Storytelling using the camera

CMS 3510 Sports / CMS 3511 Performing Arts

Zooming vs. moving the camera closer?

Camera far away, zoomed in         VS.        Camera close up, zoomed out

What if you zoomed and moved at the same time?

Evolution of the

"Dolly Zoom"

2:04

composition

framing, blocking, & where things are in the frame

Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds examples

See how filmmakers use the Rule of 3rds to guide some of their shots...

Shape of the thirds echo the shape of the overall frame

Rule of Thirds works well when you have lots of negative space

Can you not use the Rule of Thirds?

Yes! It's just one of many composition techniques that make your video artistically interesting; there are other composition techniques, such as symmetry.

And...

Wes Anderson style

...perspective

optical illusions:

A forced perspective or optical illusion can juxtapose different elements in a new, amusing or interesting ways

perspective in cinema

Vanishing point, helps create a feeling of depth, scale, and personal experience

first person perspectives

Puts the audience "into the shoes" of a character.

Sometimes resulting in a more direct emotional response by being able to see what a character sees.  The audience can start to relate to the character's experience. 

Perspectives:

Cinematic: Emphasize space, create tension, reinforce a theme...

First person perspective: makes it more personal.

Optical illusions: juxtaposing different elements in new and interesting ways, possibly stating an opinion about perception and reality.

Extreme Close Up

(XCU)

Now lets talk about FRAMING!

Close Up

(CU)

Medium Shot

(MS)

Medium Full Shot /

Medium Wide Shot 

(MFS / MWS)

Full Shot / Wide Shot

(FS) / (WS)

Extreme Wide Shot     (XWS)

(also a perspective!

Extreme Close Up (XCU): a small but important portion of the face (or object), usually the eyes.

Close Up (CU): a shot of the face (or object), sometimes cutting off some extraneous material like the top of the head and neck

Medium Shot (MS): a little wider than waist up, showing more context, but not the whole body

Medium Full Shot or Medium Wide Shot (MFS / MWS): a shot showing the whole body (or almost all of it), and more of the surrounding context, but not all

Wide Shot or Full Shot (WS / FS): Showing the whole body and all of the important parts of the surrounding context.

Extreme Wide Shot (XWS): showing the whole scene, the subject very small within it, including necessary and unecessary contextual detail

Framing shot sizes:

BAD framing

• No lead room (or nose room)

• Too much head room

• Not enough head room

• Awkward eyeline

• Slight tilt

• Too much negative space in OTS

Good framing

• Lead room (or nose room)

• Right amount of head room

• Dramatic tilt (perspective)

• No negative space in OTS

Camera Movements

• Tilts.  Done with the camera on a tripod in an up/down axis. Can show a sense of scale, or give the audience a sense of a vertical space. Example Goldeneye (at 1:00).
• Dolly Zooms. Creates a sense of unease, drama, or realization depending on how it is used in the context of the scene. See earlier examples.
• Dolly Shots.  With the camera + tripod on a platform with wheels, allows the camera to move smoothly through the space. Example Peggy Sue Gets Married.
• One long take. Gives a sense of reality, as well as 1st person perspective (especially if hand held).  Example Children of Men (warning, graphic content). aka Spielberg 'oner'

BLOCKING OUT THE SCENE

• Carefully planning actors movements and camera movements within the frame, and within the scene.
• Storyboarding

iPhone video

Don't shoot vertical video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA

One option for dealing with vertical video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdCLQ2DQ0NY