Lately I’ve become convinced that one of the most universal skills to learn as a filmmaker is pattern interruption.

Our brains are hard wired to notice changes in our environment, which is a survival instinct.

Thousands of years ago, this instinct kept us safe from extreme weather changes or predators.

Today, it’s what makes social media posts go viral (among other things)!

Next time you find yourself scrolling on Instagram, notice what makes you stop in your tracks. It’s always something unusual.

You breeze past 20 posts without even really registering them, and then all of a sudden something hits you, and you stop.

The color is bright red, the face on the video is in tears, or there’s a unique juxtaposition of images you can’t quite make sense of.

That is pattern interruption in its most basic form. You mindlessly move though your business when something comes along and jolts you.

A pattern interruption can be almost anything.

I saw a post recently by someone who photoshopped an eyelash on top of his instagram photo. So when you see it on your phone, it looks like your eyelash fell off and touched the screen.

The point of that post was to prove how small details and imperfections can create awareness (AKA pattern interruption), and it worked exactly as you would imagine. The post was seen by thousands – maybe millions of people.

I noticed this myself just this week when I posted a reel to Instagram about David Fincher. Without realizing it, I had accidentally subtitled his name as David “Finger” which immediately caught people’s attention.

That was 2 days ago, and the post has since racked up over 200,000 views. Had I not made that typo, it might have been 2,000.

This phenomenon might be most obviously measurable on social media. But it exists everywhere, and it may be one of the most critical skills for filmmakers to understand.

Because there is more noise than ever right now, and if we’re unable to cut through it, we can’t get it ahead.

We all know that 15,000+ movies are submitted to Sundance every year and only a few get in.

And that thousands of screenplays are left unread on the desks of executives in Hollywood.

And that even when movies do get made, a tiny percentage of them actually get noticed.

In all of these instances, pattern interruption is the defining variable.

Whether it’s a killer movie title that grabs you, or a poster that creates a visceral reaction in the viewer… Something about the work stands out.

There are opportunities at every step to play into this. 

The most practical method is simply to consider it every time you are sharing your work or initiating communication.

Going to pitch an investor via email? Make sure the subject line jumps out of their inbox.

Writing an opening scene? Do something so extreme or unheard of the reader will feel obligated to continue.

Submitting to a film festival? Lead with a mind-blowing title and poster unlike anything they’ve seen.

90% of filmmakers play it safe. They copy what many other successful films or filmmakers have done before them, not realizing everyone else is doing the same thing.

But those who go against the grain always win out.

You want to anticipate what people are expecting, and do the opposite.

That doesn’t mean create shock value just for the sake of it. But it does mean leaning into the unique qualities you have to offer, and putting them at the forefront with confidence.

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