The Director's Idea

Chapter 7

The Camera

I have titled this chapter “The Camera” rather than “Production” because the camera conjures up visual images, which are what most of this chapter is about. A more accurate description might be production, because in this chapter we discuss camera shot selection, but we also address other elements that affect the nature of a shot—light and art direction. We also briefly discuss sound, another production variable. Late in the chapter we also address the edit, as many production decisions made are intended to maintain flexibility for the edit. After the text interpretation, two production decisions are critical with regard to the material to be edited—shot selection and direction of actors. We have saved the direction of actors ...