Storyboarding Conundrum

[Richard Herd]

The only problem I see is the video you linked is not real. That is, cameras are heavy, and actors get tired. Some of the camera moves are literally impossible in real life. Not to mention, the physics of jumping don’t work like they do in animation.

Keep in mind that (generally speaking) pacing is created in the edit, not in the shooting.

One trick you should use is to put your camera reasonably far from the action and zoom way in on it to get your frame. Have the actors do their thing. Then move the camera 15 degrees one way (and then the other) and change the zoom lens to something different. If your first set up is a close up, then make your second set up a wide shot. (or vice versa). Any time you zoom in from a distance, please put the camera on a tripod.

To really vary your coverage, you can use set up 1 to zoom in on a tripod. Set up 2, on the tripod but wider and closer to the action. Set up 3, hand hold it. See what I mean?

The point is: if a guy punches a guy, and you want it to feel all fast and high pace, you’ll need that punch from two-maybe-three angles. Then in editing you can cut-cut-cut.

If you don’t move the camera 15 degrees, you’ll create a jump cut feel–which ain’t so bad sometimes. Another complication is negotiating the 180 degree line. There’s a whole school of thought on what to do, why, what the audience will feel.

[Kevin Sheppard]

I guess i’ll have to tone down the action a bit then….

Thanks for the help, guys. I’ll see how it turns out.