Walking and Running Characters
Chapter 12 describes and illustrates the visual storytelling effects of several approaches to filming a traveling character. The techniques that are shown can be applied to any character who is walking, running, bicycling, or traveling in any other way. Viewers can be made to infer things about a traveling character such as whether the character is strong, weak, safe, threatened, in a hurry, or being watched. Coverage can be objective, or it can be subjective so that viewers are made to identify with a character. Various cinematographic techniques are described that can be used to establish moods, heighten the drama, create suspense, add visual variety, and compress time. Techniques for cutting between a stationary camera and a traveling camera are described and storyboarded.