Blocking
This type of movement includes anything within the frame that moves. Everything in motion, from people to cars to trees to rain, creates a certain amount of aesthetic energy. The more things that are moving, and the more those things move within the frame, the more energy is produced, which is why a shot like that can still be exciting even if the camera is static.
Camera Movement
Again, this type of movement was probably the first thing that popped into your head when I asked you to think about cinematic movement. Moving your camera is a great way to add aesthetic energy to a shot, and in many cases is the only way to do so, if, for instance, you're capturing some shots of a stationary product, prop, or any other type of subject. The aesthetic energy is ramped up even more if you combine both moving elements within the frame with camera movement.
Editing
This third type is really interesting to me because it's not often talked about in terms of cinematic movement, but I think Lohrun is absolutely right to include it. In the video, he specifically talks about "emotional" movement, where the emotional impact of a scene moves your viewer through the narrative. (Stay with me.) I know this concept doesn't necessarily pertain only to editing, but editing can not only give the illusion of movement but, perhaps more relevant in this context, cuts and transitions can be used to produce contrast through the juxtaposition of two very different kinds of shots, like a very kinetic shot to a still shot.
Movement, though just one method of creating aesthetic energy, is a powerful tool that now may have more possibilities than you previously thought. So, the next time you're editing a project, try to think of ways you can incorporate cinematic movement with your edits to make your scenes more dynamic.
Blocking
This type of movement includes anything within the frame that moves. Everything in motion, from people to cars to trees to rain, creates a certain amount of aesthetic energy. The more things that are moving, and the more those things move within the frame, the more energy is produced, which is why a shot like that can still be exciting even if the camera is static.
Camera Movement
Again, this type of movement was probably the first thing that popped into your head when I asked you to think about cinematic movement. Moving your camera is a great way to add aesthetic energy to a shot, and in many cases is the only way to do so, if, for instance, you're capturing some shots of a stationary product, prop, or any other type of subject. The aesthetic energy is ramped up even more if you combine both moving elements within the frame with camera movement.
Editing
This third type is really interesting to me because it's not often talked about in terms of cinematic movement, but I think Lohrun is absolutely right to include it. In the video, he specifically talks about "emotional" movement, where the emotional impact of a scene moves your viewer through the narrative. (Stay with me.) I know this concept doesn't necessarily pertain only to editing, but editing can not only give the illusion of movement but, perhaps more relevant in this context, cuts and transitions can be used to produce contrast through the juxtaposition of two very different kinds of shots, like a very kinetic shot to a still shot.
Movement, though just one method of creating aesthetic energy, is a powerful tool that now may have more possibilities than you previously thought. So, the next time you're editing a project, try to think of ways you can incorporate cinematic movement with your edits to make your scenes more dynamic.
What Makes a Cinematic Video?
The word “cinematic” is a general term, referring to any video or film produced with the features of quality motion pictures.
Though there are no definite rules to the making of it, many would agree that a cinematic-look video features unique storytelling (e.g. flashback, through characters, or chapters, etc.) and impresses viewers with thoughtful composition, delicate lighting, subtle color grading, engaging music and sound effects, thrilling camera movements like a long take, choreography, and other visual effects.
For beginners of videography and cinematography, we broke down the formula of a cinematic video into the following 9 actionable strategies for you.
How to Make a Cinematic Video in both Filming and Editing
1. Frame Your Shots to Create Depth
Placing the actors and props in the right place is essential to filming. It helps to direct the audience's attention and create visually-appealing images.
Use the rule of thirds, dividing the frame into trisection vertically and horizontally separately. It’s better to place the subject on the cross point to emphasize the subject or highlight your theme and make the frame feel more cinematic and comfortable Use Camera Angle to Create Depth
Place your subject between the foreground and background to create depth and dimension for the cinematic vibes.Any objects like tree branches, chairs, and crowds can be used as a foreground while using leading lines like pathways, long corridors, and winding stairs are great tools to create a sense of space to direct your viewers' attention. Check out the 10 best film composition techniques.
2. Create Shallow Depth of Field
The depth of field defines the visible area between the subject to the camera and to the background.Shallow depth of field video enables you to create blurry backgrounds or dreamy bokeh and makes your subject pop up from the background. So, viewers can focus on your subject and your video looks more cinematic.
There are 3 ways to create a shallow depth of field when filming:
3. Avoid Shaky Footage and Use Flexible Camera Movements
Filming stable footage is essential to making a cinematic video and sets your videos apart from the amateurs. To avoid shaky footage, you can mount your camera on a tripod or a camera dolly (wheeled cart) to pan or tilt the camera.