Breaking the Framing Rules – New Storytelling Sessions Webinar on June 30th

MZed Education

by Mascha DeikovaJune 19^th, 2026

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Do you know the saying “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist?” It is often attributed to the maestro Pablo Picasso, and it carries a decent grain of truth. So, that’s exactly what we are going to do during our next free webinar for the interactive MZed-format “Storytelling Sessions.” We will observe some of the common framing rules and analyze what happens when you break them. More information and the registration link follow below.

But let’s agree first: There is no such thing as rules in art, and filmmaking is indeed an art form. It is just a common expression based on various conventions that have emerged over the last century of cinema. There are things that we are used to and which, in most cases, make sense to follow – like the 180-degree rule. Yet they are not set in stone, and we can play with them. How to? That’s what we’re going to talk about on June 30^th. Click here to register for free!

What are Storytelling Sessions on MZed?

“Storytelling Sessions” is our latest format for the educational platform MZed. It is a webinar series in which we look at the tools and techniques that all serve one purpose – great storytelling. Each session focuses on a specific topic from a different area of filmmaking (visual storytelling, the language of editing, impactful writing, and so on). During these webinars, we cover the key theory bits and break down film scenes. For those who attend live, it is also an opportunity to ask questions and share insights with fellow filmmakers.

Our first webinar was dedicated to the exciting and philosophical topic of “Silence in Film” and the ways in which it can be an impactful storytelling tool. You can watch the recorded version on MZed – for that, head over here.

And in the previous session in May, we talked about the superpowers of editing and how to unleash them in your projects. By the way, this webinar’s recording, titled “The Mighty Cut,” is coming to the MZed library very soon. Thus, if you missed it, please stay tuned for our further announcements.

On top of that, this project is part of the “Sessions,” our new interactive format on MZed, designed to make communication with our community more direct and two-way. It will become a separate section on the platform, bringing together different kinds of live events: webinars, Q&As with MZed educators, and regular Check-In Livestreams with Pro Members. The idea behind “Sessions” is to engage the community more actively, hear your thoughts and ideas, and make MZed feel not only like a library of courses, but also like a living exchange.

Breaking the Framing Rules – hard facts

The “Breaking the Framing Rules” webinar will take place online via Microsoft Teams on June 30th. It will start at 10 AM EDT / 4 PM CEST and last approximately 1 hour. (It might take a little longer, because we try to answer all the questions of participants and also include a short entertaining quiz at the end, but you can definitely plan 60 minutes for the main theoretical part.) 

I will host this webinar, but I promise you that it won’t be a boring “talking head” format. To analyze each framing convention, we will examine classic and contemporary film examples and discuss them.

The live attendance is completely free of charge. To join the webinar, please head over here and register. The Microsoft Teams link will be sent to your email. Then you’ll just have to come on June 30^th – it’s that simple!

In case you cannot attend live, no worries. After a short time, the webinar recording will be added to our MZed library and will become available to all subscribers. So, it’s also a short heads-up for all live participants: Yes, we will record the session, but! We do not show any faces, voices, or other private information in the recording, so you can safely attend and interact in the chat (or simply watch without being active at all).

What framing rules are we going to talk about?

There are many conventions in cinematography, framing, and visual composition. Naturally, we won’t be able to cover all of them within the dedicated webinar hour. (In truth, we’ll probably need weeks for that.) Thus, I’ll concentrate on the most “famous” and common ones. For some of you, it will be like revisiting the basics. Yet we will also look at curious examples of cinema that purposefully break those rules and achieve a wide variety of powerful effects on viewers. 

In the webinar, we will talk about:

• The famous rule of thirds, and why symmetrical composition does not always belong to it, and can sometimes even be disturbing;
• Headroom, and what message the frames convey when they have too much of it; 
• Nose room, especially in the dialogue scenes, and how to play with it on your own terms;
• The 180-degree rule, and when it’s a great idea to jump the axis;

and other visual conventions that can strengthen your story when you choose to break them deliberately.

How to participate in the webinar?

Participating in this webinar live is free of charge. All you need to do is click on this link, register for the session, and save the date. “Breaking the Framing Rules” will start at 10 AM EDT / 4 PM CEST on June 30^th (Tuesday). Thank you, and I’ll be thrilled to see you there!

What do you think about framing rules and conventions in general? Are they something that you follow a lot, or are you rather on the “break the rules” side? What visual composition conventions in the films would you like to discuss? Let us know in the comments below!

Full disclosure: MZed is owned by CineD.