1. Cinema

2. Writing about film Words to avoid:
Movies, flicks and motion picture are casual words used by the public to describe films
When writing formal or academic pieces use the word “film”
When typing, the title of the film should be in italics. When writing by hand it should be in quotation marks.

3. Writing about film NOT in first person
- The director made me feel sympathy for the main character
NOT second person
The director makes you feel sympathy for the main character
ALWAYS in third person
- The director encourages the audience to feel sympathy for the main character

4. Writing about film To avoid repetition:
Alternate between the director’s name, “the filmmaker”, “the director” etc.
Alternate between “the audience”, “the viewer” etc
E.g.
Speilberg manipulates the audience…
The filmmaker positions the viewer…
The director utilises a range of techniques…

5. Writing about film
Tom Hanks plays Forrest Gump, an endearing and innocent character with a below average IQ.
Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks is an endearing and innocent character with a below average IQ.
Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is an endearing and innocent character with a below average IQ.

6. Writing about film Don’t say:
“The film uses sound and music to create an eerie atmosphere”
The film didn’t direct itself!

7. Writing about film
Avoid abbreviations and casual everyday language in formal writing.
The movie doesn’t get obvious and boring. It is a really good film with lots of wicked scenes.
Try to be sophisticated when describing the film
The filmmaker displays subtlety and skill. This outstanding film showcases the director’s ability to manipulate the audience in a range of compelling scenes.

8. Basic Film Terms
Shot – a continuous piece of filming without interruption
An Edit – a break in the film where one shot finishes and the next begins
4 common types:
Cuts
Dissolves
Fades
Wipes

9. Basic Film Terms
A Scene – a collection of shots arrabged through editing in a specific order
The Frame – border or edge of the screen
Framing – the art of deciding what audience will see
Diegesis – everything contained within the world of the film e.g. sounds made by the characters

10. Basic Film Terms
Non-diegetic elements - parts of the film that are external to the world of the film.
e.g. soundtrack, credits

11. Film Terms
Narrative – the storyline of the film. The sequence of events placed in the correct order to make meaning
Genre – set of narrative and stylistic “rules” common to a “type” of movie. Rules which audiences are familiar with and filmmakers adhere to e.g. Western

12. Film Terms
Intertextuality – reference to another film to deliberately evoke the audiences memory of that film
Classic Hollywood Cinema – style of filmmaking pioneered by filmmakers in the US. It is the dominant style in Western cinema
Arthouse cinema – independent films that deliberately defy the conventions of classic Hollywood cinema

13. Film Style Mise-en-scéne all the visual elements within the frame
Cinematography the art of photographing moving images
Editing – art of putting shots together in a desired sequence
Sound – all the audio elements within the film
E.g. dialogue, sound effects, soundtrack

14. Moving Images
Making short films

15. Basic Film Terms
Shot – a continuous piece of filming without interruption
An Edit – a break in the film where one shot finishes and the next begins. There are four common types of edits:
Cuts
Dissolves
Fades
Wipes

16. Cuts

17. Cuts

18. Dissolves

19. Dissolves

20. Fades

21. Fades

22. Wipes

23. Wipes

24. Basic Film Terms
A Scene – a collection of shots arranged through editing in a specific order
The Frame – border or edge of the screen
Framing – the art of deciding what audience will see
Diegesis – everything contained within the world of the film e.g. sounds made by the characters

25. Basic Film Terms
Non-diegetic elements - parts of the film that are external to the world of the film.
e.g. soundtrack, credits

26. Film Terms
Narrative – the storyline of the film. The sequence of events placed in the correct order to make meaning
Genre – set of narrative and stylistic “rules” common to a “type” of movie. Rules which audiences are familiar with and filmmakers adhere to e.g. Western

27. Film Terms
Intertextuality – reference to another film to deliberately evoke the audiences memory of that film
Classic Hollywood Cinema – style of filmmaking pioneered by filmmakers in the US. It is the dominant style in Western cinema
Arthouse cinema – independent films that deliberately defy the conventions of classic Hollywood cinema

28. Film Style Mise-en-scéne all the visual elements within the frame
Cinematography the art of photographing moving images
Editing – art of putting shots together in a desired sequence
Sound – all the audio elements within the film
E.g. dialogue, sound effects, soundtrack

29. Camera Angles EL – Eye level: horizontal, on the same level.
HA – High angle: above the subject looking down.
LA – Low angle: below the subject looking up.

30. What camera angle has been used here?
High angle shot (HA)
What effect does it have?
It makes the person seem small and insignificant.

31. What camera angle has been used here?
Eye level shot (EL) What effect does it have? It makes the actors seem equal in stature and importance

32. What camera angle has been used here?
Eye level shot. What effect does it have? It makes the person seem small and insignificant.

33. What camera angle has been used here?
Low angle shot. What effect does it have? It makes the person seem huge and overpowering.

34. Cinematography
Establishing shot: orients the audience into the world of the film, slowly drawing them into the plot without effecting the progression of the story: it is a solid foundation from which to build the plot. 

35. Camera Work
Close up: causes the audience to feel uneasy, and to focus their attention fully on the subject of the shot.

36. Camera Work

37. Camera Work

38. Tilted frame/dutch shot creates a disorientating sense of unease

41. High angle shot

42. High angle shot

43. Low angle shot

44. Crane shot 

45. POV shot