Making Better Movies with Moviestorm Vol 3: Sound and Light

FILMING SHADOWS
Technique
Film the shadow of something, rather than the object, for a dramatic effect. You can film the
shadow against a wall, the floor, or another object or character.
Sometimes, filming shadows just looks more stylish than filming in a conventional way, particularly in horror or
thriller movies. It's a technique that goes back to early German Expressionist films, and is still used today in a variety
of movies. One notable example is in Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, where the shadows actually behave differently
to the actual characters: this stands as a metaphor for their inner thoughts.
Extreme close-ups can work very well for this type of shot: for example, just the shadow of a hand. With wellpositioned
lights, this can be magnified so the shadow is far larger than it should be, and the viewer will accept it
provided that the image is dramatic and well-composed. Realism is less important than style.
However, if done badly or overused, this effect looks cheap, amateurish, and ludicrous. It’s important to understand
when it will work well.
Left: a conventional version of the shot with no shadow. Center: the zombie isn't shown, and only the shadow
is seen. Right: combining the two adds extra emphasis but can be distracting.
Use a scene in a single location – either interior or exterior. A very short scene is
adequate for this: 30 seconds or less is sufficient. Dialog is not necessary.
However, the scene must have some dramatic moment. For example, someone
sneaking up, someone coming in through a doorway, or a key prop.
(Note: because of the way Moviestorm’s lighting works, this works best on a
fairly small set.)
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