FILM TECHNIQUES Flashcards
Aerial Shot
A shot usually taken from a crane or helicopter to show a landscape, city, or many other elements within a single moving shot. Usually these are used to establish settings, large spaces/areas or a sense of scale.
Costuming
The clothes, makeup, hairstyles, accessories, etc. designed to be worn by characters to represent their personality, status, heritage, culture, etc. Often characters clothes will fit within one or two similar colour palettes or tones and use fabrics of similar textures. Colour symbolism often comes into play here (a character wearing earthy colours may be associated with gardening, plants and nature).
Cut
The splicing of two shots together so that one seems to instantly move to the other. There are many different types of cuts – jump cuts are more jagged and create a sense of fast pace or deliberately poor editing, match cuts involve cutting between two very visually similar shots to create a more seamless flow.
Dialogue
The words spoken by characters. Regular literary techniques are used her (metaphor, simile, personification, etc.) but also consider character vocal inflection, tone, pauses, etc. as well as their vocal range (does the character have a deep voice? A high, feminine voice?).
Diegetic Sound
The ‘literal sound’ created by the objects and people within a shot – sounds that the character is presumed to be hearing as well. This includes; character dialogue, fabric rustling, animals, background noise/voices, sounds made by objects (doors closing, rain), etc.
Digital Effects
Any images, characters, setting and effects added digitally in post-production to add to or alter the original shot. Remember that all digital effects are deliberate and have been added for a reason – to change the mood of a shot, change character gesture, etc.
Establishing Shot
The shot at the beginning of a film or scene that gives the basic or introductory information to viewers. Generally includes or introduces the location, characters, etc.
Fade In/Out
A transition device whereby a shots fades into or out of black (or another image) at the end or beginning of the shot respectively. These are generally used to create a sense of slow movement, intimacy or ‘trailing off’ in a shot/scene.
Montage
The cutting together or several shots that show small pieces of a larger scene or idea to create an overall sense of time passing/something occurring. Most commonly used in training sequences where a character must become skilled in a task over time, so many shots of them completing different training exercises are cut together to create a sense of them improving over time.
Non-diegetic Sound
The ‘non-literal sound’ that has been added into a shot that the characters cannot hear. This includes; narration/voice-over, added sound effects, music (that isn’t shown to be produced from an onscreen source such as a tv, dance party, etc.) and the film score/soundtrack.
Props
Items and objects used within a shot to create a sense of setting, represent character interests, symbolise something else or be interacted with. Generally the most important props are those used or seen as important by characters, as well as recurring props that feature in several different scenes/shots throughout the film.
Voice-over
Audio narration laid over the top of a shot’s regular soundtrack. Generally voiceover is used to give audiences extra information, additional commentary or character’s specific views/comments on the scene.
