FLY ON THE WALL
VS
SCENE SET UP
What is best for my content?
Picture this: Luckily, today is the Marketing meeting day. Joana, the Head of Marketing, is surrounded by the marketing juniors and seniors as they collate their fresh ideas onto a glass board they call – The Vision Window.
The setting sun casts a perfect orange light upon the meeting room. A videographer films them without disrupting the magic flow the marketing team is in.
This is the fly-on-the-wall technique, a cinematic dance with reality. Born from the depths of documentary filmmaking, it’s the art of capturing genuine, unscripted moments without disrupting the natural flow of life.
This approach is based on a belief that the most compelling stories are told when we simply observe events as they happen, embracing the unfiltered beauty of reality.
Now picture this: Today, nothing particularly interesting is happening in the office. Joana, the Head of Marketing, sits at her desk chipping through a flyer design. The marketing juniors and seniors work on their respective computers in silence. The overhead office lamp casts a white light upon the office. A videographer arrives and sets up the meeting room to be filmed.
After setting up the room, the filmmaker calls the marketing team and films the following scene – Joana, the Head of Marketing, is surrounded by the marketing juniors and seniors as they collate their fresh ideas onto a glass board called – The Vision Window.
The big light on a stand casts a perfect orange light upon the meeting room. Feels like the sun is setting and the moment is magic.
This is the Scene Set Up approach, rooted in the traditions of narrative filmmaking. It’s a world where every scene is a carefully planned masterpiece. Meticulous scene planning becomes the compass, ensuring a coherent and intentional storyline.
Filmmakers wielding this method believe in the power of pre-planning, sculpting visually captivating scenes that align seamlessly with their overarching narrative vision.
Fly on the Wall
Scene Set Up
Choosing the Right Approach for Your Content
Choosing between these two approaches isn’t just a decision; it’s a journey into the heart of your creative vision.
The fly-on-the-wall approach can be liberating, allowing for spontaneous storytelling, while the Scene Set Up method offers precision and control over each aspect of the production. Creators are encouraged to weigh the benefits of creative flexibility against the advantages of a well-defined plan based on their content objectives.
And as a filmmaker, I want to help you choose between approaches so I’ll name a few pros and cons:
Fly-on-the-Wall
Pros:
1. Authenticity: Captures genuine and unscripted moments, providing an authentic portrayal of reality.
2. Flexibility: Allows for spontaneous storytelling, adapting to unexpected events during the shoot.
3. Minimal Disruption: Minimizes interference, making subjects less aware of the camera’s presence.
Cons:
Post-Production Workload: Heavily relies on editing during post-production to create a cohesive narrative.
Limited Artistic Control: Filmmakers have minimal control over lighting, framing, and composition during the shoot, potentially affecting the visual quality.
Unpredictability: The unpredictability of events can lead to challenges in maintaining consistent quality and storytelling coherence.
Dependency on Circumstances: Relies on the availability of interesting events and characters during the shoot.
Scene Set Up
Pros:
1. Controlled Environment: Provides precise control over the visual and narrative elements in each scene.
2. Clear Narrative: Allows for a well-defined storyline, ensuring that each scene contributes to the overall message.
3. Enhanced Visual Appeal: Can result in visually compelling scenes with carefully selected props and locations.
4. Efficient Post-Production: Reduces the need for extensive editing, as the narrative is already planned during pre-production.
Cons:
1. Rigidity: May limit spontaneity and the ability to capture unexpected moments.
2. Resource Intensive: Requires thorough pre-production planning, including selecting props, locations, and talent.
3. Increased Production Time: The meticulous setup of each scene can extend the overall production timeline.
4. Dependency on Script: Success hinges on the effectiveness of the script and key messages.
The Crucial Question: What Message Do You Want to Transmit?
The question of whether there’s a clear message to convey aligns with the principles of narrative storytelling.
The intent , whether to capture reality as it is or convey a specific message, profoundly influences the approach to choose. Creators are advised to reflect on their storytelling goals, as the answer to this question becomes a compass directing them towards the most suitable filmmaking technique.
Also, going back to the hypothetical situations presented in the beginning, we need to ask ourselves – How often does cinematic magic happen in the office? Are our normal days always magic and filled with amazing light?
Answer those questions and now you are ready to make the choice.
Happy Filmmaking!
