Composition

Compositionality - the property of being composable

Films are made up of sequences. Sequences are made up of scenes(usually 3 or 4). Scenes are made up of shots. One sequence may be around 10 to 15 minutes.

Composition is an arrangements of elements in an image. It is not only what you include in the frame, it’s the relationship between those elements that creates the overall meaning.

Elements:

Points:

• Composition is all about directing the viewer’s eye.
• Points in an image are immensely effective in this regard.
• Its a popular technique in wide shots.
• It is used in conjunction with the rule of thirds or golden triangle

Lines:

• Vertical lines can suggest height and strength.
• Horizontal lines can suggest distance and calm.
• Curve lines can make more graceful compositions.
• Use leading lines to pull the eye in a certain direction.

Shapes:

• A clean geometric shape can add a tidy and satisfying feeling to a frame as if everything is in order.
• Whereas irregular or organic shape can feel more natural or even chaotic.
• Shapes can also create frames within frames, giving the viewer a smaller area of focus within an image. These secondary frames can evoke anything from claustrophobia to calmness, all depends on the context of the scene and where it is placed.

Textures and Patterns:

• Textures can be used to have a subject pop from the background or blend in.
• Pattern are used to inform power and control, harmony or insanity.
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Space:

Positive Space:

• Area given to your subject.

Negative Space:

• Empty space around the subject.

• The larger the object is in the frame, the importance it has.

• Extreme wide shots for subject - Isolated, vulnerable

• Extreme close ups - Empower them

• Head room - space above the head

• Looking room - space in the area where the subject is looking.

Depth:

• Film is a 2D medium representing 3D space. The best way to accomplish the illusion in with depth.
• We divide this space into three sections:
  • Foreground
  • Middleground
  • Background
• Each of these planes can be used to layer compositions that creates hierarchies, meanings and relationships.
• Changing focus draws our attention to it.

Balance:

• No matter how you use space or depth, the rule of thumb is that the frame should be balanced.
• A subject position frame right with nothing on the left feels imbalanced.
• The same effect can happen with a foreground subject with empty bg.
• One technique to maintain balance is the rule of odds - when shooting multiple subjects, it’s more visually pleasing for the group to be in an odd number.
• The Golden ratio utilises balance.
• Symmetry also give balance.
• You can give audience an unease feeling using unbalanced frame.

Angle:

• Angle is perspective
• Its about what we are seeing and how we are seeing it.
• A high angle makes the subject feel small and less power.
• Lower angles does the opposite.
• Over head give more detached and objective perspective.

Color and Tone:

• It can also help direct a viewer’s eye.
• Monochromatic, Analogous, Complementary, Triadic.
• Tone refers to the brightness and contrast of the colour.