Visual Literacy Flashcards
What are visual techniques used to do?
- establish a context/location
- emphasize an element of character
- emphasize a plot detail
- increase tension
- establish a connection between plot elements
- highlight a relationship
- evoke an emotional response
- speed up or slow down the pace of the film
What is static art?
Still images in photographs, drawings, paintings, posters, ads.
What is sequencial art?
Images which move from frame to frame in print form which appears in storyboard, graphic novel, comic strips, and the photo essay.
What is film study?
Study of a moving image which is filmed.
What is a shot?
Continuous, unedited piece of film of any length.
What is a scene?
A series of shots edited together.
What is a sequence?
A series of scenes edited together.
What is parallel action?
Narrative strategy that crosscuts between two or more seperate actions to create the illusion that they are occuring simultaneously.
What is objective camera?
Scene is shot from the viewpoint of a spectator watching from outside the scene.
What is subjective camera?
Scene is shot from the viewpoint of a character directly involved in the scene.
What is off-screen action?
Something we hear but takes place outside the frame. (character/actor heard outside of camera view)
What is screen?
Refers to the actual physical screen on which we play a film.
What is voice-over (VO)?
Words spoken off-screen and heard over the visual shots. (narrator)
What is blocking a shot/scene?
Process of finding camera position, lighting, actor positions, and movements for each shot.
What is a set?
Refers to the actual construction in which the actors are filmed.
What is a prop?
Any object on a set, though clearly, the objects that characters will touch become more important.
What are costumes?
What the characters are wearing.
What is a hook?
The opening sequences in a film catching the audiences’ attention and draw them into the plot.
What is a caption?
Printed line(s) of text appearing at the bottom of the screen to describe the setting or to translate foreign words.
What is mise-en-scene?
French for ‘‘put in scene.’’ It means placing on stage. Refers to everything in the frame of a static/moving image (ex. lighting, props, setting, noise, etc).
What is space?
Used in individual shots to create symbolic meaning or dramatic effect. People and objects may be places in formal patterns and shapes to add another layer of meaning.
What are proxemics?
Camera shots; refers to spatial relationships among characters in the mise-en-scene and the apparent distance of the camera from the subject being filmed/photographed.
What is an extreme long shot?
(ELS) shows landscapes or view of whole world, town, or city. Purpose:
- establishing shot
- emphasize vulnerability
- establish ‘‘awe-inspiring’’ mood
What is a long shot?
(LS) overall view from a distance of a character’s environment; subject’s whole body and entire area of action is shown.
Purpose: - establish setting
- introduce main characters
- indicate emotional separation
What is a full shot?
(FS) variation of the long shot, showing the full subject to head/top to toe/bottom.
What is a medium (mid) shot?
Shows the subject from the mid shin or mid-thigh up.
Purpose: - emphasize the relationship between two characters
- separates characters from the background (often in a dialogue scene)
What is a close shot?
(CS) subject is shown typically from the waist up.
What is a close up shot?
(CU) focuses on the subject’s face (details, expressions, and reactions). Shows head or head/shoulders. May also focus on a small object (ex. a flower).
Purpose: - for emphasis
What is an extreme close up shot?
(ECU) variation of the close-up and singles out a portion of the face or isolates a detail (ex. a person’s eyes). May magnify the image to the point of distortion. Often used as a cut-in and instantaneous shift from a distant framing to a closer view of some portion of the same space.
Purpose: - to call attention to key elements often for symbolic significance
- may intensify an expression
What is a tracking/dolly shot?
Single continuous shot made with a camera moving along the ground usually on a dolly.
What is a subjective shot?
Point of view shot; framed from a particular character’s point of view. Audience sees what the character sees.
What is an aerial shot?
Filmed from a helicopter, plane, balloon, kite, blimp, now more commonly drone.
What is a crane shot?
A shot (usually a pan or tilt) in which a crane is used to lift the camera above the action looking down on it.
What is an arc shot?
Subject is filmed by an encircling or moving camera.
What is a boom shot?
A continuous single shot made from a pole with a camera suspended from it (held just above the action).
What is an establishing/ master shot?
Shows overall view of a location or all of the actors in a scene. Usually wide or long shot to orient the viewer to the scene. Other shots often edited.
purpose: - establish the relationship of details which will be emphasized in later shots
What is a hand-held shot?
Tripod and dolly are not used on purpose; camera is held by hand.
Purpose: - creates a sense of anxiety/confucion (unsteady movement)
- involves audience directly in scene with character movement
- add realism
What is a reaction shot?
Medium shot which shows a subject’s reaction.
What is a shot/reverse shot?
two shots commonly linked- frequently used to show two people talking and listening to each other.
What is an over-the-shoulder shot?
Gives us a character’s point of view but includes part of that character’s shoulder or side of the head in the shot.
What is the bird’s eye view angle?
Camera seems to be places virtually on top of the subject looking straight down towards the subject and ground.
What is high angle?
The camera shoots down at the subject.
purpose: - used to increate vulnerability
- shows powerlessness (inferiority)
- shows small size
What is low angle?
Camera shoots up at the subject.
purpose: - used to show large size
- shows power (status/superiority)
- used to inspire awe
What is a straight/flat angle?
