What if a director sets rules for himself to follow? Example: only use a single prime lens, the tripod can’t be moved from where is positioned and many others, what do you do?

The answer is fairly simple, ensemble staging. Instead playing with camera movements, get the actors to perform the scene in a more attractive manner. These days films are shot with multiple cuts, especially when focusing on a conversation. It’s always over the shoulder shot, cut reverse shot, cut, another over the shoulder shot while the actors perform their lines. It’s a quick and easy way to establish information but it’s not very cinematic. Yes when it’s done correctly it can be a pretty powerful tool, but most Hollywood movies these days are so used to this method that it becomes boring.

“What a film director really directs is the audience’s attention” – Alexander Mackendrick

Kurosawa films are known for being cinematic because of the elements that are in play in his films. He uses wide angle lenses to show the dynamic of his shot and place actors in a way where they could be seen in different ways. He also gave actors a certain way of acting so during the scene they could be identified easily. Besides that, the way his character expresses emotions in his film is also over dramatic. An example would be when a character is angry, he will stand up, stomp his food and expresses his anger. When a character is in shame, they would cover their face to hide their embarrassment. This simple yet effective technique gives Kurosawa’s film a certain unique and filmic look.

Besides body expression, the movement and placement of characters in a scene plays a big role as well. Audiences usually pays attention to objects that are in the centre of the frames, so in order to divert the attention of the audience, place the character at the centre and make him stand out.