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What is the Image Hopping Trick for Story Writing?

 “Image hopping” is a cool trick to kick-start your story writing process when you don’t have any idea how to proceed. The technique involves using vivid, descriptive language to appeal to the reader’s senses by creating mental images and “connecting the unconnected.”

 

The process

Find a compelling image, expose it in rich detail, brainstorm elements within it, and then “hop” to a new, seemingly unrelated image to spark unusual, new connections and expand your horizon of narrative possibilities. Create strong, memorable images to grip the emotion of the reader. The goal isn’t to describe the images, but to use them as springboards for character, plot, and theme.

 

Example: Domino's “It happens only with pizza”



VISUALS

Shot 1

Image of a muppet dancing in a disco-like setting with the word “Happening” flashed in cool blue bold font (transports the viewer into the emotion of partytime)

 

Shot 2

The muppet image cuts into the image of real people dancing in disco/party with symbols of music notes blinking on the screen

 

Shot 3

The slice of a pizza acts as a transitioning element. It swipes in a circular motion and the image shifts to the close-up of these partying people holding box of Dominos pizza. This is followed by a montage of several of these boxes held by people.

 

Shot 4

The ad “hops” into an entirely unrelated image showing a group of young people, in a top-view. They are seated around a table with papers, laptops, sticky notes, sketches, snacks, and boxes of Dominos pizza. While they look upwards in rumination, lightbulbs are flashing over their heads, indicating that they are brainstorming.

 

Shot 5

Zooms into the image of a paper on their table that contains a black ink doodle sketch of a smiling girl and a smiling boy holding a Dominos pizza box in one of his hands, with hearts floating in the air. The sketch becomes animated and the cheery boy takes out a slice from the box and extends it towards the girl. The girl swoons and takes a bite. (Drool-worthy image)

 

Shot 6

Again, the ad transitions into a completely unrelated image of two college-aged boys slouched on a sofa, eating Dominos pizza and binge-watching television. One boy bites into a slice and his eyes pop out like googly eyes.

 

Shot 7

Another unrelated image. This time, of a social media feed displaying a video of a group of people partying over pizza while their post is flooded with likes and hearts.

 

Shot 8

Zooming into the group of people in the clip while they share pizza with each other, having a blast. Background sound of camera clicking. A collage of photos appears on the screen.

 

Shot 9

Next unrelated image is a group of friends ordering Dominos pizza on their mobile app (the scene cleverly tells people that they can order pizza at the ease of just one tap on their phone)

 

Shot 10

Tantalizing close-up shot of a pizza with cheese bursting and stretching through the rainbow of vegetables

 

Shot 11

Quick shot of people in different settings relishing the cheesy pizza with swooning and satisfying expressions. In the background, a peppy voice roars “It happens only with pizza!”

 

Shot 12

Quick image hopping. Montage of animations and images of people enjoying the pizza in different settings, from a friend’s breakup to a beachside party. An animated cat using a pizza as a DJ disc. Pizza boxes piling up in the corner of a house. Hands picking up slices from one pizza after the other. The peppy voice repeats the same catchphrase

 

Shot 13

Rapid frame displays the word “pizza.” Each letter of the word is crafted from different colors of the vegetables. (This tells people that there are so many veggies in their pizza, which makes people feel good about eating it.) Last shot wraps up with a graphic of dominos boxes with the same catchphrase written in quirky font. A bold voice repeats the phrase in the end, whose echo lingers in the viewer’s head.

 

How the “Image hopping” trick makes the Domino's ad so enticing and attractive?

 

1.    Emotional collage – The ad doesn’t tell a linear story but presents a rapid montage of positive, relatable moments, all linked by the presence of Domino’s pizza.

2.    Breadth of appeal - By showing diverse groups (friends, families, couples, individuals) and varied occasions, the series of images reinforces that Domino's is for “everyone” and for “every moment.”

3.    Product showcase – Quick and rapid flashes of different flavours and varieties of pizzas effectively highlight the variety without needing a detailed menu breakdown. The images make viewers know that there’s a flavor for everyone.

4.    Pacing for engagement – Fast cuts keep the ad dynamic and engaging, while mirroring to the audience that they can avail the lip-smacking pizzas from the comfort of their homes while having quick delivery service.

5.    Brand association – The montage of images subtly and subconsciously injects the idea in the viewer’s mind that the brand Domino’s is associated with joy, convenience, shared experiences, and lots of fun, in the Indian context here.

The crux: The images depicted here via image hopping finely coagulate to paint the singular image in the viewer’s brain – If you seek some fun and tasty moments like the ones shown in these images, order Domino’s pizza.


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