Film Language

Question 1

What is continuity editing?

Answer 1

Everything is filmed so that the viewer thinks they are seeing continuous action.

Question 2

What is montage?

Answer 2

Style of editing where the shots are not joined in a logical order, but are juxtaposed to create effect.

Question 3

What is cross-cutting (parallel editing)

Answer 3

Is an editing technique used in films to establish action occurring at the same time

Question 4

What is the 180-degree rule?

Answer 4

It states that two characters in a scene should maintain the same left/right relationship to one another. When the camera jumps over the invisible axis, this is known as crossing the line or breaking the line, and it can produce a disorienting and distracting effect on a viewer (reverse angle).

Question 5

What is the rule of thirds?

Answer 5

the frame is divided into nine imaginary sections.This creates reference points which help framing the image. Aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject.

Question 6

What is a focus pull (rack focus)

Answer 6

It is a creative camera technique in which you change focus during a shot.

Question 7

What is diegetic sound?

Answer 7

Sound which the characters within the film can hear (e.g. traffic, telephone, dialogue, etc.)

Question 8

What is non-diegetic sound?

Answer 8

sound which does not exist within the story of a film, but is put onto the film in postproduction.

Question 9

What is parallel sound?

Answer 9

Sound which reinforces or complements the image on the screen (e.g. children playing and laughing; happy voices; sounds of play)

Question 10

What is contrapuntal sound?

Answer 10

Sound which clashes with or contradicts the image on the screen (e.g. people playing & laughing on a beach; sinister music; sounds suggesting fear)

Question 11

What is a sound bridge?

Answer 11

Sound which continues from one scene into the next.

Question 12

What is synchronous sound?

Answer 12

Sound whose source is visible on screen.

Question 13

What is asynchronous sound?

Answer 13

Sound whose source is not visible on screen

Question 14

What is a Foley Artist?

Answer 14

Foley is used in post-production to create
sounds for the most part, of people moving. Those sounds are not recorded live on set while the image is being shot, but they’re recreated later in the studio by a Foley Artist.

Question 15

What is Mise-en-scène?

Answer 15

Visual elements that can be seen within an individual shot’. These include:

■ Setting and props
■ Costume, hair and make-up
■ Performance: facial expressions and body language
■ Lighting and colour
■ Positioning of characters and objects within the frame

Question 16

What is cinematography?

Answer 16

The person whose job it is to set up both camera and lighting for each shot in a moving image text. The cinematographer has perhaps paramount influence over the look or tone of a shot or scene.

Question 17

Extreme close up

Answer 17

Description: Focuses the audience’s attention on small details and these shots are often used more for artistic effects - magnifies effect.

Usage: To show discomfort of character, conveys mystery or tension or adds an emotional change.

Question 18

Close up

Answer 18

Description: Head and shoulders are in the frame. Used if the director wants to focus our attention on one particular thing. This is often character’s facial expression.

Usage: Establishes relationship with character and their thoughts/feelings. Enables us to see key details.

Question 19

Mid shot

Answer 19

Description: Enables us to observe some details of movement/action.

Usage: Enables focus on dialogue.

Question 20

Pan

Answer 20

Camera moves left or right shaking

Question 21

Extreme long shot

Answer 21

Wide view of scene in which subject is hardly visible. Gives sense of scale or is an establishing shot of scene to come.

Question 22

Long shot

Answer 22

Gives overview of scene. Provides contact for subject and details the character might not see from their viewpoint.

Question 23

High angle

Answer 23

Camera is usually above head height and angled downwards on the subject. Character looks vulnerable or weak. Audiences may identify with the ‘underdog’

Question 24

Birds eye view

Answer 24

A shot form high above looking down. Subjects look small and insignificant. Can also be an establishing shot or used to film sports or documentation as all the action is contained in a single view.

Question 25

Overhead

Answer 25

Camera may not be very high but angle is directly overhead. Shows several characters and objects at once, so the viewer can see what the characters can’t see.

Question 26

Eye level

Answer 26

The most common angle. Camera is positioned as if it is a person observing a scene. Appears natural and heightens reality.

Question 27

Point of view (POV0

Answer 27

Camera puts the viewer in the position of a character, so we empathise with them. Builds tension and heightens emotions. In an associated POV, the camera moves with the character, as if it is on their shoulder or in their eyes.

Question 28

Over the shoulder

Answer 28

Used to show two characters talking. Provides extra information through body language and distance. Draws audience onto the conversation.

Question 29

Two shot

Answer 29

Both characters have equal prominence in the frame. This establishes their relationship via body language.

Question 30

Low angle

Answer 30

Camera is low down, for example on the floor, and angles upwards to the subject. Establishes the power, superiority or dominance of the character and can make them a symbol of authority and respect.

Question 31

Canted angle/Dutch tilt

Answer 31

Camera angle is slanted to one side to portray unease, disorientation, action, drunkenness, illness or madness.

Question 32

The three point lighting system

Answer 32

• Back light
• Key light
• Fill light

Question 33

Back light

Answer 33

• Behind subject, separating them from background
• Provides depth and 3D definition and highlights

Question 34

Key light

Answer 34

• Main brightest light
• Aimed at subject of shot
• Slightly to one side; casts the most and darkest shadows

Question 35

Fill light

Answer 35

• Softer light
• Opposite key light; reduces key light’s shadows
• Creates mood by making shadows darker or lighter
• Reduces contrast to show natural detail