Drive Quadrant System Tutorial

During class, we decided to watch a tutorial about how the makers of the 2011 drama/thriller movie Drive did in order to make a well framed shot. They used a technique known as the quadrant system. The idea is that the screen is split up into four sections. The narrator says that the framing can not only tell one story but several. As seen here, just two sides can tell many stories.   The video description says  "One of the many pleasures of Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive” (2011) is that the shots feel both tightly composed and weirdly unpredictable. Even though most of the images follow a simple quadrant system, Refn puts plenty of subtle touches within the frame".We can see the Driver and his love interest Irene clearly doing two different things. As a result, it allows for the audience's eyes to switch back and forth between the two sides of the screen seeing what either character is doing. It allows for two different stories to be told in the screen rather than just simply one and allows for more character development and depth. 

A similar thing technique happens in another scene where the dynamic is top and bottom. As seen in the video, two different stories are being told. One is from the top where we see three different character having a discussion. We can tell from their emotions what each character is feeling. A similar dynamic is happening at the bottom as we can see a child actor as well as see what the actors are feeling once again but this time with their hand gestures rather than their facial expressions.

Finally, these techniques come together with the quadrant system where all four stories can be told. Sometimes, in Drive it can be used for effect where two clearly rival love interests for Irene are displayed as the Driver and Oscar Issac's character (Standard Gabriel) both occupy the same quadrant allowing for some rivalry between the two. Finally, we visually see the two men with one casting a long shadow casting towards the other.

 The quadrant system helped give me ideas for how our group could frame a shot throughout the movie and was an effective tool in helping us. It allowed for a better sense of storytelling, a better way of understanding what my character as well as the other actors had to do as well as the ultimate framing of a shot that could help us in the long run. 

Here is the link to the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsI8UES59TM