cinematography When filming scenes?

rodripau000

rodripau000

Any scene in general.

Is it better to film the scene multiple times from different angles?

Or

Is it better to film the scene once but with multiple cameras?

Or is it basically a personal preference question.

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Noob Film Maker.
 
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My two cents... I prefer all scenes shot multiple times using two or three, same-format cameras (when possible) and at different angles. Why? More choices while editing. It can take a little longer to set up the lighting and choreograph movement, but I don't have problems of continuity and an actor's dropping character in the middle of a scene. Different strokes for different folks. I like to let my actors act with as little distraction as possible -- letting them rehearse and do the scene within a circle of cameras... Yes, I do use one camera for specific oriented shots, close-ups and such... but it helps when working with non-union cast, to have as many choices of footage to work with as possible -- to tell the story & make the story look as real as possible. But, it is a call that everyone has to discover and use or reject on their own. What works for one person may not work for another.
 
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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 shoot Mary’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.

Then you will move the lights and move the camera and shoot
a dolly shot - the camera will move clockwise around the table
during the entire 3 page scene.

Scene 22R - a full shot
Scene 22S - "punch in" for a closer shot favoring Bob
Scene 22T -"punch in" for a closer shot favoring Mary

Now a big move. You want an overhead shot. So you move the
lights and rig the camera to shoot straight down.

Scene 22U - a full shot
Scene 22V - a close up of some of the action
Scene 22W - a close up on Mary’s hand snuffing out the cigarette
in the ash tray.

And this goes on and on until the entire scene is covered - until
all the shots the director wants have been shot. This is why making
a movie can take a long time. As you can see, this simple three page
scene could have five camera set ups and coverage of 20 angles.

Of course you don't have to shoot that way. You could shoot the
master shot and one close up of each actor and move on. Use
three cameras and that scene could take 30 minutes to set up and
10 minutes to shoot. Of course that's what it will look like you did.
That can be the difference between a movie that has the feel of a
real "film" and one that doesn't.
 
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I have a question, maybe a dumb one.

What if, instead of shooting the same scene and changing the camera angle each time, you shoot the scene once, (or twice if something screws up), but keep stopping the actors after every line, to change the angle. Would that work?!
 
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that1guyy said:
I have a question, maybe a dumb one.

What if, instead of shooting the same scene and changing the camera angle each time, you shoot the scene once, (or twice if something screws up), but keep stopping the actors after every line, to change the angle. Would that work?!
Click to expand...

Scene 22 is Bob and Mary sitting at a table - it’s three pages long.

You set up your camera and lights. A Close up of Bob.

BOB
Thank you for coming.

You cut. Then you move the camera to the other side of the table,
move all the lights and set up a close up on Mary.

MARY
I really had no choice.

You cut. Then you move the camera to the other side of the table,
move all the lights and set up a close up on Bob.

BOB
I...

You cut. Then you move the camera to the other side of the table,
move all the lights and set up a medium shot on Mary.

Mary hold up her hand.

You cut. Then you move the camera to the other side of the table,
move all the lights and set up a close up on Bob.

Bob frowns.

BOB
I was just going to say...

You cut. Then you move the camera to the other side of the table,
move all the lights and set up a close up on Mary.

MARY
Just get on with it. We have...

You cut. Then you move the camera to the other side of the table,
move all the lights and set up a medium shot on Bob.

MARY
...a lot of ground to cover.

BOB
If that's the way you want it.

You cut. Then you move the camera to the other side of the table,
move all the lights and set up a close up on Mary.

MARY
That's the way it has to be.

It takes about five minutes to move the camera and all the lights
from one side of the table to the other. For these eight shots you
have now spent 40 minutes and covered less then a quarter of the
scene. And now you have no choices in the editing room.

It seems much better to me to set the camera, shoot the entire
scene and then move the camera and shoot the entire scene.
 
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