Drama Flashcards
Leonardo da Vinci
One of the first artists that used a series of images (instead of just a single drawing) to communicate a more complex idea. Using
several images, basic steps could be followed. The same concept applies to film.
Peter Roget
Coined the term “Persistence of Vision”, a concept that the eye perceives an image for 1/10 of a second longer than it is actually sees it
Canvas
Throughout the ages, man has used different canvas as a means to communicate an idea. The use of canvas can be followed in time
Magic Lantern
A round cylinder with patterns cut into it, mirrors inside of it, and placed over a candle. Used to project images on the walls of a room.
An example of the magic lantern can be found in the film, Sleepy Hollow.
Zoetrope
Hand held devise that had slits cut into the sides. Drawings of different frames of movement were placed inside the cylinder. When the
devise was spun around, the frame began to imitate movement. First use of animation.
Kinetoscope (1891)
A large wooden box with a peephole at the top. Patrons would look into the machine and crank a lever that would turn a wheel
with frames of pictures. First practical application of the kinetoscope was peepshows/women dancers.
Birth of Motion Pictures
Film invented in 1889; Kinetoscope invented in 1891; Fred Ott’s Sneeze filmed in 1894; Edison – 1895, Edison!
Basic Goal of an Artist
To communicate ideas (regardless of how simple or complex) to an audience.
Visual Medium
Film should communicate a majority of its ideas by way of visual communication. A film that communicates well visually is one where an
audience can follow the majority of the storyline without sound turned up.
Film Communication
There are only two basic ways that a film can communicate visually:
Mise-en-scene
Communicating an idea with a single shot.
Montage
Communicating an idea through several shots edited together.
Frame
The smallest compositional unit of film structure
Shot
The basic, unedited unit of film structure
Scene
A vague term that describes a unit of narration.
Sequence
A group of scenes that are similar in nature and are grouped together by content.
Film
A length of footage grouped by sequences edited together to tell a story.
Take
The repetition of a single shot to be used only once.
Mise-en-scene
Manipulation of space) Literal translation - “Putting in the scene”; a term that describes the action, lighting, decor, and other elements
within the shot itself, as opposed to the effects created by editing.
Open Frame -
Objects go beyond the frame
Closed Frame
Objects are confined within the frame.
Foreground
Images closest to the camera.
Background
Images furthest from the camera.
Focus
The clarity and sharpness of an image, limited by the range of distance from the camera
Primary Focus
Object within the frame that is most important.
Secondary Focus
Objects within the frame that is not of Primary Focus.
Sharp Focus -
Objects that have hard lines of clarity
Soft Focus
A dream like effect created by special type of lens, or chemical on the lens.
Rack Focus
Focusing from one object to the next within a single frame.
Objective POV
The camera is a window and the audience looks through to view the people and events of the film from a distance
Subjective POV
The positioning of the camera gives the audience the visual viewpoint and emotional intensity of a character participating in the action
of the film.
Indirect Subjective POV
Not a participant’s P.O.V., but brings the audience close to the action so that we feel intimately involved.
Director’s Interpretive POV -
The Director chooses not only what the audience sees, but how they see it, forcing the audience to react a specific way
Aerial Shots -
Shots taken from planes, cranes
Environmental Shots
Shots used to set up location for the following scene. (Same as an ESTABLISHING SHOT.)
Long Shot
Shot that includes full body of subject and background.
Full Shot
Shot that includes full body of subject, excluding all else.
Medium Shot
A shot distanced midway between a close-up and a full shot.
Close-up Shot
Shot that includes subject’s face only, or any close shot.
Extreme Close-up Shot
Shot of specific part of an area of the subject
Mirror Shot
Shot filmed using a reflection in the mirror
Split-screen Shot
Two or more separate images that do not overlap.
Reaction Shot
A series of shots used to show action and reaction
Montage
Editing or Cutting) Manipulation of time; A series of shots used to convey an idea or image that is not complete
within a single shot
Film
23.97 fps (24 frames per second)
Digital
29.97 fps (frames per second)
Parallel Action
A series of shots used to convey simultaneous action
Freeze Frame
An individual frame that is printed several times to
imitate still photography
Fade-in
Image fades into view from a black or white wash.
Fade-out
Opposite of fade-in.
Dissolve
A transition that superimposes a Fade-in and a Fade-out simultaneously
Wipe
An optical process whereby one image appears to wipe the proceeding image off the screen.
Tilt
Camera swivels up or down.
Pan
Camera swivels side to side.
Zoom
Image moves closer or further from the camera by way of zoom lens. (Two types of zoom = In and Out)
Dolly
Camera moves smoothly on a cart set on tracks.
Tracking
Camera moves forward and backwards on tracks.
Trucking
Camera moves side to side on tracks.
Camera Angle
The perspective which the camera takes on the subject being shot. (Three types of angles = High, Medium, Low.)
Tracking/Trucking Shot
A continuous shot with camera moving
Fixed Shot
A shot that is filmed from a camera mounted on a tripod.
Hand held Shot
A shot that is filmed by a cameraman holding the camera. Used to create a more “life-like” illusion.
Tray Mount
A shot that is filmed mounted on a moving vehicle.
