4

THE TRIANGLE PRINCIPLE

Basic body positions

All dialogued scenes have two central players. These two dom inant

players in a film scene can be deployed in a pair o f linear arrange-

m ents:

a straight line com position, and

a right angle relation.

Figure 4.1 illustrates the concept.

W ithin those arrangem ents four body rapports can be assumed

during a conversation between the players.

1 The actors face each other,

2 the actors are placed side by side,

3 one player has his back to the other.

4 They are placed back to back.

A hum an body can assume one o f the following positions:

1 lying down (either face up or dow n or lying on his side)

2 kneeling (either the torso straight up, or sitting on the heels,

or bent forw ard with the elbows on the ground)

3 sitting (from a squatting position to any height afforded by the

instrum ent used to support the body)

4 reclining (either backw ards on a supporting surface or for-

wards by using the elbows as support)

5 standing (either up o r leaning sideways using a hand for

support)

These body positions m ight be assum ed simultaneously by both

players or different body attitudes could be chosen for each. In the

later case various com binations are afforded: different linear

compositions, body rapports and body positions, provide in toto

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