How to Use Split Screen

Here are some interesting examples of split screen that I like.

In this scene from Jackie Brown, Max Cherry goes about his evening after a date with Jackie when he realizes his gun is missing from the glove compartment. At that moment, we hear the sound of a gun cocked as Ordell (Samuel Jackson) is trying to strangle Jackie. It's a nice use of split screen for a dramatic reveal.



This scene from Indiscreet (1958) stars Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman. It reminds me of Skype conversations with my girlfriend, but the split screen device was likely used to circumvent censorship laws. It provides a sense of intimacy while keeping the characters separated.



I've seen this next device from The Rules of Attraction used in a number of films in a variety of ways. Essentially the two characters start their days in split screen until they end up in the place where they meet.

The 3 over 1 rule - Wrapping a present

Here is a great approach to shooting for dynamic effect: http://stillmotionblog.com/h234hs23dkw21/

Here is a short video I did in this same style:

How to Make a Web Series

Developing a web series may be the way to start producing film and getting recognition. Here's an article that outlines some of the basics by the producers of  the award winning Perfect Girls series:

http://videoandfilmmaker.com/wp/index.php/tutorials/how-to-make-web-series-people-will-watch/

Also take a look at this article on how to create music for your web series:

http://bananamanafilms.com/how-to-write-music-for-your-web-series/

Types of Shots - A Visual Guide

Here's a good visual reference to various types of shots...

With Close Up (version 2) I like framing with the top of frame above the eyebrows so that the eyes sit at the one third line below the top of the frame and the bottom of the chin about a third from the bottom. When we are talking to someone, this is the area of the face we focus on - eyes to lips - and this should take the center stage in the frame (vertically, but not necessarily horizontally).

See LA Filmmaker for a nice blog post on framing closeups.

Alfred Hitchcock's film techniques...

I'm looking at producing a mystery and I turned to Hitchcock "the master of suspense" for some inspiration. Here are some themes that come out of looking at his body of work. [These notes are very brief.]

1. Visual storytelling: Uses words only when necessary. He started in silent films where they had to convey the story visually to minimize the number of dialogue slides. 
2. Emotion: He relies on actors faces to express emotion. You see a lot of close ups of actors faces rather than dialogue. 
3. Point of view: He has a repeating pattern: a) He shows characters face; b) then what they see from their perspective or POV and then c) their response to that. If the character is moving, then we see a moving POV. 
4. Montage editing: In action scenes, we never get a full linear visual of the action, but rather bits and pieces strung together, like a series of photographs. 
5. Simplistic linear stories: The stories are simple and designed to create an emotional response. He avoids "who dunnits" which he thought were a purely intellectual exercise. 
6. Character: They seem real and are put in situations that could happen to anyone. Criminals are always attractive wealthy upper class people who you'd never suspect. Police and politicians are the bumbling ones and the innocent are accused. 
7. Understatement: Something simple becomes the focus of the scene while the real action is taking place. In a moment of crisis the character usually does something inconsequential or trivial.
8. Suspense: Let the audience have information that the characters don't see. This is a very key element in his stories. He felt this is what created suspense. He's said that an explosion causes 10 seconds of shock, but if you see a bomb with a five minute timer and the characters talking the audience is in suspense (but the bomb can never go off or the audience gets angry).
9. Macguffin: Is the thing that the spies are after, but that the audience doesn't care about and that has no purpose in the plot. 
10. Humor: There's always a healthy dose of humor throughout. 

Here's an example how he zooms out of a scene to expose the reactions of three characters successively. As the camera zooms out a new character comes into prominence in the frame and we see the emotion on their faces. 

Here's an example of point of view where the character looks behind to reveal someone following...

Another example of using the actors to convey emotion. In particular, I like the camera movement in this scene: 

Lastly, here is some beautiful imagery. This scene starts with a high angle shot of each of the characters faces. A cut to his gun at his side. And then an overhead shot of the two of them. She slides slowly to the flow as her dress spreads out below like blood. 

Lenses for Canon 70D

Composition and Framing

Basic guide to cinematography

Dolly Zoom

FilmSkills - How to Shoot a Scene Blocking and Lighting

Blocking

Lighting

Micro Budget Filmmaking

Segment from The Art of Filmmaking and Editing at Creative Live

The Basics of Recording Audio for Digital Video

BoomBandit Camera Crane (Jib) for Small Cameras

Here's a interesting and portable crane for under $200 for small format cameras called the Boom Bandit. It's extremely portable and can provide some interesting movement to your shots.

http://www.boombandit.com

Beginner Premiere Pro Tutorial

Here's a link to a tutorial with downloadable footage:
https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/how-to/create-video-story.html

Gerry

How Camera Placement Relates To Your Story, SMAPP Series (2013) from stillmotion on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/70793311

Highlights Films by Still Motion

Here are four highlight films featured in the Still Motion DVD Know:

 
miffy + mr bee // i think i'm running out from stillmotion on Vimeo.



tara + lee's portrait film // a mixed pickle from stillmotion on Vimeo.
 


kid icarus // the screen printing duo from stillmotion on Vimeo.

veronica + dan // the colonel from stillmotion on Vimeo.

Making Your Story Stronger - eBook

Here is a free ebook from the Still Motion Blog: One Rule that Will Make Your Stories Stronger.

In the book they talk about the "three over one" rule which they apply to a variety of contexts.

In terms of story you want to have three distinct sections: Beginning, middle and end.

1. The beginning is an open, a start, or some sort of introduction to the sequence. A major goal of the beginning is to create a hook, to pull the viewer in.
2. The major goal of the middle will build on this beginning. The middle builds tention to prep the end.
3. The ending will then close, leave, or exit the sequence. A major goal of the ending is to create a jab, an impact on the viewer. 

In terms of shots you want to aim to get three distinct viewpoints (focal lengths): Wide, medium and close. 

1. Tight shots are great at communicating details.
2. Medium shots are great at communicating relationships
3. Wide shots are great at communicating environments.

They also apply this rule to the number of shots you take. In short, it's better to have three shots rather than one. See this video to see their unique approach to shooting for large numbers of short clips: http://stillmotionblog.com/h234hs23dkw21/. They hold each shot for approximately three seconds. 

The Hitchcock Rule says that the size of any object in your frame should be proportional to its importance to the story at that moment.

Sandwich video

http://vimeo.com/70793311