Economy Thinking

Effective presentation does not necessarily involve costly, elaborate methods. ‘Economy’, however, does not have to produce a frugal, spartan, cheap-looking product. It is an attitude of mind; using facilities effectively, imaginatively, ingeniously and to good effect.

‘Economy thinking’ is realizing that we need only to provide in the studio just what the camera is going to see (plus a little extra, perhaps, to avoid over-shooting). This necessitates careful planning. The skilled designer creates an illusion through ingenuity.

In a dramatic presentation, a single look or gesture can prove more telling than intricate production treatment. As a camera shoots through a foreground branch, we have the impression of a forest – without needing to plant entire treesl In ‘economy thinking’, we start with the effect, and devise the most economical method of obtaining it. There are times when silence can engender spine-chilling tension and others when a background of street noises or bird song gives a scene absolute conviction. There is no universal rule.

Economical staging

This is staging to stimulate the imagination. It may be based on simple mechanics (e.g. using a cyclorama and projected light patterns, or even a black background and isolated foreground furniture) or on cost-saving constructional methods (e.g. stock scenery, revamped sets) or special effects (e.g. chromakey, front or rear projection).

Sometimes an associative lighting effect alone (e.g. a projected window shadow, a spotlight, leaf-shadows) can convey a location or environment – especially when supported by allied background sounds.

Economy through camera treatment

Carefully thought-out camera treatment can save time and money, and simplify equipment needs.

• You can arrange action so that it works to the camera, e.g. a dancer runs from long shot to closeup, rather than having the camera itself dolly in rapidly. Camerawork is simpler. The camera will not be in the way of subsequent shots.

• Shooting via a mirror, the camera can turn in an instant from a high shot… tilting down to a level shot, without the need for a camera crane or special equipment

• Reshoot a sequence from several different angles with a single camera, and the result appears to be a multi-camera treatment.

Graphics and titling

• Set the scene by shooting a still photograph (or projected slide) of the Eiffel Tower, backed with street noises and French music, and the simple brick wall in your studio appears located in Paris!

• Large display graphics are expensive. So instead, where possible,

– use rear-project slides,

– or use chromakey to insert close shots of smaller photographs.

• ‘Improvized’ titles look different. They are simple, yet attract the attention; e.g. titles chalked on a wall, or drawn in wet sand with a finger.

Effective frugality

With a minimum of scenery, the shot conveys a country scene; enhanced by sound effects of bird song and wind.

Only part of the environment is needed – so only part is built.

Light patterns

Light patterns on the cyclorama provide a cheap, adaptable, decorative background to action.