The Director of
Photography (DP) is head of the production unit and is directly responsible to
the film's Director. During the pre-production phase, the DP works with the
Director on the visualization of scenes that involves issues related to
framing, camera angle and movement, lighting, and the technical requirements to
translate a script and storyboard into images on film. http://dreamsteep.com
The Director of Photography for Act of Valor was Shane Hurlbut (Terminator
Salvation, Into The Blue, We are Marshall). Shane wanted to give the
audience a first hand view of what a Navy SEAL is faced with in battle. He was able to accomplish this very well
using his knowledge of visual design. Shane, along with the directors, Mike
McCoy and Scott Waugh, decided to take an untraditional approach to filmmaking
in order to accomplish the response they desired. They wanted the audience to
be part of the action instead of watching the action.
In order to pull this off they needed to bring the camera
closer to the action. The camera needed to be smaller and lighter. This was
solved by the use of the Canon 5D Mk II. While there was scenes shot with
traditional film the majority of the action was done with the Canon HDSLR.
Using the lightweight camera, Shane was able to give a first person point of
view of a firefight.
So as you can see by the frame we selected, Shane knows how
to tell a story through each individual frame. The way he uses elements of
design is not only textbook ,but also artistic. Given that the soldiers in this
movie are wearing camouflage, many of the Gestalt Principals are naturally
happening.
The figure/ground
relationship between the SEALs is that of similarity, Shane emphasized this
by capturing images of the SEALs in natural, green environments at low angles.
The law of similarity
fits into this extremely well too. Shane also chose the specific lighting to
continue the blend of soldier and background. On the opposite side he used a
brighter light on the terrorists to make them stand out from the natural
environment they were in.
The law of proximity
is an interesting one in this movie. The SEALs tend to move as a group.
Grouping together creates an illusion of one massive unit. Moving the camera
close to the SEALs furthers this by creating a sense of “being there”. The terrorists are spread thin and only one or
two are ever framed together creating a sense of disconnect and vulnerability.
In the screenshot we chose the law of closure is key. The shot was framed as a first
person point of view. We see two hands about to rise out of the water. Closure tells us that these hands are
not just two random hands; instead, they are the hands of one of our SEALs.
