Directing - The Fine Arts of Blocking and Composition

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  • čas přidán 25. 05. 2015
  • When it comes to directing, one set of skills that always separates the wheat from the chaff, are the fine arts of blocking and composition. They're the extra punch in selling great performances, and reeling your audience in. In this video, I look at what makes and breaks great directing, through clever staging and camera movement.
    Turn on the captions if you want to know what films the footage onscreen is from.
    For educational purposes only.
    Films used (in order of appearance):
    Fallen Angels - c.1995 - dir Wong Kar-Wai
    Guardians of the Galaxy - c. 2014 - dir James Gunn
    Super8 - c. 2011 - dir J.J. Abrams
    Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol - c. 2011 - dir Brad Bird
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind - c. 1977 - dir Steven Spielberg
    In The Mood For Love - c. 2000 - dir Wong Kar-Wai
    Unforgiven - c. 1992 - dir Clint Eastwood
    High and Low - c. 1960 - dir Akira Kurosawa
    The Iron Giant - c. 1999 - dir Brad Bird
    Taken 2 - c. 2011 - dir A Dog that just licked a Lime (Olivier Megaton)
    Jaws - c. 1975 - dir Steven Spielberg
    The Bourne Ultimatum - c. 2007 - dir Paul Greengrass
    Snowpiercer - c. 2013 - dir Bong Joon-ho
    Haywire - c. 2011 - dir Steven Soderbergh
    13 Assassins - c. 2010 - dir Takashi Miike
    Gone Girl - c. 2014 - dir David Fincher
    Cure - c. 1997 - dir Kiyoshi Kurosawa
    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - c. 2011 - dir Tomas Alfredson
    Animal Kingdom - c. 2010 - dir David Michôd
    Songs used:
    Yumeji's Theme - Shigeru Umebayashi
    What A Difference A Day Makes - Dinah Washington
    There's another song at the start that comes from the footage of Fallen Angels, but i cant seem to find a source for it. If anyone knows, share it with me and I'll credit it here.
    This video is for comparative review purposes only and is protected under section 107 of the Copyright Act, which states: "the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright."

Komentáře • 367

  • @vinayseth1114
    @vinayseth1114 Před 7 lety +100

    3:58 'The camera motivates the action, rather than the action motivating the camera...which is why it looks fake'- Brilliantly put!

    • @alexispapageorgiou72
      @alexispapageorgiou72 Před 3 lety

      He's right and wrong at the same time IMO. Amazing video, but, those two shots are not necessarily wrong or fake. If you know the dogs are coming, then the camera should? follow them and end with the reaction of the policeman. And the door to the broken car. It's designed to focus the attention on the actor and his surprise. If you put a Bale or whatever coming out that door that changes things a bit doesn't it. I found most of his analysis great though. Inspiring ...

  • @zsht
    @zsht Před 8 lety +107

    'Slick with nothing gained' perfectly sums up JJ Abrams directing.
    Such an impatient director who doesn't know how to tell a story through the lens.

    • @ohhdan1230
      @ohhdan1230 Před 7 lety +10

      I'd like to see you do a better job

    • @taze1106
      @taze1106 Před 7 lety +14

      Zsht I enjoy Abrams more as a writer than a director because I don't think he has yet figured out how to match his powerful characters with a shot that is just as powerful.

    • @edgeofvision
      @edgeofvision Před 7 lety +42

      daniel Moulton This is a poor response to criticism. You don't need to be as good as someone else to be able to criticise what they're doing. Isn't that the point of giving the highest ranking jobs only to select well trained professionals? They're supposed to be able to do it better than everyone else, and we're supposed to hold them to a high standard, because that's the point of their being put in that position to do that job.
      To put it another way, we don't need to be hatted chefs to criticise a bad meal, or politicians to criticise the decisions of the president.

    • @TheGeorgeD13
      @TheGeorgeD13 Před 7 lety +4

      Yep. JJ Abrams can tell a good story, but this is a BIG reason why he hasn't been able to become a great storyteller. It's still early in his career and he's only directed 5 movies so far. So, we'll see. He'll probably improve somewhat.
      But he certainly has potential.

    • @TheVILLANONETWORK
      @TheVILLANONETWORK Před 6 lety

      Directors need to know DP work as well as Editing...

