The Underappreciated Power of Aspect Ratio

Although audiences are more open now to unusual aspect ratios than 20 years ago, it remains to be an underappreciated and underutilized aspect of cinematography and filmmaking. In this video, I explain why I think that is, and go through the history, philosophy, home media use and value of aspect ratios. What was once a factor of technology and convenience, has become a creative choice in the age of digital cinema cameras. From Cinemascope, Vistavision and Cinerama up to modern changing aspect ratios and the resurgence of academy ratio, I explore the subject from every angle, using examples from filmmaker such as Kubrick, Xavier Dolan, Christopher Nolan and many others. I intend this video to be my fairly comprehensive analysis on this undervalued aspect of filmmaking.

[SAMovieGeeks]

I remember when my dad used to zoom in on movies we watched because he hated the "black bars" on widescreen movies. It always made me so mad lol. Anyway, great job on this video man!

[Sdozeman]

This was really interesting (although a bit hard to follow at times due to how fast you went through some stuff). At the time I'm watching this, I just saw The Lighthouse last night which was filmed in 1.19:1, which definitely helped sell the older, more rustic vibe it was going for. I've always been interested in this sorta stuff, so it's great to find someone doing a really close look at the options that are available.

[Knarki]

Sam Esmail's work in Homecoming is a great example of using Aspect Ratio with artistic purpose. All scenes taking place in the past has a regular widescreen aspect ratio while the scenes taking place in the present has a very narrow aspect ratio (3:4 I think) that reflects the main characters lack of information/memory of what happened in the past. Mr Robot also utilizes this to great effect but it's not as prevalent.

[CineStructure]

Fascinating! We touched on the different aspect ratios of The Grand Budapest Hotel in our latest film and it's become a big topic of interest for us, both practically in relation to time period/tech and creatively to impact the aesthetic of modern films. It's interesting that so many people I talk to don't even notice the many variations.

[bluefilmsltd]

This is a video after my own heart. I love this and completely agree with everything you say. The use of aspect ratios should be used creatively rather than arbitrary, it definitely opens up doors. Another sub topic that would be interesting is how aspect ratios affect the types of lenses you use. 

I will defend Nolan here though because if you look at his non-IMAX films from earlier like 'Memento', he sticks with the 2:35.1 aspect ratio entirely. In the case of his IMAX films, he would shoot them on that format completely if it weren't for the noises it makes with sound, it's weight and costs.

[eamonbass]

Great video! I've never really thought too much about this, but I'm gonna think about it a lot more from now on. Thank you!

[alejandro]

A new cool use of aspect ratio is wandavision. They utilize all different types of aspect ratio to fit what time period they are going through. I thought it was really cool and shows that Marvel can be cinematic at times haha

[SmallVoiceFilms]

2:1 is becoming an increasingly popular ratio - not only being used on Jurassic World, but many TV shows, including Stranger Things, House of Cards, The Handmaid's Tale, The Crown, Ozark, Narco's Mexico and more.

[Jaiboue]

underrated channel academy ratio also underrated rn keep it going :)

[simvid]

Really dig this video. Learned a few new things again!

[JedanSky]

I found this to be really interesting, I do generally watch vids like this but, it was really well put together, Nice work, I appreciate hard work. it will definitely make me look a little harder, even when I shoot my vlogs, depending on the context of them, it could put a more interesting twist on things.

[Jan-kcyk]

Great video, hope to see more like it! Subbed!

[oscarlyons]

What is the film at 2.21? Is it what trainspotting was parodying in the interview scene, looks familiar?

[patientallison]

At 12:03 there's a clip from what looks like a The Passion of the Nerd video on Angel. I've seen his videos on Buffy but I haven't seen an Angel comparison?

[SPLICEKNIGHT]

soooo, there's a thing where NTSC (National Television and Screen Commission) actually defined the ratios BECAUSE there were so many different kinds of variant ratios. While I don't think it's a bad thing to play with expectations in the way you describe, it's also relevant to know that the standards exist for a reason, specifically so that the projections could actually play the videos properly, and NOT have the cropping issue you describe. While it's true that cropping happens and is typically a disservice, it needs to be understood that typically a video/film is made for one or other medium 9/10 times, and as a result is forced to be adjusted depending on where you consume it on a mainstream level. In the same way Instagram is designed to have vertical videos in IGTV, and media not originally formatted that way with that in mind, they will intrinsically suffer to some degree in it's method of conversion.

[ArtemAlexandra]

I was just thinking about this, I can never tell which one would be the "best" .. there's too many to choose from!

[CrimsonVision-vj]

I thought the change in aspect ratio in Lucy in the Sky (judging by the trailers) was too represent the current mental state of our main character.

[NoelEmmanPader]

How about music videos why it didn't mention in the video? But I just wanna asked if you watched the music video "I knew you're in Trouble" by Taylor Swift or "Bang my Head" by David Guetta feat. Sia these videos shot in a 3.56:1 Aspect ratio. Why is 2.76:1 and 3.56:1 are now common in music videos Rather than Feature films and is there anyway when we will see a 3:56:1 or a 4:1 feature film in the future?

[tobiaspolze]

that Michael Bay burn had me laughing out loud.

[caturindrawananimation]

And my friends told me that everything should be in 16:9 nowadays... pffttt...
I love your video, man... :-)