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Digging Deeper:  Framing Shots (continued)


Clearly, framing requires you to focus not only on the subject of the shot but also on the physical environment around the subject.  The physical environment surrounding a character can give viewers important information about that character’s development at that point in time in the film.

Look at this shot again.

  • How does the director use framing to establish this character
  • What seems to be this character’s relationship to his surroundings
He doesn’t seem too bothered by destruction, that’s for sure!

Paying close attention to how shots are framed can give you greater insight into the mood and character development in the film.

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  View

Watch this video that explains the basics of framing a shot in film.

Then take a look at this second video showing the first and last shots of several popular films. Play close attention to how each shot is framed.


  Note It

While you view the second video, consider . . .


  1. Given what you have learned about framing a shot in the first video, what can you determine about each character's circumstance in the second video based on how the shots are framed?

  2. How do the beginning and ending shots of each film differ? How is framing used to show changes in each character's circumstance between the beginning and end of each film? Is the character's circumstance the same? Has his or her life improved in some way. Has it worsened?


WHAT’S NEXT?


Next, you will study other framing techniques in the Elements of Film video.