People want to be entertained and captivated by visuals.
They want to feel connected to the emotion of the story, and visually interesting footage does the trick.
Getting compelling B-roll and interview footage is an art that you must understand to draw your audience deeper into our missions and inspire action.
Here are a few cinematography rules, and their applications. You can try one concept at a time.
The Rule of Thirds
In the Rule of Thirds, you divide your frame into nine equal parts using two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines
Try to position the point of interest — a face, for example — at a point of intersection. It’s where our eyes look, and it’s more visually interesting than a straight shot of something.
Here’s what the Rule of Thirds looks like mapped out.
We use the rule of thirds when positioning people for interviews. Notice in our skiing video how the skiers are positioned on the left or right side of the frame. Their faces are on a point of intersection in the rule of thirds.
The Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle involves connecting three points within the frame to form a triangle. You can draw a main line going from one corner of the frame to the other. You then connect that main line with the remaining corners. The goal is to place points of interest at the intersection.
The Golden Triangle is a variation of the Rule of Thirds
Here’s what it looks like mapped out.
We worked the Golden Triangle in my film for The Big Ten Network. If you flip the triangle, you can see how the still creates visual interest.
The Rule of Odds
Balance feels good. Pairs are nice.
But odd numbers are different and interesting. Incorporate an odd number of elements in your B-roll, such as people or objects, to create a more visually pleasing and intriguing composition.
Notice how our interviews are of one person. The scene with the image above has five people.
The Golden Ratio
The Golden Ratio, also called the Fibonacci sequence, is a mathematic equation referring to spirals we see in nature. StudioBinder has a great explanation of its history and application.
You can apply this concept to your shots by aligning critical elements with the ratios found in The Golden Ratio. Doing so enhances the aesthetics and allure of your footage.
All in all, cinematography rules are not mere restrictions. They are powerful tools that can transform mundane shots into captivating visual experiences.
Embrace them in your marketing videos to create a memorable video.
And we’re always happy to take your video projects to the next level.