  • @paulsr54
    @paulsr54 Před 8 lety +53

    This was truly an excellent exposition on the art of Directing. Clint Eastwood's simplicity is brilliant and Spielberg's synchronization of the camera movement and actor blocking always pulls the viewer to exactly where he wants you to be. As a martial arts enthusiast, I must say I HATE the quick cut, shaky cam, close up fight scenes. They show us nothing. Thanks Dan Fox for a fine piece of work.

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 8 lety +5

      +Paul Campanella Thanks Paul! I'm glad you liked it.

  • @Kriscoart
    @Kriscoart Před 8 lety +39

    Dude, this was great!

    • @directorsvisions1677
      @directorsvisions1677 Před 8 lety

      +KriscoartProductions Hey man, I have a channel just like this, perhaps you like to check it out??

  • @newsoft75
    @newsoft75 Před 9 lety +4

    This is a criminally under viewed video. Great work!

  • @okolanguage6477
    @okolanguage6477 Před 4 lety +1

    I am film student learning how to direct I watch this video more than 50 times in deferent time everytime I watched I understood more,
    All I am trying to say you can’t test the knowledge that this video teaches you,
    I really appreciate the creator if this 4 years university knowledge in less than fifteen minutes
    I promise I will make shoutouts on big stage as I am your student,
    Thanks again

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 4 lety

      Thank you very much! Good luck with your studies and make sure you don't take anything for granted - particularly the hard work and stomaches of your cast and crew. No joke, treat them well and feed them well and they'll love you forever. Same with dogs.

  • @TheGoodfella2012
    @TheGoodfella2012 Před 8 lety +4

    Excellent! I cracked up at the Taken 2 and the guy on the left walking into the light in Snowpiercer. Great stuff. You've earned one more subscriber sir!

  • @rodrickwimberly3245
    @rodrickwimberly3245 Před rokem

    Excellent and to the point-this video on blocking was more instructive than entire hour-long "masterclasses" by established directors! Kudos to you Mr. Fox and thank you!

  • @williamsong3108
    @williamsong3108 Před 8 lety +7

    i'm working on a short film myself and I must say this insipired me to change many of my shots. thank you dan for that well-spoken video :)

  • @SkyCinema
    @SkyCinema Před 8 lety +12

    Great video dude! Well put together and really interesting

  • @ugnishiyama6366
    @ugnishiyama6366 Před 6 lety

    I love that closing credit. Clever.

  • @haaxeu6501
    @haaxeu6501 Před 8 lety +42

    You make me want to watch even more films thanks :)

  • @yeboahmohammed2511
    @yeboahmohammed2511 Před 3 lety +1

    So so so so great! Great humor, great voice, great comparisons. Brilliant!!!!!

  • @alhlapov1734
    @alhlapov1734 Před 8 lety

    One of the best videos about directing on the net,thank you!

  • @seen921
    @seen921 Před 8 lety +3

    Great juxtaposition of what works and what doesn't. I am a huge Steven Spielberg fan so this was especially fun to watch.

  • @potenvandebizon
    @potenvandebizon Před 8 lety +4

    Great, great video essay. Exactly the kind I'm looking for.

  • @emilg918
    @emilg918 Před 6 lety

    That video is awesome for my learning experience! Thank you for showing me completely new aspects to look at when watching movies! Great editing and explaining.

  • @kevinevans651
    @kevinevans651 Před 8 lety +1

    Thanks for taking the time to share Dan - BRILLIANT Stuff!!!

  • @adx5293
    @adx5293 Před 7 lety

    What a lovely video! Especially loved your advice at the very end. Thanks for this, Dan - It's one of the best filmmaking "how-to's" out there 🤘

  • @quietdemon8138
    @quietdemon8138 Před 8 lety +6

    Hugely helpful please make more as an aspiring filmmaker and mainly a director the composition part was something I didn't even think about thanks

  • @thehmgagency2376
    @thehmgagency2376 Před 7 lety

    Awesome info!!! Cant wait for more.

  • @victorfilm_
    @victorfilm_ Před 8 lety

    Excellent study! Thank you.

  • @oldschoolzombie
    @oldschoolzombie Před 8 lety +1

    Great points , I agree every great film has a flow throughout the film . Many of the greats understand this . I really apreciate your analysis! Keep it up

  • @nunoviotti
    @nunoviotti Před 7 lety

    Excellent, thank you.

  • @D.S.handle
    @D.S.handle Před 7 lety

    With the separated head the video become pouring jokes out of nowhere. Loving it.

