d. Sometimes it is necessary to take up a camera position on the opposite side of
the action. And sometimes it is necessary to have your subject change direction. In
either case, you must let your audience know that the change is taking place. Some of
the ways that you can show or mask changes in screen direction are:
(1) Have your subject actually change direction and show the change on the
screen. If you film a sequence showing a sentry walking his post, show him moving in one
direction; then pick him up as he is doing an about face and show him moving in the
opposite direction.
(2) Gradually film around your subject and include a neutral shot. In the parade
scene mentioned previously, if you film from the other side of the street you could have
worked around the vehicle. This of course will change screen direction. Before crossing
the street you would have to move out in front for a "headon" shot, or behind for a
"tail away" shot, either shot is neutral in direction. Now you can pick up the action
from the opposite side of the street. The screen direction is reversed, but the audience
knows how it came about. Remember not to change your angle too abruptly or it will cause
a shock to the audience. Gradually working around the subject is the key to this
technique.
(3) Introduce a scene (cutaway) to divert your audience. The attention of the
audience can be diverted from the screen direction of the subject by the use of a
cutaway. Again using our parade scene as an example, to conceal the change in screen
direction, a cutaway shot of a person watching the parade will serve to divert the
audience awareness in the change of screen direction. It is always better to use two or
more cutaway scenes in this situation thereby utilizing the audience's inability to
remember more than two scenes back.
(4) Use of a prominent object to orient the audience to the movement of your
subject. Use a reference point that the audience can recognize. If, for example, our
subjects in the parade should be passing toward a prominent statue. One cameraman filmed
the scene from one side and another camera filmed the action from the other side. These
two scenes edited together would have contrasting screen direction. By seeing the statue
in both scenes the audience will accept the fact that the subject is still going in the
same direction.
(5) Contrasting screen direction. Abrupt changes in screen direction are
sometimes used to create special effects. For example, scene 1 is a sports car speeding
from left to right across the screen. Scene 2 is a fast passenger train crossing the
screen from right to left. Scene 3 cuts back to the car, and scene 4 shows the train
again. The audience begins to realize the car and the train are coming together and a
crash is imminent. But, the car's direction must always be from left to right, and the
direction of the train must always be from right to left. The whole effect will be lost
should the car or train change direction.
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