8 Steps to Cinematic Composition | Tomorrow's Filmmakers

Notes for myself 1. Rule of thirds. Center thirds are reserved for authoritative figures. For landscapes/horizons, place subject on either horizontal line. 2. Balance. Characters and objects add weight to the image. Balance the other half of your frame without your subject with a background object like a lamp. 3. Depth. *aperture*. Separate subject from background/foreground. 4. Leading lines. Have lines built into the environment like handrails or wall designs or wood planks to guide the eye. 5. Symmetry. Can be fused with leading lines. 6. Dominant Subject. Audience needs to know what the main subject is. Fill dead space with nondistracting stuff (combine with leading lines/depth). 7. Head room/Leading room. Head room is space between top of frame and top of subject's head (in an interview, eyes are about 2/3rds up). Leading room is the space between their eyes and the frame wall that's in the direction they're looking at (also about 2/3rds of space). You want more room in front of subject instead of behind. Many scenes are shot so that subject's eyes are at the top left/right cross of the rule of thirds. (11:22). If subject is moving, camera should move with them. 8. Break the rules for story reasons. Give more head room to make subject feel insignificant. No looking room to feel awkward. Show char development by implementing rules later. TYSM for the video!!

Chapter List: 1:40   Rule of Thirds 3:24     Balance 4:36    Depth 6:05    Leading Lines 7:21    Symmetry 8:09     Dominant Subject 9:52     Head Room 11:54   Break the rules

Another tip for the “leading room” thing: if you want to make an uneasy feeling like something is following or about to attack your subject, you can give them a bunch of follow room/ space behind them🤘🏻

I love that you mention that rules can be broken. But with the condition that one knows the rules first.

one of the most efficient free cinema lesson on internet

I know this might seem obvious but i realised that when the video cuts to him talking the part has all the tips used. He puts himself in the center to show authority, then he balances the frame by adding a plant and a laptop, in the background the lines in the wood guides the viewers to him and the camera focuses on him by lowering the aperture. Speaking of backgrounds he also distances himself from the background. He also leaves some space but not too big of a space on top of his head like he suggested. He also placed himself to align with the corner achieving symmetry while also not leaving vacant too much space

I'm a teacher but now, I realized I am still a student. Keep making videos for us. Thank you.

Absolutely incredible! I'm not a filmmaker, but I'm trying to write a novel about an amateur filmmaker. I can finally write dialogues about them geeking on cinema. Thank you.

This is the best and more comprehensive explanation of cinematic frame composition I've even watched. Thank you so much!

Best video I've watched on youtube about cinematography. The examples helped SO much. My first time actually understanding the rule of thirds and how to/not to use it.

Excellent you've just made not listening for two years of film classes worth it in just under 16 minutes. FANTASTIC WORK HAHAH

I must say I appreciate very much your use of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty at the end. The compositions in that film were so forceful i felt it in my soul when i watched it. It was the perfect match of shot composition and soundtrack choice that made that film so atmospheric i felt like I was experiencing it long with him.

The amount of knowledge in these videos are astonishing I can’t believe you guys are giving this to us free of charge I can’t wait to put it into motion! I can only imagine what’s included in the actual class!

I’m not a film director, but that was very interesting and informative.

Justice and crew, just wanted to express an immense amount of gratitude I have for you guys channel. I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time it’s truly incredible. Thank you and I hope this blesses you !!

I love that you used The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. It's one of my favorite films ever and I hate that it got panned so hard by critics. Such a beautifully composed film.

The best composition breakdown I've ever seen.

THIS is what we need rather than just showing cinematic scenes. THANK YOU for logically breaking down hollywood scenes!

I think the tip around 7:50 is the most important. If you're not sure if the composition is great, try moving the camera around 10 cm to any direction and see what happens to the background and foreground of your composition. It's claimed that Ansel Adams said that moving the camera one inch makes all the difference. Also remember to check that posts and handrails do not appear as if growing out of the human subject's ear, unless that's the feeling you're actually looking for.

"'It's artistic!' No, it's not, it's distracting'" - I'm totally stealing that! LMAO