Unit 10 Film Production

Question 1

Define ‘Narrative’

Answer 1

Narrative is the media term for story telling.

For example, if you were to tell me about your day, you would be reciting a narrative.

Question 2

Define closed narrative

Answer 2

A closed structure usually involves the film ending satisfactorily. I.e. the girl gets the boy, hero saves the planet.

Question 3

Define open narrative

Answer 3

an open ended film leaves the audience with more questions than it does answers. There is no final conclusion to the story and its up to the audience to decide what happens to the main characters.

Question 4

Define multi-stranded narrative

Answer 4

A multi-stranded narrative is where more than one character has their separate story line. These story lines develop and usually come together to form the overall picture.

Question 5

Define POV narrative

Answer 5

The story is told through the eyes or viewpoint of a particular character integral to the story. Often features narration by one of the main characters.

Question 6

Define mise-en-scene

Answer 6

A French word meaning “What is put into the scene.”

Question 7

Define setting

Answer 7

The type place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place.

Question 8

Define Set design and Props

Answer 8

Set design - the overall look/layout of the set.

Props - items used by characters i.e. a wand or a gun.

Question 9

Define visual style

Answer 9

The visual style of something is its visible appearance.

Question 10

Define Ideology

Answer 10

A system of ideas and ideals.

Question 11

Camera Angles: Close up

Answer 11

A shot that keeps only the face in the full frame. Allows the viewer to see facial expressions of the characters.

Question 12

Camera Angles: Extreme close up

Answer 12

An extreme close up draws attention to either a particular part of a character or an object in a scene.

Question 13

Camera Angles: Medium close up

Answer 13

An MCU is a shot which displays the head and shoulders of a character. Often used as an intermediary shot between CU and Medium Shot

Question 14

Camera Angles: Medium shot

Answer 14

The mots common shot used in film. Shows characters from waist up.

Question 15

Camera Angles: Cowboy shot

Answer 15

A mid-thigh shot, often with a tilt to make the subject appear more dominant / threatening or powerful.

Question 16

Camera Angles: Low angle

Answer 16

A shot looking up at the character or subject often making them look bigger in the frame. Makes characters seem heroic or dominant, sometimes called the Hero shot. Also good for making cities look grand or empty.

Question 17

Camera Angles: High angle

Answer 17

A shot looking down on a character or subject often isolating them in the frame.

Question 18

Camera Angles: Wide shot

Answer 18

A shot that depicts an entire character or object from head to foot. Often also called a long shot.

Question 19

Camera Angles: Deep Focus

Answer 19

A shot that keeps the foreground, middle ground and background ALL in sharp focus. Setting, costume, props on full display.

Question 20

Camera Angles: Over-the-shoulder

Answer 20

A shot where the camera is positioned behind one subject’s shoulder, usually during a conversation. It implies a connection between the speaks as opposed to the single shot that suggests distance.

Question 21

Camera Angles: POV

Answer 21

A shot that depicts the point of view of a character so that we see exactly what they see.

Question 22

Camera Angles: Top shot

Answer 22

A shot looking directly down on a scene rather than at an angle. Also known as birds-eye-view shot.

Question 23

Camera Angles: Two shot

Answer 23

A medium shot that depicts two people in the frame. Used primarily when you want to establish links between characters or people who are beside rather than facing one another.

Question 24

Define stereotype:

Answer 24

Stereotypes are over-generalized beliefs about a particular category of people / thing / place.

Question 25

Define Iconography

Answer 25

Iconography is the visual images and symbols used in a film (or other form of digital media.)

Question 26

Camera Techniques: Pan

Answer 26

Where the camera is moved sideways from a stationary position. Often used to follow a moving object which is kept in the middle of the frame.

Question 27

Camera Techniques: Whip pan

Answer 27

A whip pan is where a camera is moved horizontally very suddenly to give a sense of rapid pace. Abrupt and disorienting.

Question 28

Camera Techniques: Tilt

Answer 28

A shot where the camera moves vertically from a stationary position. Often used to show the scale or height of something. Traditionally used at the end of films where camera points to the sky as the last shot.

Question 29

Camera Techniques: Zoom

Answer 29

A shot that shows the camera zooming into a subject or character.

Question 30

Camera Techniques: Dolly Zoom

Answer 30

A shot that shows the camera track forward toward a subject while simultaneously zooming out to create a unique effect. Often to portray tension and visually show "Uh-oh".

Question 31

Camera Techniques: Aerial

Answer 31

A shot which is taken from the air. Often used in the beginning of a film to establish setting and movement. Can also show vehicles / settings / characters (at distance) and get a sense of scale or drama.

Question 32

Camera Techniques: Arc

Answer 32

An arc is where the subject is circled by the camera. Used to show a view of the character against a difficult situation or to isolate them from others in the scene.

Question 33

Camera Techniques: Bridging

Answer 33

A shot that denotes a shift in time or place. It is used to seamlessly move between two different shots.

Question 34

Camera Techniques: Dutch Tilt

Answer 34

A shot where the camera is tilted on its side to create a kooky angle to suggest disorientation.

Question 35

Camera Techniques: Tracking

Answer 35

A shot that follows a subject from behind, alongside or in front of the subject.

Question 36

Camera Techniques: Crane

Answer 36

A shot where the camera is placed on a crane or jib and moved up or down. Essentially a tracking shot but vertical. Often used to highlight a character's loneliness or at the end of a movie, the camera moving away as if saying goodbye.

Question 37

Camera Techniques: One Shot

Answer 37

A shot that is taken in one continuous take to follow movement or action. Often used with a steadicam to keep the footage well balanced.

Question 38

Define special effects

Answer 38

Special effects are illusions or visual tricks used in the theatre, film, television, video game and simulator industries to simulate the imagined events in a story or virtual world. Special effects are traditionally divided into the categories of mechanical effects and optical effects.

Question 39

Propp's Theory: Villain

Answer 39

The villain fights the hero in some way.

Question 40

Propp's Theory: Dispatcher

Answer 40

Character who makes the villain's evil known and sends the hero off.

Question 41

Propp's Theory: Helper

Answer 41

Helps the hero in the quest.

Question 42

Propp's Theory: The princess or prize

Answer 42

The hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil. Hero's journey often ends with marrying the princess, happily ever after etc. Can be in distress and need rescuing etc.

Question 43

Propp's Theory: Princess' Father

Answer 43

gives the task to the hero, identifies false hero, marries princess to the hero, often sought for in the narrative.

Question 44

Propp's Theory: Donor

Answer 44

Prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.

Question 45

Propp's Theory: The hero or victim/seeker hero

Answer 45

Eliminates the villain and weds the princess.

Question 46

Propp's Theory: False hero

Answer 46

Takes the credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess.