Filmmaking “Coverage” is a deceptively simple term that encompasses a wide range of factors — how to stage, block, light, and capture a film. “Coverage” refers to the order and method of shooting a scene.
What is camera coverage in film?
Camera coverage, or coverage, is the amount and kind of footage shot used to capture a scene in filmmaking and video production. The film editor uses coverage in post-production to assemble the final cut .
What is basic coverage in film?
What is basic coverage? Coverage is the architecture of breaking down a script into the shots that will allow the scene to be cut together. Basic coverage would then be considered the minimum number of shots needed to cover everything happening in the scene.
What is v coverage in film?
“V Coverage” — so-called due to the layout of the cameras from a top-down perspective — means shooting a wide or master shot of the scene, then getting close-ups on each character for their lines. This method is used in probably 80 percent of two-person dialogue scenes.
What does proper coverage mean?
Having “proper coverage” means to have all of the necessary shots to put together a complete film. A crane shot is the camera shot taken from a huge camera dolly or another electronic device, such as a crane, resembling an extendable arm or boom.
What does coverage mean in acting?
COVERAGE: Shooting a scene from different positions and distances with different frame sizes to capture the raw material of a scene that can later be edited together into an interesting visual and emotional experience for the audience.
What is coverage in directing?
Coverage refers to the collection of shots you will film to tell the story of the scene. You might get some wide shots and some close-ups, and various other shots so that in the editing room, you'll have many options to ensure the story is communicated in the most effective way possible.
How do you cover a scene?
When covering a scene, you will almost always want to start with your wide shot to establish the actions in the scene. Think of that as your 'master' shot. When moving into coverage, you will want to make sure that you follow the actions that were captured in the wide shot.
What does coverage mean in TV?
Coverage Definition Coverage is the architecture of breaking down a script into the shots that will allow the scene to be cut together. Basic coverage would then be considered the minimum number of shots needed to cover everything happening in the scene.
How long should a movie shot last?
For the average movie, the actual shooting of footage usually takes between one and three months. The time depends on the length of the script, but the going is slow.
What is the 180 rule in film?
The 180-degree rule states that two characters (or more) in a scene should always have the same left/right relationship with each other. The rule dictates that you draw an imaginary line between these two characters (or subjects) and try to keep your camera(s) on the same side of this 180-degree line.
How do I make a scene look cinematic?
7 Ways to Make Your Video Footage More CinematicThink Before You Shoot. One of the easiest things that you can do before filming is plan, plan, and plan some more. ... Edit at 24 FPS. ... Shoot With a 180-Degree Shutter Angle. ... Add a Cinematic Crop. ... Choose the Right Music. ... Slow Things Down. ... Use Color Grading.
How do I direct my first movie?
10 Secrets to Directing Your First Indie Film Cast the Very Best Actors. ... Hire the Best Crew. ... Know Your Script Inside and Out. ... Strategically Reveal Characters and Story Elements. ... Storyboard Your Scenes. ... Visit All Your Locations Before Production. ... Don't Rehearse Before hand.More items...
What is documentary coverage?
Getting all the shots you need for the edit is called coverage. If you don't have coverage your scene may not make sense, or it may be impossible to edit smoothly. Whatever you do, film every shot for at least ten seconds.
What is the 180 rule in film?
The 180-degree rule states that two characters (or more) in a scene should always have the same left/right relationship with each other. The rule dictates that you draw an imaginary line between these two characters (or subjects) and try to keep your camera(s) on the same side of this 180-degree line.
What does the 30 degree rule do?
The 30-DEGREE RULE states that if an editor cuts to the same character or object in another shot, the second shot must be positioned at least 30 degrees away from the first camera setup. If the camera moves less than 30 degrees, the cut between shots can look like a JUMP CUT or a mistake.
What is the master scene?
Master scene technique is an approach in which the director stages the scene essentially as it would be staged. in a theater. All or part of the scene is shot in a master shot. A shot in which all, or most, of the elements are presented together. This is also known as an establishing shot.
Overview
Camera coverage, or coverage, is the amount and kind of footage shot used to capture a scene in filmmaking and video production. The film editor uses coverage in post-production to assemble the final cut.
Coverage in cinematography
The coverage technique involves shooting from more positions than will be used in the final film, allowing the director to choose shots during the editing process. This avoids the need to bring back cast and crew for later pickups and reshoots if the director is unsatisfied with the results from the camera positions that were originally planned. Even meticulously preplanned, storyboarded, and rehearsed films may find a need for coverage. Coverage also allows the edito…
Coverage shots
Coverage shots are needed because the long take master shot looks static and stagey to modern audiences.
The establishing shot is one kind of coverage shot. It helps to place the viewer in a physical context, and avoid a claustrophobic feel to the film.
Cutaway shots are considered part of coverage. These are images other than the principal actio…
Example
Editor Conrad Buff has discussed the use of coverage in a critical scene in the 2004 motion picture King Arthur. The scene involved a battle between two large armies on a frozen lake. During the battle, the ice breaks up and one of the armies falls into the frigid water. A lack of time and other issues left the director just two days to film what should have taken seven to ten production days. The first day was spent filming panorama shots of the approaching armies. The second day wa…
Further reading
• Ascher, Steven; Pincus, Edward (2007). The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age. New York: Plume. ISBN 9780452286788.
• Brown, Blair (2016). Cinematography: Theory and Practice: Imagemaking for Cinematographers and Directors. New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781138940925.