1. The Technical Aspect of Film
Behind the Scenes

2. Creating the right shot
What surrounds the actors gives shape to what they say
Mise-en-scene – French term
“putting on the stage”
Blocking, camera position, lighting
We will examine the following: angles, lighting, framing, and camera movement

3. Angles The angle is at what height a shot is taken
The following angles can be used
Low angle – looking up
High angle – looking down
Eye-level – straight on
Canted – camera tilted slightly
Worm’s eye – looking from ground
Bird’s eye – looking from sky

4. Low Angle

5. High Angle

6. High / Low Angle and Power
In looking at the high angle and low angle shots, which conveys more power?
To whom does the power belong in the low angle shot?
To whom does the power belong in the high angle shot?

7. Canted

8. Eye Level

9. Worm’s Eye

10. Bird’s Eye
Often used in conjunction with the extreme long shot to provide an establishing shot.

11. Lighting Three main types of lighting
Soft / Harsh – manipulate a viewer’s attitude toward a setting or a character. Lighting can make a character/scene look ugly, beautiful, artificial, or real
Backlighting – a romantic heroine backlit to give halo effect on her hair
Used in many old movies

12. Lighting (cont.) Terms for lighting Key – shines in front of actor
Film Noir
Fill – angled from sides – fill out shadows
Used in 50s, 60s, 70s frequently
Back – adds depth, gives 3D quality
Romantic, melodrama

13. Soft / Harsh Lighting

14. Backlighting
Casablanca

15. Framing
The cinematographer and director have to decide ‘how much’ to actually have in the shot
Different frames
Extreme Long Shot
Long Shot
Medium Shots
Close-up
Extreme Close-up
Establishing Shot – set a scene

16. Extreme Long Shot

17. Long Shot

18. Medium

19. Close-up

20. Extreme Close-up

21. Camera Movement Camera movements are vital
Pan – camera swivels from L-R or R-L
Track – camera on railroad tracks
Zoom – done with lense
Crane – camera on a crane
Popular but expensive
Steadicam – a person can move without the camera seeming to move