basic film terms Flashcards
film treatment
A film treatment is a short synopsis of a film, usually just a page or two in length, presented to a producer in hopes of getting the full screenplay optioned.
film’s screenplay
The film’s screenplay is a scene-by-scene description of what is to take place in the film. It is limited to describing only what can be seen or heard on screen (it does not offer insights into what a character is thinking or feeling).
Storyboards
Storyboards are used to map out scenes that will be difficult to film either because of choreography or the use of visual effects. They can be extremely detailed or somewhat rudimentary. Some directors prefer to illustrate their own storyboards, while others hire professional storyboard artists for the job.
sequence
A sequence is a series of shots edited together to create a sense of cohesion. Most sequences involve multiple shots from different distances and angles.
Shot
A shot is the smallest unit of film, a continuous take beginning when the camera turns on and ending when it is turned of.
In this particular sequence, nine separate shots were edited together; in other words, this scene had to be shot a minimum of nine times… and that’s
assuming the actors delivered their performances perfectly on the first take each time!
Establishing shots
Establishing shots (also called “master shots”) are long or extreme long shots used to signal the setting, and often the tone, for the scene that follows.
What elements of this establishing shot help convey the sense of tone in this film?
Camera Distance (far)
The further back a subject appears from the audience, the less personal the connection the audience generally feels. Instead, emphasis is placed on the
subject’s surroundings.
Camera Distance (close)
But as the camera distance decreases, the subjects presence becomes increasingly immediate.
Just as in real life, the closer a subject appears to us, the more we feel we are sharing a space with them.
Low Angle
A low angle shot makes the subject appear powerful, in control, heroic, or menacing. Think of how children see the world of adults from their own ‘low
angle’ perspective.
High Angle
In contrast to low angle shots, high angle shots tend to make the subject appear weak, non-intimidating, pathetic, endearing, or scared.
Birds Eye View
A bird’s eye view shot is the most disorienting shot in cinematography. It is often utilized to make things appear awkward, uncomfortable, or confusing.
One-shots
One-shots are just what they sound like: a shot with only one person in frame. One-shots are sometimes used to show people in isolation from one
another, and they are mostly about the interaction between the subject and his environment.
Two Shot
A two-shot has a more complex dynamic than a one-shot as it is often used to convey the relationship between two people.
Wide Angle
A wide angle lens allows for near-infinite depth of focus and exaggerates distance.
Wide angle lenses are typically used when a filmmaker wishes to emphasize the surrounding environment as much as the central subject.
telephoto lens
A telephoto lens has much more limited range of focus but allows the camera to be much further back from the subject. It also compresses the appearance of distance between the subject and what lies before or behind it.
Telephoto lenses are used when a filmmaker wishes to emphasize solely the character(s) by separating them from their surroundings.
