Film Techniques

Camera Shots and Movement in Film/Video “First and foremost, a film is visual rather than verbal. Thus, the feelings and ideas communicated by words must be changed to feelings and ideas communicated by visual symbols.” -Dr. F. Marcus, How Does a Movie Mean? Camera Shots and Movement in Film/Video “First and foremost, a film is visual rather than verbal. Thus, the feelings and ideas communicated by words must be changed to feelings and ideas communicated by visual symbols.” -Dr. F. Marcus, How Does a Movie Mean? How does the following film use a variety of shots and other creative techniques to convey a mood, message or story? How does the following film use a variety of shots and other creative techniques to convey a mood, message or story? IC4JPw IC4JPw IC4JPw IC4JPw

Films allow the camera to do the talking - it is first and foremost a visual medium Films allow the camera to do the talking - it is first and foremost a visual medium Shot - A shot is the film exposed from the time the camera is started to the time it is stopped. Shot and Scene are interchangeable terms Shot - A shot is the film exposed from the time the camera is started to the time it is stopped. Shot and Scene are interchangeable terms Sequence – A series of shots put together. Sequence – A series of shots put together. How many shots are in the following sequence? How many shots are in the following sequence? Y2B4g Y2B4g Y2B4g Y2B4g Film is a Visual Medium

4 Cut - The cutting apart of 2 shots Cut - The cutting apart of 2 shots Edit - The cutting and arranging of shots Edit - The cutting and arranging of shots It is the job of a film editor to arrange shots together to create meaning &q=fantastic+film+editing&ei=98gjSKOXPIj6-gHdxc2kDA&hl=en &q=fantastic+film+editing&ei=98gjSKOXPIj6-gHdxc2kDA&hl=en Editing

Shots As Words Just as words are the building blocks of a written language, individual shots are the building blocks of the film language. And different shots can be thought of as different parts of speech, serving different purposes and answering different questions. Shots As Words Just as words are the building blocks of a written language, individual shots are the building blocks of the film language. And different shots can be thought of as different parts of speech, serving different purposes and answering different questions.

Close-up Close-up The subject framed by the camera fills the screen. Often these shots have a symbolic value and focus on emotion, reactions of characters or specific details. The subject framed by the camera fills the screen. Often these shots have a symbolic value and focus on emotion, reactions of characters or specific details. What emotion is being conveyed in this close-up? What emotion is being conveyed in this close-up?

Extreme Close-Up Extreme Close-Up The extreme close-up helps create tension or puts us in the character’s head - it will also help convey one single idea to the audience The extreme close-up helps create tension or puts us in the character’s head - it will also help convey one single idea to the audience What idea is being conveyed here? What idea is being conveyed here?

Medium shot (MS) Generally speaking, this shot frames a character from the waist, hips or knees up (or down). The camera is sufficiently distanced from the body for the character to be seen in relation to her or his surroundings (in an apartment, for example). Medium shot (MS) Generally speaking, this shot frames a character from the waist, hips or knees up (or down). The camera is sufficiently distanced from the body for the character to be seen in relation to her or his surroundings (in an apartment, for example). This is the most common shot in television shows and this shot helps to convey action. This is the most common shot in television shows and this shot helps to convey action.

Long shot (LS) / Wide Shot / Establishing Shot Long shot (LS) / Wide Shot / Establishing Shot Subject or characters are at some distance from the camera; they are seen in full within their surrounding environment. Subject or characters are at some distance from the camera; they are seen in full within their surrounding environment. This shot shows a whole scene and establishes the setting. This shot shows a whole scene and establishes the setting. What is the setting here? What is the setting here?

Extreme long shot (ELS) The subject or characters are very much to the background of the shot. Surroundings now have as much if not more importance, especially if the shot is in high angle. Extreme long shot (ELS) The subject or characters are very much to the background of the shot. Surroundings now have as much if not more importance, especially if the shot is in high angle. What feelings / emotions does this this shot convey? What feelings / emotions does this this shot convey?

Point-of- view shots: Point-of- view shots: The camera is used in such a way as to suggest the point of view of a particular character. The camera is used in such a way as to suggest the point of view of a particular character. High- or low-angle shots indicate where she or he is looking from High- or low-angle shots indicate where she or he is looking from a panoramic or panning shot suggests she or he is surveying the scene a panoramic or panning shot suggests she or he is surveying the scene a tracking shot or a hand- held camera shot signifies the character on motion a tracking shot or a hand- held camera shot signifies the character on motion creates connection to character, suspense, etc creates connection to character, suspense, etc

Camera Angle The angle at which the camera is pointed at the subject: camera angle (the position of the frame in relation to the subject it shows). Camera Angle The angle at which the camera is pointed at the subject: camera angle (the position of the frame in relation to the subject it shows). A high angle is when camera is looking down, low angle when looking up. A high angle is when camera is looking down, low angle when looking up. Low Low Eye-level Eye-level High High Which is which? High Angle Shot

14 Bird’s Eye View Bird’s Eye View Very high angle shot, can be used to help convey connection between characters and setting, can also represent looking at things from “heaven” Very high angle shot, can be used to help convey connection between characters and setting, can also represent looking at things from “heaven”

15 Cut Away Shot Cut Away Shot A shot that cuts away to action that is not part of a sequence but is related. A shot that cuts away to action that is not part of a sequence but is related. Helps create suspense. Helps create suspense.

