Tuesday, February 7, 2012

College Money: Over The Shoulder Shot



Reflection:
We used one of the blocks out in the quad to help get our angles correct, because Hayley was so much taller than I am. We even made sure that I would look tall enough before we started filming each shot. If I was too short, we adjusted. What I feel is really important, is being extra careful when your subjects have a substantial height difference.
We were very close to having perfect "Rule of Thirds" shots. I I had moved a little more to the right side of the screen, it probably would have been exact, but in my opinion, the set up was very close. We also should have moved Hayley more to the left side of the screen.
Over the shoulder shots give each character a chance to take center stage and be the most important figure in the video. They also resemble a third party perspective. If you want a reaction from one person while still making it obvious that there is another person there, the over the shoulder shot is helpful as well. You get some of the less important figure, and get more from the focus.
The dialogue seems very random, because there isn't much set up behind it, you just go straight into the conversation. It is easy to film back and forth over the shoulder shots because the lines are so short, and they aren't overloaded with details. Facial expressions were the hardest thing about editing, because you don't want to make someone look crazy or spaced out.
There is a tone of comedic impatience, and sometimes ridiculousness. This came through just because of the personalities that Hayley and I have. The final product was all about how we read and interpreted the lines.
I have realized that over the shoulder shots can be maybe one of the best options for filming an ongoing conversation. They are less plain then just a two shot, because they are a way to compare and contrast words with reactions.
Trying to act the part and putting some personality into the way you read lines is really important. You can have the best shots, settings, and costumes, but if you don't have good actors or good attempts at acting then it all goes to waste.