1. SET-UP (MOVING CAMERA):
- Place two chairs on opposite sides of the room. The camera is handheld or on a gimbal and moves with the actor.
- The student starts seated on one chair, stands, walks across the room, and sits on the second chair.
- Explain that they must now not only be aware of themselves and their movement, but also of where the camera is in relation to them. They should not rush towards it or leave it behind. They must sense its position and maintain a reasonable, continuous distance.
2. CAMERA AWARENESS & MOVEMENT CONTROL:
- When they stand they must not rush otherwise the camera will lose them, the actor must also not lunge forward, otherwise the camera will lose their face and just see the top of their head.
- As they walk, they must maintain the agreed on distance between themselves and the camera. This can be determined through rehearsal.
- When they reach the second chair, they must turn in the direction of the camera before sitting, using the same sitting and standing rules as before.
- If a student walks too fast, blocks the camera, turns the wrong way, or hesitates, stop and reset. They repeat until the movement is clear.
- A good rule of thumb is to move at half the speed they usually would, it will feel strange at first but as long as they move with intention it will come across well on camera.
3. ADDING DIRECTION:
Once you have rehearsed mechanically and they are comfortable with the movement, give specific intensions for their walk by setting the scene for them.
This tests listening and adaptability. Let’s see if they can be in the moment of the character while remembering the technical aspects of the movement.
Remind them that on a real set, directors often change blocking, speed, or direction all the time and it’s important that they can be ready for that.