Beat Boards, Attempted

In my previous blog, I explored the purposes of beat boards and what they could accomplish. The key is in the composition, framing the shot to bring attention to what is most important in the scene - good storytelling being essential above all else when you are... well, trying to tell a story.

Least Intense:

1 ) Our protagonist, a young girl, witnesses a fight break out between her mother and her brother - her mother's friend intervening. The girl stops in her tracks. Front and center of the frame, the girl's reaction is more important than the scuffle.

2 ) Words between the three are shared as the girl stands still in the background, away from it all. Despite being furthest away from the camera, the situation frames her.

Build Up:

3 ) The conversation continues and the girl's legs fidget and shake, she herself shaken. Again, we are paying attention to her reaction over the words. She is the center of the audience's attention, because the shot brings her to attention.

4 ) The girl is called for by the friend, leading the mother away as she does so.

Most Intense:

5 ) The girl's reaction to everything is with devastation and - with the time it takes to move to the next shot - reluctance. Again centered.

6 ) Focus is on her feet now, taking their time to move.

Less Intense:

6b ) Once she finally takes that step, the tension breaks.