Cinematography-Theory-And-Practice

Open and Closed FrameAn open frame is one in which one or more of the elements eitherpushes the edge or actually crosses the edge (Figure 3.21). A closedframe is one in which the elements are comfortably contained withinthe frame (Figure 3.22), which is associated with more formal composition.Although we look at the frames here as still photographs,most frames of a motion picture are dynamic, even to the point ofnormally don’t perceive the blurring but it affects our perception.Figure 3.21. (top) An open framecomposition from Seven Samurai.Figure 3.22. (bottom) A closedframe composition from Dr. Strangelove.visual language49