Overview:

Cinematic storytelling is more than just capturing visually appealing shots—it's about telling a complete and engaging narrative. At its core, a well-told story includes a beginning, middle, and end. This module will introduce the concept of visual storytelling and why it’s crucial to move beyond static or incomplete footage, often referred to as “living in the land of middles.”

Key Concepts:

The Importance of a Complete Story:

• Every engaging story—whether told in film, video, or photography—needs a beginning, middle, and end. Without all three, the story feels incomplete.
• Many filmmakers fall into the trap of capturing only “middles,” which are the main actions, without properly framing the sequence with clear openings or conclusions.
• The Danger of the ‘Land of Middles’:
  • When a scene or shot starts too late or ends too abruptly, it leaves the viewer disoriented and the narrative incomplete.
  • The ‘middle’ refers to the heart of the action. While it’s easier to film these, relying solely on middles creates weak storytelling, as the audience is not given the proper context or closure.

The Structure of a Scene:

• To create a compelling scene, it’s important to film three elements:
  • The Beginning: This sets the context and leads the audience into the action. It often includes the moments right before the main action.
  • The Middle: This is where the action or key event takes place.
  • The End: This provides resolution and closure, wrapping up the scene naturally.

Why It Matters in Visual Media:

• Consider a film or show without a clear ending; it leaves the viewer unsatisfied. Similarly, in short sequences, skipping the beginning or the end leaves the audience confused about what they’ve seen or why it matters.
• Structuring your shots in this way transforms simple footage into a story, which is far more impactful.

Real-World Example:

In the video, the filmmakers shoot an ice cream scene at Fifty Licks, where the natural “middle” action would be scooping ice cream into a cone. By applying the Three Over One Rule, they also capture:

• The beginning: A worker reaching for the ice cream scoop or the process of selecting the flavor.
• The middle: The scoop of ice cream being placed onto the cone.
• The end: The ice cream being handed to a customer, or the customer walking away.

This full sequence tells a more engaging and complete story about the process of making and serving ice cream, rather than just the middle action of scooping.

Activity:

• Think of a daily activity you perform (e.g., making tea, brushing your shoes) and plan how to film it as a complete story. Break down the activity into a beginning, middle, and end, and imagine what shots would best represent each.

‍

Overview:

The Three Over One Rule is a simple but powerful tool that helps filmmakers structure scenes into a cohesive narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. This module breaks down the rule and provides practical examples for applying it in your filmmaking.

Key Concepts:

• What is the Three Over One Rule?
  • The Three Over One Rule refers to building each scene with three distinct parts: a beginning, middle, and end, rather than relying on just one shot to tell the story.
  • This ensures that each scene becomes a full story rather than just a fragment, improving the overall narrative flow of your film or video.
• Beginnings Require Anticipation:
  • To capture a strong beginning, you need to anticipate the action before it happens. This could mean filming the moments leading up to the main action, such as someone reaching for an object, entering a room, or preparing for a task.
  • Example: If filming someone making a coffee, the beginning might be the person approaching the coffee machine, or taking a mug from the cupboard.
• Pro Tip: Ask yourself, “What happens before the main action?” and shoot those moments. The more you anticipate, the better your story’s flow.
• Middles are the Core Action:
  • The middle is where the key action takes place—this is often the easiest shot to capture, as it represents the main point of the scene.
  • Example: Continuing with the coffee example, the middle would be the person pouring coffee into the mug.
• Endings Require Patience:
  • Capturing a natural and satisfying end to a scene takes patience. Don’t cut away too soon; let the action play out fully.
  • Example: After the coffee is poured, the end might be the person taking a sip, walking away, or placing the coffee on a table.
  • Letting these moments resolve fully helps give closure to the scene, making it feel complete.
• Pro Tip: Look for natural ways to conclude your scene, such as people exiting the frame, objects coming in or out of focus, or actions naturally finishing.

Practical Application:

1. Anticipation in Action:
   • Imagine you’re filming a bakery. For a shot of a baker frosting a cake (the middle), use anticipation to capture the beginning of the scene. You might film the baker picking up the spatula or selecting the frosting.
2. Patience for the Ending:
   • After the frosting is applied, rather than stopping immediately, continue filming. The end of the scene could be the baker putting down the spatula, presenting the finished cake, or wiping their hands.

Real-World Example:

In the Three Over One Rule video, when filming at Fifty Licks (the ice cream shop), the filmmakers focused not just on the act of scooping the ice cream (middle) but also captured the beginning (scooping the ice cream from the bucket) and the end (handing the ice cream to a customer). This created a full and engaging story, rather than just a static middle shot.

