How is dialog between two people filmed?

Question

I was always wondering how dialog between two people is filmed.Suppose there are two people talking. The screen is switching between faces of the characters while they talk.How it is done in reality?Are there two cameras filming both faces simultaneously and the actors just talking as usual? Or is the camera filming each actor separately while they say their part of text?

Answer 1

Sometimes two cameras are used during a dialogue scene but that can get complicated because of the differing lighting needs of the two angles (the lights for one shot may cast a shadow on the other shot).

So, generally, all the shots on character A are lit, rehearsed, and filmed from one angle -- at the same time, and then all the shots of character B are shot. This saves a lot of time, because you don't have to switch over after every few words; just film continuously on each actor.

Usually, a "master shot" showing both people is shot first -- and those light can generally be used for the close-ups. Over-the-shoulder angles (two-shots) can also be shot before setting up for the close-ups.

Answer 2

Sometimes two cameras are used during a dialogue scene but that can get complicated because of the differing lighting needs of the two angles (the lights for one shot may cast a shadow on the other shot).

So, generally, all the shots on character A are lit, rehearsed, and filmed from one angle -- at the same time, and then all the shots of character B are shot. This saves a lot of time, because you don't have to switch over after every few words; just film continuously on each actor.

Usually, a "master shot" showing both people is shot first -- and those light can generally be used for the close-ups. Over-the-shoulder angles (two-shots) can also be shot before setting up for the close-ups. In the famous taxi scene in On the Waterfront, Rod Steiger had to relate to a light stand because his co-star, Marlon Brando, refused to feed him his lines while Steiger was being filmed in close-up. (Brando won the Best Actor Oscar that year!)