Have you noticed, that the word “cinematic” becomes more and more overused lately? But what does it mean, in the first place? To me personally, it’s the ability to tell your stories visually, revealing the initial purpose of the shot and its unique voice. Some cinematographers make it intuitively, without giving it much thought. Others precisely construct each and every detail of the frame. In either case, knowing how to use the elements of composition is a filmmaking superpower, anyone can unleash. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s start with the basics – paying attention to lines in shot composition and what that approach can bring to the table. World-famous director Lars von Trier said in a recent interview, that he doesn’t really consider virtual reality as constructive as cinema, because it excludes any framing. …Whereas the frame is the basis of the gaze: it’s in the limit it sets that the most vital source of artistic expression is found. Lars von Trier, from the interview to “Le Monde” Lines are an essential element of shot composition because they exist in an infinite number of ways in reality, as well as in the screen world. How can we ignore them, when even the frame itself is restricted by four straight lines, defining its sides and corners? Invisible lines in shot composition – the rule of thirds In this overview, we will be mostly concentrating on visible lines, which actually appear in a shot, cutting it or guiding the viewer’s...
Published By: CineD - Friday, 7 July, 2023