An experienced director of photography shared a movie making pearl of wisdom that stuck with me before I ever directed my first film scene. They said no matter what kind of cool camera move I might want to experiment with as a film director (I call it a "wonder shot") always shoot a basic master shot first. They stressed avoiding getting too fancy or cute with a camera move to cover a scene.
They advised me to always film a take or two using a master shot in case your "wonder shot" does not work out. A master shot is used to cover most or all of a scene including actors. It can be as straightforward as locking the camera down on a tripod for a static shot. Or going hand held with the camera to follow the action. You will not get close up details of a scene, but a master shot guarantees you will have the entire scene covered for post-production.
Knowing you have a master shot gives you much more flexibility as a filmmaker to be creative, take chances, and experiment with a scene with the rest of the takes you have time for. During the shooting of my first movie I used a few "wonder shots" hoping they would turn out as I envisioned them. I dreaded the thought of being in post-production when the editor (Friend and film business partner Tim Beachum) informs me that a scene could not be cut together or was unusable.
I freely admit that I am always a little nervous after wrapping a movie because I know post-production will expose any mistakes made during physical production. Nothing is flawless when it comes to making movies. What an indie film director hopes to avoid is having to schedule reshoots. I work within indie movie budgets that rarely allow for reshoot days. The reality is what I get the first time during shooting is what will be edited in post-production. There hardly ever enough money to go back to reshoot a scene to make it work.
Sure some of the "wonder shots" I have used to cover scenes did not turn out like I wanted them to. Sometimes the choices I made as a movie director did not work for whatever reasons. What always saved the day in post-production? The master shots that were basic and nothing too fancy.
It happens the master shots I really never thought I would have to use during editing (because no doubt all my sweet "wonder shots" would work) fixed any editing problems that popped up. The editor I work with was able to use master shots to replace my "wonder shots" if a major problem had to be resolved during the final edit.
The flip side is "wonder shots" that I had taken a risk on turned out like I hoped. It is music to a movie director to hear an editor say, "great camera angles" or "loved the way you shot that scene." That means the editor's mind is now free from having to wrestle with a scene to make it work. Instead they have raw footage they can edit into a finished film.
Master shots are not sexy or glamorous, but they can become a lifeboat for a movie director when it becomes clear in post-production a camera move just did not work. On an indie film budget it is important for a movie director to cover all the scenes as much as possible. Indie filmmakers that cover a scene one way reduce their options. Do not ever shy away from shooting a "wonder shot", but balance it with a master shot to cover your rear in post-production. This is indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing JUMP CUT.
They advised me to always film a take or two using a master shot in case your "wonder shot" does not work out. A master shot is used to cover most or all of a scene including actors. It can be as straightforward as locking the camera down on a tripod for a static shot. Or going hand held with the camera to follow the action. You will not get close up details of a scene, but a master shot guarantees you will have the entire scene covered for post-production.
Knowing you have a master shot gives you much more flexibility as a filmmaker to be creative, take chances, and experiment with a scene with the rest of the takes you have time for. During the shooting of my first movie I used a few "wonder shots" hoping they would turn out as I envisioned them. I dreaded the thought of being in post-production when the editor (Friend and film business partner Tim Beachum) informs me that a scene could not be cut together or was unusable.
I freely admit that I am always a little nervous after wrapping a movie because I know post-production will expose any mistakes made during physical production. Nothing is flawless when it comes to making movies. What an indie film director hopes to avoid is having to schedule reshoots. I work within indie movie budgets that rarely allow for reshoot days. The reality is what I get the first time during shooting is what will be edited in post-production. There hardly ever enough money to go back to reshoot a scene to make it work.
Sure some of the "wonder shots" I have used to cover scenes did not turn out like I wanted them to. Sometimes the choices I made as a movie director did not work for whatever reasons. What always saved the day in post-production? The master shots that were basic and nothing too fancy.
It happens the master shots I really never thought I would have to use during editing (because no doubt all my sweet "wonder shots" would work) fixed any editing problems that popped up. The editor I work with was able to use master shots to replace my "wonder shots" if a major problem had to be resolved during the final edit.
The flip side is "wonder shots" that I had taken a risk on turned out like I hoped. It is music to a movie director to hear an editor say, "great camera angles" or "loved the way you shot that scene." That means the editor's mind is now free from having to wrestle with a scene to make it work. Instead they have raw footage they can edit into a finished film.
Master shots are not sexy or glamorous, but they can become a lifeboat for a movie director when it becomes clear in post-production a camera move just did not work. On an indie film budget it is important for a movie director to cover all the scenes as much as possible. Indie filmmakers that cover a scene one way reduce their options. Do not ever shy away from shooting a "wonder shot", but balance it with a master shot to cover your rear in post-production. This is indie filmmaker Sid Kali typing JUMP CUT.
About the Author:
Sid Kali takes you inside his life as a filmmaker. Get the scoop on screenwriting, producing, directing, and movie distribution. Visit his blog Slice of Americana Films Also check out Movie Biz Coach a crisp way to learn the ins and outs of the movie business.. Unique version for reprint here: Master Shots And Film Directors.
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