Film Devices Flashcards
Costume design
Tilly’s couture dresses contrast with the drab, outdated clothing of the townspeople, symbolizing transformation and rebellion.
Props
The sewing machine becomes a symbol of Tilly’s power and skill.
Setting
The barren, dusty landscape reflects the town’s bleakness and narrow-mindedness.
Flashbacks (Editing)
Reveal Tilly’s past trauma and help the audience piece together the mystery of Stewart Pettyman’s death.
Quick cuts (editing)
Used in dramatic moments, such as Teddy’s death, to heighten tension.
Montages
Show the transformation of the town’s women as Tilly outfits them in glamorous dresses.
Harsh lighting
Used in outdoor scenes to emphasize the unforgiving nature of Dungatar.
Soft lighting
Highlights moments of intimacy, such as Teddy and Tilly’s romantic scenes.
Contrast between light and shadow
Reinforces themes of duality, such as beauty and cruelty.
Extreme long shot
Establishing shot
Contains a large amount of landscape. It is often used at the beginning of a scene or a film to establish the general location (setting).
Long shot
Contains landscape but gives the viewer a more specific idea of setting. A long shot may show the viewers the building where the action will take place.
Medium/Mid-Shot
Contains the characters or a character from the waist up. From this shot, viewers can see the characters’ faces more clearly as well as their interaction with other characters.
Full shot
Contains a complete view of the characters. From this shot, viewers can take in the costumes of characters and may also help to demonstrate the relationship between characters.
Close-up
Contains just one character’s face. This enables viewers to understand the actor’s emotions and also allows them to feel empathy for the character.
Extreme Close-Up
Contains one part of the character’s face or another object. This technique is quite common in horror films. This type of shot creates an intense mood and provides interaction between the viewer and the viewer. It helps to focus on a specific part of the subject and to communicate details too small to notice.
Eye level shot
The camera is positioned as if it is a person observing the scene so that the actors’ heads are at eye level.
High Angle shot/Elevated Angle
In a high angle (also called bird’s-eye view), the camera looks down at a character. This makes the observer feel more powerful than the character. The subject seems smaller/weaker or lower status.
Low angle shot
Place the camera below the character. This exaggerates the importance of the subject, making the character appear larger than life, or big and powerful.
Tilly Dunnage - Facial Expressions
Often composed, but subtle tension in her jaw or eyes reveals her suppressed pain and determination.
Tilly Dunnage - Posture
Tilly stands tall and moves confidently, asserting her power over the town.
Tilly Dunnage - Vocal Delivery
Her voice is calm but firm, showing restraint and control over her emotions.
Molly Dunnage - Squinted Eyes
When confronting Mr. Almanac, Molly’s squinted gaze expresses sharp judgment of his mistreatment of his wife.
Molly Dunnage - Slurred Speech & Erratic Movements
In early scenes, she mumbles and moves unsteadily, emphasizing her supposed madness.
Molly Dunnage - Sharp, Mocking Tone
As she regains clarity, her sarcasm and wit shine through in her tone and expressions.
