Why Filmmakers Love This Shot — The Ultimate Guide to the Walk and Talk

Walk and Talk Scenes — We take a look at why filmmakers love the walk and talk, and what goes into shooting one.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Walk and Talk shots
00:54 - The Walk & Talk Defined
02:05 - Chapter 1: Types of Walk and Talks
06:59 - Chapter 2: Blocking & Staging
10:17 - Chapter 3: Functions of the Walk and Talk
12:35 - Takeaways

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THE WALK AND TALK SHOT

We all know the walk and talk. It has become a staple of film and TV, and the butt of a plethora of jokes. But what is it about the walk and talk that filmmakers love so much? And what makes a good walk and talk good? We’ll answer all those questions and more in this video.

WALK AND TALK METHODS

Walk and talk shots can vary in style. Shot size can range from wide shots, capturing the characters and their surroundings, to medium shots that focus more on the characters while still providing some context, and close-ups that highlight facial expressions and emotions.

Camera angle is another crucial aspect; low angles can create a sense of power or urgency, while high angles may imply vulnerability or insignificance. Camera movement adds fluidity and can follow the characters, move with them smoothly, or provide a handheld, shaky effect for more intensity.

WALK & TALK BLOCKING

Effective blocking and staging are crucial for successful walk and talk scenes. Blocking involves planning where actors will move and interact within the space, ensuring their actions appear natural and purposeful.

In walk and talk shots, the camera often moves with the actors, requiring precise coordination to maintain focus and composition. This synchronization between actors' movements and camera work is crucial for maintaining the scene's rhythm and ensuring the dialogue flows seamlessly. But the camera can also be stationary, adding an entirely different feel to the scene.

WHY USE A WALK AND TALK

Walk and talks serve many purposes. They add dynamism to exposition, making otherwise dramatically static scenes more engaging. They also convey urgency, as characters often discuss pressing matters while moving through spaces.

Walk and talks also immerse the audience in the environment, providing context and background information organically. They can create a continuous sense of movement and progression in the story, keeping viewers engaged and invested in the characters’ journey. It’s no wonder why filmmakers return to the technique again and again.

#FilmTheory #VideoEssay #Filmmaking

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♬ SONGS USED:

“Murder on the Dance Floor - Sophie Ellis-Bextor
“Kids in American” - The Muffs
“Quantum IV” - Makeup and Vanity Set
“The Oprah Shot” - Michael Abels
“Approaching the Shimmer” - Ben Salisbury & Geoff Barrow
“Let’s Stay Together “- Al Green
“Baptism” - Crystal Castles
“Black Hills Forest” - Adam Wingard
“The Game Begins” - Marco Beltrami
“Flight of the Order” - Nicolas Hooper
“The Haunted House” - John Carpenter
“Love Lies Bleeding” - Clint Mansell
“The Nature of People” - Daniel Pemberton
“Blue Sands” - Chico Hamilton Quintet
“Bella” - Jerskin Fendrix
“One of the Many” - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
“The Anxious Battle for Sanity” - Antonio Sanchez
“Joe Buck Rides Again” - John Barry
“Living Life” - Katie McCarty
“Nuclear Fallout” - Hans Zimmer
“The Artifact Living” - Michael Andrews
“Teardrop” - Massive Attack
“Smokestack Lightnin’” - Howlin’ Wolf
“1917” - Thomas Newman
‘Witchcraft” - Alberto Iglesias
“Walk On” - U2

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— Join us on Social Media! —

#film-theory, #video-essay, #filmmaker

[rayancedrichaddad]

This is a complete audiovisual encyclopedia about the Walk and Talk shot. The Walk and Talk Shot is One of the Best way to describe characters. Keep going StudioBinder. Best Continuation.

[solertia]

Love to see the creative variations of a rather simple scene. It’s proof that even the slightest change can make what would otherwise be a throwaway shot actually interesting.

