What Is a Freeze Frame?<\/h3>\n
A freeze frame<\/strong><\/a> halts the perceived movement in your image, effectively converting it to a still shot<\/strong> reminiscent of a photograph. Freeze frames<\/strong> are self-reflexive, so they call attention to the filmmaking process<\/strong> and to the filmmaker,<\/strong> but they are invaluable in adding emphasis,<\/strong> covering up for lack of footage,<\/strong> or creating a note of ambiguity.<\/strong><\/p>\n In the days of shooting with film, the selected shot was optically reprinted to achieve the effect. With digital technologies, freezing your image has become as easy as tapping a few keys<\/a>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0so the real question becomes how and when<\/strong> should you use the freeze frame?<\/strong><\/p>\n Freeze frames<\/strong> can be used at the beginning and throughout your movie. It’s all a matter of setting the stylistic tone of your work. For example, you may want to give your title card a little extra punch as Soderbergh<\/a> did in his 1998 film, Out of Sight<\/a> (<\/em>via Universal<\/a>).<\/p>\n Soderbergh continues his playful use of the freeze frame<\/strong> during the opening act of Out of Sight<\/a><\/em>\u00a0as a transitional device and as a way to introduce a\u00a0new character (another\u00a0great\u00a0place to use\u00a0freeze frames<\/strong> early in a film, especially if you are running voice over on your soundtrack). In his film, Election<\/em><\/a>, Alexander Payne<\/a> uses freeze frames<\/strong> during his character introductions for a comedic effect.<\/p>\n Martin Scorsese<\/a> uses the freeze frame<\/strong> to great effect in films like\u00a0Goodfellas<\/a><\/em>, The Departed<\/a><\/em>, and The Aviator<\/a><\/em>, as you can see in this video compilation<\/a> of Scorsese’s editing techniques.\u00a0Justin Morrow<\/a> includes freeze frames<\/strong> as one of Martin Scorsese\u2019s influential editing techniques in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n It seems that the most common \u2014and memorable \u2014 use of the freeze frame<\/strong> is at the end of films. Employed in this manner, the freeze frame<\/strong> can be a way to avoid showing gruesome details of a character’s demise<\/strong> and instead leave your viewers with a note of romance<\/strong> and ambiguity.<\/strong> Though many of these endings are the stuff of legend, this is your official spoiler alert.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Thelma-Louise.jpg\" "\\"The")
Thelma and Louise<\/a>\u00a0via\u00a0MGM<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nWays to Use It<\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Out-of-Sight-Opening-Title-Freeze-Frame.jpg\" "\\"The")
<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/pbblogassets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Election-Freeze-Frame.jpg\" "\\"The")
Election <\/a>via Paramount<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nFreeze Frame as an Ending<\/h3>\n