Idea #45 - How Aspect Ratio Makes a Film Whole

Today we watched a video on Aspect Ratios and learned about the history of the concept, what it is, why it is important, how we can use it to convey a certain message in our film. and how it helps frame the film in a way that captures precisely the essence, setting, and even the emotions involved.

In simple terms, the aspect ratio of a movie is the comparison between the width of the frame and the height of the frame, usually expressed as a ratio. From the very first frame size being 4.3 to an impressive advancement to 2.76:1, aspect ratios have always played an integral part in keeping the look and feel of the film in conformity with one another.

This was achieved by the invention of Anamorphic lens, which distorts the image so it can be squeezed back into the frame later, without losing any element of the wide angle shots.

Directors like Wes Anderson and Christopher Nolan even play with several aspect ratios within a single film. It plays a major role in conveying the emotion of the scene - like a narrower aspect ratio is used when the character feels trapped, and a wider aspect ratio can be used when the character feels liberated. If employed correctly, the aspect ratio alone can make a film significantly more impactful!

Written By: Arya Kastwar

Curated By: Hetvi Kamdar