You’re standing in. Your cameraman[*] is trying to line up the shot. It’s quiet from him. He’s studying something. You might think he’s looking at you. You’re not sure. Then, suddenly, he speaks to you:
“Would you clear?”
What is he talking about? Here’s your answer.
“Clearing the Frame”
The cameraman in asking you to clear is probably trying to look at the set behind you. He wants you to clear the frame because where you are standing is actually blocking what is behind you.
You may not be asked to clear the frame very often, especially if your actor simply stands in place in a scene. However, if your actor leaves the frame in a scene, what is behind you when you’re standing in becomes important. The cameraman probably wants to make sure there is nothing of issue behind you, such as, say, a crew water bottle, a lighting issue, or some other less than desirable aesthetic.
How to Clear the Frame
When the cameraman asks you to clear the frame, or simply “clear,” your instinct may simply be to lean or shift your position for the cameraman to see behind you. In most cases, a better help would be if you walked immediately right out of the frame. As an alternative, you might try ducking completely down to a crouch if walking away is too difficult given the setup.
However, you probably will be needed back in a moment, so don’t leave! Stay around until the cameraman wants you back in the shot.
What do you do when you clear the frame? Any other advice for when you’ve been asked to clear? Stand-In Central wants to know! Share your thoughts below.
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