Cinematic Film Composition — Roger Deakins on Blocking, Staging & Composition in Cinematography

Roger Deakins on Film Composition and the elements involved: blocking/staging, lighting, lenses, framing and more.

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Special thanks to:

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Technique 1 - Blocking and Staging
02:47 - Technique 2 - Framing
05:45 - Technique 3 - Study Photos
06:38 - The Final Thoughts of Deakins

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Film composition, or composition in film, is a rather complicated concept when you realize just how much is involved. As Roger Deakins explains in this episode of Cinematography Techniques, blocking & staging, lighting, lenses, framing and more are all part and parcel of cinematic composition.

First, Deakins explains the unique challenge he and director Sam Mendes set before themselves in 1917. The decision to make the film appear as a single shot means that rules around composition, blocking & staging, and standard coverage required creative problem-solving. For example, in an early bunker scene, the entire blocking and staging of the actors and camera had to be reworked to ensure that the camera was always focused on the most important subject(s) at any given time. And, so, a second table was brought in and the choreography was adjusted to maintain their “single-shot goal” while keeping the framing and composition active and meaningful.

In a film like Kundun, Deakins explains how director Martin Scorsese wanted symmetrical, proscenium framing to support the film’s themes around Buddhism and the power held by the boy leader. Whereas this formal elegance would be antithetical to the grounded and chaotic world of war in Jarhead. Here, handheld cameras help create a purposefully inconsistent cinematic composition.

Film composition follows similar standards as photography composition and this is where Roger Deakins first learned about them. By studying the location, the lighting, deciding on a lens, where you place the camera, all of these decisions combine when deciding on composition.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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VIDEO EDITOR: BRANDON SCULLION
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♬ SONGS USED:

“Faded” - Red Licorice
“Engländer” - Thomas Newman, 1917 Score
“Milk” - Thomas Newman, 1917 Score
“Gehenna” - Thomas Newman, 1917 Score
“Blood Trails” - Carter Burwell, No Country For Old Men Score
“His Judgment Cometh” - Thomas Newman, The Shawshank Redemption Score
“Swingset” - Red Licorice
“Listen Up” - Thomas Newman, Jarhead Score
“Rock Hammer” - Thomas Newman, The Shawshank Redemption Score
“And That Right Soon” - Thomas Newman, The Shawshank Redemption Score

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Technique 1 - Blocking and Staging
02:47 - Technique 2 - Framing
05:45 - Technique 3 - Study Photos
06:38 - The Final Thoughts of Deakins

[AdamWelch]

This is the gold lining of the internet. Not even ten years ago to be able to listen to an artist such as this to explain their minds you would literally have to be physically next to them. This sort of knowledge is virtually priceless.

[HGQjazz]

Deakins is a living legend and a treasure to every aspiring storyteller out there!

[ericdelmar]

With each StudioBinder vid, I gain more understanding of the complexity, and beauty, of cinema. Every single vid is so well done, perfectly edited to the essence of the subject matter, and not a second wasted. Gems, all.

[anthonykearneyfilms]

Deakins is a genius and a humble human. A joy to learn from.

[mistyhorizon]

I learn a lot from Roger Deakins. His language is simple. The main phrase of the video is: "it's the image that you have in your head is the most important than any technique". I believe this is what each cinematographer should learn: create an image of a scene in their head and then apply techniques. Thanks, @StudioBinder for sharing this.

[dereknunn]

I could listen to Deakins talk about cinematography/photography everyday for the rest of my life...

[firiel]

The Team Deakins podcast is fantastic. Roger and James seem like such lovely people, absolute masters of their crafts but so humble and generous.

[thefilmpoets]

You can pause 1917 in many places and make a movie poster from it. beautiful compositions.

[CoreenMazzocchi]

Can easily listen to Roger Deakins talk for hours about composition and camera movements. So brilliant.

[matthias]

Studio Binder: Uploads the 1000th video on Roger Deakins

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[akshaydalvi]

Man, there was a time when I used to only edit videos for fun but your channel made me fall in love with cinema. Now I have started writing my own stories, shooting stuff with my phone and editing in the end. Your videos are literally gems guys, absolute professional and upto the point. Please never stop uploading such great content

[umbramann]

Roger Deakins, StudioBinder and composition, what's not to love 😍

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The amount of value studio binder provides. I wish they opened their own online film school.

[dmfuerte]

Five minutes with Deakins is a masterclass.

[sadrasahranavard]

Deakins is a genius. thanks for these great videos

[FinnMacCuhl]

'What do you want the audience to feel?' And that, right there, is why he's great.

[daacadable]

New to this arena and I already feel the magic of the cinematic world and SB videos make this journey profitable. keep up the good work my dear good Samaritan.

[OlgaKuznetsova]

The composition and staging for that 1917 blew my mind! Every time I watch these videos, I learn so much, thank you!!!

[Evanderj]

Deakins is hands down the greatest of all time. Thank you for this!