[ The original landscape scene is attached to this post. And you can watch the reframe here: https://www.stage32.com/media/3951361911743848803?ref=search ]
I did a little experiment to see if something that was shot for 16:9 could easily be reframed for vertical without losing original intent - I found a few interesting things I thought I would share:
- some of the dialogue lines landed better (in my opinion) simply because of the adjusted composition on screen
- if you were close up in landscape, you will go MACRO on reframing for vertical. So when you do your own samples using a phone, for example, don't forget to shoot it/frame it vertically from the start
- the tone changes for me quite a bit. In this week's Writer's Room Breakdown Webcast, Michael Schulman described the trending viewing preferences as searching for something like "the intimacy of a novel" - besides being a beautiful description, I can see, post this little experiment, how a vertical framing can get you there.. not like in my experiment though where we get right up their nose haha. but it gave me the sense of what that might be for this vertical composition.
All in all - I think they meant it when they said this format requires its own guides/rules/conventions. Pretty exciting.
The other reason I wanted to share this is to perhaps show that things don't need to be perfect to try getting some of your scenes shot and edited for POCs or just to visualize. When I did this bit, I actually paid around $500 to have a cinematographer and his audio recording buddy come in and shoot this is in half-day. As for the actors, Kevin was a buddy of mine and for Michael I did do a casting and did pay him an Ultra Low SAG rate even though this was obviously not a SAG production. But beautiful things happen when we respect our colleagues :)
If I was doing this today, an iPhone and Premiere Pro / DaVinci is all I would have needed.
Has anyone else tried reframing some of their existing projects? Or got their friends together and bullied them into being actors for the day to try out some scenes you wrote? Would love to hear about the experience.
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thanks for the links Maurice I'll look into them all the ones I found so far have costed money
You're welcome, Tony Sterago. Here are some of the free webinars: www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Stage-32-and-Netflix-Partnered-Up-o......
Expand commentYou're welcome, Tony Sterago. Here are some of the free webinars: www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Stage-32-and-Netflix-Partnered-Up-o...
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Tony, honestly, I also don’t have the ability to buy expensive courses.
If you have motivation, a well-structured self-study plan can replace almost everything.
Here’s what helped me the most:
One book I...
Expand commentTony, honestly, I also don’t have the ability to buy expensive courses.
If you have motivation, a well-structured self-study plan can replace almost everything.
Here’s what helped me the most:
One book I read:
Paul Guyot — “Kill the Dog.”
It answered so many questions about what screenwriting is really about.
A study plan using AI.
I use ChatGPT to:
– break down scenes
– practice dialogue
– get feedback
– rewrite fragments
– analyze structure
This way you can build your own “mentorship” without any budget.
Read produced screenplays.
They’re legally available online, and they’re the best textbook you can have.
Write scenes every day.
Even small ones — half a page.
It builds the craft faster than anything else.
You don’t need $500 videos.
You just need consistency and patience.
Wishing you strength on your path — you can absolutely do this.
thank you so much for the encouragement and thoughtful words. I have been using chat GBT To help me, Break down the scenes and also help with world building. It has been invaluable I agree with you It...
Expand commentthank you so much for the encouragement and thoughtful words. I have been using chat GBT To help me, Break down the scenes and also help with world building. It has been invaluable I agree with you It does help a lot. I guess my insecurities are just showing Because I don't know if I'm asking the right questions I don't know If the way I flush out my characters Is more of a ttrpg (table top role-playing games) Character creation Or if The writer in me character creation. I'm doing pretty much everything everyone has suggested so far it just feels like I'm doing it in the dark with a flashlight that's batteries are dying. I guess I would just feel better if there was somebody over my shoulder saying you're asking the right questions you're doing the right things in the right ways. but again thank you so very much for the thoughtful words they meant a lot and I'll keep plugging away the way I am. if you don't mind can I add you to my network?
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Tony, thank you for your message — and absolutely, feel free to add me to your network.
I’d be happy to stay in touch and discuss things as we both keep learning. I’m a beginner too, just sitting on a...
Expand commentTony, thank you for your message — and absolutely, feel free to add me to your network.
I’d be happy to stay in touch and discuss things as we both keep learning. I’m a beginner too, just sitting on a little hill with a notebook, looking down at the big city of screenwriters and trying to understand its streets. So we’re both figuring this out step by step.
And honestly — the feeling of “working in the dark with a dying flashlight” is normal. Let’s keep going. One scene at a time.