  • @JoshReels
    @JoshReels Před 8 lety +19

    This is amazing! Thank you so much for making this video

    • @directorsvisions1677
      @directorsvisions1677 Před 8 lety

      Hi there, I also have a couple of video's about filmmaking, perhaps you would like to check it out? Cheers

  • @numberswithmeaning
    @numberswithmeaning Před 8 lety +2

    This was a brilliant video! Thanks a lot for this.

  • @IvanJoseHurtadoBaron
    @IvanJoseHurtadoBaron Před 8 lety +1

    It really shows when a director takes his time with the material in hands! This is an amazing video! Thanks a lot!

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 8 lety

      +Ivan José Hurtado Barón Thanks mate!

  • @vgcomedie
    @vgcomedie Před 8 lety +1

    You make such amazing videos! You taught me so much in this one. Please keep on making such great content. I definitely subscribe!

  • @SoopaCoopa
    @SoopaCoopa Před 5 lety

    Good video man! I love the comparisons

  • @paulweaver2779
    @paulweaver2779 Před 8 lety +1

    Thanks a lot for this video.

  • @recenello
    @recenello Před 7 lety

    This is outstanding.

  • @BlueTorchWeddings
    @BlueTorchWeddings Před 8 lety

    This Breakdown was brilliant

  • @masteregi93
    @masteregi93 Před 8 lety +2

    loved it! one of the best essays I ever saw!

  • @kirans1769
    @kirans1769 Před 5 lety

    really helpful in understanding many aspects of filming, especially about composition, thank you so much

  • @yolkipalki2425
    @yolkipalki2425 Před 7 lety +1

    You made me so inspired:)) Thank you very much! You are doing amazing creations!!!

  • @thisizavian3691
    @thisizavian3691 Před 4 lety

    Amazing work!

  • @mohemmad9074
    @mohemmad9074 Před 8 lety

    What a way to learn directing so informative thanks mate

  • @debellefeuille
    @debellefeuille Před 8 lety

    Well done - bravo. And thank you.

  • @okmachine
    @okmachine Před 7 lety

    Great, great video. Thank you for uploading!

  • @redemptioncreativeartssong9265

    thank you for the advice and detailed explanations x

  • @MarcFleddermann
    @MarcFleddermann Před 8 lety +1

    Best video on the topic I've seen so far.

  • @ajlbeer
    @ajlbeer Před 7 lety

    Watched it again. This is great. Never gets old :)

  • @paulpincemin5700
    @paulpincemin5700 Před 7 lety +2

    Liked the little jab at "Taken 2" in the credits

  • @richardadesmond
    @richardadesmond Před 8 lety +4

    Dan you're awesome, you shed light on the true art of composition and blocking. I will never understand how filmmakers can be happy shooting 20-30 cuts on an action scene.....yes I'm talking to you TAKEN2! haha, more videos please Dan....Dan the man!:)

    • @oddballsok
      @oddballsok Před 7 lety +1

      It is a matter of perception; if you as the director want a fight to feel like"i don't know exactly what the hell all happened , but in 10 seconds the opponent was on the floor" then make fast and chaotic cuts. If in contrast you want to emanate the feeling "I am a martial arts specialist , I am always in control and all moves are in slow motion for me, I exactly knew how to block and hit the opponent.. in 10 seconds" then you want more long shots, more overview, more control.
      It is a choice. Not a mistake.

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 7 lety +4

      I get that argument, but its also the same kind of logic that deifies every decision a director makes and says there's no bad decision any director can ever make. Sure art is subjective, but a film like TAKEN 2 is literally using that technique to hide its lack of stuntwork even more than it is trying to show its frenzy of energy and flurry of punches

  • @joshdavidian
    @joshdavidian Před 8 lety

    Great Breakdown and advice, thanks!

  • @RSA3075
    @RSA3075 Před 8 lety

    awesome work!

  • @jchee87
    @jchee87 Před 8 lety +1

    Thanks! Great work!

  • @koyot_inozemez
    @koyot_inozemez Před 8 lety

    thank you, that was awesome

  • @KmfilmAt
    @KmfilmAt Před 5 lety

    Amazingly explained, thanks!

  • @carlosfaria1823
    @carlosfaria1823 Před 6 lety

    Great channel Dan!

  • @DanangArradian
    @DanangArradian Před 7 lety

    omg i learn so much only in 1 video. thx!!!

  • @MARIEL8889
    @MARIEL8889 Před 8 lety

    That was incredibly helpful! Keep up with the good work!

