Basic Photography Course

analyze "Hollywood" movies. The next time you see a
Hollywood production, notice how the action flows
smoothly from shot to shot and from scene to scene. Try
to visualize the techniques and camera angles that were
used. Then, on your next assignment, plan them first,

then use some of these professional techniques to

achieve good continuity.

The first step toward good continuity in your films

is the planning beforehand. You should plan your
continuity and put your ideas on paper. Do not get the
idea that all your shots have to follow a written script.
News events, and other uncontrolled action, are usually
shot without a script; nevertheless, you should be able
to anticipate action and prepare a mental script. The
information you must know before starting to shoot is
what scenes and actions are needed to satisfy the
requestor.

SCREEN DIRECTION

In motion-media photography, the direction a

person or object either looks or moves can cause
continuity problems. The direction a person or object
looks or moves is called screen direction. When a look
or move in a particular direction is unaccountably
changed from one shot or scene to another, the
continuity of the film is disrupted. Any change in screen
direction must be explained or the subject may suddenly
change screen direction and appear to be going the
wrong way.

How the camera "sees" the action-not how the

action actually appears-is important. In other words, the
audience judges the action by its screen appearance, not
by the way it actually appeared during filming.

There are four types of screen direction. They are as

follows: neutral, constant, contrasting, and static.

Neutral Screen Direction

Neutral screen direction movement shows subjects

moving toward or away from the camera. Because
neutral screen direction movement is nondirectional, it
may be used or intercut with scenes that show movement
in either right or left directions. The following are
neutral screen direction movements.

Head-on and tail-away shots show the subject

moving directly toward or away from the camera. For
an absolutely neutral shot, only the front or back of the
subject should be shown. When one side of the subject
is shown, the shot will show some direction and not be
absolutely neutral. Entrance and exit shots also show

direction and therefore are not neutral.

Figure 13-11.Showing a change in screen direction.

A shot can start as a neutral shot and transition into

a directional shot, or vice versa; for example, start with
a head-on shot of a car and continue filming as the car
turns to the right and exits the frame, or start with a

direction showing a shot of the car entering the frame

from the left, and continue filming as the car turns left

to a tail-away neutral shot (fig. 13-11). These types of

13-17

contents

Basic Photography Course

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> analyze "Hollywood" movies. The next time you see a Hollywood production, notice how the action flows smoothly from shot to shot and from scene to scene. Try to visualize the techniques and camera angles that were used. Then, on your next assignment, plan them first, then use some of these professional techniques to achieve good continuity. The first step toward good continuity in your films is the planning beforehand. You should plan your continuity and put your ideas on paper. Do not get the idea that all your shots have to follow a written script. News events, and other uncontrolled action, are usually shot without a script; nevertheless, you should be able to anticipate action and prepare a mental script. The information you must know before starting to shoot is what scenes and actions are needed to satisfy the requestor. SCREEN DIRECTION In motion-media photography, the direction a person or object either looks or moves can cause continuity problems. The direction a person or object looks or moves is called screen direction. When a look or move in a particular direction is unaccountably changed from one shot or scene to another, the continuity of the film is disrupted. Any change in screen direction must be explained or the subject may suddenly change screen direction and appear to be going the wrong way. How the camera "sees" the action-not how the action actually appears-is important. In other words, the audience judges the action by its screen appearance, not by the way it actually appeared during filming. There are four types of screen direction. They are as follows: neutral, constant, contrasting, and static. Neutral Screen Direction Neutral screen direction movement shows subjects moving toward or away from the camera. Because neutral screen direction movement is nondirectional, it may be used or intercut with scenes that show movement in either right or left directions. The following are neutral screen direction movements. Head-on and tail-away shots show the subject moving directly toward or away from the camera. For an absolutely neutral shot, only the front or back of the subject should be shown. When one side of the subject is shown, the shot will show some direction and not be absolutely neutral. Entrance and exit shots also show direction and therefore are not neutral. Figure 13-11.Showing a change in screen direction. A shot can start as a neutral shot and transition into a directional shot, or vice versa; for example, start with a head-on shot of a car and continue filming as the car turns to the right and exits the frame, or start with a direction showing a shot of the car entering the frame from the left, and continue filming as the car turns left to a tail-away neutral shot (fig. 13-11). These types of 13-17 contents Basic Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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