should i reshoot this?

HerzogisGod

HerzogisGod

Well-known member
ignoring everything else about this scene for now, should I re-shoot due to crossing the line.

I dont know what the hell I was thinking that day. The line crossing became distracting to me only after fifty viewings, so do you guys think it's okay if I leave it.

should I even be fretting over it?

Will an average audience be conscious of it?

I'd have to wait until spring to re-shoot and I'd only have to re-shoot the male leads half of conversation.

thanks

http://www.vimeo.com/2532588




 
Last edited:
you watched this fifty times!!,
you got bigger issues than the line i think,
aside from the script and the genre you were going for(that was a kind of drama, right),
you need to shake it up a bit, you can't shoot everything on a tripod kind of way,
and some basic elements most be had to any film (or series or docu), that would include some camera movements and pacing, leaving the tripod alone would be the start, in that scene other than change the conversation, you can first establish the location where the girl is at, you can add the girl to that, then we can see the male actor coming, then the girl noticing the guy, then the guy sitting at (there was a table or something), at that point you can fight the urge of using really close shots, and show some background or something, you dont have to cover the hole screen with a face, only close when needed, to make the audiance see something for a small amount of time, not for no reason, and not through a big long conversation, make the actors less stiff as well, and ad some new elements to the conversation to make it more intresting(dont know about the theme you were going for there), to cover up some of these, you can shoot for a different aspect ratio, go 2.4:1, that will limit the close ups you do, and dont stick to medium shots if you go 2.4, it should be logical for any scene, so dont forget that you will need to mix it up a bit, a long shot here or a close up there, and dont stick to one or to frames, use all kinds of shots though the film when needed.you can always tell a bad director by scrubing through a two hour movie and seeing the exact medium, head shots in perfect order and time through the movie.
and remember gr8 movies only comes from good scripts and storyboard before the shoot.hope it helps
 
I think the average viewer would know that something is weird or wrong, but not know what.

You could try flipping the image of one side (I would flip the stuff on her, so the cam is over his right shoulder). Might work.
 
not worried about the script or camera framing stuff. script is fine. camera framing is fine. I like my dialog. there are more components to the scene to be added and that's why I mentioned to only focus on the "line crossing" aspect. but thanks for the critique :)

I will try the flip idea.


Thanks
 
the purpose of the 180 degree line rule is to help the viewer understand the geography of the scene and the orientation of the characters in it, to keep the audience from getting confused as to where people are. in this scene, despite the line crossing, there is no confusion. i wouldn't reshoot. besides, it gives another dimension of understanding to her line "we're on the same side". you've provided an underlying visual representation of that sentiment.
 
I think you are fine, becasue of they way you cut it (wide to close up to wide etc...) the impact is minimal.
 
By having OTS shots you avoid the need to obey the 180 degree rule. The relative location of the camera to the action becomes obvious when you see a part of each actor.

I sometimes like when technically "wrong" shots are put into some scenes. They throw off the audience for a moment, and can emphasize something wrong within the story.
 
It was not intended and I don't think you should try to justify it as a deliberate choice. You're obviously making a serious movie, so you either need to reshoot or flop the scenes of the guy or the girl -- not until you try it will you know if it works.

The young kid doesn't seem to part his hair nor does he have anything on him that will flip the wrong way and be noticeable, so I'd start by flipping his shots.

But the continuity is so screwed up that if you CAN reshoot the whole thing; you will probably do a better job of it altogether.

If you go with what you have, the only thing I'd add is clean up the sound, balance it and put in the room tone where necessary (I'm sure you haven't gotten to that stage though).

Good luck with it. It's a nice scene and sounds like a good movie. The actors are good, the dialogue is good, the locations are interesting, the cinematography is nice too.

Keep up the good work.
 
Thanks for the nice words

I'll play with. Try the flip thing.

Come spring though, if i can round up the actors again, I'll most likely re-shoot.

It only took us an hour to shoot it
 
HerzogisGod said:
Thanks for the nice words

I'll play with. Try the flip thing.

Come spring though, if i can round up the actors again, I'll most likely re-shoot.

It only took us an hour to shoot it
Click to expand...

I did a quick relook at your clip, and I don't know if the flipping the image will work, because you do have a shot, essentially from the same side as your over the shoulder shots from guy to gal, close up... but then you have a medium shot of her and the guy and she has a book in her hand... which would give away the trick... or be even more jaring than the 'line cross' in the first place.
 
HerzogisGod said:
ignoring everything else about this scene for now, should I re-shoot due to crossing the line.
Click to expand...

I'll be honest. I didn't read your post, I just clicked on the video looking for glaring problems. Then I came back and read your post. I didn't even notice. The scene pulled me in and I really didn't see where you crossed the 180. I was actually thinking how professional it was. Like a kids ghost story thing.

-Nate
 
don't mean to be a downer, but i would re shoot. Maybe you wont, thats really your call, but if you were going for the best possible shot, re shoot without crossing the line. I watched before reading what was wrong and noticed it right away.

Its workable, not great, not terrible. Your call on the re shoot really
 
HerzogisGod said:
ignoring everything else about this scene for now, should I re-shoot due to crossing the line.

I dont know what the hell I was thinking that day. The line crossing became distracting to me only after fifty viewings, so do you guys think it's okay if I leave it.

should I even be fretting over it?

Will an average audience be conscious of it?
Click to expand...

Hi HerzogisGod,

Since you are working with tight shots, only have two actors in a simple scene, and are consistently using the same breakage angle, I wouldn't worry about the 180 degree technicality here.

And no, as others mentioned the audience would sooner notice issues with the audio, etc. But generally everything in the scene is solid enough to use. BTW, next time remember to get some cutaways including at least one based on a tight pivot point shot to help bail you out in post next time.

Good luck, Michael
 
as long as it's passable and not too offensive, I will not stress over it. That's the important thing as I have a trillion other things I need to stress over with the project..

Come April/May, i will most likely re-shoot the male actors side of the conversation. I liked the girls performance too much to re-shoot it. I will also film one master shot as well from beginning to end of scene.

There is also an insert to this scene to be placed where the two actors look over and wave. I still need to film a third actor (who plays the young girls father) who pokes his head out the sliding doors.

Thanks for all the advise, you guys really saved me unnecessary stress.

I'm sure we all know how it is...you make a thing, and it's impossible enough to begin with, then to have to go back and re-shoot because of a simple oversight...it becomes nerve racking.

Problem is, as director, you bare the burden of responsibility for all actions and whatever ends up on the screen.



I'll tell you, though, I can sure use some extra help finishing this thing. I mostly work alone, gathering up the actors and shooting. Sometimes I have one other person to work the boom pole. This is no way to shoot a movie and accounts for some of the reason my project is taking so long to complete.

When Im able to round up an extra crew member or two, I'm in filmmaking heaven.
 
Is it passable? For what purpose?

It looks kind of amateurish...if you are getting paid the $$$$ then reshoot. Otherwise learn and move on
 
its not a rule - its a guideline. There are no rules - and usually its jarring - in this case I agree that with the progression of cuts there is no confusion as to who is where and who is talking to whom.

I have seem MUCH MUCH more confusing and crossings of the line on 24 on network tv - i think you are ok - just learn that for next time if you are breaking the "guideline" you should know it in advance and do it purposely.
 
I think a lot of us only notice it because we are filmmakers. It definitely was not distracting for me. The shots were framed nicely and as mentioned before since they were mostly tight over the shoulder shots you can get away with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top