then consider how visual language contributes to giving the story conflict the exclamation mark it deserves, making the question which drives the video linger with its audience long after the video has past.
Graduation Report Roos M Jansen 