Brochado, JoaoJoaoBrochado2025-12-162025-12-162025-09https://dspace.usj.edu.mo/handle/123456789/6757The present study explores the complex and often vague notion of the cinematic look in contemporary filmmaking. Although widely used in both professional practice and film education, the term is rarely defined with precision and is applied inconsistently, which creates uncertainty among filmmakers, teachers, and audiences. The study seeks to clarify this gap by investigating the contribution of specific elements of cinematography to what is perceived as a cinematic look in digital narrative films, why this aesthetic is significant, and how cultural context influences its interpretation. The present study used a convergent parallel mixed methods research design, simultaneously but separately, with a quantitative experiment and qualitative interviews to address these questions. A sample of 127 valid participants from 21 countries, with an average age of 35, participated in the experiment, and 15 experts (renowned international cinematographers and filmmakers) from more than eight countries in the film industry participated in the qualitative interviews. Participants in the quantitative experiment responded to 27 elements of cinematography (44 variables), while the qualitative interviews offered richer insights into professional practice, creative choices, and experiential learning. The quantitative data analysis process included pre-analysis screening, normality checks, statistical testing for descriptive, and comparative insights, effect sizes, and result integration for joint displays, whereas qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Quantitative results show that out of the 44 variables, 20 show strong influence, 14 show moderate influence, and 10 show minimal or no influence. The qualitative results show that no single technique on its own ensures a cinematic look. It emerges from a purposeful interaction of multiple elements aligned with the narrative that sustains immersion. By linking and integrating quantitative and qualitative data, and to make sense of these, the study develops a pyramid model and decision matrix, which classify the elements according to their universal, conditional, or context-dependent significance. The findings also reveal that both filmmakers and audiences often confuse popular myths with more reliable indicators, and that intention and narrative coherence shape the cinematic effect more strongly than technology by itself. This work contributes on several levels: theoretically, by giving a clearer definition of the cinematic look; empirically, by bringing together both professional and audience perspectives; and pedagogically, by presenting a structured framework for film education. For practitioners, especially those with limited budgets, the thesis also highlights techniques that can enhance cinematic quality without requiring costly equipment. Overall, the study redefines the cinematic look as both a cultural code and a practical skill, offering a firmer basis for future research and creative practice.enCinematic lookCinematographyFilm aestheticsDigital filmmakingMixed-methods researchAudience perceptionsVisual storytellingtext::thesis::doctoral thesis