Film Analysis : Looking at Cinematic Technique

The main questions you should be asking when watching a film: What, cinematically stands out? The film angles? The score? The tone? Why would the director make the artistic choices he/she does? How do certain choices, like a specific close up, affect your view of a character or the plot? How would the film differ if different artistic choices were made?

The beginning point; the categorization of a film is usually sorted into the following genres: Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Western Musical Detective Each genre brings along with it certain expectations that change a viewers’ perception. As a future screenwriter/director/editor, be sure to keep this in mind.

“The representation of space affects the reading of a film. Depth, proximity, size and proportions of the places and objects in a film can be manipulated through camera placement and lenses, lighting, decor, effectively determining mood or relationships between elements in the cinematic world.”

Types: Standard Three- Point Lighting Mainstream movies Little to no expression/tone to this type High-key Lighting Musicals or comedies Low-key Lighting Film noir, suspense, horror Natural Lighting documentaries

Décor can be used to amplify character emotion or the dominant mood of a film Can place emphasis on: Class (wealthy vs. poor) Sterility/Impersonality

QUALITY Color Black and white – authenticity; drama Technicolor (The Wizard of Oz) – musicals/comedies Colors do NOT have exclusive meanings Contrast Focus Deep Shallow

Crane shot omniscience Steadycam (handheld) Visceral autorial intervention Pan Connecting places and/or people Tilt Establishing differences between characters (socially, racially, etc.) Tracking Moving with character Whip pan Flashy action-dramas

Transitions Cheap Cut Crosscutting Dissolve Iris Jump Cut Shot/Reverse Shot Superimposition Wipe Matches Eyeline match Graphic match Match on action Duration