MINIMAL LOCATION TREND: SMALL SPACES SHOOT BIGGER IN 9:16

The film industry is undergoing a significant shift as more creators embrace the minimal location trend, choosing to shoot in small, simple spaces that serve as powerful storytelling backdrops. By working within these tight environments, you can focus on authentic performances and character-driven narratives, making every scene intimate and engaging. This approach naturally aligns with the increasing dominance of the 9:16 aspect ratio, a vertical video format designed with mobile audiences in mind. As more viewers consume content on TikTok, Instagram Stories, and Snapchat, understanding how to use minimal locations in 9:16 is essential if you want your work to stand out and connect.

Filmmakers are using small space film techniques not just to save on production costs, but to spark creativity and innovation. Limited space forces you to maximize every inch, play with natural lighting, and pay close attention to actors’ expressions—drawing viewers deeper into your story. Films like The Lighthouse prove how a restricted setting can increase tension, mood, and narrative depth, while also helping you keep budgets manageable. Audiences are responding to these pared-down, relatable locations, which feel more personal and real compared to elaborate sets. When you master minimal locations with a vertical video format, you unlock an authenticity that truly resonates.

THE RISE OF COMPACT FILMING SPACES

The shift toward small spaces in filmmaking is about more than saving money—it’s a response to viewers who crave realism and emotional connection. Minimal environments put the spotlight on your characters and plot, letting you create suspense, intimacy, and drama without distractions. In tight rooms, you have to make bold choices with blocking, camera placement, and set design, so every detail counts.

This trend urges you to see each confined space as a canvas rather than a limitation. Working with minimalism in set design often brings out creative solutions that make your project visually striking and unique.

VERTICAL ASPECT RATIO: ENGAGING TODAY’S MOBILE VIEWERS

The 9:16 aspect ratio dramatically shapes the way stories are told, especially for audiences glued to their smartphones. Shooting vertically allows your content to fill phone screens entirely, making every moment feel close and immediate. With more platforms prioritizing vertical video, adapting to this format can boost engagement and broaden your reach.

Directors now think about movement and composition differently, using the tall frame to emphasize height, layering, and the dynamics between characters and their environment. Instead of striving for wide, sweeping shots, you focus on what’s essential within a narrow, vertical window—the perfect complement to minimal location filmmaking.

CREATIVE APPROACHES FOR STORYTELLING IN SMALL SPACES

Small spaces bring heightened focus to performances, making close-ups, expressive faces, and subtle gestures critical to your storytelling. The limits on movement lead you to use carefully chosen camera angles and blocking, turning each shot into a study of character and emotion. A confined setting—like a cramped kitchen or single hallway—can shape not only mood but also narrative progression, giving your story urgency or tension.

Directing in these environments encourages you to experiment with unconventional techniques, such as reflective surfaces or layered foregrounds, to add visual interest. When you commit to creative shot composition in tight quarters, you provide your audience with a deeper, more personal viewing experience.

MAKING SMALL ROOMS FEEL BIG IN 9:16 VIDEO

Shooting in minimal locations presents the challenge of making them feel open and cinematic, especially in a vertical format. Fortunately, a few simple strategies can expand the visual scope of your film:

• Use wide-angle lenses to add depth and create a sense of spaciousness within confined areas.
• Incorporate deliberate camera movements, such as slow pans or dolly shots, to introduce motion and dimension.
• Plan lighting carefully—highlight shadows, exploit natural light sources, and use practical fixtures to build texture.
• Embrace minimalist set design; strategically placed mirrors or light-colored furnishings can make your set feel less cramped.

By combining these techniques, you give your scenes more breathing room, ensuring small spaces have big storytelling impact.

BLENDING MINIMAL SETS WITH VERTICAL VIDEO

Pairing small spaces with vertical video lets you experiment with new visual and narrative techniques. The tall frame naturally draws attention upwards and downwards, highlighting the relationship between characters and their environment in ways that widescreen cannot. This synergy pushes you to reimagine story flow and scene structure, as seen in innovative projects like Instagram’s Vertical series.

Directors are increasingly thinking about how blocking and choreography can utilize all available space, not just side-to-side but top-to-bottom. For mobile-first viewers, this style delivers a uniquely immersive, relatable experience.

NAVIGATING PRODUCTION CHALLENGES

Filming in minimal locations with a 9:16 aspect ratio demands flexibility and problem-solving, since you often deal with tight quarters, tricky lighting, and limited camera mobility. To address these challenges, it’s essential to plan your shot lists collaboratively and consider using compact, customizable equipment. Portable lighting, modular rigs, and flexible mounts all help your crew operate effectively in small areas.

You also benefit from sharing tips and experiences with other creators; the filmmaking community regularly exchanges advice on making the most of both cramped sets and vertical compositions. As you continue exploring minimal locations and vertical storytelling, teamwork and adaptability become crucial assets.