Editing
The Eyeline Match: Why a Look Needs Somewhere to Land
An eyeline match links a character’s gaze to a plausible target, helping you read screen direction, attention, and…
All the pieces
All pieces
Explore essays on scenes, performances, editing, sound and visual design. Each piece starts with a specific screen choice and asks what it lets the viewer notice.
Sound
Live Sound or Added Score: Two Ways to Hold a Quiet Scene
Live sound or added score can guide attention through a quiet scene in different ways; learn what each makes audible…
Visual Design
Before the Close-Up: How Early Cinema Made Faces Legible
Early cinema close-ups made faces and objects legible at a new scale, helping viewers read expression, follow story…
Performance
The Reaction Shot Is Not a Simple Answer
A reaction shot can suggest several feelings at once. Learn how timing, performance, framing, and context keep a…
Scenes
A Rewatch for the Scene’s Changing Distance
A scene rewatch focused on changing camera distance helps you track who holds attention, what the room reveals, and…
Our point of view
A film rewards a closer look.
We slow down the viewing experience without turning it into a test. Attend to a few choices on screen, and the scene can open up in new ways.