24 FPS: The standard frame rate in the film industry.

When it comes to "cinematic quality," many people think of film color, lighting, or frame composition, but frame rate also plays a significant role. 24 FPS is a popular choice in filmmaking, creating a natural and emotional pace, bringing depth to each frame. This just-right pace contributes to the "cinematic" feel we often call "cinematic."

What is 24 FPS?

24 FPS (24 Frames Per Second) is a frame rate where each second of footage consists of 24 consecutive frames. This is the standard and most common frame rate in the film industry, widely used in both theatrical films and cinematic productions.

24 FPS is the frame rate used when shooting movies and television series. 

To put it simply, the cinematic style in film often delivers a poetic visual experience, not as sharp and "realistic" as television or TV commercials. Instead, the frames are constructed with depth and softness to evoke emotions, helping the audience focus on the story and the characters' feelings rather than the factual details. Therefore, films shown in theaters often create a stronger impression and a more overwhelming feeling than when viewed on TV, even if the content is exactly the same.

In cinematic terms, 24 FPS makes motion look natural, with just the right amount of blur, creating a realistic feel while still maintaining emotional depth. This characteristic means that 24 FPS is not just a technical specification, but also an integral part of visual storytelling, contributing to shaping the "quality of film" that audiences typically perceive.

Why do filmmakers choose 24 FPS?

In current video recording techniques, several common FPS settings can be configured, such as 24 FPS, 60 FPS, or 120 FPS. The choice of which setting to use depends on factors such as equipment, shooting purpose, and usage requirements. However, 24 FPS has become the "gold standard" frame rate in filmmaking for nearly a century.

The nature of 24 FPS creates frames with a high degree of blur and color that is distinctly "cinematic". 

So why did cinema choose 24 FPS?

• A balance between smoothness and a natural feel: 24 FPS creates just the right amount of motion blur between frames. This slight "shortfall" allows the brain to automatically compensate for the motion, making the image appear seamless and closer to how humans perceive motion in real life. If the FPS is too high, the motion becomes too clear, revealing unnecessary detail and lacking depth, easily disrupting the cinematic feel.
• Optimizing costs and technical conditions in the early stages: In the early stages of filmmaking, 16 FPS was the preferred frame rate, but this resulted in very slow frames and a lack of sound. As filmmaking progressed to sound films, a high enough frame rate was necessary for stable, distortion-free sound reproduction. 24 FPS was chosen because it met the minimum technical requirements while also saving on film, production costs, and processing time at the time.
• Forming the audience's visual habits: Over the decades, audiences have become accustomed to the 24 FPS (frames per second) pace of films, unconsciously adopting it as the standard for "cinematic quality." When watching content at a higher FPS, the brain is more likely to associate it with television, behind-the-scenes videos, or real-life events, rather than a storytelling cinematic work.

The aesthetic impact of 24 FPS in cinematic language.

Beyond its technical role, 24 FPS directly impacts the aesthetic value of cinematic imagery. This frame rate contributes to shaping the rhythm of movement, visual emotion, and how the story is conveyed to the viewer.

• Enhance the emotional depth of the scene: At 24 FPS, the movement isn't overly smooth, creating a slow and rhythmic feel. This is especially effective in dialogue scenes, psychological moments, and dramatic scenes where character emotions are more important than action.
• Maintain a reasonable distance from "real life".If 60 FPS creates images that are too sharp and too realistic, then 24 FPS creates a layer of "artistic distance." This distance helps the audience immerse themselves in the story, instead of being distracted by technical details or feeling like they are watching real life.
• Serving the purpose of storytelling rather than showcasing technical skills: In the language of cinema, images don't need to be technically perfect, but rather emotionally accurate. 24 FPS helps directors and cinematographers control the narrative pace, lighting, camera movement, and acting, thereby guiding the viewer's emotions more subtly.

Some things to keep in mind when shooting at 24 FPS.

24 FPS is commonly used in video formats that emphasize storytelling and emotion, such as feature films, short films, TV series, cinematic videos, emotionally charged commercials, and art videos. In fact, you can easily set up and shoot 24 FPS video on your phone today to create more artistic footage for your social media content.

You can absolutely shoot 24 FPS video on your phone for a more cinematic feel. 

Some things to keep in mind when shooting video at 24 FPS.

• Avoid moving the machine too quickly: With 24 FPS, the machine movements Sudden panning, tilting, or panning movements can easily cause motion judder, resulting in choppy images and less smooth movement. Using a tripod or gimbal is recommended to ensure smoother and more fluid motion.
• Maintain a consistent shutter speed: When shooting at 24 FPS, the shutter speed should be set to around 1/48s–1/50s to create natural, cinematic motion blur. Too high a shutter speed will make the image too sharp, losing its "film" quality, while too low a shutter speed will result in a blurry, low-quality image.
• Control the lighting carefully: Since it's not possible to increase the shutter speed too much, the cinematographer needs to use an ND filter or adjust the lighting to avoid overexposure. Avoid reducing the shutter speed to compensate for exposure, as this can disrupt the cinematic motion in the frame.
• Limit fast-paced action scenes: 24 FPS is not suitable for high-speed motion scenes or chase scenes because it can easily make the image appear blurry and uncomfortable to watch. If it's unavoidable, consider shooting at 60 FPS and then using slow motion or other methods in post-production.
• Maintain consistent FPS throughout the entire process: Video shooting, editing, and exporting should all be consistent at 24 FPS to ensure smooth and stable motion. Deviations in FPS can easily cause stuttering and out-of-time motion, resulting in an unpleasant viewing experience.
• Choose the right content genre: 24 FPS works best with feature films, short films, and storytelling videos rather than content that requires high smoothness.

4 FPS is like a "default language" in cinema, where emotion is prioritized over absolute smoothness. It doesn't make the image overly realistic, but just enough for the viewer to believe the story unfolding on screen. This restraint is what defines 24 FPS and why, despite technological changes, this frame rate has always held a special place in filmmaking.