Shooting Driving Scenes
Brine Kelly · Oxford University Press eBooks · 2020
Chapter 18 explains and illustrates many options for blocking and shooting driving scenes to enhance the storytelling and maintain continuity. Driving sequences usually require both exterior shots of the vehicle in motion and interior shots of the occupants as they drive, have dialogue, and look out the windows. A range of effective cinematic camera angles for exterior shots are described. The various types of exterior shots serve to say something about the vehicle itself, the environment through which a car or other vehicle is being driven, the style of driving, or the length of the trip. Some of these shots begin with transitions, while others offer cutting points to interior car scenes. Standard camera angles to cover conversation in a car are described. The right combination of shots must be chosen to ensure that the shots match and that eyelines are logical, or the shots will not meet the needs of continuity editing and clear storytelling. Many examples are described and illustrated using storyboards, with both their visual storytelling and continuity editing aspects explained.