Arrangement and Story Clarity

Composition shots for film

If you are designing a film frame you must consider what the shot is about?  What's the message it needs to convey, first read, second read, and third read?  What is the action, what is the blocking saying, what is the posing saying, what is the subtext, how does it fit into this story and will it need to connect with other shots?  What are you cutting from and what are you cutting to?   What is the literal through line?  What is the design contrast between shots (avoiding a jump cut)?  How is the movement working, are you setting some continuum with action or camera movement?

Set Design

When designing shots for a film you want to consider exactly what needs to be said.  Here are a few preliminary concept sketches for an early version of Bolt.  I am considering the major and minor tonal keys, the shapes of the elements and patterning of the design Matrix all to play out the threat of the impending tornado.

Story drives design

Our compositions have to fit within the context of the overall story, which means they have to land with the appropriate level of visual intensity for the moment.  Within that context we have to be clear about the text, dialog, or action, also the subtext, the emotional drive or disposition of the characters and moment.  We have the opportunity and responsibility to deliver the subtext and emotional tone visually through our compositional choices.

Clarity of Story

Clarity often has to do with the correct order of read and the weight we give to the level of dominance and subordination to corresponding relationships.  If we don't make clear the dominance and order of read, chances are our message will be muddled.  Some things to consider are: 

Dominant and Subordinate

Orientation and Scale

Movement and Rhythm

Collective arrangement

Composition for painting

Let's look at breaking down the active compositional elements working in this image by James Reynolds.  The artist may or may not have been consciously applying these things but we all work somewhere between intellect and emotion, and the most important thing is the net result in the final image.