Otherwise known as the day that heyStorytellers became one of my 8 most visited websites according to google chrome.

Now onward to reading movies! Oddly enough last semester for my Art of Film class we read Understanding movies. I would have to agree with the evaluation that most spaces and placement on a screen have a common connotation. It is not to say that the “rules” of screen placement can’t broken it is simply a polite and effective way to convey stories that most people can understand. Breaking the rules on purpose can add something to a scene.  

One example of a rule is the 180 degree rule. Which simply means that the way an area is filmed means the camera does not cross an imaginary line and show things on the oposite side. This “rule” exists simply because crossing that line creates visual confusion. Now it’s not to say you can’t break it, it’s just helpful not to.

Now like most art forms movies have their own language that once you know what words mean and how they are constructed it demystifies certain aspects of movies (like learning a magician’s secret) but also allows you to better talk about and understand movies.