What is the Rule of Thirds and Headroom?

What is the Rule of Thirds?

The rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image into 9 parts. The rule states that an image should divided by two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. They must be equally-spaced. The most important elements of your composition are where the two lines come together.

Using the Rule of Thirds will help to produce a nicely balanced picture that enable a viewer interact with it image more naturally. The Rule of Thirds is more of a guideline that is intended to help the photographers when they are uncertain as to where they should place the key elements in a scene.

What is Headroom?

The headroom refers to the distance between the top of the frame and the top of the subject's head. If there is too much headroom then it will make the subject appear short. However it will have the opposite affect if there is very little headroom in the frame. The correct headroom will allow the subject to have enough space around their head to make them look comfortable in the frame.

This picture shows the correct amount of space between the top of the frame and the top of the subject's head (Headroom). This allows the subject to look comfortable in the frame.

Camera techniques and imovie

Today, in our group we went through the types of camera techniques. We were then were given a video camera to go outside and record each other using the different camera techniques such as camera movement, angles and shots. This allowed us to realise the importance of camera techniques.

We were also introduced to a new software called I movie, where we learnt how to make a short videos using clips. Using I movie I learnt how to snip clips, make opening title and use transition for the video. I also experimented with I movie, and found out, the type of features it has. This has allowed me to get more comfortable with using I movie and has helped me understand how to edit films.

Professional Animator

Today, I met Trevor Jarvis who is professional animator. He taught me a few things about animation that will help me make an opening animation for our film. To make animation I had to use the software called flash.

I learnt how to create motion animations and shape animations. Motion animation is when an object moves from one place to another (we can see were the object is travelling). To create a motion animation, firstly I had to create a shape and then convert it to a symbol. To convert it to a symbol, I had to

1. Use the 'selection tool' to select the shape

2. Click on 'modify'

3. Then click on 'convert to symbol'

4. Lastly click on 'graphic' then 'OK'.

I then had to insert a key frame. To do this you must click the 24th box of the timeline and then click on inset key frame. (It is important to remember that 1 seconds of your animation equals to 12 boxes). The next step is to move your shape to where you want it. Finally, click on the previous key frame and then click on properties. Once this is done, click on tween motion. You must repeat this process if you want a longer motion animation.

I also learnt how to make a Shape animation (shape changes from one to another e.g. from a square to a circle). I also learnt how to make the object grow or shrink in size and make it fade away. To make a shape animation, you must first make a shape using the selection tool. Then click on modify and convert it to a symbol. The next step is to insert key frame and then draw another shape. Finally, you click on the previous key frame and then click on properties. This time instead of clicking on tween motion you click on shape.

I was able to try out the software 'flash' to make a motion and shape animations. This experience for me was very exciting as it is something I have never done. However it was very hard to create the animations as I kept making a lot of mistake. Overall, meeting Trevor was very useful as it will me make our opening title for our short film.

Developing Our Script.

Today, our group and I decided to develop our script. Before we could start we had to find out the essential features of a script and how it should be written out. We learnt that while writing a script, we should write about what the audiences can see and hear and not describe how the character feelings. We found out that action should show the emotion. E.g. someone breaks a glass due to frustration. Our group decided that action speaks louder than word and thus decided that we should keep the dialogue to a minimum. This will maintain the audience’s attention. It will also add to realism, as our protagonist will be alone during most of the film. Our group found out that one page of a script equals to 1 minute in a film. This was crucial as it meant that we needed a 5-page script in order to produce a five-minute film.

Our group also attained knowledge about what a dialogue blocks is. We learnt that the character’s name should always be in capital and the wryly should be in lowercase. For example:

Characters speaking: STEVE

Wryly: (quietly)

Dialogue: It's time

Slug lines are very important in a script. It informs people where and when the scene takes place. Slug lines are composed into three parts. These are interior/exterior (outside or inside a house), location and time of day. The slug line must always be in capital. An example of a slug line is: INTERIOR, STEVE'S BATHROOM, DAWN. This means that the scenes will take place indoors at dawn in Steve's bathroom.

In our group we learnt many key terms and editing styles which are relevant when writing a script such as:

Montage: A series of short related scene.

Continuity editing: A sequence of events that links together.

Intercut: When two scene takes place at the same time but in different locations e.g. two people in two separate countries on the phone having a conversation together. Most movies split screen the in half to a show intercut.

Special scene headings: Special scene headings are normally used during flashbacks. An example of special scene headings is 'January 1966' or 'summer 1974'.