Post by CkRtech on Sept 5, 2004 3:01:11 GMT -5
Hey all.
I wanted to do this thread to point out some things about this episode that really helped from the perspective of directing.
I mentioned in the discussion thread that Dan Riba directed this episode & I applaud him at what a great job he did. Voice directing is a big part, of course...but storyboarding (especially when you are also a director) is important as well.
There are correlations between Batman and this episode (and other episodes) of Justice League. Many times, two characters in a frame are in different parts of the shot - For instance - a speaking character in the foreground and a listening character in the background.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu1.jpg)
In the "Batman effect" as I call it, Batman would sometimes ponder aloud to a character in the background (typically Commish Gordon) as he puts 2 and 2 together. This not only shows the background character as a listener, but sets up us (the audience) as a more intent listener as well. Basically "the character here is saying something important - Listen!" is the subconcious feeling we get when seeing a shot like this.
Also - many shots are set up with a wide angle shot and then a zoom to what we are supposed to focus on in the scene. In this case - Green Arrow and Supergirl.
Establishing wide shot -
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu2.jpg)
Final Zoomed shot -
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu3.jpg)
The final zoomed shot doesn't rest long (because it is semi-awkward) and we switch to a more traditional shot for dialogue between two people. This particular setup brings up an interesting side note (because I am mostly focusing on the Batman effect of directing) about the episode - Supergirl is seeking advice and is asking somebody older to help her out.
In shots where we are listening to Supergirl, we listen from Green Arrow's point of view. This is a position of superiority and is shot downward toward Supergirl.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu4.jpg)
Of course Supergirl is smaller, but she is meant to look that way in this shot as she is vunerable and seeking help.
When Green Arrow is talking to her, we are listening from her point of view - A point of view that is looking up to someone for advice. Notice how Green Arrow's presence almost looms in this shot.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu5.jpg)
Notice also how there is not a lot of background noise in either of the two shots above. The background is close and doesn't reveal much. This is also part of the Batman Effect.
When The Question enters the picture, he is somewhat of a mysterious character. Notice how he sits down in the center of the frame with Arrow and Supergirl's back turned toward us. He *could* have taken a frame all to himself when he sat down, but we wanted to have a feel of "hey who is this guy?" when he entered the picture. The audience feels like they are on the side of Supergirl and Green Arrow (right behind them that is) when this new character enters the picture.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu17.jpg)
A small room also helps in "mystery" style situations. This shot is a wide shot, but it feels cramped. The shot started with a pan, but we still feel like we have had our peripheral vision cut off.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu6.jpg)
The three of them are observing something here. Notice how all three are included in the shot & a tight shot at that. Our view is slightly below them also. It isn't level with their eyes like we are on the same level of reasoning.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu7.jpg)
We are meant to still be wondering what the heck The Question was getting at (which as a matter of fact...I was at this point. Haha) It's a reverse of when we get a shot of three three say....overhead. It is natural to think that everyone there is going to get "jumped" at any second because we are seeing them in a vunerable position.
Another good example of "inferiority"
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu16.jpg)
Ahh! I promise I didn't look ahead.
Here is a perfect example of the characters "feeling vunerable" shot. Remember what happened seconds later in this scene?
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu8.jpg)
Another good example (good Batman Effect too):
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu9.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu10.jpg)
I also love how the mysterious building has multiple shots from the door lock's point of view. The place where our characters go has a little extra meaning when we are introduced via a keycard lock. Green Arrow and Supergirl's entry represented stealth while The Question's entry represented ...knowing the answers. (Hahaha. No literary jokes, please)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu11.jpg)
One last shot I wanted to mention was when Green Arrow and Supergirl start finding some answers to move them along. This sequence is used often to represent "discovery." We have the foreground objects removed during a zoom to represent "having our eyes opened."
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu12.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu13.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu14.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu15.jpg)
There are many other things about this episode that I liked. Good direction is usually something that happens without you really realizing it. This episode was directed very well and I believe it really helped add to the mysterious feel that the episode was supposed to have. Many episodes (in fact...most episodes) of Batman were like this as we received more doses of the Dark Detective after Tim Burton's Batman movie.
