1. Year 8 English Willow Film Techniques

2. Why study film Techniques? 1.Helps understand how a film is constructed 2.Helps deepen our appreciation of the film 3.Helps understand the deeper meanings in films 4.Helps if we ever make our own films A film is built up in LAYERS using an incredible number of talented film artists (just look at the end credits of a film). This powerpoint will give a brief overview of the different elements that go to constructing any film. It is your task as film students to identify what choices these artists make, and why they might make them.

3. What are Film Techniques? Essentially in two areas - Visuals and SoundSound VISUALS - Shot TypeShot Type - Camera Angles and the Camera Angles and the Moving Camera - Colours and LightingColours and Lighting - Editing choicesEditing choices - Text/GraphicsText/Graphics

4. SHOT TYPE How far away a camera is from the subject determines what type of shot it is called. These are the 5 main types of shot: Extreme Long Shot Long Shot Medium Shot Close Up Extreme Close Up

5. Extreme Long Shot In the Extreme Long Shot (ELS), also known as the Wide Shot (WS), the subject is small in the overall image. This framing is sometimes referred to as an Establishing Shot and is perfect for emphasising the background and environment the character is against, especially as the first shot within a sequence.

6. Long Shot In the Long Shot (LS) the whole subject is in frame. The usual convention of the Long Shot (LS) is that the character’s head and feet are nearly touching the top and bottom of frame.

7. Medium Shot The convention of the Medium Shot (MS), is (when framing a person) approximately half of their body is in shot, ie. from waist up.

8. Close Up The Close Up Shot (CU) shows a detail of the overall subject or action- ie. the head or hands if it is a person. They help us relate to the person more closely and see their emotional reactions to situations.

9. Extreme Close Up With the Extreme Close Up (ECU), a small detail of the subject is framed, often enlarged more than life size, creating a distortion of scale. Used sparingly in feature films, and not enough in student films!

10. CAMERA ANGLES There are FOUR basic camera angles used in professional video sequences:. 1. Eye Level 2. High Angle 3. Low Angle 4. “Dutch” or Tilted Angle THE MOVING CAMERA The camera can also move. Either just the lens moves in and out (Zooming) or the Camera itself can move: - Tilt : camera moves vertically - Pan : camera moves horizontally - Tracking : camera follows a moving subject - Crane/Helicopter/Car etc: camera moves with a subject

11. Eye Level As the label indicates, the angle of the camera is at eye level. This gives the audience the most ‘realistic’ vision of the characters.

12. High Angle The camera is above the subject in the frame. This makes the subject (s) appear smaller and less important than an eye level or low angle shot

13. Low Angle The camera is below the subject in the frame. This makes the subject (s) appear larger and more important than an eye level or high angle shot.

14. “Dutch” or Tilted Angle The camera is set at an unusual angle. This creates a slightly distorted and ‘wacky’ feeling for the shot.

15. Colours and Lighting COLOURS Films use colours and lighting deliberately to create a certain mood or atmosphere. It is possible to change the colours of a realistic scene to make it more imaginative and artistic. The choice of costumes is also important here. Note the sort of colours used in Willow.

16. Colours and Lighting 2 LIGHTING - Lighting is one of the most important and complex parts of filmmaking. A cinematographer (the person operating the camera) uses both natural (ie the sun) and artificial (large and very expensive) lighting to create the correct effect. The subject(s) of the shot need to be seen and the correct atmosphere needs to be created.

17. Climax Editing Choices - known as Montage FILM STRUCTURE - A normal feature length film is made up of distinct parts. Most films consist of THREE main ACTS (ACT 1, 2, 3) which correspond to Beginning, Middle, and End TensionTension T i m e Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Resolution

18. Editing Choices 2 Within each Act are a number of smaller sequences or SCENES and within each scene are individual SHOTS. Each Shot can be distinguished by a TRANSITION The most common Transition is the CUT (in fact 95% of all film transitions are cuts). Other types include: - Fade In - Fade Out (normally to black) - Cross Dissolve - Wipe (used mostly in Star Wars films How fast shots are cut and the type of transition used give a certain feel, pace and rhythm to a film. Take a typical action scene from a film and count how many separate shots there are - you’ll be amazed!

19. TEXT and Special Visual FX Another important element of the construction of a film are the text (writing) and Special Visual FX used. Willow was made in the late 1980’s when computers were only just being used to create special effects, so many of the fantasy creatures are ‘real’ - puppets and/or humans in suits. Nowadays most SFX are done entirely by computer (CGI). Text is used for the opening TITLE SEQUENCE - a very important part of a film. Look at the different Font choices and how an opening sequence is put together. This will tell you a lot about the film. (View the Title Sequence)

20. SOUND Professional film cameras do not have microphones so sound has to be recorded and added separately. Each part of the sound mix is put together in layers in order to create a Soundtrack. These layers are: Ambient Sound Dialogue Special Sound FX Music

21. Ambient Sound This is the Background Sound of a film. It includes birds, running water, insects and so on -whatever is required to create a realistic soundscape for the scene. Most ambient sound is recorded separately and added in the final MIX. A computer program like GARAGEBAND helps create this Ambient soundtrack.

22. Dialogue This is essential for the story to be understood, although all silent films had no dialogue (obviously). Some dialogue is recorded on set, but a large % is recorded after the film is shot. This is called ADR and takes place when the actors watch themselves on a big screen and have to match their original vocal performance EXACTLY (known as lipsynching or DUBBING). Most films will record the dialogue if possible. This is done using a BOOM microphone

23. Special Sound FX Gun shots, walking on gravel, the sounds of punches and so on, are always recorded and added separately and after the film is shot. This is called Foley, and there are special artists who do this for a living. Sometimes prerecorded effects are used, sometimes the Foley artist has a range of special equipment which they can use to create the effect as they watch it on a big screen.

24. Music An incredibly important part of a modern film. This is one of the last things to be created, recorded and added in the soundtrack. COMPOSERS view the film and then score an appropriate soundtrack.The type of instruments used and the music written, add an incredible amount of emotional power to a film. Most film soundtracks are performed by Classical Orchestras. Listen to the type of music played in Willow and think about how it adds to the atmosphere of the film. Imagine if other types of music were used (eg House or Thrash Metal!!)