Yesterday in class we had a go at replicating a Mad Men scene. I think the intention was to film and then edit, hence the use of three cameras, but what felt most important to me was getting to know camera angles. I didn’t realise how much a small change in direction impacted the picture and scene.
The monitors that we had access to really helped emphasise this point and gave me a better understanding of how to frame and shoot a scene with multiple cameras. For over the shoulder shots of two people in conversation, matching or accentuating height is all about positioning the camera to form a clear pathway for eyesight. If the angles don’t meet along the path then the shots can easily turn sour because of the confusing and unmatched visuals.
Shooting with a single camera makes the task even more difficult, but the experience using a multi-camera setup is a good point of reference. Being on a budget and a low income, it is worthwhile to consider how a scene would look if I had access to multiple cameras and external monitors.
– Gabe