  • @deCaravagio
    @deCaravagio Před 8 lety

    Thank you!

  • @alexkravtzov9168
    @alexkravtzov9168 Před 6 lety

    Very inspiring.. Thank you very much!

  • @jdkornfan
    @jdkornfan Před 7 lety

    This was an excellent video.

  • @oliveribasta5929
    @oliveribasta5929 Před 8 lety +1

    GREAT JOB SIR!

  • @GlayingSA
    @GlayingSA Před 8 lety

    Very informative video. Thank you.

  • @indiefilmandmusic
    @indiefilmandmusic Před 8 lety +3

    Fantastic. Thanks so much for this.

  • @ArtVandaleytv
    @ArtVandaleytv Před 9 lety +1

    Marvelous,marvelous piece of work.

  • @sissiwasabi
    @sissiwasabi Před 7 lety

    learned so much here. thank you

  • @greyshotya5748
    @greyshotya5748 Před rokem

    @7:31 I had to stop the video to laugh. That line about the cameraman was hilarious. Well done young man lol

  • @mantabond
    @mantabond Před 3 lety +1

    Merry Christ-mas, Dan Fox. A hearty well done for this essay. What we found most entertaining was the manner of your presentation. All too often one finds the odd essay presented in a grave manner as to sound un-agreeable to the palate. Cicero would have been pleased with your method. Well done, sir.

  • @douglasaboe
    @douglasaboe Před 8 lety +1

    superb teaching, truly excellent !

  • @leedummett4412
    @leedummett4412 Před 4 lety

    this is excellent.

  • @mahoutsukai8956
    @mahoutsukai8956 Před 3 lety

    "...Camera is motivating the action rather than the action motivating the camera." Very important line!

  • @erocc123
    @erocc123 Před 6 lety

    this was great!

  • @jacobje00
    @jacobje00 Před 8 lety

    Amazing! Definitely subscribed!

  • @hugopoma2232
    @hugopoma2232 Před 3 lety

    more videos like this please!

  • @jonron3805
    @jonron3805 Před 6 lety

    WOW you are brilliant in your presentation!

  • @shalipicks1234
    @shalipicks1234 Před 8 lety +1

    Amazing!!!!! Well done!!!!!

  • @ukings1952
    @ukings1952 Před 3 lety

    Wow I loved this I'll be checking out what more you got

  • @tturnquest1
    @tturnquest1 Před 6 lety

    Amazing video. I think this video should be shown at film school when teachers are trying to teach their student how to direct a movie. Nice Man! Keep up the good work.

  • @douguk2
    @douguk2 Před 8 lety +15

    Hello Dan. This is my first watch of your videos. Very good work man, I will be subscribing. One thing though, when you talk about that scene in Guardians, the crisis scene, I think James Gunn prefered to make it that way because it is a comedy, and the scene plays out some jokes. Maybe he didn't wanted for us to feel that rise of a tension just for it to break right after with a comedic beat, but this is just my opinion.
    Anyways, great work. :D

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 8 lety +3

      +Douglas Reginaldo Yeah I originally had a line that also said it was also a comedic beat as well, but I ran it past a few people and got the advice to cut it, since all the examples after that aren't from comedic films, but from more tense moments. I agree with you though, that's one thing I wish I'd fixed. Cheers!

    • @mylesthompson5804
      @mylesthompson5804 Před 7 lety +1

      Exactly - there's a self-conscious element running throughout GOTG - taking aim at the things we take for granted / tend to take too seriously in sci-fi films. The director makes the characters look slightly absurd standing in a pack facing the camera full frontal in their flamboyant make-up and costumes. I think on that level the blocking, colours and compositional elements work well.

  • @khurrammughal8999
    @khurrammughal8999 Před 8 lety

    thank you for such a wonderful video :)

  • @SpencerLevey
    @SpencerLevey Před 8 lety +1

    enjoyed this

  • @Murphington
    @Murphington Před 9 lety +1

    Nice work! I hope you continue with more of these.

  • @Javiven
    @Javiven Před 8 lety +1

    Amazing! Thank you for putting this together.

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 8 lety

      Thanks Javier! Glad you enjoyed it.

  • @EYECRAFTVideo
    @EYECRAFTVideo Před 7 lety

    Great One Dan !!!

  • @ewochoa
    @ewochoa Před 8 lety +1

    Great work!! kee it up.

