BLOCKING: Struzan perspective part 2

I wanted to build off of my last study of Struzan’s use of perspective in blocking found: HERE.
So for this study, I wanted to focus on which side of the face is facing camera. Let’s use Jessie Ware photos as an example.

Below, we see Jessie Ware facing us center-on:

Below, we will use lighting terminology: broad and short. The side of the face that is most facing the camera is called the “broad side” and the side facing away and is shortest in screen space is called the “short side”

So what does this have to do with Struzan? Struzan keeps the broad side of the face closer to the center line than the short side. I call this the “Broad/Short” rule.

Another mockup example:

Struzan also makes center-on faces fair game for being anywhere on the left or right side of the center line. Mockup example:

In the Struzan piece below, the broad/short rule is tightly followed:

Another example of Struzan’s broad/short rule: Rey and Han and the x-wings and tie-fighters are center-on. Fin and Kylo have the broad sides closer to the center line:

Another example from Struzan:

EXCEPTIONS: PITTER PATTER

As with any Struzan “rule”, there are always exceptions! Struzan knows how to break patterns and sameness by adding rhythmic pitter patter of rule breaking to add variation.

In The Phantom Menace below, the rule is followed closely, and the breakup come from Anakin showing the broadside on the center line and Obi-wan’s head facing the opposite direction on the right side of the composition.

In the Attack of the Clones below, Anakin and Padmae are breaking the broad/short rule, but show closeness. And the rest of the composition follows the broad/short rule very closely.

In The Revenge of the Sith below, the broad/short rule is followed closely again for Vader, Anakin, Padmae and Obi-Wan. The lower characters break the rule and the ships on the lower screen-left follow the rule.

For Cutthroat Island below, the two main heads and the two ships follow the broad/short rule. But the faces and skulls on screen-left have a pitter patter of variation of direction not make the poster formulaic.

Star Trek Next Generation below is pitter patter break-up taken further. Although the two lower flanks follow the broad/short rule, the rest of the composition tries to break free of it with Picard and Riker and Crusher.