When to shoot anamorphic?

vcassel

vcassel

Veteran
I know there are no hard rules on this, but there's probably an unspoken convention which affects the language of film as it's interpreted by an audience. My first instinct is that it's an action movie thing because Die Hard was the first movie I saw that really drew my attention to it at a young age, but that can't be because there are plenty of dramatic films shot anamorphically. So when do you consider shooting in anamorphic widescreen and why?
 
This is an interesting subject that I've written on before. I absolutely LOVE anamorphic. However, there are times when it's not the correct choice. I just finished shooting a film for a director, and chose anamorphic because the film often has a lot of people in frame. Anamorphic gave me the opportunity to fill the frame more fully.

If the framing of the movie involves adults and kids in frame together, then anamorphic requires you to pull back further and thus may not allow the intimacy of some moments you might like. It's also somewhat easier to frame movies without as much budget. There is a LOT of frame to control in shootinng anamorphic.

I'll be curious as to others thoughts, but those are mine.
 
Hmmm, interesting point. I can see how anamorphic lends itself to historical epics that call for much panning vistas and wide establishing shot of battlegrounds and the like. Too me, though, the anamorphic lens flare seems too modern a touch.
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
Vast vistas, massive armies in final cataclysmic battle... or the director's name is Wes Anderson... (or the ghost of David Lean is being channeled by the director...)
Click to expand...

There are MANY more time when anamorphic is the correct choice. But it almost always comes down to the subject at hand and the desired framing and blocking. If your movie has you blocking more than 4 actors for much of the time, I'd consider shooing anamorphic. If your movie has a need to focus on picking out 1-2 actors from large groups then the shallow DOF of anamorphic can be useful. If you prefer shooting wide, then anamorphic can certainly be a good choice.

I wouldn't use it for character studies or anytime I plan to focus on 1 or 2 people solely. And I wouldn't use it if I couldn't have absolutely control of the frame.
 
I have shot the end of year exhibition of my son's kindergarten using an anamorphic :D
Everyone was in the frame and I got some occasional nice flares from the sun too.
The only things that I'd not do with anamorphics are interviews, tv news and/or tv commercials. Otherwise, I think it adds a cinematic feel to the image.
 
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