Film Techniques

Question 1

Extreme/Establishing shot

Answer 1

A panorama of a whole scene to establish where everything is in relation to each other. Often used to start a scene.

Question 2

Long shot

Answer 2

An entire can be seen with some of the background above, below and to the sides.

Question 3

Medium shot

Answer 3

You see a person from just above the head to just below the waist, giving more detail of reaction and facial expression.

Question 4

Close-up shot

Answer 4

Just the head and shoulders, to show emotion.

Question 5

Extreme close-up shot

Answer 5

Only part of the face is seen, focusing on a specific expression - a very intimate shot.

Question 6

Over-the-shoulder shot

Answer 6

Used to convey a sense of relationship between two subjects; can suggest proximity, distance, or dominance.

Question 7

Point-of-view shot

Answer 7

If A is shown staring out of a window and there is a cut to a scene on the street, the street scene is a ‘point of view’ shot because it shows us what A is looking for.

Question 8

Shot-reverse-shot

Answer 8

Often used in conversation, when the camera shoots something (perhaps a character talking) and then shoots a second character to capture their response to that action.

Question 9

Overhead/aerial angle

Answer 9

Taken from the air, so extreme high angle or looking straight down.

Question 10

High angle

Answer 10

When the camera is high, looking down. Usually used to show inferiority or vulnerability.

Question 11

Low angle

Answer 11

When the camera is low, looking up at the subject, usually used to suggest superiority or dominance.

Question 12

Tilted/oblique/canted/dutch angle

Answer 12

When the camera is tilted to the left or right to distort the subject for effect.

Question 13

Pan

Answer 13

Stationary camera moves along a horizontal axis.

Question 14

Tilt

Answer 14

Stationary camera moves along a vertical axis.

Question 15

Zoom

Answer 15

Stationary camera, moving lens used to make object closer or further away.

Question 16

Tracking

Answer 16

Camera moves to follow action.

Question 17

Boom

Answer 17

Camera is mounted above action and can ‘swing’ toward or away from it.

Question 18

High-key

Answer 18

Multiple sources of light, creates a bright and open-feeling scene.

Question 19

Low-key

Answer 19

Only a few or a single source of light, shadow and darkness dominate the frame, can create an atmosphere of menace, danger, uncertainty.

Question 20

Colors

Answer 20

Colors, over hundreds of years of art and literature in Western culture, have become symbolic. The color of filters and lights used can be often be symbolically significant, as well as contributing to the general atmosphere.

Question 21

Diegetic

Answer 21

Has a source within the fictional world of the film.

Question 22

Non-diegetic

Answer 22

Does not have a source within the fictional world of the film, and is usually added in post-production. Includes voice-over and music.

Question 23

Mise-en-scene

Answer 23

What has been included in a frame and how it had been arranged in the frame.

Question 24

Cut

Answer 24

This is the most frequent transition from one scene to another. The film simply cuts to the next scene. (If the cut is sudden and contrasting we call this a jump cut.)

Question 25

Fade

Answer 25

If the shot fades to white or black before being replaced by a different scene.

Question 26

Dissolve

Answer 26

If one shot fades out at the same time as another fades in, so that for a moment a blurred vision of both scenes can be seen.

Question 27

Wipe

Answer 27

If the shot is wiped off the screen (usually from left to right) by the scene that replaces it or by a blank screen.

Question 28

Montage

Answer 28

A series of shots in quick succession to suggest much activity or passing of time.