Tips for making 2 people sitting down interesting

I know what kind of shots you mean, but they arent zooms through the lens, are they? I thought these shots were done on a dolly... Pretty cool how Spielberg used them in Munich, gave that real 70s political thriller feel...
 
best way to make 2 people sitting become interesting is good writing and good acting. watch Secrets and Lies. there's one shot at a restaurant that is a static 2-shot that lasts something like 12 minutes. its awesome.
 
Well, I think it really depends on the material. I like having characters talk around problems, so I stay pretty close to show their smaller facial reactions. Although, many times I follow Hitchcock's motto of "only resort to dialouge if you have no other option". For example, in a scene I had two people talking as a hitman (the main character) came to kill them. The dialouge wasn't important, so I filmed far away in static two-shots. I then cross-cut the scene with the hitman shot in close ups on a steadicam following him around the building.
 
4 words

1/ Acting
2/ Lighting
3/ composition
4/ script

Then again if you can nail those four in every shot you're on your way.

Zooms - problem is not many know how to utilize them well. If you dont - as someone else suggested learn how to before you do. Anything can be used in context.
 
I found this an interesting topic. I think a huge part of it does have to do with coverage, and editing... editing is SO important in a straight dialogue scene... choosing to cut bits of dialogue, or extend pauses between dialogue can completely change the dynamics and emotions of a scene. But then again if your coverage is awful, there's not a lot you can do. I always try shooting clean CU's on my subjects when there's a dialogue scene. It's a safe good looking shot.
 
Jeremy Ordan said:
Check out 'Fight Club' there is a long conversation between Ed Norton and Brad Pitt. Look at the way it is cut along with the shot selection.
Click to expand...

Which scene were you reffering to?
 
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