23

Shooting Your Way Around the 180 Degree Rule and an Introduction to Composition Basics

02.10.13 @ 6:45PM Tags : 180degreerule, cinematography, composition, coverage, framing, howto, oneeightyrule, scene, shooting, tutorial, tutorials

As modern filmmakers, we have the benefit of hindsight in understanding what has been established in cinema, like the basics of scene coverage and shot composition. One of these shooting essentials is the 180 degree rule, which guides our coverage of a conversation between two subjects. Think of how commonly two people hold a conversation in films you’ve seen, and you’ll have a good idea of how often the rule can apply! Read on to see how scenes can be boiled down to the most powerful imaginary measuring stick at a filmmaker’s disposal, plus some more on basic shot composition and framing. More »

2

2012 Screenwriters Reveal the Toughest Scenes They Wrote

12.28.12 @ 10:27AM Tags : argo, beastsofthesouthernwild, challenge, flight, lesmiserables, looper, scene, screenplay, screenwriting, script

Many screenwriters talk about the difficulty of facing the blank page as they start page one of their screenplays. The desire to get the opening of the screenplay right can overwhelm, even paralyze. Yet, as the screenplay finally begins and takes shape, the first page is not necessarily the most difficult page. In reality, the challenge tends to come later, not when the audience is introduced to the movie, its characters and its world, but rather when the story truly launches into what will compel the audience to stay engaged for the next 90 minutes or more. Thanks to Kyle Buchanan at Vulture (and Movies Editor for New York Magazine), we have a series of screenwriters from some of the most acclaimed films of 2012 describing in their own words what were the toughest scenes to write in their own screenplays. More »