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What is Blocking and Staging in Film

What is Blocking and Staging in Film?

As an aspiring filmmaker, you probably notice a lot about the films you watch as you see the characters. And their actions play out on the screen. Perhaps you’re thinking about the lighting. Or the camera angles or what you would do to make the scene “better.” You might even watch. And consider how intricate the play between characters and crew must have been in order to pull the scene together. Perhaps you’re thinking about blocking and staging in film? Or, perhaps now you’re wondering, “What is blocking and staging in film?”

If you’re wondering how the cast and crew were able to work, seamlessly, together on the set. In order to produce the divine views that you recognized on the screen.

You’re thinking about film blocking and staging. We’re going to answer a question that comes up frequently, and that’s: “What is blocking and staging in film?”

What is Blocking?

Blocking represents the process of laying out the camera placement and movement of a scene in comparison with the actors’ placement and movement.

When deciding on the blocking of a scene, the filmmaker is also considering the audience. And where they want the audiences’ eyes to physically be drawn during the particular scene. They’re also thinking about what emotions they want to convey to the audience through the scene. 

A Filmmaker’s Waltz

Essentially, blocking is like the choreography of the scene. It includes the placement of the actors, extras, crew, equipment, and any vehicles in use during the scene production.

The purpose of blocking is to ensure that all of these elements move harmoniously with one another. Without interrupting the filmmaking. The way the actors move around the space represents blocking.

What is Staging?

Staging is the process of deciding on the placement and movement of the objects in the frame. Also, staging includes the camera placement and movement in relation to the blocking of your scene.

Staging is focused more on the camera placement. Movement and defined area of focus. Which contributes to the visual storytelling techniques that you’re most focused on. 

Blocking vs. Staging

Film blocking and film staging may sound rather similar, but to help you understand the difference between blocking and staging in film keep this in mind!

That blocking refers to the way your actors move around the space whereas staging represents the way your objects are placed and moved in the frame in relation to your blocking. 

Together in Tandem

Blocking and staging work together providing the visual output of the film. Blocking aims to outline where actors move throughout a scene. And how they interact in the environment.

Whereas staging represents the position of the actors within the frame and the movement of the camera in relation to the scene. 

Learning how to apply film blocking and staging will help you to create visually harmonious sets. In which the audience’s eyes are directed in exactly the location you desire. And where the film eludes the desired tension and deeper meanings. 

Are you an aspiring director that wants to better understand how they approach blocking and staging in film? Check out this great video by Filmmaker HQ!

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