Our Process

Why a Process?

Fiction writers might follow their muse, but for brands and organisations, stories need a clear purpose. You can’t wait around for inspiration. Your story has a job to do.

That's why you need a proven framework - a reliable process that keeps everything on track and creates the time and the space for powerful ideas to emerge.

At 50 Pictures, we divide this process into two phases: StoryFINDING and StoryTELLING.

StoryFINDING - The Input Phase

Shoot later. Ask questions first.

In this phase, we gather the raw materials for your story. StoryFINDING is all about asking questions, listening deeply, remaining open-minded and curious about everything, and writing it all down!

1. Map the Story World

Before we can dive into ideas, we need to understand the bigger picture: your story world. This is the space where your story will unfold, shaped by your people, context, and goals. Through deep-dive conversations and research (both online and in person), we uncover the themes, challenges, and unique opportunities that make your story worth telling. We’re creating a kind of treasure map here, with the Xs marking the spots where we need to dig deeper.

3. Choose the Story Archetype

Next, we need to select an architectural blueprint for your story from seven broad Story Archetypes. These will also help us develop an initial sense of the tone of your story - the underlying mood and feel.

Genesis Stories (Origins)
Ethos Stories (Values)
Purpose-Driven Stories (Why)
Pioneering Stories (Vision)
Enlightening Stories (Teaching)
Resonant Stories (Impact)
Counterpunching Stories (Objections)

2. Cast for Characters

All stories are about people facing challenges. So there's a direct relationship between finding great characters and telling remarkable stories. In this step, we identify potential characters for your story: people with distinctive characteristics and strong motivations striving towards meaningful goals. Why do they do what they do? And how might they need to change in order to succeed?

4. Focus on the W.O.R.K.S.

We can now refine your story's mission by answering each of the following five questions with a single Focus Word:

WONDER
What’s most inspiring about this story?

ORIGINALITY
What makes it different?

REACH
Who’s the audience?

KINDLE
How should this story make them feel?

SHIFT
What change do we want them to make?

StoryTELLING - The Output Phase

Six steps to success

In this phase, guided by your Focus Words, we transform the raw elements we’ve gathered into a compelling screen story. We define the characters and conflicts, explore story possibilities through creative play and experimentation, and shape the narrative to align with your goals - bringing it all to life through cinematic production and editing.

1. Refine the Story Elements

We now identify and agree on your story's first four fundamental elements (our Process Ps):
an engaging PERSON with a PURPOSE striving to solve a PROBLEM in a particular PLACE.

3. Shape the Story

How we tell a story is down to its shape, which is dictated by PLOT. We experiment with various plot lines - peaks, troughs, and wiggly bits - to find out which one chimes with your Focus Words and generates the strongest emotional response.

5. Shoot and Edit

This is the most technical, practical part of the process, where we bring your story from script to screen in three steps.

Planning: Pre-production (the logistics) - locations, schedules, and everything else we need to do to ensure a smooth shoot.

Shooting: Production - capturing the story in sound and vision.

Editing: Post-production - turning the raw footage into a finished story via the offline edit, two rounds of revisions, and a final polish.

2. Explore Story Stuff

Here's where we create the space for exploration and playfulness as we brainstorm story possibilities, looking at: unexpected angles, quirky connections, recurring themes, deeper meanings, coincidences, subtle clues and signals, 'what if' scenarios, and any underlying patterns. This is where the raw materials start to coalesce into solid story ideas. When we hit on an idea that sparks curiosity or tension, and aligns with your W.O.R.K.S. objectives, we know we’re on the path to a compelling story.

4. Script - Storyboard - Test

With our story shape identified, it's time to nail the plot points and build detailed scenes, scripts, and storyboards. We test the first draft, listen to feedback, and rewrite - strengthening the emerging themes and tones. Once we’ve signed off the final draft and storyboards, we’re ready for production.

6. Optimise and Deliver

When you're ready to share your story with the world, we optimise and export it for every platform:

- Owned media (your channels)
- Earned media (word-of-mouth)
- Paid media (targeted reach)

Making sure your story W.O.R.K.S.

Our StoryFINDING-to-StoryTELLING Process doesn't end with the delivery of the story to your audience. Every story we tell is a chance to learn and improve. We track engagement, retention, and conversions across all platforms. Then, using those insights, we refine your strategy so each new story builds on the success of the last.

Ready to start your story?