The screenlife genre in cinematography represents a relatively new concept in which the action of the film takes place entirely on the screens of various devices – computers, smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets. This genre was originally developed by the film producer Timur Bekmambetov and has gained recognition in the film industry.
One of the most well-known films in the screenlife genre, “Host” (2020), tells the story of a group of friends who host a virtual party during quarantine, but the session leads to frightening consequences. This film received positive reviews from critics and audiences for its original concept and modern approach to creating a tense atmosphere.
The essence of screenlife is that viewers see all events of the movie through the main character. The entire screen is taken up by the image of a particular device, be it a laptop, smartphone, or navigator. The audience sees everything happening on the screen of this device: messaging, calls, video viewing, switching between browser tabs, and so on. This is a unique approach to cinematography that creates a sense of immersion and captivates the audience.
Although the screenlife genre is still gaining popularity, its potential and uniqueness have already been recognized in the film industry. With the development of technology and changes in content consumption, it can be expected that screenlife films will become even more prevalent and diverse in the future