Film: Limits of Control Framing Device: Symmetrical Balance
This frame from Limits of Control is a good example of symmetrical balance because the Lone Man is standing directly in the center of the frame while both sides of the Lone Man are close to identical showing a near perfect balance on both sides of the frame if split down the middle. The impact of this still can show a few different things. It can show the perfection that the Lone Man exhibits in his life and profession as it can how the balance that he has in his life.
Film: Mystery Train Framing Device: Rule of Thirds: Left, Center, Right
This frame from Mystery Train exhibits the horizontal rule of thirds with each character in the thirds from left, center, and right while riding in the truck. This is a classic use of the rule of thirds to balance out the shot as it shows the three characters in there current mood and situation as one seems content with a blank stare, a man drinking and based on his eyes may have a sense of nervousness and the driver who seems agitated.
Film: Stranger Than Paradise Framing Device: Rule of Thirds: Foreground, Middle Ground, and Background
The frame above from Stranger Than Paradise depicts depth with the rule of thirds with the foreground (man on right), middle ground (plane on the left going right), and background (plane in center going left). This still can exhibit an emotional impact as a man stands off to the side while he watches planes at an airport both of which in the middle ground and background are going in different directions which could symbolize a choice that the man must make or it could be a sense of being lost and having no sense of direction or no place in the world.
Film: Mystery Train Framing Device: Rule of Thirds: Top, Center, Bottom
This still from of the clerk and busboy from Mystery Train shows a great example of the rule of thirds with top, center, and bottom. The desk takes up the entire bottom region of the frame, while most of the characters fill the center and the top section starting at about the clerk's eye level and above for head room. The top section is meant to start at that eye level for head room and this still has a nice balance to it because of the use of the rule of thirds. This still could have an emotional impact as though most of the frame is on the rule of thirds, the busboy's head above eye level rests in the center of the thirds as the clerk, whose eye level is about where the center and top thirds split shows him looking down at the busboy with some sort of disappointment or anger towards the busboy for an error or mistake he has made. With the clerk and setting in thirds maintaining a balance, the busboy does not have the same balance which can show there is something wrong or different about him compared to the clerk.
Film: Limits of Control Framing Device: Compositional Stress
Another still from Limits of Control show compositional stress as the Lone Man is standing in the right third of the frame and is also looking right establishing an imbalance in the frame. Based on the idea of eye room that is meant to be given to character when they are looking or moving a certain direction, the Lone Man is breaking this traditional framing device and sometimes rule by looking out of the frame of the side he is already standing. This frame could have an impact and symbolize some different things, one of which could be that some sudden or wrong to his plans and expectations has taken place and his balance is gone while is stress is now up. See that the Lone Man is a quiet character and mostly by himself, it could also show how he is different and does not do things the traditional or accepted way that most people do. It could also have many other meetings but without seeing the film, I cannot accurately describe what he is looking at in this scene of compositional stress.
Film: Down By Law Framing Device: Deep Space Compostion
In this still from Down By Law, the woman is in the foreground looking away from the man in the background after a fight between has taken place. The scene works on two of the three levels of depth. This scene has an impact and the still alone tells a story. Since a fight broke out between them, she has turned her back to him to him as he stands behind her as if he is waiting for a response or waiting for her to do something. Items are included in the composition as items are broken and shattered. This also could be showing the distance that this fight has established as in many fights, there may be no going back to the way it was. As before, depending on the scene and film there could by many other different things that could be symbolized and have a new meaning in this still.
Film: Limits of Control Framing Device: Eye Room, Looking Room, or Lead Room
Lastly, this still from Limits of Control, the Lone Man is closer to the left of the screen and is walking left with some lead and eye room as he continues to move with balance. The still shows that the Lone Man is moving left and looking left heading to an unknown destination with a good amount of lead and eye room and he is walking through the streets looking at the walls defaced and probably seeing other things about the location of where he is and his surroundings.
