1. Composition
Framing

2. Directing the Eye Use of light and dark Use of movement vs. stillness
People are directed by light
Play with what is lit creates audience awareness
Use of movement vs. stillness
When whole frame is still, focus on movement
When whole frame is moving, focus on stillness

3. Balance vs Imbalance
Mass, color, size, shape, complexity and implied direction are manipulated
Balanced Frame: Intentional symmetry
Symmetry between scenes sends message
Assigning “place in the frame” establishes identity
Imbalanced Frame: Intentional non-symmetrical
Our eye looks for symmetry: imbalance makes us uncomfortable
Establishes conflict, loneliness, stress etc…

4. Structural Stages of Balance
1. Stable Balance
2. Neutral Balance
• Rule of Thirds
3. Unstable Balance

5. Orientation
We expect the movie world to be similar to the real world (with some enhancements)
When basic understandings of the world are broken, they draw attention to themselves
Therefore if they are used, must be with purpose
Disorientation:
Upside down, repeated motion, filming the same action over again from different points of view, jump cuts
Intended to disorient viewer—used to externalize character’s inner world, show emotion or feeling

6. Size
Character’s relative strength or weakness can be established by the use of size
Used to contrast power of 2 characters (think of high and low angle shots)

8. Screen Forces 1. Main Directions (Axes) 2. Vectors
Magnetism of the Frame and Attraction of Mass
3. Asymmetry of the Frame
4. Figure and Ground
5. Psychological Closure 6.

9. Axes X-Axis = Width Y-Axis = Height X-Y Axis = Diagonal Z-Axis = Depth
Depth of Field
Planes of Action

10. Vectors: A VECTOR is a directional screen force and strength
Understanding vectors will allow you to design spaces AND block talent
Graphic Vectors: Visual lines or arrangements of objects within the screen (door frame, table, stairs, line of people) that direct the eye in a general direction
Index Vectors: Someone or something pointing/looking in a specific direction
Motion Vectors: Objects moving or perceived to be moving within frame

11. Vector Magnitude/ Vector Direction
Vector Magnitude: strength of vector
Graphic vectors—weakest magnitude
Motion vectors—strongest magnitude
Directions of vectors
Continuing vectors
Converging vectors
Diverging vectors

12. Continuing Vectors Continuing = pointing in the same direction
Continuing Index Vectors
Goal = to get viewers to perceive separate shots as one simultaneous event
Person looking in one direction in the first shot should continue looking in the same direction in the following shots
Target object continuity = shot of a person appearing to be looking at someone or something should be followed by object they are looking at. The object should appear to be located in the direction in which (s)he was looking
Applies to both onscreen and off-screen

13. Continuing Vectors (cont.)
Continuing Motion Vectors
Having established the direction of a moving object in one shot, you must keep the camera on the same side of the motion vector line in subsequent shots in order to maintain the direction.
Preserving principal direction in subsequent scenes.
If you have a guy riding a motorcycle from Denver to Wyoming and you show this from screen right to screen left, subsequent shots must also show the motorcycle riding from screen right to screen left (unless , of course, ha has become dissatisfied with Wyoming and is returning to Denver)

14. Converging Vectors
Converging = vectors crossing paths/pointing towards eachother
Converging Index Vectors
Goal = to get viewers to perceive separate shots as one simultaneous event
Example: Close-ups of people talking to each other following a two-shot of the same must maintain original index convergence.
Example: Having established the spatial relationship between audience members and a speaker, subsequent shots must reflect the original index convergences.
Converging Motion Vectors
If you show objects heading toward each other, they should eventually converge.
Camera placement maintains these directions by shooting from the same side.

15. Diverging Vectors Diverging = pointing away from each other
Diverging Index Vectors
Goal = to get viewers to perceive separate shots as one simultaneous event
If you establish index vectors pointing in different directions, you should maintain the original index divergence in the next shot.
Example: two people fighting and looking in opposite directions in initial shot should be doing the same in subsequent close-ups.
Diverging Motion Vectors
If two objects are shown as going in opposite directions, subsequent shots should be made in order to maintain  those directions.

16. Object Framing Facilitating Closure
Graphic Cues: When showing only a part of an object or person on screen, you must frame the subject so that the viewer can easily fill in the missing parts and perceive the whole
Premature Closure
Illogical Closure: Perceiving two things (usually fore/background) attached that do not belong because of framing (like a sign growing out of someone’s head)