EXPERIMENTAL FILM / CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY / 2026
360° Cinematography
in Dialogue Scenes
A comparison with traditional shot–reverse–shot methods.
A short demonstration of the three editing approaches explored during the project.
THE IDEA
What if we could film a conversation differently?
Traditional dialogue scenes are often constructed using shot–reverse–shot editing, where separate camera angles are used to capture each character's performance. Although effective, this approach can require multiple setups and repeated takes.
For my final-year project at the University of Limerick, I investigated whether placing a 360° camera between two actors could preserve the natural timing of their interaction while allowing the scene to be framed and edited afterwards.
Rather than using 360° footage for virtual reality, I explored its potential as a production tool for conventional filmmaking.
THE EXPERIMENT
One dialogue scene.
Three different edits.
I filmed a dialogue sequence using both conventional camera coverage and 360° capture, then produced three versions to compare performance continuity, framing and editorial flexibility.
01 / CONVENTIONAL
Blackmagic Edit
A conventional edit using footage captured with a Blackmagic camera. This version provides a reference for traditional dialogue coverage and shot–reverse–shot editing.
02 / 360° REFRAMING
Insta360 Edit
The same dialogue sequence captured with a 360° camera and reframed in post-production. Both performances could be recorded simultaneously, allowing camera angles to be selected after filming.
03 / CREATIVE EXPLORATION
Creative 360° Edit
A more experimental interpretation of the 360° footage, exploring alternative compositions and transitions beyond conventional shot–reverse–shot grammar.
THE FINDINGS
New possibilities. Different limitations.
The experiment demonstrated that 360° capture could preserve performance continuity by allowing both actors to perform together in a single take. It also offered greater flexibility during editing, with framing decisions made after filming.
However, this flexibility came with limitations, particularly when precise control over composition and framing was required.
Ultimately, the research suggested that 360° cinematography works best as a complementary filmmaking technique rather than a complete replacement for conventional dialogue coverage.
FULL RESEARCH
Read the research.
The complete report documents the project's theoretical background, production methodology, comparative analysis and conclusions.
READ FULL REPORT ↗