Master Shots Vol 2: Shooting Great Dialogue Scenes

by Christopher Kenworthy

Dialogue scenes are the most important moments in your film, but most directors get them wrong.
If you block your scenes well, you do more than capture the basic scene; you echo the meaning, emotion, and drama of every moment.  That is never more important than with dialogue.
Whatever your budget, there is an exciting way to capture dialogue.
It is a tragedy that so many directors are happy to open a scene with a moving master shot, and then just settle into dull coverage for the dialogue.  You can do better than that and Master Shots Vol 2 gives you 100 ways to shoot dynamic dialogue.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Art, Photography

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[Noolagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

மாஸ்டர் ஷாட்
Christopher Kenworthy
தமிழில் - தீஷா

Master Shots:100 Ways to Shoot Great Dialogue Scenes என்ற ஆங்கில புத்தகத்தின் சுருக்கம் தான் இந்த புத்தகம், நீங்க இயக்குனர் ஆகா நினைப்பவராக இருந்தாலும் சரி, அல்லது ஒளிப்பதிவாளர் ஆகா நினைத்தாலும் சரி உங்களுக்கு இந்த புத்தகம் பெரிய உதவியாக இருக்கும் என நம்புகிறேன், ஒரு படத்திற்கு கதை, திரைக்கதை முக்கியம் என்றாலும் அதை எப்படி படமாக எடுப்பது என்ற அறிவு நமக்கு தேவை அதிலும் இந்த புத்தகம் கதாபாத்திரங்கள் வசனம் பேசும் பொது கேமரா Angle மற்றும் Shots எப்படி எடுக்கவேண்டும் என்மனதை சுருக்கமாக சொல்லிக்கொடுக்கிறது, ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் தனிப்பட்ட Shots பிடிக்கும் அளவுக்கு தற்போது சினிமா ரசனை வளர்ந்துள்ளது, அதில் சில இயக்குனர்களின் Signature Shots கூட உள்ளது, உதாரணத்திற்கு மணிரத்னம் அவர்களின் படங்களில் கதாபாத்திரங்கள் படுக்கையறையில் பேசும்போது Camera Top Angle -ல் இருக்கும், இது போல இன்னும் பல இயக்குனர்கள் உள்ளனர், சரியாக வசனம் எழுதி அதை எப்படி எடுப்பது என தெரியாமல் போனாலும் திரைப்படம் சொதப்ப வாய்ப்புள்ளது தானே...?
வாசித்து பாருங்கள்.,
இது இந்த புத்தகத்தின் முதல் பாகம்.

நன்றி.

[Sabrina Hofkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! I used it for research when I was creating my shot list for my short film. Great examples, great movies, and great shots. The book deserves 5 stars, but the reason I gave it 4 is because of the poor binding. The pages are falling out of the binding in the front of the book and near the end of the book. I highly recommend this book, but perhaps the author/publisher can look into a better binding option to keep the pages adhered to the book.

[Mark Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Analysis could be stronger.
Still, a great reference guide to use during shot design. Can be useful for both director/DP as it creates a bridge between both roles.

It's a shame other books like this don't exist - It's a very visual blueprint (as it should be) and will help improve your shots immediately. However, I found the writing to be a bit lazy, and the concepts a bit repetitive. Five stars for the concept - which surprisingly can't be found in other books on cinematography.

[Lewis Manalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource.

[Amin369 · Rating 3 out of 5]

نسبت به جلد اول یه سطح پایین تره. نما هایی که مثال میزنه خیلیاشون سطحی هستن و اصلا نیازی نبود که گفته شه. امیدوارم جلد سومش غنی تر باشه.
مراقب هم باشیم.

[Addy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saved Vol. 2 for last. Not because I disdain dialogue scenes in films (on the contrary, I love them), but very simply because I didn't think Christopher Kentworthy's second book in the "Master Shots" series would be much helpful. And I'm afraid I was right. Volume 1 tackled pretty much everything as far as camera blocking and shot design is concerned (under the great marketing subtitle: "100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get An Expensive Look on your Low Budget Movie"). Volume 3 did the same thing using the subtitle "The Director's Vision: 100 Setups, Scenes and Moves for Your Breakthrough Movie"—albeit with the benefit of Kenworthy's having had the experience of writing two previous books. This 2nd book, however, lacks the practical application of either of those books. This may have something to do with the less-than-spectacular film selections made by Kentworthy (LOVELY BONES? really?) as well as his surprisingly weak critical analysis (somehow the psychology of the camera moves in relation to the actor staging and dialogues just didn't stick). Regardless, props to the author for trying to elevate the dialogue scenes, even though he fails to make an impression. And brickbats to the same author for failing to mention, yet again, the cinematographers responsible for the films he selected to dissect (only director names are mentioned). If you read my reviews of Volume 1 and Volume 3, I openly berate Mr. Kentworthy this repeated offense. Seriously, sir, we will need to have words!

[Red]

This book is specifically written to inform directors who want to take a better shot for their film, but it’s also a great book for any movie-lovers who want to have a better interaction with the shots and camera movements and to understand the purpose behind them.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scene examples are good and insightful. The weird computer rendered recreations are unnecessary though. I use this the film class that I teach.

[Paul Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a little more specific and complicated that the first one, but still an easy read that moves the mind creatively when it comes to filming.