Composition is simply the way objects are arranged in a shot. You affect composition by moving objects to get the best arrangement of elements or by moving the camera to get the best angle. Composing a shot for movies is far more challenging than for still photography because movies include the element of time; as a shot progresses, the composition may change because objects and people in the shot move. To make sure the necessary action is within the frame and the objects are composed properly, you should choreograph their movement as much as possible. This is called blocking. To block a shot, you tell the actors when and where to move, and plan the movement of the camera, if necessary, to keep the shot composed. In many cases, amateur directors have some control over camera movement, and very little over the objects they are shooting: think of the children at a birthday party as an example. To compose a shot under these circumstances, you have to try to anticipate what the objects will do and make sure you have additional coverage in case you don?t get the shot. When you shoot, follow this cycle: 1. | Block. Plan the movement of all the objects in the shot, if you have control of them, and the camera, so that the shot is well?composed. | 2. | Set up. Bring in the camera, set up the lights, and get your sound gear ready. | 3. | Shoot. Tape the shot. Do multiple takes until it is correct. |
Move on. Go on to the next shot, and repeat step 1.
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