One of the things that directly inspires narrative filmmakers but does not get enough credit for doing so is Video Art. Check out Artist Paul Chan's intriguing work:

In 1st Light Chan uses Plato’s allegory of the cave as the framework for his piece, transforming the Momentum gallery into a darkened cavern with a single video projection obliquely projected on the floor. Combined with Leave a Trace, leave a wound (After Henri Michaux) (2005) a thin trickle of light comes out of a slightly opened door covering the sole window of the gallery. The video projection resembles a light coming through a window, the figures in the work all silhouettes or blurred shadows cast down on the floor of the gallery. The piece is 14 minutes long, with an interval of shifting colors, which follow the times of day. The first image, or shadow, you see is that of a rising telephone pole, orienting us to the bottom and top of the video field.

Go here to get more info on Paul Chan and the Piece. (Via GreenCine)