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FilmSkool — a free film school

How Aspect Ratio Affects Storytelling | Writer/Director David Lowery on A Ghost Story

Writer-director David Lowery explains why A Ghost Story is framed in a narrow, rounded-corner ratio, and how that choice shapes the loneliness and time in the film.

H8URS · 5 min · Intermediate · CIN · Cinematography · 2020

What you take away

An unusual ratio works when it carries the film’s idea.

Watch it

Filed under

Shot anamorphic and wide

Oscar winners for cinematography

Books on cinematography

Kit for this lesson

SIRUI Saturn 35mm T2.9 1.6x anamorphic — Carbon-fibre anamorphic, full-frame coverage
Laowa Nanomorph 35mm T2.4 1.5x — Anamorphic small enough for a gimbal
Laowa Nanomorph 50mm T2.4 1.5x — The Nanomorph normal — still small enough to fly
SIRUI Venus 50mm T2.9 1.6x anamorphic — Full-frame anamorphic, the cheapest there is
Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II — The standard zoom most FX bodies wear
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II — The wide end of the same set

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