Shooting Tips

It's not uncommon for first-time filmmakers to film everything from their camera person's eye-level, with no consideration for framing, composition and mise en scene.  This makes for an amateurish film which doesn't look good, doesn't cut together well, and which disorients the viewer.  This page offers a few tips to help make sure you film is shot well.

Filming everything from the camera operator's eye level can result in a limited and less visually engaging presentation. While shooting at eye level provides a perspective that aligns with the camera operator's viewpoint, it can lack variety and fail to explore different angles or perspectives. This approach may lead to a visually monotonous and flat presentation, limiting the creative potential of a scene.

By incorporating various camera angles and perspectives, filmmakers can add depth, visual interest, and a sense of storytelling. Different camera angles, such as high angles or low angles, can convey power dynamics, emotions, and narrative context. They can also provide unique perspectives that enhance the overall visual impact of a scene.

Furthermore, using different camera angles helps to establish visual variety, maintain viewer engagement, and prevent the scene from feeling visually repetitive or monotonous. It allows for more dynamic storytelling and provides opportunities to highlight important details, emphasize character relationships, or create a specific mood or atmosphere.

While eye-level shots can be useful and appropriate in certain situations, relying solely on this perspective may limit the visual storytelling possibilities and fail to fully exploit the expressive potential of the camera. Exploring different camera angles and perspectives allows filmmakers to craft a more visually rich and compelling narrative.

Mise-en-scène

Mise en scène is a term used in filmmaking and theater to describe the arrangement of visual elements within a scene. It encompasses the composition of actors, props, sets, costumes, lighting, and overall staging, all of which work together to create the desired atmosphere, convey meaning, and enhance storytelling. Essentially, mise en scène refers to the deliberate organization and presentation of all visual elements within a frame to communicate the intended artistic and narrative goals of a production. 

Framing and Composition

The Digital Photography School website is a searchable site where you can learn some strategies for ensuring each shot is well framed.  Search the following terms and incorporate these concepts as you shoot your film:

Rule of Thirds - Leading Lines - Frame Within a Frame

The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline used in visual arts, particularly in photography and cinematography. It involves dividing an image or frame into a grid of nine equal parts by drawing two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. The main principle of the rule of thirds is to place the key elements of a scene along these lines or at their intersections, rather than in the center, to create a more visually appealing and balanced composition. By adhering to this rule, the resulting image or frame tends to have a stronger sense of visual interest, harmony, and dynamic tension. The rule of thirds is a widely employed technique that helps guide the placement and emphasis of subjects, objects, and elements within a visual composition to enhance its overall visual impact. 

180 Degree Rule

We live in a 3D world and there can be some disorientation when we make a film for a 2D screen.  The 180 degree rule helps avoid this disorientation.

The 180-degree rule is a fundamental guideline in filmmaking that governs the spatial relationships between characters and objects within a scene. It establishes an imaginary line, known as the "axis of action," which defines a 180-degree field of view. The rule states that when shooting a scene, the camera should stay on one side of this line to maintain consistent spatial continuity. This ensures that the characters and their movements appear consistent from shot to shot, providing a clear sense of direction and orientation for the viewer.

By adhering to the 180-degree rule, filmmakers can maintain visual coherence and avoid confusing the audience. Crossing the line can lead to disorienting changes in screen direction, making it difficult for viewers to understand the spatial relationships between characters and objects. However, by staying on one side of the line and using shot-reverse-shot techniques or other methods, filmmakers can establish a visual grammar that facilitates smooth and coherent storytelling.

While the 180-degree rule is a valuable guideline, it is not an absolute rule and can be intentionally broken for creative effect or to evoke specific emotions. Filmmakers may choose to break the rule to create disorientation, tension, or to emphasize a dramatic moment. However, it is crucial to do so purposefully and with a clear understanding of the visual impact it will have on the scene.

30 % or 30 Degree Rule

This is to make sure you edits don't jar.  Make sure you cover the action of the scene with different enough framing to avoid jump-cuts,