How to shoot a conversation over the shoulder style

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Hello.

This might very well be a stupid question, but I how does a conversation that is shot over the shoulder of both people talking (intercutting) work? How it it shot? Does the one actor say one line, then the camera man changes position, and the other say a line? that seems weird and how can you get a natural flow? If you can point me to any books about basic directing thigns like that it'd be greatly appreciated too.

― monkchild (monkchild), Thursday, 27 January 2005 09:34 (twenty-one years ago)

It's typically shot with the camera on the first actor for the entire conversation, usually with the other actor reading their lines behind the camera with both actors miked. Then they switch it around.

There are thousand of books on film directing. A good basic starter book is "Shot by Shot"--

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0963743309/qid=1106833214/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-2260722-4703212?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

― jay blanchard (jay blanchard), Thursday, 27 January 2005 13:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Depending on your camera placement, it could be possible to record one conversation with both camera setups going at once.

― Site Admistrator (deangulberry), Thursday, 27 January 2005 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, i've shot it that way too. It works well if you're shooting video & have two cameras, but unless you have a hefty budget, it's pretty pricey to shoot that way on film.

― jay blanchard (jay blanchard), Thursday, 27 January 2005 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks for your replies.

― monkchild (monkchild), Monday, 31 January 2005 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Ever since I learned about how these scenes are shot in high school, I've rarely been able to suspend disbelief while watching one.

― Hurting (Hurting), Saturday, 5 February 2005 04:42 (twenty-one years ago)

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