- Films are made up of sequences.
Sequences are made up of scenes.
And scenes are made up of shots.
In previous episodes, we covered frame rates,
camera movement,
and editing techniques.
Today, we'll look at the elements within the shot that make up its composition.
This is Episode 11 of "The Shot List".
Composition.
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At the end of the video, we'll show you how to download our free ebook
on composition elements.
Now, let's begin.
Simply put composition is the arrangement of elements in an image.
It is not only what you include in a frame.
It's the relationship between those elements
that creates the overall meaning.
This concept began long before motion pictures
when images needed to tell a complete story in a single frame.
Consider how much storytelling can be done in one image.
We have characters.
A situation.
A power dynamic.
A sense of drama.
Theme.
Movement.
Composition also relies on Aspect Ratio.
The size and shape of the image itself.
In fine art, portraits are more naturally composed vertically
while landscapes benefit some horizontal compositions.
Likewise in film while the basic elements of composition always apply
there are different considerations between a squarish frame
and a rectangular frame.
Understanding these elements is key to understanding composition.
And now our first element.
Points.
Composition is all about directing the viewer's eye
and points in an image are immensely effective in this regard.
Focal points whether they be points of intersection or just a small dart
can be used to draw an eye's attention.
Where does your eye go in this shot from "Road to Perdition"?
Notice how the composition draws our eyes to the focal point.
Using points to direct attention is a popular technique in wide shots.
Filmmakers will often use an uncluttered canvas
so that naturally our eye goes to the point.
But points aren't relegated to whites.
Here our eye is directed to the point of a sword.
Points are often used in conjunction with the rule of thirds.
The rule states that the subject of a frame
should be placed at one of the four intersections
of the vertical and horizontal thirds of a shot.
"- Vincent! Be cool!"
- Another compositional technique that uses points is the golden triangle.
This is created when you draw a diagonal line from corner to corner
and then lines from the other two corners
intersecting at right angles
creating two balanced focal points.
Points are a remarkably simple way
to get your audience to focus on a particular area of your composition.
Especially in tandem with our next element.
Lines.
Lines are the fundamental building blocks of composition.
Vertical lines can suggest height and strength.
Horizontal lines can suggest distance and calm.
Diagonals can add an off-tilted energy to a frame.
While curved lines can make more graceful compositions.
You can also use leading lines to pull the eye in a certain direction.
Here Christopher Nolan uses the lines of a hallway
to draw our eye directly to the subject of the frame.
In "Raging Bull", Scorsese uses the ropes
and lens flares to point directly at Jake's opponent.
Lines in composition create a sense of direction and mood.
And when combined they create an entirely separate element of composition.
Shapes.
Shapes make up our visual reality
so it's no surprise that they are important in composition.
Triangles.
Circles.
Squares.
All bring a kind of visual unity to the image.
A clean geometric shape can add a tidy and satisfying feeling to a frame
as if everything is in order.
Whereas irregular or organic shapes can feel more natural.
Or even chaotic.
"- Swofford, if you don't pick it up...
I'm gonna shoot you in your f*cking foot! Move it!"
- Shapes can also create frames within frames.
Giving the viewer a smaller area of focus within an image.
These secondary frames can evoke anything from claustrophobia
to comfort all depending on the shape
where it's placed
and the context of the scene.
Shapes are used to build structures
but our next elements have more to do with sensations.
Textures and Patterns.
Like shapes, textures and patterns
also help shape and inform how we read an image.
Every object has a texture.
Smooth.
Patterned.
Or somewhere in between.
Texture is often achieved through the collaboration between cinematographers
and production designers.
Even light can add different textures to an image.
Texture can be used to have a subject pop from the background.
Or blend in.
Notice how busy the texture in this composition from "Barry Lyndon" is.
Here texture is used to create an ornate opulence.
Consider the juxtaposition of textures between Wall-E and EVE
and how it informs their personalities.
"- Directive?
Classified."
- Patterns also play an important role in composition.
Power and control.
Harmony.
Insanity.
All ideas that could be suggested with simple repetition.
And breaking these patterns can be just as interesting.
Consider how the pattern is broken in this shot
and what it might suggest.
Or how the carpet designed in "The Shining" evokes a disorienting maze.
Texture and pattern give the audience a more tangible connection to the imagery.
And our next element adds dimension to the image.
Space.
Space is crucial in composition
and it can be split into two categories.
Positive and negative.
Positive space is the area given to your subject
and negative space is the empty space around them.
The relationship creates various ideas or moods.
The larger the object in the frame -- the more importance it has.
From extreme wide shots that leave your subject isolated and vulnerable
to extreme close-ups that empower them.
Other than the amount of negative space
the location of it also matters.
Headroom is the amount of negative space above the subject's head
usually kept to a minimum.
Lead room or looking room
is the amount of negative space in front of the subject
which is usually much more than the amount behind them.
But breaking these rules can be just as effective.
Filling the frame is a technique that gives the subject most or all positive space.
A form of sensory overload that can create a sense of chaos.
The opposite can be equally effective.
A simplified frame can be soothing.
Or even sad.
These are all considerations of the 2D space of a frame
and in the next section, we'll add a third dimension to our compositions.
