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Middle School Media
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Composition
Here is some great advice for framing up shots, particularly if you’re filming a conversation.
Rule of Thirds. The Rule of Thirds is an aesthetically pleasing way to compose the frame. If you divide the frame into thirds, the points of interest should be positioned along these lines or at their intersections. Close-ups like this are a terrific way to shoot dialogue.
Look room. When framing a shot of someone looking at something—like a prop or another character—you need to ensure that there is adequate space between the actor and the edge of the frame.
Headroom. Too much or too little space above the actor’s head will make the shot look poorly framed. The example here all show appropriate uses of headroom.
Over the shoulder shot. An over the shoulder shot shows someone talking, the person they’re talking to is shown at the edge of the frame. This is a great way to shoot dialogue.
Two shot. A two shot is any shot with two characters in it. Two shots are a great way to shoot a conversation.
When framing shots for a conversation or a point of view shot, it’s important to ensure that the characters are looking in the right direction.
180 Degree Rule. When filming a conversation, if you start filming the actors from one side, it’s important to stay on that side. If you cross the imaginary 180 degree line, the characters will not appear to be looking in the right direction. This image is used under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0.
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