Filming the Shots

[MadMan]

When i'm shooting a scene, do i just film one shot, cut, film another shot, cut, ETC???? Dont the actors get bored? Especially if the actors are amateur don't they think that you don't know about directing???

 

[clive]

There are two different answers to this question... one which would be useful to a newbie and one which is only suitable for an experienced director...

As last time I made the mistake of assuming you didn't know anything... which would you prefer?

 

[directorik]

When i'm shooting a scene, do i just film one shot, cut, film another shot, cut, ETC???? Dont the actors get bored? Especially if the actors are amateur don't they think that you don't know about directing???

Maybe actor will get bored and maybe they will think you don't know
about directing. My opinion is...

So what. Let them be bored and I don't care what they think. All I
want to do is make the best movie I can.

Here's what the pros do"

You will shoot the scene several times. The entire scene. For example: Scene 22
is Bob and Mary sitting at a table - it’s three pages long. You will set up the
“Master Shot” - both people at the table, camera getting a head to foot shot of
both of them. On your slate you will write “Scene 22 - Take 1”

Scene 22 - This will be the entire scene from one angle.

Adjust the lights, move the camera and shoot Bob’s side of the table.

Scene 22A - Close up of Bob.
Scene 22B - Over Mary’s shoulder on Bob.
Scene 22C - A slow dolly push in on Bob - from a full shot into a close up.
Scene 22D - an insert shot of Bob lighting a cigarette.
Scene 22E - a close up on Bob’s hand putting the cigarette in the ash tray.
Scene 22F - a close up of Bob taking the contract, looking at it and signing it (from
Mary’s point of view)

Now move the lights, move the camera and cover the scene from Bob’s side of
the table.

Scene 22G - Close up of Mary.
Scene 22H - Over Bob’s shoulder on Mary.
Scene 22J - A slow dolly push in on Mary - from a full shot into a close up.
Scene 22K - an insert shot of Mary putting the contract on the table.
Scene 22L - a close up on Mary’s hand snuffing out the cigarette in the ash tray.
Scene 22M - a close up shot of Mary putting the contract on the table, putting a
pen on the contract and pushing it to the middle of the table.
Scene 22P - a close up of Bob taking the contract, looking at it and signing it (from
Bob’s point of view)

And this goes on and on until the entire scene is covered - until all the shots the
director wants have been shot.

You won't use I or O on the slate because those letters could be confused with the
numbers 1 and 0.

Then when you are editing you have plenty of angles to choose from. All the sound
is in sync and if you recorded it well, with no ambient noise, it will cut together as
smoothly as the picture.