Coverage is a few of the first concepts you learn in filmmaking. It’s an idea that will come up again and again in your career as a filmmaker.
You’ll quickly understand that coverage is one of the most crucial elements of filmmaking – and one of the most difficult to master!
What Exactly Is Film Coverage?
Coverage is the technique of capturing many shots, angles, and performances of a scene. It’s called coverage because it includes all of the pieces needed to edit the scene in post-production. Coverage is considered normal procedure in television and film since sequences are frequently shot out of sequence. Coverage guarantees that the editor has enough possibilities in the edit to create an intriguing and engaging rendition of the scene.
Pre-production decisions are often centered around how they want each shot to feel. Coverage is also influenced by money and scheduling restrictions. After selecting each shot based on plot or style, many copies of the same shot are filmed for eventual use in editing. The editor can use these shots for various editing techniques or as backup material if something goes wrong during production.
Blocking and Staging
What does blocking a scene mean?
Performance blocking, or stage blocking, or actor blocking, refers to how one or more actors move around the space during a production. This can be blocking in a stage play or blocking in a scene for movies or television. This can even include a blocking rehearsal that will help to clarify the intention behind each movement and smooth out the motions. Blocking isn’t simply where the actors move through a scene, but also how they interact with their environment. This can include body language.
What does staging a scene mean?
Staging a scene is the placement and movement of objects in the frame, as well as the camera in relation to your performance blocking. Staging is far less discussed, yet it is equally important to blocking your scenes.
Most people think of scene staging techniques as a small portion of cinematography, which is partially true. But in addition to lighting a scene, a cinematographer’s job also includes working with the director to plan out the camera placement, movement, and area of focus — all in the service of visual storytelling.
Above excerpts from Studio Binder
