What will set your videos apart is an understanding of film composition and putting it into practice. A well-thought-out image can help express a message or emotion by speaking louder than words. Not because of what someone said or did, but because of how they were recorded, are some of the most memorable scenes in cinema.
Whether you're filming a music video, a promotional campaign, an ad, or a documentary with a cinema camera like the Canon EOS C70 or the iPhone 13 Pro Max's Cinematic mode, you'll need to consider the ultimate result carefully. While having the best video camera will ensure that your movie looks professional, it is up to you as the videographer to be creative with how you shoot your project.
Take, for example, The Shining's "Here's Johnny" sequence. Of course, everyone remembers the scene because of the famous remark, but it's also recognized for the striking shot. It's unlikely that the moment would have had the same scary impact if Stanley Kubrick had positioned Jack Nicholson out to the left and utilized an incredibly wide perspective to capture it. The symmetry and close-up shot of Jack slicing his way through the door helped to portray his dark turn while also drawing the audience's attention to the action.
Any good video will incorporate a variety of composition techniques and shot kinds. This book will assist you in beginning to consider how to build a scene and will demonstrate some popular strategies that you may know from your favorite films.
There are three basic composition styles employed in filmmaking, and you've probably seen them all without understanding it was a director's choice to film it that way. Each has its unique function in filmmaking, and you should try all three.
1. Rule of thirds
By dividing an image into two horizontal and two vertical lines, the rule of thirds is an efficient means of framing your scene to make it more aesthetically appealing. Your eyes are pulled to the most significant components of your image when they appear at the intersections, and the framing appears more natural.
This is one of the most frequent filmmaking techniques, and it can be found in anything from Harry Potter to Mission: Impossible. This approach will make your photographs more fascinating and lively if you use it. It's never too late to put this into practice, whether you're just getting started with video or have a lot of expertise with it.
2. One-point viewpoint and symmetry
Symmetry may appear to be a simple composition method, but doing it correctly can be difficult. This approach has been utilized by directors such as Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Stanley Kubrick in their films to evoke a psychological reaction, tell a story, or provide context to a scene. It's difficult to master since there's a risk of causing visual distortions in a scene rather than conveying complex ideas and eliciting an emotional response from the viewer.
Symmetry and one-point perspective are two composition strategies that may appear similar on the surface, but they are not the same in practice. In films, symmetry isn't always perfect, but it's close enough to give the scene a sense of cohesion. A camera is situated immediately opposite the horizon line and vanishing point in one-point perspective, causing your eyes to be attracted into the screen's center.
3. Leading lines
The purpose of this composition method is to direct the viewer's attention to a certain place within a scene. Actual lines, such as the edges of buildings or road markers, can sometimes be seen that bring your eyes to the focal point. However, more subtle elements such as light, shadow, or even a body component can sometimes form the leading lines. Leading lines can be used to tie a character to a setting, an object, or another person, and they can also be used to direct the viewer's attention.
You'll notice scenarios with leading lines all over the place once you start looking for them. During the scene where Batman is following the Joker through tunnels on his Batpod, the Dark Knight makes extensive use of them. When the Joker and Batman meet in the streets of Gotham, they use a combination of leading lines and symmetry.
Experiment with numerous ways to employ leading lines to direct the viewer's attention to a specific area on the screen since this will stress what's most important or where the scene will go next.
Of course, regulations are supposed to be broken and to be honest, they're more like guidelines than rules. However, before you begin experimenting, it's a good idea to brush up on the fundamentals. Keeping these habits in the back of your mind will ensure that you're always considering the final product. Nothing is more frustrating than realizing you're not satisfied with your footage after a long day of shooting.
And if you know what you are doing; you will find that technique is more important than the tools!
Learn useful and fascinating information like the one you found here on Filmdistrict Dubai, a leading Production House in Dubai that specializes in Film Equipment Rental Dubai, Audio Visual Rental Dubai, Photo Booth Dubai, and Camera Rental Dubai.