… using better staging and composition.
Valentina Vee offers a bunch of creative tips (ie standard film production techniques) for adding visual interest to mundane settings (via Aputure):
- Staging can be improved by:
- avoiding blank walls
- showcasing or creating depth
- thoughtful coverage
- Production Design – set decoration, including practical lights
- Change your setting for better blocking and lighting:
- showcase the most interesting features of the location
- can you fit more story or motivation into your shot?
- again: consider depth when resetting and reframing
Staging:
1. Story
2. Blocking
3. Composition
4. Lighting
- Wide Shots establish setting and determine lighting for other shots
- Creative Lighting – including shadows and textures created or inspired by natural or environmental elements:
- Branchloris – using branches to shape light
- Cucoloris – using a cut flag (Cookie) to cast shaped shadows
- Flagging areas to create less-exposed spaces, and draw the eye towards other things


- “Sweetening” close-ups:
- Backlight absent from the wide can be cheated in for close-ups
- “Soft Face / Hard Body” lighting:

Further Viewing
More on using cookies and cutouts to created textured lighting:
Textured lighting can also be created by more compact (and often cheaper) lighting with mirrors:
Practical Lighting adds depth and visual interest to shots: