Principles of composition,Tone and Color
Principles of composition
What is composition?
Composition refers to the way elements of a scene are arranged in a camera frame. Shot composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements to convey an intended message
Knowing how to arrange specific shots for specific reasons, will have a greater impact on the audience, keeping them engaged for longer. And engaging your audience is a requirement of filmmaking.
But lasting engagement can be difficult when the film deals with unlikeable characters. Complicated protagonists, such as anti-heroes, need camera framing and composition techniques to be relatable enough so the audience sticks around.
But lasting engagement can be difficult when the film deals with unlikeable characters. Complicated protagonists, such as anti-heroes, need camera framing and composition techniques to be relatable enough so the audience sticks around.
Elements of Composition
The Rule of Thirds
As the camera frames your shot, keep the image on the intersecting lines. It’s more pleasing to the eye. But also, different camera framing will tell a different story. It is an easy way to determine the character's place in the world.
Blocking
Blocking the actor in a symmetrical shot can be a very effective way to lead the viewer to a certain feeling or emotion. This video is part of our Filmmaking Techniques Masterclass allows us to visualize the power of blocking and staging.
Depth of field
One of my favorite ways to manipulate an image is to use rack focus. It changes focus right in the middle of a shot.
If the filmmaker starts off with a large depth of field, and in the same shot moves to a shallow one, the new focused element becomes the centerpiece for the scene.
If the filmmaker starts off with a large depth of field, and in the same shot moves to a shallow one, the new focused element becomes the centerpiece for the scene.
Balance and symmetry
Artists use this technique to direct the viewer’s eye to a specific place. And leading the eye to the center of the screen might end up serving your story better, and garner more emotion. Past films have done this well. Balance and symmetry in a shot can be very effective.
Leading lines
Leading lines are actual lines (or sometimes imaginary ones) in a shot, that lead the eye to key elements in the scene.
Artists use this technique to direct the viewer’s eye but they also use it to connect the character to essential objects, situations, or secondary subjects. Whatever your eye is being drawn to in a scene, leading lines probably have something to do with it.
Artists use this technique to direct the viewer’s eye but they also use it to connect the character to essential objects, situations, or secondary subjects. Whatever your eye is being drawn to in a scene, leading lines probably have something to do with it.
Tone and Color
How can color tell a story?
The primary reason for using color in film might be obvious: to make the images colorful, dynamic, and beautiful. But there is a secondary reason that facilitates visual storytelling. That's right, the best uses of color in film also tell a story.
Color in film can build harmony or tension within a scene. Bring attention to a key theme. And that’s just the start.
When telling a story, colors:
Elicit psychological reactionsDraw focus to significant detailsSet the tone of the movieRepresent character traitsShow changes or arcs in the story
When telling a story, colors:
Elicit psychological reactionsDraw focus to significant detailsSet the tone of the movieRepresent character traitsShow changes or arcs in the story
The psychology behind colors in filmA well-designed movie color palette evokes mood and sets the tone for the film. When choosing a particular color, remember that there are three main components — hue, saturation, and brightness.
Hue – the color itselfSaturation – intensity of the colorBrightness – The darkness or lightness of a colorAs Bond mentions in his film color theory video, many viewers will have predictably similar reactions to certain colors. A strong red color has been shown to raise blood pressure, while a blue color elicits a calming effect (more on this when we discuss lightsabers later).
Hue – the color itselfSaturation – intensity of the colorBrightness – The darkness or lightness of a colorAs Bond mentions in his film color theory video, many viewers will have predictably similar reactions to certain colors. A strong red color has been shown to raise blood pressure, while a blue color elicits a calming effect (more on this when we discuss lightsabers later).