W9 | Inspiration | Akira Kurosawa – Composing Movement

Fundamental questions: When you’re judging a shot, what’s the first thing you look for? Is it balance? Leading lines? Golden ratio? Colour? Light? Shapes? But the first thing that should be easily noticed is Movement.

Akira Kurosawa’s movement in cinema

• Movement of nature
  • Background of the shot features some kind of weather: wind, water, fire, smoke, snow.
  • Even when people are still, there’s rain in the background to draw your eye.
  • “Rain is a real emotional trigger that works in any film…anything that’s excessive because it gives you another layer that the audiences can relate to sensually.”
  • 
• Movement of groups
  • Kurosawa’s films usually feature large groups of people who band together or split apart
  • “Crowds like this are really cinematic. When you put these many people in a shot, any emotion feels big. “
  • “If you want a good reaction shot, try using four people, or 25.”
• Movement of individuals
  • Kurosawa’s blocking is unrealistic and exaggerated 
  • If someone is nervous, they pace left and right.
  • If they’re outrage, they stand straight up.
  • If they’re ashamed, they bend down.
  • Kurosawa would pick one gesture for the character and repeat it throughout the film. That way, the audience can quickly see who’s who and how they’re feeling.
• Movement of the camera
  • Kurosawa’s style: fluid camera moves. They go from a close-up to full shot, to an over the shoulder in a single unbroken take –
  • Spielberg Oner         
  • Every camera move has a clear beginning.  Just by itself, this movement tells a story.
  • Cut in movement – function in flow 
    • When he finishes the scene, he switches the rhythm, usually by ending on something static and then cutting straight into movement.
• If you know what the scene’s about, try to express it through movement. Start with the character, how are they feeling? Is there any way the actor can convey that by moving?
  • Take the feeling that’s inside the character and bring it out through the background.
    • If the character is angry and menacing: 
    • If the character is simmering with resentment: 
  • Another option is to contrast one person against the group
    • If someone suffers a very public humiliation: 
    • If they’re looking for a needle in a haystack: 
    • Use camera movement to convey excitement: 
    • Cut to show surprises: 
    • Combine every type of motion into one amazing image: 
    • 

 

References

Zhou, T 2015, “Akira Kurosawa – Composing Movement”, Every Frame a Painting, YouTube, viewed 23 Sep 2018, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doaQC-S8de8>