– Tilting : The camera can move vertically up or down on a horizontal axis to record a person climbing a flight of stairs. –Nodding your head “yes” is a tilt –can be used to help introduce a character, setting, create suspense / anticipation –

Panning : The word pan is a contraction of the panoramic and is used to describe the movement of the camera from side to side (horizontal movement) on a vertical axis to follow the action in a scene; if your head were a camera, the movement would be akin to you shaking your head “no.” Pan shots are often used to establish the setting for the audience. Panning : The word pan is a contraction of the panoramic and is used to describe the movement of the camera from side to side (horizontal movement) on a vertical axis to follow the action in a scene; if your head were a camera, the movement would be akin to you shaking your head “no.” Pan shots are often used to establish the setting for the audience

Colors and Lighting The director creates meaning in the shots themselves, the editor creates meaning in shots put together, and the cinematographer helps create meaning throughout the film through the use of lighting and color (the director offers input on what colors are used) The director creates meaning in the shots themselves, the editor creates meaning in shots put together, and the cinematographer helps create meaning throughout the film through the use of lighting and color (the director offers input on what colors are used) What emotions do you associate with the colours here? What emotions do you associate with the colours here?

Backlighting - When the lights for a shot derive from the rear of the set, thus throwing the foreground figures into semidarkness or silhouette. Backlighting - When the lights for a shot derive from the rear of the set, thus throwing the foreground figures into semidarkness or silhouette. What mood does this type of lighting create? What mood does this type of lighting create?

What “emotional response” is created in the following scene? What “emotional response” is created in the following scene? How is lighting used in the following scene to create an “emotional” response in the viewer? How is lighting used in the following scene to create an “emotional” response in the viewer? 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en 06&ei=kwUpSI6PCKS8-AGbpdXpCQ&hl=en

21Color Label all of your emotional responses on the squares of color. Label all of your emotional responses on the squares of color. Filmmakers like to use color to help direct the emotional response of the viewers - what emotional responses are conveyed to you in the following scene? Filmmakers like to use color to help direct the emotional response of the viewers - what emotional responses are conveyed to you in the following scene? 35

Sound! Sound! Sound is an incredibly important part of film; even though film is largely a visual medium, sound is often used to add to the story or heighten the emotional realism of the film. Sound is an incredibly important part of film; even though film is largely a visual medium, sound is often used to add to the story or heighten the emotional realism of the film. Emotional Realism: Emotional Realism: The same sound can serve both the physical and the emotional meaning. It is possible to superimpose the emotional realism over the physical of the scene. The sound track reflects the mood of the story and the characters feelings. Both effects and the film score/music can create emotional realism. The same sound can serve both the physical and the emotional meaning. It is possible to superimpose the emotional realism over the physical of the scene. The sound track reflects the mood of the story and the characters feelings. Both effects and the film score/music can create emotional realism. wHurOnKDA&q=john+williams+on+jaws&hl=en wHurOnKDA&q=john+williams+on+jaws&hl=en wHurOnKDA&q=john+williams+on+jaws&hl=en wHurOnKDA&q=john+williams+on+jaws&hl=en

Diegetic Sound Diegetic sound Diegetic sound Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: -voices of characters -voices of characters -sounds made by objects in the story -sounds made by objects in the story -music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music) -music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music) Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world. Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world. Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound

Non-Diegetic Sound Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: -narrator's commentary -narrator's commentary -sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect -sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect -mood music -mood music Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space. We know that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are represented as coming from outside the space of the story events. A play with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to surprise the audience (comedy). Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space. We know that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are represented as coming from outside the space of the story events. A play with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to surprise the audience (comedy). View the following clip and determine what is diegetic film sound and what is non- diegetic film sound. View the following clip and determine what is diegetic film sound and what is non- diegetic film sound How does the use of sound heighten the emotional realism of this grizzly scene? How does the use of sound heighten the emotional realism of this grizzly scene?

25 Putting it All Together How do the conventions of film (composition of shots, editing, colors, sound) help tell the story in the following clip? How does each convention add to the story? How do the conventions of film (composition of shots, editing, colors, sound) help tell the story in the following clip? How does each convention add to the story? Answer in a well-developed paragraph. Answer in a well-developed paragraph. 39