44
Videography Basics
Technical Framing
To check technical framing, turn on U. Scan and Safe on your monitor. Underscan
shows the entire area that will be recorded. Make sure that everything visible on
the screen is what you want to record.
Safe mode puts a white border around the area that will be visible on all playback
televisions. Make sure anything that must be visible (wide gestures, words, a
logo) remains visible in this part of the picture.
Aesthetic Framing
Another important part of setting up your shot is aesthetic or stylistic framing.
You may have an incredibly beautiful scene and subject but without proper fram-
ing, your subject can get lost in the shot, you might include things which could
prove distracting to the viewer, and make your shot visually confusing. If the tal-
ent is not framed correctly, the shot may deliver the wrong impression of what
you are trying to communicate.
As you frame the shot, question everything in the shot and where it sits in the
frame. Is everything in the frame there for a reason? Is the boom microphone in
the shot? Is the logo on the back wall going to be visible to all your viewers? If you
have more than one actor, do their positions in the shot support the scene?
The aesthetic framing of your shot can be as important as getting your camera
properly adjusted. For example, a wide, expansive shot may be appropriate if you
are showing off a specific location, but it doesn’t make much sense if you are try-
ing to establish an intimate one-on-one talk with the audience. Framing your tal-
ent too tightly can give your audience an unwanted sense of apprehension or
claustrophobia.
The Rule of Thirds
The best rule of thumb when framing your shot is to use the “Rule of Thirds.” If
you were to draw an imaginary tic-tac-toe grid on your field monitor, you would
try to line up the “important things” in your shot along these lines. When shoot-
ing a tight interview shot, for example, try to line up your talent’s eyes along the
upper horizontal line of the grid.
If you are shooting a wide shot, frame the person’s body along one of the vertical
lines, which will place them slightly left or right of center.
Keep in mind that the “Rule of Thirds” is really only a guideline, and not a hard
“rule.” The most important rule is to keep your audience’s attention.
Use the DV Rack framing
Grid to help you keep your
shots well framed.
See The Settings Menu to
learn how to turn on the
Grid.