Evening star., 1951-01-21
Camera Angles
Screen Direction Factor Is All important
~. [ Wnddarhurn
Curator Of Photography
The Smithsonian Institution

screen dlrectl0n is so important
in movie making that we are going
to devote an entire article to the
subject. When you see a profess
sional motion picture, short sub
ject, newsreel or feature, you never
give a thought to screen direction
because it has been so carefully
planned by the photographer that
it. does not intrude in any way
on your enjoyment of the picture.
The amateur movie maker, how
ever, Is so intent, as a rule, on get
ting his story on film that he often
forgets this rule of good cinema
Biography until the pictures flash on
the screen and then it is too late
to do anything about the oversight.
Consequently the subjects will be
moving along on the screen from
left to right and then, in a twink
ling Of an eye. the same subjects
will be observed in the very next
scene to be going in the opposite
direction. This is unnatural &C
tion-couldnt happen off the
screen-and there is the reason
why an audience will be discon-
certed when it happens on your
screen.
If you can't see it this way just
imagine yourself viewing a parade
Which is passing down the street
from your left side to your right.
Visualize yourself turning your
head away for a second and then
looking again at the marching pro-
cession only to find it proceeding
in the reverse direction. This. you
say, could never happen. Then,
by the same token, it should never
happen on the screen but all too
often it does.
The causes of unexplained
changes in screen direction are not
always apparent at the time you
are filming your scenes. To avoid
these slips or lapses you will have
to be exceedingly careful. For in
stance, you may be shooting a
scene and reach a point where it
will be desirable to move in or
out from the subject or you may
decide on a change of camera
angle. These changes may be fine
from the standpoint of cinema
technique but while moving your
camera be sure that when the
action is resumed the subject is
moving In the same direction as
before and also that the camera
is on the same side of the subject,
Make a Note of Position.
A sudden rainstorm or other
change in weather conditions may
cause to temporarily interrupt
your filming. Several hours. days
or weeks later when you resume
your shooting it is quite possible
that you will have forgotten the
direction in which action was NOV
ing when you left off. 1t is most
important that you make note
that can be used to refresh your
memory at the time when the
filming is resumed. -
Without a doubt you will want
to change screen direction in youl
films. And when photographine
uncontrolled action you will have
to do so quite frequently. whether
you like it or not. A change ir
screen direction is quite acceptable
just so long as it is logically ex.
planned This can be done without
fuss or bother whether the action
is controlled or not.
Changes in screen direction will
take place: l. When the subject
turns around and proceeds in the
opposite direction, or. 2. When the
camera is placed on the opposite
side of the subject which continues
to move in the original direction.
The first is easy to understand, but
a great many amateur cinematog-
raphers still believe that just as
long as the subject continues to
move along a predetermined route
in the same direction. the camera
can be moved about at will to any
position and that the original
screen direction will be MAIN
tanned. This is. of course. not So
Stop the Subject-First.
To get a clear picture of what
happens when you move the
camera to the other side of a
moving subject let's try an ex-
pertinent. First, have some one
walk across your lawn from right
to left past your camera. He
will approach your right side
and. If allowed to pass. will con-
tinue on to your left. But. this
time. stop your subject while he
is in front of you. Then move
with your camera all the way
around until you are now opposite