Understanding compositions

As I mentioned in Chapter 2, the camera is a powerful storytelling tool, so when used creatively, you can convey the exact message of the narrative.

For example, in this film, I wanted to convey a feeling of everything being mysterious – what’s happening? Who are these two characters in the cryogenics chambers? Where did they come from? It is not until the end that the answers will be revealed, and even after that, I still want the audience to be asking questions – are these characters the original Adam and Eve? Or are the names just a coincidence?

This leads us nicely to composition.

In a nutshell, composition is the arrangement and placement of visual elements within the frame of the image being captured by the camera. It is a crucial aspect of visual storytelling as it helps create the desired mood, convey emotions, and direct the viewer’s attention to specific elements of the scene. Every shot is carefully planned...