Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
The way we use the actual, 2D space of the screen and the illusion of 3D space that our
fi lm characters move in are each distinctly signifi cant elements of staging. A character may
be staged to look open and free or trapped and claustrophobic. A feeling of submission or
dominance can be attained if one character is up looking down at another character who
is down looking up. A tracking shot could have the camera follow a character walking to
the right but the character is on the right side of the screen. This draws attention to the space
behind him and may suggest he is being followed. If this same scene has the character on
the left, we may feel that he has a comfortable amount of space for the character to move
forward into, so we may simply feel that he is moving merrily along his way. There are
many ways to change the staging and, as a result, change the story.
Character has space to move into
Nose Room
If a character looks to the right and speaks to someone, you may want to put the character
on the left third of the composition so she has some room to look and speak into on the
screen. When you show who she is speaking to, you may want to put that person on the
left third for the same reason. You can keep the space feeling fl uid and dynamic by consid-
ering the attraction of the empty space around the subject.
