Learn From Aspect Ratio In Film
- Mar 2, 2016
- 2 min read
As one of my favourite director, Xavier Dolan made a film called Mommy (2014) in the perfect square, which made a huge impact on 2014 Cannes Film Festival. One of the highlights of this film is that Xavier not only made it in 1:1 aspect ratio but also changed aspect ratio twice. I was shocked when I watched this. He built up the atmosphere through this technique as I never seen before.
“After having shot a music video in 1:1 last year, it dawned on me that this ratio translated in a somewhat unique emotion and simplicity.
The perfect square in which it consists framed faces with such simplicity, and seemed like the ideal structure for ‘portrait’ shots. No distraction, no affectations are possible in such constricted space. The character is our main subject, inescapably at the center of our attention. Our eyes cannot miss him, her.”
This is the reason Xavier explained why he used 1:1 aspect ratio on press. Obviously, he succeed to attract audience’s eyes. Xavier also mentioned that the device is a nod to the boxed-in nature of Instagram photos and Vine videos, saying, if anything, he had “album covers” on the mind, indelible images that have “imprinted in our imaginations over time.” It is quite interesting phenomenon that square image became popular after people started use Instagram. It is a good challenge using square aspect ratio.
Another thing is that reminded me nowadays most of film use 16:9 and 2.35:1 as the format of image and old movie usually use 4:3. I really interested about how people choose the aspect ratio for their films and I did some research about history of aspect ratio in film.
History
Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of the image to the height. This can be expressed as two numbers like 4×3 or 16×9 or as a decimal such as 1.85 and 2.35 – though these can be written as a ratio as in 2.35:1.
The original aspect ratio utilised by the motion picture industry was 4:3 and according to historical accounts, was decided in the late 19th century by Thomas Edison while he was working with one of his chief assistants, William L.K. Dickson (2001).
In 1932, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted on and declared that in order to make room for the sound track, the image should be masked off on the top and bottom for a 1.37 aspect ratio. This image size would be called the Academy Ratio. Until 1953, 1.85: 1 replaced that became a common US widescreen cinema standard.
REF
CinemaSource Technical Bulletins: Understanding Aspect Ratios. (2001). 1st ed. [ebook] the United States of America: The CinemaSource Press. Available at: http://www.cinemasource.com/articles/aspect_ratios.pdf
Kirby, B. 2014. Film Studies 101: A Beginner’sGuide To Aspect Ratios. [online] Available at: http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/film-studies-101-aspect-ratios/ [accessed 1 May 2014]
The Chaning Shape of Cinema: The History of Aspect Ratio. [online] Available at: http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/the-changing-shape-of-cinema-the-history-of-aspect-ratio/
O’flat, C. 2015. Why Xavier Dolan’s ‘Mommy’ Was Shot as a Perfect Square. [online] Available at: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-xavier-dolans-mommy-was-756857 [accessed 1 August 2014]
Rizov, V. 2014. Xavier Dolan’s Mommy Was Shot In a New Aspect Ratio. [online] Available at: http://filmmakermagazine.com/86046-xavier-dolans-mommy-was-shot-in-a-new-aspect-
ratio/#.VywE_RUrKRs [accessed 21 May 2014]
HD (High Definition) Conversion and Restoration. [online] Available at: https://www.diskbank.com.au/hd-hi-definition-film-transfers/
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