FOCUS — Depth of Field
Coordinate Category: Lens Optics & Focal Plane Modulation
Status: Tier 2 Specialized Directorial Coordinate
1. Purpose & Functional Role
[FOCUS] commands the optical focal plane of the lens, depth of field (DoF), selective sharpness, rack focusing between spatial depth layers (Foreground \(\leftrightarrow\) Midground \(\leftrightarrow\) Background), and optical blur transitions without physically moving the camera rig.
2. Orthogonality & Scoping Boundary
- In
[CAM]: Camera physical position, shot size (MS, CU, WS), framing angle, and physical rig movement (pan, tilt, dolly, pedestal, handheld drift). - In
[FOCUS]: Strictly the internal optical focus mechanism (shallow DoF, deep focus, rack focus shifts, split-diopter sharpness, bokeh circle softness).
3. Formatting & Syntax Rules
- Header / Tag:
[FOCUS]on its own Sub-State in the Macro-State->chain. - Description Style: Explicitly state the target subject/depth layer gaining or losing sharpness, and the speed/nature of the transition:
[FOCUS] Razor-thin shallow DoF locking onto Samira's tear-sheen in FG, BG completely soft bokeh[FOCUS] Smooth rack focus from FG wine glass to BG door opening[FOCUS] Deep focus maintaining tack-sharp edge-to-edge clarity across all 15 feet of the corridor[FOCUS] Split-diopter plane: both John's profile in extreme FG-left and Robert in BG-right sharp
4. Placement & Chaining in Macro-States
[FOCUS] is typically deployed alongside [CAM] to dictate lens behavior during a beat:
- Static Camera Rack Focus:
[CAM 01] MS, eye-level fixed -> [FOCUS] shallow DoF on John in FG -> [ACT] John lowers his gaze -> [FOCUS] rack focus smoothly to Robert standing in BG doorway -> [AUDIO] floorboard creak - Dynamic Tracking Focus:
[CAM] MCU, tracking forward -> [FOCUS] focus pulls continuously with Samira's advance, keeping eyes tack-sharp -> [ACT] Samira breaks into a run - Focus Drop / Disorientation:
[CAM] ECU -> [ACT] Robert clutches his temples -> [FOCUS] optical blur softens into dreamy haze -> [AUDIO] high-pitched ringing tone