1. Chicago (2002) dir. Rob Marshall
Production Elements
Camera Techniques

2. Learning Intention Success Criteria
To understand and utilise the meta language associated with Camera techniques when analysing screen products.
Success Criteria
MUST
Take notes and write answers in full paragraphs.
SHOULD
Learn meta language and definitions.
COULD
Try answering the questions in relation to other texts we’ve studied this year.

3. School Assessed Coursework
Your SAC will be a short answer exam, similar to what is excepted in the year 12 exam. You will be required to analyse CHICAGO with a particular focus on elements and how the representations of gender is created.
You can also refer to any of the TVCs or Music Videos we studied during class time.
Friday 28th March

4. How is meaning made in Media?
Production Elements +
Story Elements =
MEANING
Camera techniques
Acting
Mise en scene
Editing
Lighting
Sound
Narrative
Cause and effect
Characters
Point of View
Setting
Time
Multiple storylines

5. Mise en scene Editing Lighting Sound Camera techniques Acting
Simple term
How the element will be phrased on exams
Detailed explanation of element
Camera techniques
Camera/Film/Video techniques and technologies including shot selection, movement and focus
Camera techniques refers to how the camera is positioned to capture a scene, and the techniques and qualities that are used. It may be from different angles, or from a distance, or it may be moving. It is also about the depth of field, focus, shot selection and film stock.
Acting
An actor’s facial expressions, tone of voice and body language
Acting refers to specific characterisations, traits or associations that an actor will add to the character to create a personality. It includes: body language, facial expressions, appearance, gesture, and movement.
Mise en scene
The arrangement of elements in front of the camera, closely related to visual composition
Mise en scene incorporates many aspects. This is the way a scene, or particularly a frame is set up. It is how the director places the characters, props or setting to create a look. Take into consideration: colour, costumes, lighting, shots, setting, camera techniques.
Editing
Editing/vision and sound design and mixing, including style, techniques, placement, pace and rhythm of editing
Editing deals with the way shots are put together, or cut to create the effect that the director wants. It is about placement of scenes, timing, pace and rhythm and the relationship between vision and sound.
Lighting
Lighting, including naturalistic and expressive
Lighting involves creating realistic light, shadows, emphasising objects and people within a scene, natural lighting, and expression and setting a scene. It can also be used to create mood.
Sound
Sound, including, dialogue, music and sound effects
This includes sound track, music, sound effects, diegetic and non diegetic, dialogue, pitch, timbre, duration, rhythm and silence. It is used to create mood, atmosphere, convey emotions of characters.

6. What do we already know? 5 minutes ACTIVITY:
In groups you will be given a series of laminated cards. You must arrange these cards to demonstrate your knowledge of the meta language of CAMERA TECHNIQUES.
5 minutes

7. CAMERA TECHNIQUES
Camera techniques refers to how the camera is positioned to capture a scene, and the techniques and qualities that are used. It may be from different angles, or from a distance, or it may be moving. It is also about the depth of field, focus, shot selection and film stock.
Keep your meta language card safe in your book. Whilst you can’t bring this into the exam or SACs, you will use this whenever you write in class.

8. FOCUS QUESTIONS: CAMERA TECHNIQUES
2 minutes per mark
Define the production element camera techniques. (2 marks)
Describe how the production element camera techniques was used to communicate ideas in the opening sequence of Chicago. (4 marks)
Explain how camera techniques works to establish a representation of gender in Chicago. (5marks)

9. FOCUS QUESTIONS: CAMERA TECHNIQUES
2 minutes per mark
Define the production element camera techniques.
(2 marks)
Answer in four minutes.
For these questions we literally write out word for word – the definition of the production element. This is a no-brainer, rote learning task that everyone should be able to attain full marks for.
PLAYING THE GAME

10. FOCUS QUESTIONS: CAMERA TECHNIQUES
2 minutes per mark
2. Describe how the production element camera techniques was used to communicate ideas in the opening sequence of Chicago.
(4 marks)
For these questions we identify an idea and we describe how it has been constructed using the production element. Follow the simple formula:
PLAYING THE GAME
NAME THE CODE
DESCRIBE THE CODE
LINK TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IDEA
Answer in eight minutes.

11. View the opening sequence

12. Describe the Camera techniques being used here.

18. NOW WRITE
2. Describe how the production element camera techniques was used to communicate ideas in the opening sequence of Chicago.
(4 marks)
plural
For these questions we identify an idea and we describe how it has been constructed using the production element. Follow the simple formula:
PLAYING THE GAME
NAME THE CODE
DESCRIBE THE CODE
LINK TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IDEA
Answer in eight minutes.

19. FOCUS QUESTIONS: CAMERA TECHNIQUES
2 minutes per mark
3. Explain how camera techniques works to establish a representation of gender in Chicago.
(5marks)
PLAYING THE GAME
For these questions we identify an idea specific to representations of gender. Once you’ve identified an idea, keep following the simple formula:
NAME THE CODE
DESCRIBE THE CODE
LINK TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IDEA
Answer in ten minutes.

20. How is Velma’s gender represented in Chicago (2002)?

21. Think about how the camera introduces her to the viewer.

22. Consider both what we are allowed to see and what we aren’t.

23. FOCUS QUESTIONS: CAMERA TECHNIQUES
2 minutes per mark
3. Explain how camera techniques works to establish a representation of gender in Chicago.
(5marks)
PLAYING THE GAME
For these questions we identify an idea specific to representations of gender. Once you’ve identified an idea, keep following the simple formula:
NAME THE CODE
DESCRIBE THE CODE
LINK TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN IDEA
Answer in ten minutes.

24. What did we learn? 5 minutes ACTIVITY:
In groups you will be given the same series of laminated cards from the start of the lesson. You must arrange these cards to demonstrate your knowledge of the meta language of CAMERA TECHNIQUES.
5 minutes

25. Homework: read
p.253