Film Studies 101 Flashcards
Revise essential film form vocabulary
What are the five elements of film form?
Mise-en-scene, performance, cinematography, editing & sound
What does the term ‘mise-en-scene’ mean?
To place in the scene (to stage)
What are the key components of mise-en-scene?
Setting, costume, props, colour & light
What kind of lighting & colour does mise-en-scene contain?
Diegetic
What does diegetic mean?
From the Greek ‘ diegesis’, meaning narrative, it is the ‘story world’ of the film.
What is diegetic light?
Diegetic light belongs in the story world e.g. a torch, car headlight.
Can the source of diegetic light always be seen?
No, it can also be logically implied e.g. moonlight
What are the components of high key lighting?
Key light, fill light and back light.
High key lighting is also known as ______ _____ _______
Three point lighting
How do you create low key lighting from a standard 3-point lighting scheme?
Remove the fill light
What is the Italian term which uses low-key lighting and heavy shadows to achieve contrast between the subject and a dark background
Chiaroscuro
https://www.epidemicsound.com/blog/chiaroscuro-lighting/
How is a silhouette created?
Through backlighting only - no key or fill light
What are the key elements of performance?
Casting (physical appearance), body language, gesture, facial expression, eye contact, proximity & orientation, movement and aspects of speech such as tone, accent, volume etc.
What are the three main acting traditions used in film?
Classical (studio), Method (Stanislavski) & Brechtian. We could also consider acting styles within genres (e.g. slapstick comedy, musicals etc.)
What is the literal meaning of the word cinematography ?
‘Writing in movement’, as opposed to photography, which means writing in light.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/kinema
Identify the six elements of cinematography
Lens inc. focus
Film stock (e.g. B&w, colour, digital, film) Camera distance (shot size)
Camera height/angle
Composition
Camera movement
_______ ________ is where everything is in focus from the foreground to the background.
Deep focus
What is usually the purpose of shallow focus?
To draw attention to the subject. It can also suggest isolation and other effects.
What can a Close Up (CU) do that a long shot cannot?
Show something (often a face) in detail.
What can a Medium Shot (MS) provide that a CU or a LS cannot?
A degree of detail and context (background)