Module 5: "How to" Video
Reading
The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video
Chapter 3: Basic Sequence
We live in a world with constant distraction, so, unsurprisingly, most people can't pay attention to more than 10 seconds at the same angle in a sequence. Therefore, the best practice to keep your viewers' attention is to divide the sequence into multiple shots with various angles and focal lengths.
An establishing shot, or wide shot, builds the context of your world in your viewers' minds. This shot doesn't need to include everything but should introduce anything relevant. A close-up shot is traditionally a headshot but will be the closest you want your viewers' to be to your subject. Somewhere between the close-up and wide shot is the medium shot: a happy medium that allows you to reveal or conceal information. Finally, cutaway shots allow you to change length and sequence order. These can include anything related to the principal action but not visually connected to it.
Each new shot should change image size and camera angle to keep the sequence intriguing. Therefore, cuts between similar angles and focal lengths cause jump cuts which will look like poor editing in the final video. In addition, you can distract your audience with a cut on the action since they will follow the on-screen movement. However, the last action in the previous shot should be repeated at the beginning of the next.
Clean entrances and exits will also help you in the editing room since the clips don't require matching on-screen positions for your subjects. An overabundance of sequences with various angles, actions, and cutaways will give you a more polished video.
Chapter 4: Screen Direction
Screen direction refers to which way subjects face or move on the screen. The axis of action (simply the line) reflects the 180-degree rule to maintain the spatial relationship between characters and their environment. Therefore, when the camera crosses the line, subjects appear to face the opposite way causing reverse screen direction.
Respecting the 180-degree rule is the most ideal method to avoid confusing the audience, but sometimes crossing the line is inescapable. Here are some ideas for crossing the line without disrupting the viewers' attention.
Film the subject changing direction in the frame while the camera stays still, so the line crosses under the camera to a new screen direction.
While rolling the camera, cross the line in one continuous take to keep the audience in the loop.
Add a neutral shot with no screen direction on the axis action between transitions from one screen direction to another.
Use a reference point with a clear direction, such as sidewalks, roads, hallways, etc., to orient your viewers.
You can also pivot the line to avoid unappealing backgrounds. As long as the screen direction stays the same, the audience won't notice the screen geography is different than the real geography.
Research to Inform
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles | Season 1, Episode 3
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles is a fictional short series about the events of Lizzie's life in Fall River shortly after her acquittal of her father and stepmother's murders in 1892. In this scene, Mr. Flowers, the leader of a gang in the Row, asks Lizzie for higher payment to "remove her inconveniences" a few scenes after demanding she pays him 15% of her family business. Also, Lizzie paid off Adele's debt as a prostitute to Mr. Flowers in an earlier episode. Finally, Lizzie shoots Mr. Flowers and slashes Adele's throat, then stages the crime by placing the gun in Adele's hand and the straight razor in Mr. Flowers' hand.
This scene was filmed in a small space. The cuts between camera angles, however, are nearly seamless. Many of the angles are also quite creative.
Supergirl | Season 6, Episode 19
In this episode of Supergirl, Nyxly and Lex Luthor want the all-powerful "AllStone," but the Superfriends want to stop them from using the stone's power. Seven totems are needed to form the AllStone, one of them being the Love Totem that merged with Alex and Kelly's daughter, Esme. The Superfriends agree to trade the other six totems for Esme's safety. They meet with Nyxly, who merges the totems to form the AllStone, but Lex sets off an explosion under the bridge at their meeting point. A battle for the AllStone ensues after everyone lands on the ground below.
This scene (and most scenes in the series) is rather action-packed, and the camera angles change consistently, but the cuts between frames are stitched together smoothly.
Midnight Mass | Season 1, Episode 5
Crockett Island is an isolated, small town located 32 miles away from the mainland by ferry in Midnight Mass. Father Paul Hill replaces the elderly Monsignor John Pruitt, claiming the monsignor is ill and will return soon. Father Paul brings what he believes to be an "angel of God" to save his people. In the previous episode, Riley discovers the "angel," which is revealed as a vampire. Riley is killed in the last scene of the episode as the angel feeds on him. In this episode, we see that Riley turned into a vampire, and he later appears on Erin's doorstep. Riley takes Erin on a rowboat to tell his story and warn her not to go back, but he keeps her until sunrise to prove his tale is true.
Each shot in the sequence shows the sky becoming lighter until the sun rises fully. Once the sun rises, the frame cuts to the girl Riley accidentally killed in a drunk-driving accident extending her hand to him. Then, we're yanked back into his fiery death by Erin's screams.
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles | Season 1, Episode 4
Also in The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, there is a scene in episode four where Emma Borden flirts with Officer Leslie Trotwood after tailoring his coat. I could not locate a pre-existing clip of this scene on the web, but I love the camera movement. Instead of the traditional film cut where we see person A on the left talking to person B on the right, the camera circles the pair seamlessly through their conversation. At the end of the conversation, the camera follows Trotwood leaving, then turns back to a close-up on Emma's face. The twirling of the camera around them makes the interaction more intimate, almost how you might feel like twirling when you're falling in love.
Create
For my "How to" Video, I wanted to design and plan a DIY bathroom cabinet. Download the storyboard here:
https://youtu.be/fl2bk0moXWk