Eye-tracking study reveals what users are watching in the frame

M

mjeppsen

Active member
Wanted to share a fascinating study I ran across today. Using pupil eye-tracking, researchers analyzed what viewers were focusing on in select scenes from There Will Be Blood. They then correlated that data in easy to visualize overlays on the film scenes. The data is amazing, and I see it as a hugely valuable resource for blocking, lighting, cinematography, and editing.

eye-tracking-cinema-study.jpg


These scenes from the film are a particularly good example of how a slow pace and long-form editing style can still artfully direct the viewer's attention through the use of a few simple, but effective principles. And the data clearly outlines what those principles are.

I've posted on this at PVC, and also point out another bit of research on editing continuity, a PhD thesis by Tim J. Smith entitled An Attentional Theory of Continuity Editing that is like Editing Theory 101 (300 page PDF!). Thought I'd share these resources, hope that you guys find them as interesting and useful as I have.
 
Very cool. The audience is suckered right into where the director / cinematographer are pointing them and you can see it taking place. Im going to read that PDF at some stage as well. Thanks for the link.
 
Yes Noel, it is absolutely amazing. You truly see how the audience is reacting without even thinking and how the audience's eye is being guided to several points of interest through the use of contrast, movement, and depth of field.
It is interesting to see every aspect of this; how the audience is watching the conversation between two individuals, and when one individual is done with their line the viewers eyes shift to the person they are talking to expecting an answer.

What I personally found exceptionally interesting is the time when he looks back at the younger boy. There is no change of the focal plane, no lighting changes, no sound or words presumably coming from the boy.
Only the actor turning and looking, and so the audience's gaze is thrown where the director and cinematographer want it to be.

PDF is saved, can't wait to have the time to start to read this. I wish I could see more movies with these eye tracked overlays.

Thanks for sharing this Matt, this is great for more than editing, cinematography as well, something even production and set designers could see useful.
 
Last edited:
This reminds me of a film, "Looker"(1981), written and directed by Michael Crichton, where one of the 'elements' was monitoring human eye movement (typically male looking at babiciousness...), and maximizing the placement of elements in the scene to get the 'eye' in the correct place for maximum effect of imprinting the 'information' on the viewer's brain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top