Lights, camera, action! Shooting a successful film requires more than just technical knowledge. It also requires compelling film composition. But what exactly is that? Composition refers to how the elements on screen (actors, scenery, props, etc.) appear in respect to each other and within the frame itself.
In the earliest days of cinema, film composition basically mimicked that of a stage play. Directors staged all actors and important information to face the audience. Takes were also much longer, and the camera moved infrequently. The audience rarely got closer than a wide shot and the blocking was practically two dimensional. But, as film became more popular and better gear was developed, filmmakers began to realize that, if done well, the audience wouldn’t be confused by a sudden close-up or by the camera changing its position.
So, filmmakers gradually moved from a flat, two-dimensional portrayal of characters to three-dimensional depth. This depth allowed characters to move about more realistically. As filmmakers and their gear progressed, they were able to seamlessly move the camera about and rethink how they could display the information on screen. They began to realize through certain composition techniques they could not only control the audience’s attention but could use these techniques to create visually pleasing images and their own unique visual styles.
Film composition is important because it directs the audience’s attention. Second to that, it’s important because through composition, we can create visually appealing images unique to the director and DP’s style. It guides the audience to pay attention to one single person amidst a crowd of people, or a single point in a busy frame. But beyond all of the technical and personal objectives of composition, it allows us to instantly convey information and subtext.
By controlling the angles and the distance between characters or significant props, we can instantly and intuitively clue our audience in on the deeper meaning of the scene. After all, film is a visual medium, and in all literature, it’s best to show and not tell. What better way to illustrate an internal power struggle between two characters, or our hero reflecting on the dire circumstance he’s been faced with, or a woman coming into her own power, than by showing it in a series of beautifully composed frames?
An in-depth course to film composition is beyond the scope of this article. But, here are a few basics for beginning filmmakers or those needing some review. The Rule of Thirds is arguably the core of composition techniques. It’s a simple enough rule to learn and follow and will elevate the quality of your shots. Divide your frame into three sections vertically and three sections horizontally. Then, simply place your subject at one of the intersecting points.
Remember, the first goal of composition is to direct your audience’s attention. An excellent way to do this is through lighting contrast. By placing your subject in the brightest spot of the frame, or inversely by silhouetting your subject against the bright landscape, you isolate him or her and thus guide the audience.
Remember, we live in a three-dimensional world. So, film should utilize three-dimensional space as well. The distance between two characters in an over-the-shoulder shot, or looking out towards the horizon or to the light at the end of a tunnel, creates perspective. With perspective, we create angles. Angles and converging lines in an image naturally guide our eyes to a single point.
The primary goal of composition is to control your audience’s focus. Everything else stems from there: the aesthetics, the subtext and underlying themes, etc. If you simply make a beautiful shot without structure, your audience’s attention is going to scatter as they attempt to take everything in. In the end, the shot, despite being filled with beautiful art and images, will just be unorganized and confusing. Give your shots structure, and use the structure to guide attention and give meaning. Then, working within that framework, you can add your personal aesthetics, subtext, and storytelling.
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