Types of Foreshadowing in Films — What is Indirect vs. Direct Foreshadowing?

What is foreshadowing in films, what’s the difference between indirect and direct foreshadowing, and how do filmmakers use it to build intrigue?

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Foreshadowing
00:45 - Foreshadowing Definition & History
02:08 - Direct Foreshadowing
04:47 - Indirect Foreshadowing
07:46 - Foreshadowing Applications
10:57 - Takeaways

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What is foreshadowing?

What is foreshadowing in films and how do filmmakers use it to build intrigue? In this video, we present a foreshadowing lesson for filmmakers and storytellers. Not only covering the difference between direct foreshadowing and indirect foreshadowing but how these techniques can be applied. From the obvious applications of foreshadowing like dialogue down to the details like props, music, and production design.

Foreshadowing Definition

At the basic level, foreshadowing is anything that indicates or hints at future events in a story. Between the two types of foreshadowing, we either recognize these hints right away or only in hindsight. But in either case, it can create a cohesive story in which the audience becomes intrigued at how it will all turn out.

What is direct foreshadowing?

Direct foreshadowing is obvious to the audience right away. But even then, there is a spectrum of presentations — from clear indications of what will happen later in the story to simply hints that leave room for ambiguity or subversion. For example, in The Tragedy of Macbeth, the witches state outright that Macbeth will one day take the throne. But rather than ruining the ending, we are more intrigued by how he slowly corrupts his soul in the process.

In Frozen, we are told that the only way to cure Anna’s curse is through “an act of true love.” The filmmakers use our expectations of a “romantic” love but it is revealed that it is a sister’s love that breaks the spell.
What is indirect foreshadowing?

Indirect foreshadowing is only obvious in hindsight, either at the end of the film or upon a second viewing. This is different from easter eggs, which are deliberately hidden inside jokes or clues but have little to no bearing on the actual plot. For example, in Ari Aster’s horror fairy tale Midsommar, the first image we see is pure indirect foreshadowing. We open with a mural that lays out the entire plot of the film. Of course, we can’t recognize that before we’ve seen the film but it works as indirect foreshadowing nonetheless. It gives the tragedy a sense of inevitability — that Dani was always meant to find herself among the Harga and that the demise of her friends was similarly foretold.

Foreshadowing in films is everywhere and if you’re looking for tips on how to write foreshadowing in your next script, these examples should give you a head start. It is a skill that all storytellers, no matter the medium or genre, can use to bring the audience into the narrative.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

"I'm Shipping Up to Boston" - Dropkick Murphys
"A Glowing Light, A Promise" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Remote Interface" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Choke" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Free Your Mind" - Don Davis
"My Black Desires" - Carter Burwell
"No Regrets" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Amber" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Vuelie (Featuring Cantus)" - Christophe Beck
"Royal Blue - Instrumental" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Don't Stop Me Now" - Queen
"Crush" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Prophesy" - Bobby Krlic
"Gassed" - Bobby Krlic
"Fire Temple" - Bobby Krlic
"Stuck Behind a Train - Instrumental" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"The Name's Bond... James Bond" - David Arnold
"Combat Drop" - James Horner
"Bishop's Countdown" - James Horner
"Tannhauser Gate" - Makeup and Vanity Set
"Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All" - Howard Shore
"Theme from Darker Colors" - Makeup and Vanity Set

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[StudioBinder]

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Foreshadowing
00:45 - Foreshadowing Definition & History
02:08 - Direct Foreshadowing
04:47 - Indirect Foreshadowing
07:46 - Foreshadowing Applications
10:57 - Takeaways

[OlgaKuznetsova]

I feel like foreshadowing elicits a way for the audience to more actively participate in the film... they are not just observing, but they are expecting something, they are engaging with a secret, they are playing detective....it's so cool! Every time I watch your videos, it's like a gift, ya'll rock!

[Evanderj]

Studiobinder can present things you already know and make them more interesting than you thought possible. That's a masterful craft. Can't wait for the next one!

[whyllowfilms]

I have to say, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar was a severely unique and amazing form of foreshadowing. It had been such a complete plot-twist, to say the least, and though everything had been so complex in the story, he connected all these patterns, insights, foreshadowing to create a final statement in the end of his story. Wonderful video, Studiobinder! Much love!

[Kaiser]

This channel is so epic. How do you find all of those examples in all those movies? What an insane amount of work! I'm enjoying learning from every video

[TmsTanim]

I think the first time I became aware of foreshadowing as a storytelling device was when I was a kid was rewatching The Wizard of Oz and realising that the roles or titles of the main characters in Oz are all fairly directly foreshadowed by the people in Dorothy's life before she goes over the rainbow. The Witch of the West and the Wizard are fairly obvious even on the first viewing, but the things that the other people say, alluding to their Oz counterparts, is a bit more clever and seemed like "a thing". Much later I learned the term for that thing.

[Ruylopez]

"Just shitty pipe dreams" line in Shawshank has to be the best foreshadowing of all time.

[ArtistCreationsPicturesInc]

“Amphibia” had a lot of foreshadowing throughout the season trilogy when it comes to loose an eye or arm, missing one shoe, and dialogues that we did not see it coming. I love how it shows elements that create the entire arc of the story.

[lemonlachesis]

Unrelated to films but one of my favourite TV series with arguably have the highest amount of foreshadowings placed beautifully from the very first shot to end is Attack on Titan. A lot of reveals in this show have the best execution and payoffs you’ll rarely see in any other series so far.

[rayancedrichaddad]

I always learn with enthusiasm thanks to you StudioBinder. I understand better now that the principle of Foreshadowing, is a kind of Clue in the Dramaturgy which invests the Spectators, as a prevention, without spoiler. Brilliant, Intelligent, Inspiring.

[MUNDERGROUND]

One I noticed was in The Big Lebowski. When the dude visits the step daughter of lebowski one of the paintings on the wall is of scissors and on a red background. It later pops up in the dudes hallucination which eventually wakes him up. Subtle but they still had it in there as a device used to continue the narrative and provide a major jump in time.

[quarionilphukiir]

The amount of foreshadowing and payoffs in Knives Out is so awesome.

[iMeze]

The "we have the same suitcase" from fight club was a blatantly obvious foreshadowing, but so good!

[itsgus]

Fantastic video guys. You’ve done it again. I’d just like to point out that the spoiler alert and the specific movies you do spoil are so very much appreciated. Keep it up.

[ramanujdas]

Can you also please make a video on Symbolism and Foreshadowing. Similarities and differences.

[Azronnn]

I can single handedly say, this channel made me start writing wattpad stories and viewing movies differently

[WarriorSpartan]

I loved the foreshadowing from The Sixth Sense and Signs. Still gives me chills.

[poiluparadis]

Always a treat when a StudioBinder video is released.

[evanthia]

FORESHADOWING IS MY FAVORITE LITERARY DEVICE IN BOTH FILM AND LITERATURE

[aaronferreira]

There are a lot of examples of foreshadowing in the movie a beautiful mind, but the best for me is when Nash is playing pool with the hallucinated Charles, and Hansen asks “who’s winning, you or you?” Something I only picked up on the second viewing.