CHAPTER 2 THE LANGUAGE OF MOTION PICTURES

OBJECTIVES Explore the elements of Visual Composition; Explore the elements of Visual Composition; Examine the Language Elements of moving pictures; Examine the Language Elements of moving pictures; Acquire knowledge to Compose an Entire Scene Seamlessly; Acquire knowledge to Compose an Entire Scene Seamlessly; Learn how to maintain Continuity, and avoid common mistakes in building Image Sequences. Learn how to maintain Continuity, and avoid common mistakes in building Image Sequences.

COMPOSITION: THE FRAME

COMPOSITION: ASPECT RATIO

COMPOSITION: RULE of THIRDS

REPRESENTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE Depth and Perspective

Scale Scale Foreground and Background Foreground and Background Light and Shadow Light and Shadow Headroom and Noseroom Headroom and Noseroom Mise en Scene Mise en Scene Angle Angle REPRESENTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE Depth and Perspective

SHOT TYPES LONG SHOT (LS)

SHOT TYPES MEDIUM SHOT (MS)

SHOT TYPES CLOSE-UP (CU)

SHOT TYPES EXTREME CLOSE-UP (ECU)

MORE SHOT TYPES Medium Long Shot (MLS) Medium Long Shot (MLS) Medium Close-Up (MCU) Medium Close-Up (MCU) Two-Shot Two-Shot Three-Shot Three-Shot

MORE SHOT TYPES Objective Perspective Objective Perspective Subjective Perspective Subjective Perspective Point-of-view Shot Point-of-view Shot Over-the-shoulder Shots Over-the-shoulder Shots Overhead Shot Overhead Shot

MOVING SHOT TYPES An element in a motion picture can be defined by its location in Four Dimensions: its place in Width, Height, Depth, and Time.

MOVING SHOT TYPES Pan Pan Tilt Tilt Zoom Zoom Dolly Dolly Tracking (Trucking) Tracking (Trucking)

Frame Frame Shot Shot Scene Scene Sequence Sequence Act Act Feature, Episode, or Program Feature, Episode, or Program Season Season Series Series BUILDING BLOCKS OF VISUAL PROGRAMS

Cut Cut Fade – in Fade – in Fade – out Fade – out Dissolve Dissolve Wipe Wipe TRANSITIONS

THE MASTER SCENE METHOD Master Shot Captures all of the Relevant Action Gathers other shots to provide Variety Directs the audience’s Attention

THE MASTER SCENE METHOD

“Photos Courtesy of William Olsen; Illustration by Jesse Knight”

CONTINUITY Physical Continuity Continuity ErrorsContinuity Errors Script SupervisorScript Supervisor Temporal Continuity Overlapping ActionOverlapping Action Jump CutsJump Cuts Spatial Continuity Position JumpsPosition Jumps EyelinesEyelines

The Line CONTINUITY

EXERCISES 1. Select a classic painting. What is the Story told in the painting? How would you adapt the painting into a Scene for a motion picture? 2.Write an idea for an Original scene that can be recorded using the master scene method. Construct the scene Without sound or title cards. How will you communicate the story to the Audience? 3. Using a Still camera, take three pictures that demonstrate a change in a person’s situation from Happy to Sad. How do Angle, Framing, and Surrounding Elements support your story? Copyright 2008 Taylor and Francis