Are you familiar with the phrase, “We need to create more depth in this frame”? I hear it a lot from cinematographers I work with. Most of the time, the reason behind this is to create a visual shot composition that is more interesting. Indeed, conjuring the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat screen surface is an important filmmaking tool. However, other types of space in film can suit your story even better, if used with intention. Let’s talk about flat, limited, and ambiguous space, and how and when to apply them! And I promise to go much further than only looking at amazing Wes Anderson’s approach. Deep space versus flat space? We touched on this topic slightly when we discussed the power of focus in film. If you’re unfamiliar with terms like high or shallow depth-of-field, I suggest reading about them first, as we’ll be relying on these concepts in the subsequent exploration of theory. Ready? Then let’s dive deep! Perspective as an important cue When we go to the cinema, take our seats in the dark theatre, and let ourselves be sucked into the story, we usually want to experience something different. It’s like abandoning the realm of ordinary life for a couple of hours and immersing ourselves in an unknown world. What supports that impression is when this world feels three-dimensional and real. If you know art history, you’re surely aware of how the perception of drawings changed with the introduction of perspective. What used to seem...
Published By: CineD - Friday, 15 December, 2023