Exercise:

• Film a Short Sequence Using the Three Over One Rule:
  • Pick an everyday task (e.g., cooking, cleaning, or packing). Plan three shots that capture the beginning, middle, and end of the action. Focus on how you can anticipate the beginning and have the patience to let the scene resolve at the end.

‍

Overview:

The Seven Shot Sequence is a versatile and reliable framework that filmmakers can use to capture dynamic and visually engaging sequences, especially in spontaneous or unpredictable situations. This module will guide you through each of the seven shots and explain how to use them to build compelling visual narratives.

Key Concepts:

• What is the Seven Shot Sequence?
  • The Seven Shot Sequence is a basic shot list designed to help filmmakers structure a short but engaging sequence by covering a range of perspectives and details. This framework is particularly useful when a planned shoot isn’t going as expected, or you need to pivot on the fly.
  • The sequence includes:
    • 1 establishing shot
    • 2 wide or medium shots
    • 2 close-up shots
    • 1 abstract shot
    • 1 unexpected shot
• Establishing Shot:
  • The purpose of the establishing shot is to set the scene and provide context for the viewer. This could be a wide shot, a tripod shot, a drone shot, or even a time-lapse.
  • Example: Filming in a garage, the establishing shot might show the garage from a distance, with the door open and light pouring in.
• Pro Tip: Use this shot to show location and environment, giving the audience a sense of place.
• Wide/Medium Shots:
  • These shots are used to show the main action of the scene in a broader context. You’ll want to get two different angles for variety.
  • Example: In a car maintenance scene, wide shots could include the mechanic working under the car and another medium shot showing tools being used.
• Pro Tip: Don’t worry about sticking strictly to wide shots—medium shots also work here. Aim to show what is happening in the scene from different distances.
• Close-Up Shots:
  • Close-ups highlight details and add texture or interest to your sequence. These shots should zoom in on specific actions, such as hands moving, tools being used, or textures in the environment.
  • Example: In the boot cleaning sequence mentioned in the video, close-ups could focus on the brush scrubbing the boot or wax being applied to the leather.
• Pro Tip: Think about what makes the action or object interesting at a closer level—textures, small movements, and intricate details.
• Abstract Shot:
  • The abstract shot is a creative, unexpected element that adds artistic flair or intrigue to your sequence. It could be a motion blur, a macro shot, or a unique perspective that draws attention to an unexpected detail.
  • Example: In a cleaning sequence, the abstract shot might be a slow-motion shot of water droplets or a panning shot showing the reflection in a tool.
• Pro Tip: Let your creativity shine with this shot—think outside the box and experiment with angles, lighting, or motion.
• Unexpected Shot:
  • The unexpected shot adds a creative twist to the sequence. It might not be an obvious choice, but it elevates the scene by offering something surprising or unique.
  • Example: In a boot cleaning sequence, the unexpected shot might be a camera angle from inside the boot or filming the reflection of the cleaner in a shiny object.
• Pro Tip: Use this shot to surprise your audience—think about angles or moments that wouldn’t normally be captured in a standard sequence.

Practical Application:

• Shooting Multiple Sequences:
  • The beauty of the Seven Shot Sequence is its adaptability. If you're filming multiple activities in one scene (like cleaning boots, then polishing them), you can apply the Seven Shot Sequence to each activity. This creates a rich visual story by capturing different angles and perspectives of each process.
  • Example: For a helicopter video, you could use the sequence for the flight itself, and then shoot another Seven Shot Sequence for preparing the helicopter at the hangar.
• Adapting the Sequence:
  • While the Seven Shot Sequence gives a starting point, you can expand it by repeating or doubling up on shots to create a longer, more dynamic sequence. Instead of one establishing shot, try using two or three different types—such as a wide-angle tripod shot, a drone shot, and a time-lapse.

Real-World Example:

In the video, the filmmakers used the Seven Shot Sequence for a boot-cleaning scene in a garage. Here’s how they applied each shot:

• Establishing Shot: A wide shot of the garage setup.
• Wide/Medium Shots: Wide shot of the boots being placed on the table, followed by a medium shot of the person cleaning the boots.
• Close-Ups: Close-up of the wax being applied to the boots, and another of the brush scrubbing the boot.
• Abstract Shot: A creative shot of the wax being applied with a close-up motion.
• Unexpected Shot: An unusual angle showing the reflection of the cleaner in the boot’s polished surface.

Exercise:

• Create a Seven Shot Sequence:
  • Choose an activity, such as cleaning a car, cooking a meal, or working on a hobby. Use the Seven Shot Sequence to film this process. Focus on capturing the scene from different angles and perspectives using the framework:
    • 1 establishing shot
    • 2 wide/medium shots
    • 2 close-up shots
    • 1 abstract shot
    • 1 unexpected shot

‍