  • @one2gaming
    @one2gaming Před 8 lety +2

    Awesome sir, video.

  • @BTGamesNow
    @BTGamesNow Před 8 lety +1

    7:12 that was really clever. That character switch had the right line.

  • @kamenriderkiki
    @kamenriderkiki Před 8 lety

    Just subbed, keep up the good work man!

  • @RaiuriC
    @RaiuriC Před 7 lety

    Amazing job man! I learned a lot from this

  • @sqjpure
    @sqjpure Před 8 lety

    Fanatic video and humor. Wish I met you sooner.

  • @burtonball8671
    @burtonball8671 Před 8 lety

    this is inspiring, good job!

  • @zuzkarory
    @zuzkarory Před 8 lety

    you deserve more subscribers, much better than everyframeapainting, nerdwriter, and much much better than channel criswell.

  • @DavesChaoticBrain
    @DavesChaoticBrain Před 7 lety +39

    I'm going to have to flat out disagree with you on the scenes from SnowPiercer. The first fight scene is as choppy and hectic as it is to emphasis the panic and desperation of the risk being undertaken. While the second scene is much more tense and fearful. If that first fight scene were filmed in the style of the second, the feeling would be all wrong and the scene would project the proper feeling.

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 7 lety +28

      Yeah I agree with you. This was the first video I made and after bugging those around me with a few different drafts, I decided to just upload it and get it over with. This is one of maybe.. 2 or 3 things in this video I disagree with myself after spending time away from it, all because I didn't bother to put in more effort to iron out awkward or less-nuanced phrases/observations. Thanks for watching anyway Dave!

    • @DavesChaoticBrain
      @DavesChaoticBrain Před 7 lety +13

      I can definitely commend you on putting this together. Certainly better than anything I've put out in the world! Will definitely watch more! cheers!

    • @danfox4969
      @danfox4969  Před 7 lety +11

      Cheers Dave!

    • @kmlgraph
      @kmlgraph Před 7 lety +7

      Dan, you are wrong, in that your observations about SnowPiercer were right the first time. Overly kinetic camera work combined with choppy editing seems to be the go-to style for high action scenes today (fights/car chases). Call it the lazy Paul Greengrass effect. A great example of a creatively blocked fight scene, as well as a masterful tracking shot, is Old Boy hammer fight scene (both Korean and Hollywood remake). Your videos are great. Please keep making them.

    • @alexispapageorgiou72
      @alexispapageorgiou72 Před 3 lety +1

      @@danfox4969 I agree with your first take on that shot. I don't need a shaky camera getting in the way of the hectic action it portrays. You shake the camera when you're, subconsciously most likely, overcompensating your scene, because you don't really believe the action will hold on its own, or because you're rushed or for whatever reason. And, IMO, no cut is needed from start to finish in that shot. He runs to kill a man. Woo starts open and closes in on the action as you'd expect, but the cuts cut the scene. They break it apart.

  • @vdsw9166
    @vdsw9166 Před 7 lety +1

    Brilliant. Just brilliant.
    Love your avatar!

  • @mikewinburn
    @mikewinburn Před 4 lety

    nice work

  • @afrosymphony8207
    @afrosymphony8207 Před 8 lety

    amazing! subscribed!!

  • @GarthLaidlaw
    @GarthLaidlaw Před 8 lety +13

    This is great. Fantastic analysis. Make me want to create! Comics, movies... stories. Well done Dan Fox. Keep it up, and make a Patreon campaign maybe? If you need any animation, let me know. :)

  • @davidm.johnston8994
    @davidm.johnston8994 Před 8 lety

    *Very* good video.

  • @fredriksejr8211
    @fredriksejr8211 Před 8 lety +1

    Brilliant brilliant brilliant brilliant

  • @AbdelilahDR
    @AbdelilahDR Před 8 lety +2

    Awesome Work, Please keep on More :)

  • @one-timonger
    @one-timonger Před 8 lety +1

    Wow, this is great!
    I learnt a lot thanks!

  • @PeterSodhi
    @PeterSodhi Před 8 lety

    Superb

  • @directorsvisions1677
    @directorsvisions1677 Před 8 lety

    You have an awesome page mate!

  • @marytaylor667
    @marytaylor667 Před 7 lety

    wow thank you.

  • @JaydevRaol
    @JaydevRaol Před 4 lety

    +Dan Fox Wow man this was really great. I wish you had continued to make more videos.