The annual Festival de Cannes is in full swing. As usual, in the official selection, we can see everything from directorial debuts (for example, the coming-of-age drama “Wild Diamond” by Agathe Riedinger) to loud comebacks (like “Megalopolis” by Francis Ford Coppola, his longtime passion project). The range and variety of films presented at the festival bring us back to the topic of the filmmaker’s voice. We tell stories differently and that’s what keeps the motion picture’s heart beating. How can you develop your voice and what does the term “narrative perspective” have to do with it? Let’s find out! Every director has a different signature (which can change from one work to another). We see it in lens preferences, defined camera movements, lighting approach, and much more. However, as seasoned filmmaker and educator Tal Lazar points out in his MZed course “Cinematography for Directors”: most if not all of these visual choices are connected to narrative perspective. What does it mean, though? Below, we peek into some of Tal’s lessons that not only define this term but also explain how to use narrative perspective as your own wizard’s wand. Some exciting film examples are also waiting ahead! Head over here to watch the entire course. What is the narrative perspective? Stories always have someone who tells them – the so-called narrator. From classic literature, we know that there are different narrative modes. Either the main characters show us around themselves (and then we get the “I woke up at dawn”...
Published By: CineD - Friday, 17 May