How to visually structure a film scene

Hosted by Peter Salapatas

Tue, Mar 10, 2026

5:00 PM UTC (45 minutes)

Virtual (Zoom)

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Make Better Films: Master camera, lenses and visual structure.
Peter Salapatas
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What you'll learn

Different ways to cover a dialogue scene.

I will guide you through three concrete examples of scenes I shot explaining how I approached them visually.

How to convey a character's situation through composition.

You will learn how to use visual cues to convey what the scene is about.

Long takes vs editing.

You will learn when to use long takes and when to break down the scene into individual shots.

Why this topic matters

Most filmmakers shoot scenes without a visual strategy, resulting in flat, aimless coverage. This lesson provides a framework for building shots that support your scene's theme. By asking the right questions before you shoot, you'll create purposeful visual progression instead of generic coverage.

You'll learn from

Peter Salapatas

Cinematography professor, G.S.C member and an active filmmaker.

I'm an active filmmaker and member of the Greek Society of Cinematographers (GSC), with international experience shooting films across Greece, the US, India, Africa, and the Philippines. My short film "Level 71" won Best Short Film at the London International Film Festival, and I've shot multiple award-winning films at festivals in Greece.

As Professor of Cinematography at Aristotle University of

Thessaloniki and Visiting Professor at ENSAV in Toulouse, I love sharing my

filmmaking experience with others. For three years, I've been teaching online

courses, making these skills accessible worldwide.

I created this lesson because talented filmmakers often compose

beautiful shots but don't know how to structure entire scenes visually. This

lesson gives you a practical framework you can apply immediately.


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