The approach

Dorian's approach includes various methods, including rehearsals, a subtle and integral narration where needed that doesn't jolt the viewer, heavy emphasis on modified black box presentation with limited props and physical action, setting changes, a real set for selected pivotal scenes, establish shots, stationary/stock shots, and emphasizing physical action and good delivery. On Amazon Studios, Memory, Christian Davis's Test Movie (Movie 8), is a good example of suggestive presentation with de-emphasizing detail. A current television production has the same suggestive quality and de-emphasis of detail, the TV series Stargate Universe, in which the ship setting has minimal lighting so details can't be seen.

The deciding factor of how to present a scene depends on the importance of the scene to the story, and how much the audience will be affected by context and transitions.

In a strict black box production, there are no props on the set. The actors act "in limbo," which requires the audience to use their imagination to see essential aspects of the set. An audience's imagination is perfect. It projects the exact level of detail that each individual viewer needs, and there is no criticism of imperfection. Black box theater is a very effective method of presentation.

In employing the black box method, what Dorian found is that some props are helpful. If the actors are to sit at a table, they probably should have a table. So a modified black box method is more practical in which some practical props are used. A stage arrangement can even be used to suggest rooms, with barebones furniture. But these props should also be suggestive, not a fancy table that you would find in a fine restaurant if that is the setting. (Fancy restaurants actually use very bare bones tables and just put nice linen over them - it's also a suggestive illusion.)

Not every movie can be done in the same way. Action movies are not done well in black box, although many of their scenes can be. On Amazon Studios there are a number of good test movie productions that vary in technique. A test movie should have the following: Actors should be very talented, and should know and rehearse their lines, and be directed in blocking. Nothing will hurt the audience reception more than the poor presentation of a "B" movie. B movies get B reactions. Adjustments to the script should be made as needed to improve the story and presentation. Pivotal scenes should be shot on the actual set using professional standards, just like during principal photography.

During recording of the black box scenes, the conventional 3 camera position approach should be used, preferrably with no cuts unless actors make major changes in position that require it. Appropriate camera work, such as close ups, should be specified by the director and cinematographer. The actors should act as if the set is actually present (as they would in front of a green screen). Record with DSLR cameras with one or more copies in H.264 format. H.264 is the most accepted encoding standard, and arguably provides the best picture. You will likely edit and distribute in H.264 format, especially for a focus group.

Audiences can easily get lost during a production. A variety of things can be used to keep them oriented in space and time, especially during scene transitions:

1) Use a narrator to describe any action that is not provided by the actors. Use the narrator to describe changes in time, or use text on the screen. Fade the text in and out. The narration should be subtle, not loud.

2) When the narrator is talking, use some photography on the screen that is appropriate to the production. A still shot of the ending or beginning scene will work, or an establish shot of the new setting. You can also use camera techniques on the still photography, such as shots that show characters in transit, or just panning and zooming in on the still photograph.

3) If the audience really needs to see some detail, use a green screen behind the black box setting and insert it in post-production.

4) Almost any scene can be done in black box. But that doesn't break up a 2 hour movie enough for the audience. Besides the pivotal scenes, select a number of other inexpensive scenes that can be done on sets that are more visually appealing. For example, if a bridge, office, fancy home, or other setting recurs often in the movie, plan to shoot those scenes all at one time in that setting.

5) Use dissolve (overlapping fade in/out), rather than cut, to ease the major transitions to the narrator and from black box to another setting, and back.

6) Use still establish shots to show where the setting is.

7) Don't be ridiculous. If an actor is doing a fight on a tower on a real production set, the DP would get long shots of the man on the tower, and get closeups of the action. For black box, you could insert a visually exciting still shot of the tower using a green screen in the background, and use a small piece of a tower (pipes) as a prop on the black box stage. Since the floor is black, and the rest of the background is black, the shot is in limbo, and the audience can visualize the setting. But an audience can also visualize the fight just with the prop. Use the minimum necessary. The more you try to add detail to get something close to perfect, the more the audience will criticize it. Suggestive is the key.

8) Do very good post production. Make sure there is nothing in the production that will jolt or distract the audience. Make sure it is visually suggestive, and that small details do not detract from the audience's attention.

Next page: The test and audience results.

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