Compare / Contrast: Line Crosses in SUCCESSION
We looked closely at two different line crosses in Succession . . . but what about their differences and similarities?
Length and Intent
A single cross like in "Sad Sack Wasp Trap" could have been planned, a mistake, luck, or a workaround.
Meanwhile the constant, repeating line breaking of "Return" would be painstakingly plotted.
The Set
As we discussed in our primer on line crosses, it helps to have a central object to ‘ground’ the audience.
You could argue "Return" feels easier to follow because of the central dinner table, where there is no similar feature in Kendall's office for “Sad Sack Wasp Trap.”
Yes there’s a desk in “Sad Sack Wasp Trap,” but it’s not key to the room’s design, it’s not established as a main point of interest, and Kendall moves around it, as opposed to in “Return” the three participants remain stationary around the table.
The Angles
Not only are “Return” characters Kendall, Shiv, and Caroline around a table, they remain seated and framed at about eye level. Because they’re seated, “Return” is also more easily able to keeps characters on the same side of the frame for each camera, which makes the editor’s life at least a little bit easier.
Meanwhile in “Sad Sack Wasp Trap” Logan and Kendall sit, stand, move, lean, move, and sit again, so even shots similar positions constantly change heights as well as angles and sizes.
Adherence To / Departure From the norm
With all those adjustments, “Sad Sack Wasp Trap” has closer to a documentary feel, with cameras adjusting in real time as the characters move around the room.
On the other hand, “Return”’s dinner scene mostly eschews the oft-utilised Succession technique of punching in to accentuate when a character says or realises something devious or important.
Takeaways
I think “Return” feels better, but thats a lot of me, my gut, and my aesthetic preferences.
Sometimes whether you like or loathe a shot or scene is as much gut feeling as rules and technique . . . and directing involves a lot of understanding what techniques in what combinations can create those gut feelings.
Still, there’s no pleasing everyone, so direct towards your aesthetic and end goal.
