an american proverb

Module 2: Seeing The World Through A Frame – Composing the Moving Image (Weeks 3 & 4).

READING AND WRITING:

Frame rates: 24fps, 30fps* standard

Maintaining Axis:

imaginary line between two subjects (180degree rule).

Rule of Thirds: Imaginary lines are drawn dividing the image into thirds. The most important elements are placed where these lines intersect so that nothing is dead center, which makes for a static image. Instead, when placing the horizon line of a landscape, or the eye line of a person, use the lower or upper third as an approximate guide.

RESEARCH TO INFORM:

I sped through several John Wayne movies, hunting for those classic angles and sounds that really capture the old western vibe. McLintock! definitely didn’t age well in terms of being politically correct, but it’s still an interesting watch. I also found a fun YouTube video that did a great job breaking down the signature shots that make westerns so iconic.

“Never stop doing things for the first time”

— unknown

CREATE:

I started with a rough storyboard outlining what I wanted for this shoot, but I ended up using my son’s GoPro. Getting a decent close-up was tricky, as the shots kept coming out blurry.

My son was an absolute champ, though! This was my first time filming video (aside from random phone clips), so I ended up with quite a few unusable shots. It wasn’t until I transferred everything to my computer that I realized what I could’ve done differently.

This experience has definitely inspired me to invest in a video camera, and I’ll be much more mindful of shot angles and planning transitions between frames in the future. One key takeaway: always make sure your close-up matches the wide shot for consistency. A big challenge was blending the music, but it was a valuable learning experience. This project has left me eager to apply these skills to future academic and professional projects.