How to shoot a conversation

Shooting a conversation is very important within a movie. During conversations is when we find out more about the storyline/plot and also more about the characters. It forms the most part of any movie and keeps the audience interested. Here is a movie clip from Twilight which I wil be referring back to throughout the explanation of how to shoot a conversation.


There are six main rules that define how to shoot a conversation, these are:

• 180 Degree rule
• Shot variety
• Pick ups (ECU; cutaways; birds eye)
• Master Shot
• Continuity Editing
• Shot/reverse shot

180 degree rule

First let's start with the 180 degree rule. Here's a quick diagram to explain briefly what it's all about. 

The basic principle of this rule is that the camera never travels beyond 180 degrees from an invisible line between the two characters. In a walking shot this is used to make sure that the characters are always walking left to right, or vice versa. In a conversation situation this rule is used to make sure the characters have set positions, for example: the woman character (Bella Swan) will always be seated on the left, and character 2 (Edward Cullen) will always be seated on the right. If the camera was to disobey this rule? The two characters would switch positions, making the shot confusing.

Shot Variety

Next, let's look at shot variety. Throughout a conversation, the most common shots are: mid shot, over the shoulder, master shot. By using these we become familiar with the characters as it focuses more on their face and less on the setting around them. Also by using different types if angles and shots this adds interest to the audience and keeps them interested on what's going on. Examples of these shots used in the clip are as follows:

1. Here, we have a master shot of the two characters. This gives us a feel of the setting/situation that they're in. In this case they're in a science lab, in high school. This gives us a sense of informality and we instantly know nothing serious is going to happen. Also, we can see the structure of how the two characters are sitting from each other. So in this case they are side by side but not too close or touching so we can tell that they aren't a couple and maybe are just friends.

2. Next, we have a mid shot of Bella and in contrast a mid shot of Edward also. In Bella's shot it is seen as in the eyes of the character if Edward. This makes us see what the character is seeing, and understand what the character focuses on (for example in this shot he's focusing on her face). 

In the mid shot of Edward, it is from the view of the front of the class. Even though it being the same shot, by using a different angle from which to shoot it from it makes the scene a lot more interesting. 



3. In this clip there are a lot of over the shoulder clips. By using the over the shoulder technique it makes the conversation a lot more personal. I say this by the means of you are always aware that there's another person in the conversation. And that by using this shot it encloses the two people together as they're in such a small space, all your focus stays on these two. Here are some examples from the clip, of the use of over the shoulder:

 Example 1: Bella, over Edwards shoulder. So the focus is on Bella although we're still drawn to the fact that Edward is still in the shot. Giving both characters importance in the shot.

Example 2: Edward, over Bella's shoulder. So the focus is now on Edward although we're still drawn to the fact that Bella is still in the shot.






Master Shot
Although I mentioned briefly the master shot earlier, I only touched on the importance of it. The master shot contains all the action that happens within a scene. It will often be a long shot when filming two characters. For example in this clip they use a long shot for the master so that we can see both of them clearly and no focus is pulled onto either one of them. 

This is important because it shows the audience very clearly what is happening throughout the conversation, and what's also going on around them, adding setting detail. Also, you can cut back to the master shot throughout the scene repeatedly, so that the audience is always aware of the changes around them as well as in the characters themselves. 



Pick Ups
Which leads us swiftly onto pick ups. These are shots of props, so say a tea cup. these are commonly edited into the scene after the main action has happened, or to fill in the parts where no conversation is present. In this clip, the pick ups used in this sequence is the microscope and petri dishes. These shots are used when the characters aren't speaking, helping the sequence to flow smoothly. Also, with the usage of pick ups we can get a feel of what's going on within the conversation. For example, in this clip we can see by the pick ups that they're involved in a science task to do with a microscope and that they're identifying what are on the petri dishes. This is just extra information which helps build on the conversation itself.



Continuity Editing 
Continuity editing is the process in which we edit the scene to make everything seem much more fluent. For example in the first twelve seconds of the clip we see Bella enter the room, see Edward and then walk over to the desk. However you see Bella do this within two view points. With the use of continuity editing, she is moving in both shots. This links everything together and makes the whole scene a lot more structured and easy to follow. 


Shot/Reverse Shot
A shot/reverse shot is when for example: we have a shot of a persons face, then a shot of their viewpoint and what they're looking at, which leads back to a shot of their face. This is used to make the character important to the scene and draw attention on them and what they're seeing. It is used a lot in this clip of twilight as we are repeatedly switching from shots of Edwards face, to Bella's etc. To me, this makes the scene more personal as we are constantly seeing what the character is seeing, letting the audience build a relationship with the characters on screen.