[AnonymousOnimous]

You know, there's a lot of current trends that are cause for weariness, but the fact that we live in a day and age when someone can learn to craft narratives in film for free from social media is pretty cool.


I hope that lasts.

[LASTTERS]

Finally I finished watching all studio binders videos uploaded in past...and watched first video on from India ❤

[glennac]

Would love an episode on Continuity. How it’s achieved, why it’s necessary, how employed in a story, and how & why it can be broken. Sometimes the worst examples of Continuity are ‘time of day’ or ‘scene positioning’. At times this can be intentional. Other times poor Continuity can be forced on a production due to budgetary constraints or poor planning. And what are some Best Examples? Thanks❣️🙏🏼

[SinghKushalOmprakash]

One of the best applications of walk and talk I witnessed was in Tenet when Protagonist and Priya discuss about plutonium 241 while walking on Mumbai streets !!!

[hornet]

Once again, THANK YOU FOR A GREAT VIDEO!!! The way one can look at a walk and talk is how it con move a film. When you show two (or more) characters on a walk and talk, you can make it be a mild scene transition where the characters are moving from one scene to another. For example, a couple gets home from the grocery store, the husband takes out the bags, the wife is walking with the baby. They are both talking about dinner when they go from the driveway to the kitchen. Another method to consider is how you can use the walk and talk to lead the viewer into a scene along with the character. So, you have two soldiers moving through a building looking for the villain, they move through corridors and are set upon by enemy gunman. Again, you are putting the viewer in their shoes as they move through the scene to the next scene. Both versions help move a scene: too much time sitting at the table will make film stagnant, too much time moving around from place to place will be distracting and hard to follow. A combination of both is needed to tell the story right. I think this lesson can be combined more in-depth with camera movement and blocking. But that is for another lesson...THANK YOU AGAIN AND STAY SAFE!!!

[BlueCubeSociety]

StudioBinder always finding a way to include Scott Pilgrim, even if it's just for a second

[jpjordan]

11:24 was waiting for this. Sorkin is the granddaddy of the walk and talk.

[SourceAwareness]

Thank You, StudioBinder Crew!!! Amazing masterclass, as always. 🙏🏾

[brycemurrin]

I love the walk and talk in Christmas vacation bc the lightbulbs break and eddy buys a lot of dog food

[ratemyactors]

Loved this breakdown of the walk and talk shot! It's amazing how something that seems so simple can be so effective in creating tension and intimacy in a scene. The emphasis on setting up the shot, using the environment to reinforce the characters' conversation, and capturing realistic movements is super insightful. Definitely going to apply some of these tips to my own filmmaking projects!

[asherphoenix]

I would love to see a video on Andrey Tarkovsky, Béla Tarr, Ingmar Bergman, or Robert Bresson. Your channel has many excellent videos on the Hollywood tradition and it would be great to explore the works of international artists!

[TeddyRumble]

The long take is one of my very very favorite.

[vanessaalineschunke]

Thanks for remembering The West Wing! About 50% of the scenes in that show were of people walking through the White House corridors and talking 😂

[megancarroll]

3:24 “There’s a trail on top of this hill, don’t worry…it is a trail.” I’ve been there for these discussions. Safety first for a steady cam shot! I saw a camera operator almost fall off a stage capturing a scene. It’s the coolest, but a good guide with you is key 😂

[Camera_nb]

Please bring back the old narator. He has an exceptional voice and watching to your videos become an epic pleasure and an immersive experience (with his voice)...

[Santos_]

Please, could you add or enable the subtitle, as it helps me a lot.
I love your videos, they help me a lot when I'm studying.

[shannonhepperlin]

I would once again ask could you make a video on obtaining rights and royalties for songs and adaptations?

[imannam]

7:57 I remember analysing this shot in my dubbing course about a year and a half ago, we were mainly focusing on reading their mouths and when to start syncing since they're are all blurry for the first half of the shot and you don't have to worry about the lipsync there