1. Visual Cinematic Techniques, Their Meaning, and Literary Connections

2. Framing- The Long Shot
Character(s) or object(s) seen in the distance appear somewhat small in relation to their surroundings.
Can suggest powerlessness
Emile Hersch, Into the Wild

3. Another Long Shot: Cary Grant in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest

4. Medium Shot Shows a character from the waist up
This is a neutral, natural shot, common in our everyday lives.
Nick Cage, Raising Arizona

5. Close-up Shot
A shot in which the object or face of the character takes up most of the movie screen.
A subjective point of view
Shows emotion
Can cause viewer to identify with character

6. Another close-up shot: James Stewart in Hitchcock’s Vertigo

7. Camera Angle: Low Angle
The camera is located in a lower position than the subject.
Suggests character has power
Subjective narration

8. Eye Level Angle
The camera is positioned at the eye level of the actor.
Natural, neutral shot
Objective narration

9. High Angle The camera is positioned above the character.
Suggests powerlessness or danger for the character.
Subjective narration

10. Another High Angle: James Stewart in Hitchcock’s Vertigo

11. Dutch Angle
The camera tilts slightly so that the image or character appears sideways, to one degree or another, within the frame.
Often used in gangster or horror films

12. Dutch Angle continued
The tilted image can imply danger or moral uncertainty in an otherwise static or normal situation.

13. Lighting- Low-Key/ Side Lighting
A small source of light in an otherwise dark set causes deep shadows.
Creates a mood of suspicion, mystery danger
suggests character is evil, or is hiding something
Ingrid Bergman in Hitchcock’s Notorious

14. Low-Key Lighting continued

15. High-Key/ Front Lighting
An even light source with few shadows
Suggests honesty, nothing to hide, safety

16. Editing: Fade
The image on screen slowly fades away and the screen goes black until the next shot fades in.
Establishes a connection between the two objects or characters
Juxtaposition, analogy, metaphor, or irony

17. Editing: Dissolve
One image fades out as another image fades in so that two images are on the screen briefly at the same time.

18. Dissolve can create irony or mood

19. Cinematic Elements