need some ideas for tomorrow

[HerzogisGod]

its a transition from one scene to another. basically, A. two characters, boy and girl, end off a conversation in a back yard. B. cut to another character for a quick scene. C. cut back to my two main characters, but now they are back at the girl's home, standing in front of her house. They have a quick talk, then the girl retreats into her house

I cant figure out how to establish C.

I dont want to show the walk up to the house...that's unessential.

I want to pick up right at the doorstep in a medium two shot and begin the scene. But somehow I feel this is lacking visually.

Should I establish with a wide shot of the boy and girl standing in front of the house for a beat, then cut to the medium two shot?

Should I show a tree...or some other outdoor object in front of her house before cutting to the two shot?

Im filming tomorrow afternoon...so I need some quick advice on this tricky establishing shot

 

[wjones717]

I' do the wide shot of them, then cut to the two shot. If them walking up to the door is unessential, i'm sure cutting to a tree before is as well, unless there's some significance.

So i'd do the wide shot then cut to the medium.

Or just shoot them all and see how it works out in post-production.

 

[Roypercy]

What's the feeling you're looking for? For example, if the boy and girl in their first conversation (A) have decided to break up, then their farewell in (C) probably feels kind of sad and empty. In that case, a wide establishing shot in front of her house makes sense as the space establishes the new distance between them.

Another thought is you could cut directly into the two-shot in (C) and then have a wider shot of the boy walking away from her house - so that (C) raises the question of where they are now, and the shot following answers it.

I think the real question is what you're trying to convey about the relationship between the two at this point in the story.

 

[10s]

My 3 cents: You want to shoot the est. shot of the house, another of them on the doorstep, etc. this is so the audience isn't confused, if they become confused you lost them.

Also, remember shooting is the collection process: you're simply out getting material for the edit room where you'll build the story; So get more than you need. Do this for many scenes especially anthing you're unsure of.

 

[HerzogisGod]

Thanks

Im gonna shoot a few variations.

Good point about mood. The emotional charge in the scene is disappointment and a sense that they may not see each other for a while. So maybe a wide as an establishing shot.

Also, the previous scene B. ends in a close up of someone's face, so it makes sense to begin C. in a wide

I already have the boy walking off from her house in a wide shot, then Im cutting to the classic shot of the girl watching him through a window from inside her house.

 

[vic777]

Should I establish with a wide shot of the boy and girl standing in front of the house for a beat, then cut to the medium two shot?

you definitely have to do this ... no matter what else you do .... you can fall back on this in post.