ABSTRACT

Navigating the necessary skills for shooting fiction film or TV is a challenge for any filmmaker. This book demystifies the art and craft of “coverage”—explaining where to put the camera to shoot any kind of scene.

Author Mark Rosman takes readers step by step through the basics such as scene analysis, blocking actors, composition, shot listing, storyboarding, and screen direction to the more advanced, including how to shoot fights, car chases, and visual effects scenes. Rosman draws on his extensive film career to reveal the tips and tricks professional directors use to shoot creatively, quickly, and effectively on any budget and design the perfect shooting plan to make memorable and impactful film and TV. Through simple descriptions, clearly drawn diagrams, storyboard panels, and frames from famous movies, this book is a comprehensive and in-depth look at the art and craft of mastering coverage.

Ideal for students of directing and film production as well as any filmmaker looking for a guide to shooting any scene.

Includes two bonus online chapters covering on set procedure and how to watch your dailies.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

Why Do We Need This Book?

part One|100 pages

The Fundamentals of Shooting a Scene

chapter 81|6 pages

Directing The Camera

Defining What “Coverage” is and isn't, the Role of the Director, and Four Key Terms

chapter 2|15 pages

The Three Non-Camera-Related Elements That Affect Coverage

Understanding the Script, Your Location, and Blocking the Actors Before You Start Planning Shots

chapter 3|17 pages

The Director's Visual Toolkit

The Definitions and Basics Of Shots, Lenses, and Composition

chapter 4|9 pages

Using the Visual Toolkit

What These Tools Do and How Directors Can Use Them To Tell Their Stories

chapter 5|15 pages

Putting It All Together

Applying All the Visual Tools To Covering the Basic Two-Person Scene

chapter 6|12 pages

Planning Tools

Floor Plans, Shot Lists, and Storyboards: Helping the Director Plan and Communicate Their Vision To Others

chapter 7|13 pages

Shooting for the Editing Room

Coverage Techniques and Practices To Save You When You're Cutting

chapter 8|6 pages

Common Coverage Mistakes

The Mistakes I've Seen Repeatedly from Students and Inexperienced Directors

chapter 9|5 pages

Director's Steps in Creatinga a Shooting Plan

A Step-by-step Guide to Create and Review Your Shooting Plan

part Two|92 pages

Adding Style and Tackling Coverage Challenges

chapter 10810|8 pages

Style, Vision, and Artistry

Putting the Director's Stamp on their Films

chapter 11|15 pages

Applying Style to Coverage

Using the Visual Toolkit to Bring More Style to Your Shots and Scenes

chapter 12|23 pages

Challenging Scenes

Coverage for More Complex but Common Situations

chapter 13|13 pages

Shooting Fast, Efficiently, and Effectively

How to Shoot Quickly and Still Get Everything You Need

chapter 14|10 pages

Multiple Cameras

When and How to Shoot with More Than One Camera

chapter 15|7 pages

Tips, Tricks, and Pointers

Helpful Techniques to Achieve the Best Coverage

chapter 16|14 pages

Coverage Collaborators

Five Crucial Crew Members Who Help the Director Plan, Schedule, and Execute All their Shots

part Three|58 pages

Advanced Coverage

chapter 20017|19 pages

Scenes with Complex Elements: Non-Action

From Scenes with Kids to Shooting in Airplanes, Directors Must Be Prepared to Cover Anything

chapter 18|20 pages

Scenes with Complex Elements: Action

Fight Scenes, Car Chases, and Sports: Making Action Scenes Thrilling

chapter 19|15 pages

Scenes with Complex Elements: Visual Effects

The Art of Covering Scenes with Visual Effects and CGI

chapter 20|2 pages

Coverage into the Future

The Ever-evolving Art of How to Shoot Movies