Depth.
Film is a two-dimensional medium representing three-dimensional space.
And the best way to accomplish this illusion is with depth.
We divide this space into three sections.
The foreground.
Middle ground.
And background.
Each of these planes can be used to layer compositions
that create hierarchies of meaning and relationships.
Shallow focus isolates the subject from the other planes.
If an object is in focus our eyes will prioritize it.
And changing focus during a shot draws our attention even further.
In this shot, the pill is closer to the lens
but we don't focus on it until the camera does.
Deep focus referring to a large depth of field
allows for multiple layers of attention
as "Citizen Kane" pioneered.
Here all three planes are employed to visually
create a hierarchy of importance and power.
The mother asserts dominance in the foreground.
The father flounders in the middle ground.
While Little Charlie plays innocently in the background.
Depth is an illusion that turns a flat image into an entire world.
The next element helps keep that world in order.
Balance.
No matter how you use space or depth
the rule of thumb is that the frame should be balanced.
A subject position frame right with nothing on the left feels imbalanced.
The same effect can happen with a foreground subject with nothing in the background.
One technique to maintain balance is the rule of odds
which states that when shooting multiple subjects
it's more visually pleasing for the group to be an odd number.
"- Why is it when something happens it is always you three?
- Believe me, Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years."
- The golden ratio also utilizes balance
and there are a few ways to use it in composition.
Related to the Fibonacci sequence
it is a ratio of 1:1.618.
Otherwise known as the number phi.
If we draw a rectangle using the golden ratio
and continue to divide it with the same proportions
it creates what's called the golden spiral.
We can actually find the spiral in nature.
And it has become a common tool in composition.
Artists like Salvador Dali
and photographers like Henri Cartier Bresson
have used the golden spiral to create a natural balance to their compositions.
But you don't need something this complex to
bring the golden ratio into your compositions.
If we take the height of a film frame
and draw a line using this ratio
we find an ideal location to place a subject's eyes.
Or the horizon.
In this way, the applications are endless.
Balance can also mean symmetry.
Wes Anderson famously will often opt for symmetrical framing
in lieu of the rule of thirds or the golden ratio.
"- Is that my belt?"
- Of course, there are times when you want to make an audience uneasy
with an unbalanced frame.
Balance helps keep the image organized and stable.
On the other hand, our next element can easily create instability.
Angle.
One of the more under-utilized elements of composition is angle.
Angle is perspective.
It's about what we're seeing.
It's about how we're seeing it.
Most compositions will keep the camera parallel to the ground
but there are many opportunities to switch it up.
A high angle makes the subject seem small and less powerful.
A low angle does the opposite.
An overhead angle gives a more detached and objective perspective.
Sometimes the moment calls for a dutch angle
tilted to either side along the horizontal axis.
Like an unbalanced frame, this strategy can make an audience feel on edge.
Or give a shot a kinetic energy.
For a complete guide to camera angles
check out episode 3 of this series linked below.
Any of these camera angles can accent
or enhance some of the compositional techniques we've already covered.
Including our final element.
Color and tone.
The use of color in a frame can also help direct a viewer's eye.
Consider what various color schemes bring to the composition.
Monochromatic.
Analogous.
Complementary.
Or triadic color schemes all have great influence over how we read an image.
Color can even overrule other methods of composition.
In this shot from in the mood for love
the background has a busy texture that normally would draw our attention.
But Wong Kar-wai uses the juxtaposition
of the bright green of Mrs. Chan's dress with the red background
to make her the undeniable subject of the frame check.
Check the description for a link to download our ebook on how to use color in film.
Similar to color another important aspect of composition is tone
which refers to the brightness and contrast within an image.
A brightly lit image has obviously different tonal qualities than a dark image.
Blending dark and light in the same image creates a more complicated message.
And since our eyes are naturally drawn to the brightest parts of an image
having your subject lit surrounded by darkness helps keep our focus on them.
"Black Swan" using high tonal contrast
keeps our focus on Nina
while also visualizing themes of good versus evil.
When composing your shots don't forget the role that color and tone play
in visual storytelling.
For more on the relationship between light and dark
check out our video on Chiaroscuro Lighting linked below.
Of course, all of these elements of composition can be combined.
Color can create patterns.
Tone can create balance.
Shapes can create depth.
And so on.
Now that we covered the elements of composition
let's see how they can be used in a scene.
This scene from "Skyfall" is all about mystery.
As you watch, consider the compositional elements that guide our eyes
as we gather clues alongside Bond.
"- Ronson's down.
He needs medical evac.
Where is it? Is it there?
- Hard drive's gone.
- Are you sure?
- It's gone. Give me a minute.
- They must have it. Get after them.
- I'm stabilizing Ronson.
- We don't have the time. - I have to stop the bleeding.
- Leave him!"
- With all of these elements present in every shot,
the choices of composition can feel overwhelming.
But by planning ahead with a storyboard
filmmakers can use each element with purpose to create the perfect frame.
Check the link in the description for our free ebook on composition elements.
What are some of your favorite examples of composition and filmmaking?
Let us know in the comments below.
Until next time as you put together your own shot list
don't forget to keep your composure.
"- What do you think that's funny?"