does the idea of watching two people
having a conversation sound exciting
probably not you probably wouldn't pay
money to see that and yet you do all the
time because ultimately that's what
every movie and TV show boils down to
over and over again two people having a
conversation how have so many filmmakers
managed to make those conversations
exciting well one big way is with
blocking
blocking is the precise staging of
actors in a performance in terms of
cinema it's where you place your actors
in the frame there are three visual
elements of filmmakers should think
about when blocking a scene space shapes
lines by considering these components
you'll be able to block a scene between
any subjects in a visually dynamic way
that is loaded with subtext first up
space this scene opens with a boy
playing in the snow the camera pulls out
to reveal a tense conversation between
adults the stakes of the scene of the
boy Charlie who's framed carefully
through the window for the duration of
the scene on one side of him his father
standing in protest but dwarfed in size
due to his distance from the camera on
the other side his mother
friend closer to the lens looming larger
more imposing Charles's smallest of all
take note of the way visual contrast is
created in the space to portray tension
and importance next up is shapes there
are three basic shapes circles squares
and triangles
everything around us can be turned into
one of these basic shapes even an
actor's face circle triangle square the
basic shapes come with certain emotional
qualities and assumptions circles feel
safer and inclusive squares create
limited space boxing someone in
triangles are sharp
do they feel aggressive but it also has
an apex let's watch this scene from
guardians of the galaxy james gunn
carefully framed his subjects to form a
triangle pointing to groot the moment is
played for a joke the conversation
happens while important action is staged
behind it you definitely need to get
that laugh
when you are looking through your frame
identify the basic shapes and Bera mind
the emotional connotations of each and
where they direct the viewers eye we've
covered shapes and shapes are formed by
lines be aware of the lines created in
every shot and the effect they have on
the viewer take a look at this scene
from the Godfather Part two it's a
simple dialogue scene it plays out
between a standing Michael a vertical
line and Fredo nearly a horizontal line
Fredo could have been standing for the
scene if he did the power dynamics would
have been potentially equal but he was
slung so low in the seat that he was
practically horizontal this blocking
creates visual tension between the two
especially when cutting it also
emphasizes who holds all the cards
during frado's outbursts he flounders
into an almost diagonal line literally
attempting to change his shape an
attempt to stand up to Michael when the
outburst is over the order of things
remain the same Fredo goes back to his
horizontal position and Michael delivers
his final judgment there nothing to me
now you're not a brother you're not a
friend I don't want to know you or what
you do Happy Trails Fredo
so we've covered how shapes lines and
space can be used when blocking a scene
the thing is on their own they're not
going to make those dialogue scenes that
profound unless you do it with this in
mind subtext or contrast by contrasting
your blocking with what's being said or
done you create an underlying meaning
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you can start to reveal the real story
and it's not only for viewers
communicating subtext through blocking
guides your actors your DP and the art
director towards your vision blocking
tells us what the characters are really
up to what they really mean what's
really going on that's what makes
blocking so important to a story a good
way to plan your blocking is with a
storyboard think about what the
characters are saying in the script and
then incorporate that into your blocking
with storyboard software like studio
binder and the next time you're having a
conversation in real life pay attention
to the way you stand or sit or move or
lie down like Fredo you might be
surprised see you in the next video
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