What is a Frame Within a Frame — Composition Techniques

Framing in Movies

Why use a frame within a frame?

This is not an uncommon compositional technique in cinema. In fact, it is quite common. Why is it so common? Because it can be used for various effects. 

Direct the viewer’s focus

Creating an additional frame can direct the viewer’s focus and attention more immediately toward a subject. By framing a subject with visual elements, filmmakers are basically underscoring or highlighting the area of the shot where the viewer should look.

Take this wide shot from Arrival, one of Denis Villeneuve’s best films.

The shot does not suggest to us where to look through light, but rather composition. The architecture of the space creates a "natural" border around the subject. As a result, the shot narrows our perspective toward what is within the frame.

Create deeper meaning

Using this technique can also create deeper meaning in a shot. A character within the confinement of a secondary frame can reflect their state of isolation or loneliness. 

Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love is filled with countless shots that utilize a frame within a frame. Why is the compositional technique so prevalent? To reflect the themes that the story explores. 

This video by Nerdwriter1 analyzes how the use of this technique reinforces the film's themes of social norms and creates an atmosphere of tension. 

A frame within a frame has more than just aesthetic function. It’s a valuable technique to tell a story and elicit emotion in an audience.

Establish an observational perspective

As the audience, when we watch a subject that is framed within a frame we might feel as if we are observing from afar by looking through a window, doorway, or down the hall. This effect is common in Paul Thomas Anderson’s directing style.

PTA’s use of the frame within a frame allows us to be a bit more observational and objective as we watch a story unfold. PTA is very intentional as to when he uses close up shots and when he uses a frame within a frame to distance us from characters. 

Create depth

Visually, using multiple frames can also add a tremendous amount of depth to a shot. Because many uses of this technique inherently use foreground and background elements, the depth of the shot is accentuated. 

If your shot seems to fall flat, look for any opportunity to use additional framing. This will force you to utilize either the foreground, background, or both in your composition. 

Photography Frame Within a Frame

How to Create a Frame within a Frame

Creating this effect is as simple as finding any shape or visual element in your scene that can use to surround your subject. Here are a few different elements to look out for. 

Foreground elements

One of the most common ways to do this is by using foreground elements. These are elements that fall between your subject and the camera.

This can be set pieces like doorways, windows, or furniture. Getting creative with what foreground elements you use will result in a more memorable shot. 

For example, this iconic frame within a frame from The Graduate uses a leg to trap the main character Ben (Dustin Hoffman).

Not only does this image have a whole bunch of narrative meaning, its creative use of foreground makes it a memorable example of framing. 

Silhouettes

Though it can be effective, you don’t always need to use foreground elements to do this. Sometimes the background of a scene can create the frame. 

In this scene from one of Quentin Tarantino’s best films, The Hateful Eight, the background and barn create a silhouetted border. 

Silhouettes are great because they utilize the setting of a scene in the composition. Rather than focusing on the details of characters, a silhouetted border uses context to reflect how characters might be feeling in that moment. 

Reflections

Sometimes this technique is quite literally a frame within the frame of the shot. This is true for the use of mirrors and reflections in creating frames. 

In this shot from the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men, the mirror frames Carla Jean Moss. This makes for an incredibly unique composition. The shot is simultaneously an over the shoulder shot and a two shot.

Reflections are a rather straightforward way to create this effect. But they can also be an effective technique to introduce a character in a shot they otherwise would not be in. 

Shapes and Patterns

Unlike the use of mirrors, filmmakers have found unique ways to utilize shapes and patterns to create borders around their subjects. Be aware of any shapes that present an opportunity to isolate a character.

This beautiful shot from Andrei Tarkovsky’s Ivan’s Childhood uses the shapes of a destroyed building to create both a frame within a frame and leading lines. The result is an incredibly moving shot. 

UP NEXT

What are Foreground Elements?

As we mentioned earlier, foreground elements are one of the most common ways to create layers of depth. They are also one of the simplest ways to add depth to a shot. In our next article, we take a deeper look at how to use foreground elements to create cinematic shots.

Up Next: Foreground Elements →