I wanted to do this thread to point out some things about this episode that really helped from the perspective of directing.
I mentioned in the discussion thread that Dan Riba directed this episode & I applaud him at what a great job he did. Voice directing is a big part, of course...but storyboarding (especially when you are also a director) is important as well.
There are correlations between Batman and this episode (and other episodes) of Justice League. Many times, two characters in a frame are in different parts of the shot - For instance - a speaking character in the foreground and a listening character in the background.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu1.jpg)
In the "Batman effect" as I call it, Batman would sometimes ponder aloud to a character in the background (typically Commish Gordon) as he puts 2 and 2 together. This not only shows the background character as a listener, but sets up us (the audience) as a more intent listener as well. Basically "the character here is saying something important - Listen!" is the subconcious feeling we get when seeing a shot like this.
Also - many shots are set up with a wide angle shot and then a zoom to what we are supposed to focus on in the scene. In this case - Green Arrow and Supergirl.
Establishing wide shot -
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu2.jpg)
Final Zoomed shot -
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu3.jpg)
The final zoomed shot doesn't rest long (because it is semi-awkward) and we switch to a more traditional shot for dialogue between two people. This particular setup brings up an interesting side note (because I am mostly focusing on the Batman effect of directing) about the episode - Supergirl is seeking advice and is asking somebody older to help her out.
In shots where we are listening to Supergirl, we listen from Green Arrow's point of view. This is a position of superiority and is shot downward toward Supergirl.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu4.jpg)
Of course Supergirl is smaller, but she is meant to look that way in this shot as she is vunerable and seeking help.
When Green Arrow is talking to her, we are listening from her point of view - A point of view that is looking up to someone for advice. Notice how Green Arrow's presence almost looms in this shot.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu5.jpg)
Notice also how there is not a lot of background noise in either of the two shots above. The background is close and doesn't reveal much. This is also part of the Batman Effect.
When The Question enters the picture, he is somewhat of a mysterious character. Notice how he sits down in the center of the frame with Arrow and Supergirl's back turned toward us. He *could* have taken a frame all to himself when he sat down, but we wanted to have a feel of "hey who is this guy?" when he entered the picture. The audience feels like they are on the side of Supergirl and Green Arrow (right behind them that is) when this new character enters the picture.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu17.jpg)
A small room also helps in "mystery" style situations. This shot is a wide shot, but it feels cramped. The shot started with a pan, but we still feel like we have had our peripheral vision cut off.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu6.jpg)
The three of them are observing something here. Notice how all three are included in the shot & a tight shot at that. Our view is slightly below them also. It isn't level with their eyes like we are on the same level of reasoning.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu7.jpg)
We are meant to still be wondering what the heck The Question was getting at (which as a matter of fact...I was at this point. Haha) It's a reverse of when we get a shot of three three say....overhead. It is natural to think that everyone there is going to get "jumped" at any second because we are seeing them in a vunerable position.
Another good example of "inferiority"
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu16.jpg)
Ahh! I promise I didn't look ahead.
![:)](http://storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu8.jpg)
Another good example (good Batman Effect too):
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu9.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu10.jpg)
I also love how the mysterious building has multiple shots from the door lock's point of view. The place where our characters go has a little extra meaning when we are introduced via a keycard lock. Green Arrow and Supergirl's entry represented stealth while The Question's entry represented ...knowing the answers. (Hahaha. No literary jokes, please)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu11.jpg)
One last shot I wanted to mention was when Green Arrow and Supergirl start finding some answers to move them along. This sequence is used often to represent "discovery." We have the foreground objects removed during a zoom to represent "having our eyes opened."
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu12.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu13.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu14.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TTC_Forum/jlu15.jpg)
There are many other things about this episode that I liked. Good direction is usually something that happens without you really realizing it. This episode was directed very well and I believe it really helped add to the mysterious feel that the episode was supposed to have. Many episodes (in fact...most episodes) of Batman were like this as we received more doses of the Dark Detective after Tim Burton's Batman movie.