The answer

You do whatever you need to do to get the shot!

You can never get the shot you want if you use the wrong focal length.

Instead, pick the correct focal length (telephoto for warm and wide angle for cold) and then move heaven and earth to get the shot you want.

It is all fake

Unlike a documentary, when you film a motion picture, it is all fake.

Don't try to make it real. Move the actors and/or the movie set to get the shots that you need. Don't worry if the setups is not real. Nothing is sacred!

Below are examples of getting an over-the-shoulder shot. To get the shots to look correct, the actors are in very unnatural position.

1. With a strong telephoto lens, the actors might be very far apart. The two actors might not even be in the same room.
2. With a strong wide angle lens, the two actors might be standing on each other shoes they are so close together.

But that is what is necessary to get the shot. So that is what you do!

How these are filmed

The shots below are not filmed the same. If they were, they would be even more exagerated.

In the wide angle, the boy would look too small. In the telephoto shot, the boy would look too big.

That is why the actors must be moved to unnatural positions. To make it all look OK.

1. If you want this shot

Look how close the actors are!!!!

Even with the actors almost toe to toe, the two actors seem very far apart.
In this shot, the actors look emotionally distant from each other.

Remember that filmmaking is all about creating the correct illusion.

2. If you want this shot

Look how far the actors are apart. The actors would have to yell to hear each other (but of course, you don't ask the actors yell.)
In this shot, the actors feel close together emotionally.

Remember that filmmaking is all about creating the correct illusion.

3. If you want this shot

Now look how far the actors are apart!!!!

The actors would have to scream at hear each other (but of course, you don't have the actors speak over a normal speaking voice.)
In this shot, the actors feel close together emotionally.

Notice that the actor could have turn his head away from the camera slightly. When he turns slightly, he will not be looking the girl when he says his lines. So what? As long as you get a good looking shot!!!!

Remember that filmmaking is all about creating the correct illusion.

The next page

Next we study lenses in depth, Click here for the last page of this lesson.

Contact your instructor

Your instructor for this filmmaking class is Robert Elliott. You can email me by clicking here.