film techniques Flashcards
define shot
a single piece of film uninterrupted by cuts
define and give the function of an establishing shot
often a ling shot or a series of shots that sets the scene.
it is used to establish setting and to show transitions between locations
define and give the function of a long shot
a shot from some distances. if filming a person, the full body is shown.
it may show the isolation or vulnerability of the character
define and give the function of a medium shot
the most common shot. the camera seems to be a medium distance from the object being filmed.
a medium shot shows the person from the waist up. this affect is to ground the story
define and give the function of a medium close up shot
a shot between a medium and a close up
the characters’ head and shoulders appear in the frame. it is usually used in an interview situation so that facial expression and body language may be seen.
define close up
the image takes up at least 80% of the frame
define choker close up
the image is shot from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead
define extreme close up
the image being shot is a part of a whole, such as a eye or a hand
define and give the function for a two shot
a scene between two people shot exclusively from an angle that includes both characters more or less equally.
it is used in love scenes where interaction between the two characters is important
define and give the function of an over-the-shoulder shot
the camera is positioned behind a character and looks over their shoulder at the action/other character
it establishes a specific subject’s physical point of view of the action.
define and give the function of a cut away
a shot inserted into a scene that shows action taking place somewhere else
it is used to add extra information and undercut expectations
define and give the function of an extreme long shot
the camera is very far away from the object being filmed
the camera is so far away that often the object being filmed cannot be clearly seen. they are used for landscapes or to establish setting
define and give the function of a point of view shot
the camera takes the place of the character.
the camera become the eyes of the character and we ‘see’ what the character sees. this is usually proceeded by a character looking at an object or in a particular direction
define and give the function of a closed frame
the character is positioned within closed borders
the character will be in the borders of a door or window or some other object restricting the character
define and give the function of an open frame
no objects are impending the progress of the character
it is used to indicate wide open spaces. they give a sense of freedom and liberation
define and give the function of a center frame
the person or object is in the centre of the frame
the person or object in the frame has domination, confidence or is central to the plot
define camera angle
the vertical position/angle of the camera in relation to the object being filmed
define and give the function of a medium angle
a shot taken from a normal height; that is, the character’s eye level…
it is the most natural angle
define and give the function of the high angle
the camera is positioned above the subject
this usually has the effect of making the subject look smaller than normal, giving him or her the appearance of being weak, powerless and trapped
define and give the function of a low angle
the camera films the subject from below
this usually has the effect of making the subject look larger than normal, and therefore strong, powerful, and threatening
define and give the function of an aerial angle
the camera is positioned directly and usually very far above the object
allows the viewer to gain and aerial perspective on the object or setting
define and give the function of a tilted angle
the camera is tilted or on its side
the object appears unbalanced. it is usually used in action sequences
define and give the function of deep focus
both the background and foreground of the shot are in focus
it is usually used in an establishing shot to create a sense of the setting
define and give the function of shallow focus
only the foreground is in focus. the background is burred.
it focuses the audiences attention on the most important part of the shot
define pan
a stationary camera moves from side to sid on a horizontal axis
What is the function of a pan
creates a sense of surveying the scene
define tilt
a stationary camera moves up or down along a vertical axis
define zoom
a stationary camera where the lens moves to make an object seem to move closer to or move further away from the camera
what is the function of the zoom
moving into a character is often a personal or revealing movement, while moving away distances or separates the audiences from the character
define dolly/tracking
a set of wheels and a platform upon which the camera can be mounted to give it mobility.
the camera is on a track that allows it to move with the action. the term also refers to any camera mounted on a car, truck or helicopter
what is the function of dollying/ tracking
adds to the sense or reality and allows the viewer to feel a part of the action
define notan lighting
the foreground and background are equally lit
what is the function of notan lighting
it is used to convey a message of neutrality and objectivity
define chiaroscuro lighting
the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition
certain areas are selected to be well or dimly lit or not at all
what are the three types of chiaroscuro lighting
1 Rembrandt lighting
2 cameo lighting
3 silhouette lighting
define cameo lighting
the foreground is well lit while the background is dark
what is the function of cameo lighting
it focuses our attention on a particular part of the frame
define Rembrandt lighting
certain areas in the frame are lit while others are partially or completely dark
what is the function of Rembrandt’s lighting
it focuses our attention on a particular part of the frame
define silhouette lighting
the foreground is dark while the background is well-lit
what is the function of silhouette lighting
helps the audience focus on themes and/ or emotions the director wishes to reveal in the frame
define low-key lighting
the scene is flooded with shadows and darkness
what is the function of low-key lighting
it creates suspense or suspicion
define bottom or side lighting
direct lighting from below or the side
what is the function of bottom or side lighting
often makes the subject appear dangerous or evil
define front and backlighting
soft lighting on the actor’s face or from behind
what is the function of front and backlighting
gives the appearance of innocence or goodness, or a halo effect
define cut
most common editing technique. two pieces of film are spliced together to “cut” to another image
define fade
can be to or from black or white. a fade can begin in darkness and gradually assume full brightness or the image may gradually get darker
what is the function of a fade
often implies that time has passed or may signify the end of a scene
define dissolve
a kind of fade in which one image is slowly replaced by another
what is the function of dissolve
it can create a connection between images
define wipe
a new image wipes off the previous image
what is the function of the wipe
more fluid than the cut and quicker than a dissolve
define flashback
cut or dissolve to action that happened in the past
go through sound and colour and iconography in films
define composition
refers to the frame of the image and how the elements of the mise-en-scene appear in it
define editing
the art, technique, and practice of assembling shots into a coherent sequence. selecting the scenes that will be shown and putting them together to create a film.
define frame
refers to a single image, the smallest compositional unit of a film’s structure, captured by the camera on a strip of motion picture film
