Directions Unit: Research into Directing

Research into directing

Composition

Effective blocking of a scene can end up saving a director a lot of time during the filming of their feature. It's basically working out where the actor will move in relation to where the camera is.

Every shoot is split into 5 different parts;

1. Block- determining where the actors will be on the set and how the camera will move around them

2.Light- DOP to light the set and position the camera for the first shot

3.Rehearse- camera rehearsal for the first set-up with actors and crew

4.Adjustments- Making adjustments to light etc

5.Shoot- Shooting the first scene (then repeat the process)

***tips to help***

Having a shot list will help you during the blocking process

Allow actors to show you what they want to do first then make a suggestion based on what you have seen.

Where the camera is placed is determined primarily by what is important in the scene.

In TV and short films, speed is important, story and block some scenes so that the actions take place in one direction ((this means you don't have to turn the camera around for reverses))

Composing movement

Certain genres following stereotypical conventions, directors work within these as it's what works and sells well. 

However it is possible to break these conventions and come out with a better piece of work, directors such as Edgar Wright have done this to make their work stand out away from the rest. The cornetto trilogy is an example of how movement can make the scene better, having things enter/leave shot at comedic points can bring more opportunities for a laugh. As well as that the conscience decision to have a concession of quick cuts allows for visual story telling in the scene, not only cutting dialogue but also keeping the audience's interest showing the audience what is happening rather then telling them. 

This is something I'd like to try and use in my film, similar to Tim Burton's version of 'Alice in Wonderland' I want to have a lot going on visually while the dialogue is something going on in the background.

Colour

Colours can help add new vis layers to a film, such as warm colours wake us up where as cool colours have a calming effect on the person. It is also important that a director learn what colors mean to various cultures and traditions around the world. 

For example: in Western culture, black is the color of death (mourning). 

In Eastern culture, the color of mourning is white. 

1. RED – anger, passion, rage, desire, excitement, energy, speed, strength, power, heat, love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence

2. PINK – love, innocence, healthy, happy, content, romantic, charming, playfulness, soft, delicate, feminine

3. YELLOW – wisdom, knowledge, relaxation, joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard

4. ORANGE – humor, energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant

5. GREEN – healing, soothing, perseverance, tenacity, self-awareness, proud, unchanging nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigour, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy

6. BLUE – faith, spirituality, contentment, loyalty, fulfillment peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, sky, water, cold, technology, depression

7. PURPLE/VIOLET – erotic, royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning, power, sensitive, intimacy

8. BROWN – materialistic, sensation, earth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity

9. BLACK – No, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger

10. WHITE – Yes, protection, love, reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical, sterile

11. SILVER – riches, glamorous, distinguished, earthy, natural, sleek, elegant, high-tech

12. GOLD – precious, riches, extravagance. warm, wealth, prosperity, grandeur

As well as this using colours that are complimentary to each other will look better then random colours put together, a good way to see these is through a colour wheel.

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Composistion= "5 stages of blocking a scene"- New York Film Academy Peter D. Marshall

Colour= "Film Directing Tips, Film Making Articles and Online Resources for the Independent Filmmaker"- 12 colours and their meaning