Blocking
Definition
Blocking is the process of planning and rehearsing the precise movements and positions of the actors and the camera within a scene. Before filming begins, the director works with the actors to choreograph their movements (where they walk, sit, stand, and interact with props), and then works with the director of photography to plan the corresponding camera movements. Blocking is essential for ensuring that the lighting, sound, and camera departments are all prepared for the action that will unfold during the take.
Contextual Usage
On the morning of a complex scene involving multiple actors and a moving camera, the director calls a blocking rehearsal before the crew is brought in: "Let's walk through the scene first with just the actors and the DP. I want to figure out the choreography before we bring in the lighting crew, so we don't waste their time."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
View all 76 terms