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The Director's Template
(As profiled in New Products, American Cinematographer,
September, 1993)
The Director's Template is a simple filmmaker's
tool that helps you:
- Design various shots accurately on paper, before you are
on the set.
- Understand the Fields of View of Specific Video, 16mm and
35mm Lenses.
- Select the lenses required for a specific pre-planned shot.
- Diagram where the camera and actors are at all times on
the set.
- Correctly pre-visualize shots, or specific effects.
- Measure distances on a scale drawing.
- Draw a scale storyboard in 1.33, 1.66, 1.85, and T.V. ratios.
- Determine lengths of straight & curved track required
for a precise shot.
- Use the template as a Quick Director's viewfinder on set.
- and many more uses.
Imagine walking onto set and telling the cinematographer
what shot you want,the lens required and exactly where you want the camera.
And being right everytime, without using a Director's Viewfinder! Imagine pre-visualizing
exact shots, designing them on paper and knowing they will work BEFORE you get on
set. Even if you have little or no experience in the technical aspects of filmmaking
you can do this accurately using The Director's Template with the confidence of a
Hitchcock or a Spielberg. Once you start working with the user-friendly template,
you'll wonder how you ever worked without it.
If Oscar winning Directors and filmmakers from dozens of
countries around the world are using The Director's Template, why aren't you?
John Ford said: "What would you think of an architect
who arrived at his building wondering where to put the staircase? You don't 'compose'
a film on the set; you put a predesigned composition on film."
Being able to pre-visualize your film shoot, including accurate
preparation of a shot-list and camera set-ups in advance frees you to concentrate
on artistic decisions on the set, rather than strictly technical ones. This saves
time and money "on the day"and helps you effectively achieve your vision.
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How do I use the Lens Protractor?
Using The Director's Template's unique Lens Field of View Protractor and a set
floor plan all you do is determine what your shot's frame edges are, then move the
Protractor angle until it lines up with the edges of frame. You then mark the point
of the Camera Lens which is exactly where it goes on the real set. It is so accurate
you can measure the distance using the scale ruler (in feet or metres). It really
is that simple. You can use this method either to figure out which lens you need,
or if you know your lens size, where the camera must go using that lens. All the
Lens Field of View Protractor does is transfer the mechanical lens formulas into
a practical and visual method of shot planning. If you don't have a set floor plan,
you can use the scale rulers to quickly and accurately draw one.
The Director's Template is intended to give years of functional usage to the professional
minded film or television director, director of photography, film student, art director,
production designer, assistant director or anyone involved in film planning and preparation.
It is made of strong blue plastic with various cut-out parts like a standard architectural
template.
It comes with complete instructions and sample exercises. The template can be
used in conjunction with other templates such as those with furniture, film lights,
vehicle road symbols etc. The possibilities are limitless.
Features of The Director's Template include:
- Lens Field of View Protractor for 16 and 35 mm.
- Foot and Metre Scale Rulers, as well as standard inch &
centimetre rulers.
- Aspect Ratio Frames suitable for Storyboards.
- Formulas for frame height/aspect ratios and metres/feet
conversions.
- Curved and Straight Track scaled markers.
- Vehicle, Camera, Doorway, Footsteps and Talent Symbols.
- 180 Degree Axis Rule Marker.
- Assorted Arrows.
- Holes to fit a standard 3-ring binder.
The Director's Template alone: $24.95
The Director's Template and Workbook: $39.95.
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