A Tribute to the Legendary Movie Directors: DataDNA April 2024 Challenge Winner
This article explores how I applied data storytelling concepts to my entry report for the Onyx Data DataDNA April 2024 Challenge, focusing on The Movie Database (TMDB).
This project has been nominated as a winner.
Foreword
In undertaking this challenge, I intend to hone my design and data storytelling skills by leveraging the Onion Model and Pyramid Principle within the report structure. For your reference, I have written articles that delve deeper into these concepts; the links are provided below should you wish to explore them further.
About the Dataset
The data for this challenge is provided by Onyx Data.
Step 1: Addressing the Big Question
This is my first venture into a massive dataset from TMDB (The Movie Database), boasting over 900,000 entries. With such a wealth of information, the possibilities for exploration are endless.
After familiarizing myself with the data, my initial challenge was to define a specific area of focus. Instead of delving directly into movies themselves, I found it intriguing to shift the perspective towards masterminds behind them: the directors. These legendary creators have crafted timeless blockbusters and captivating masterpieces. To honor their achievements, I’m setting out to answer this question: which movie directors have achieved the greatest commercial success throughout their careers?
Intermezzo
To ensure we’re on the same page, I’d like to discuss my approach to report creation before we proceed.
Don’t worry if the approach that I usually take seems unclear. What I’m trying to point out is that there’s no one right way to do it. You can start anywhere, leave out steps, or even go back and forth between them. In my case, I usually begin by downloading the data. Then, I take a quick look at it to get a general idea. After that, I brainstorm some ideas for the report. While I’m writing the report, I also analyze the data and then polish everything up to finish it.
Step 2: Concepting the Content Flow of the Report
To ensure readers grasp the key message, I’ve crafted a concise report with minimal visuals, structuring it in three sections on a focused 1280px by 2170px layout. This approach leverages the Onion Model and Pyramid Principle to avoid information overload and clearly reveal the report’s core message and structure.
The Onion Model offers incredible flexibility for organizing information. Because it adapts to your way of thinking, there are no set rules on how to use it. For example, I find it useful to brainstorm topics for different sections of my writing using this Model. It allows me to arrange the information based on the amount of detail it contains (data granularity). However, you could just as easily organize your information based on the overall topic of discussion, or any other criteria that works best for you.
Additionally, I employ the pyramid principle to determine the visual elements to include in each section of my report. The section becomes more granular as it accommodates more visuals and information.
Step 3: Creating the Final Report
This report celebrates the enduring dedication of legendary directors in filmmaking, honoring those who have etched their names in history with iconic works that continue to resonate with audiences.
It adopts the theme colors used by TMDB, which can be found on their color attribution page.
The first section of the report delves into the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the top 10 legendary directors with the highest cumulative movie production budgets. Inspired by a hall of fame format, I aim to present their achievements in a visually engaging way. These KPIs encompass not just the total budget, but also the number of films directed, total box office revenue generated, and average critical rating across their filmography.
The second section delves into the top 10 highest-grossing and most expensive movies. To effectively visualize the relationship between revenue and budget, I utilized two chart types: a dumbbell chart (combined with bubble chart) and a bar chart.
- The dumbbell chart focuses on both revenue and budget for each movie. The wider the gap between the two circles (representing revenue and budget) on the dumbbell, the higher the movie’s profitability.
- The bar chart, on the other hand, highlights the top 10 movies with the biggest budgets. This includes upcoming releases indicated by gray bars, such as Avatar 3, 4, and 5, and Drive to Palemo 3: The Final Ride.
Interestingly, both charts reveal a strong presence of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise.
Moving on to the third section, we’ll explore the number of movies released from 1865 to 2024. Here, I’ve opted for a column chart that gives a cinematic flair effect to visually represent the trend, even if it sacrifices some precision for a more impactful presentation.
This section will be accompanied by a chart showcasing total revenue alongside the release numbers. The goal is to highlight specific revenue spikes caused by blockbuster releases, while also acknowledging the talented directors behind them.
To provide a clearer picture of these revenue spikes, I’ve included donut charts showcasing the top 3 blockbusters that significantly contributed to the total revenue during those years (1990, 1997, 2017, and 2023).
Thank you for reading! I hope you gained valuable insights from this article. Follow me or subscribe to my newsletter for more data storytelling content.
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