Camera is at eye level (most common shot)
purpose: - shows equality, sincerity, and honesty between the subject and audience
What is an oblique/dutch/canted angle?
Shot by tilting the camera frame off of its normal vertical axis and making subjects look asknew (off-kilter).
purpose: - creates a sense of confusion and disorientation
- emphasizes a strange mood
- suggest a subjective viewpoint (ex. character is drunk)
- could suggest a symbolic imbalance
What is a wide angle?
Offers a greater panorama without having to pan or move the camera.
What is fisheye lens?
It is like looking into a mirrored glass ball; it creates an exaggerated linear distortion.
What is fourth wall?
Idea comes from a stage by 3 walls with an imaginary 4th wall that marks the boundary of the on-stage action. In movies it exists to separate the story from the viewer. ‘‘Breaking the fourth wall’’ character talks directly to the audience, can be funny or disturbing.
What is a bridging shot?
Used to ‘‘bridge’’ a jump in time, place, or other discontinuity (ex. map).
What is a jump cut?
Cut that visually jars or disturbs the viewer, most often by mkaing a break in the continuity of a scene.
What is a cut?
The end of a shot.
What is a cutway?
A shot inserted into the master/establishing shot to focus on some elements of the scene.
What is cross cutting?
Cutting back and forth between 2 scenes to create the impression that they are happening at the same time.
What is a fade in?
Going from black (nothing on screen) to a shot.
What is a fade out?
Go from a shot to black.
What is a dissolve?
One image gradually fades in while siumultaneously, another fades out so far a moment both are visible. ‘‘bleed into each other’’
What is match-cut dissolve?
Any audio/visual transition that uses audio/visual transition that uses elements from a previous scene to fluidly go to the next scene.
What is a match on action cut dissolve?
Connect two shots cut together by having a character finish an action in the first shot by possibly a different character.
What is a graphic match cut dissolve?
Connects two shots cut together by having an object in one shot connect to the same object or a similar one (in shape) in a second shot for various purpose. (ex. jump in scene or time)
What is a colour graphic match cut dissolve?
Connects two shots cut together by having a key colour in one shot connect to the similar colour in a second shot.
What is a symbolic graphic match cut dissolve?
Connects two shots cut together by having a significant object in one shot connect symbolically to a dissimilar object in a second shot.
What is an audio match cut dissolve?
Connects two shots cut together by having a significant sound connect to a second shot.
What is superimposed?
To overlay one shot over another (two can be seen at the same time overlapping).
What is a wipe?
One shot ‘‘wipes’’ across the screen and replaces another.
What is an iris-in?
Shot goes from a full frame to focusing a small circle around a certain part of the shot, with everything else blacked out.
What is an iris-out?
Shot goes from small spotlight to full frame.
What is an eyeline match?
Cut between two shots that creates the illusion of the character (in first shot) looking at an object/person (in second shot).
What is editing?
The way shots are put together.
What is continuity editing?
Linking together all individual shots that make up a movie (most common).
Purpose: - create a seamless flow of action from one point in a scene to the nect
- build psychological connections for the audience letting them identify with characters and understand events
What is montage editing?
Links together individual shots in a movie but with no intention of creating a continuous reality. Often used to compress time. They are linked through a unified sound- either a voice over or a piece music. Requires audience to create own connections. Can also be used to show a series of related activities.
What are bookends?
Term denoting scenes at the beginning and end of a film that complement each other and help tie a film together.
What is depth of field focus?
Distance in front and beyond the subject that appears in focus.
What is defocus?
To deliberately take a shot out of focus (often to make a transition).
What is shallow focus?
Focus is clear in only one plane; the rest of the image is blurred. Has a narrow depth of field.
What is deep focus?
All aread from foreground to background are in focus. Has a wide depth of focus.
What is soft focus?
Slightly blurred shot.
purpose: - make subject more attractive, romantic, nostalgic, dream like
What is rack focus?
An on-screen focus change (ex. from object in foreground to object in background) in a single shot to direct/shift/steer the attention of the viewer. Also know as selective or pull focus.
What is pan?
Camera moves side to side from a stationary position.
purpose: - establish the setting or indicate the character’s range of vision
What is left to right pan?
It mimics our normal reading style; comfortable.
What is right to left pan?
Unusual; creates tension and suspense.
What is tilt?
Movement up or down from a stationary position.
purpose: - indicate size, strength, or sexuality
What is tracking?
The camera moves smoothly to follow a moving object/person.
What is zoom-in?
Magnifies the subject while the camera remains stationary. Makes subject look larger within the frame (optical effect).
What is zoom-out?
Minimizes the subject while the camera remains stationary. Makes subject look smaller within the frame(optical effect).
What is push-in?
Have the camera physically move closer on a dolly, usually fast. Everything within the frame changes constantly. Replicates people’s expectation of movements so its more natural.
What is pull-back?
Have the camera physically pull back on a dolly usually fast.
What is static subject movement?
Subject stays in the same position.
What is tail away?
Subject walks away from the camera (often a final shot- leaving physically and perhaps psychologicaly).
What is head on?
Subject moves towards the camera, involving the audience and perhaps shocking them.
What is freeze frame?
All movement on screen stops.
What is slow motion?
All action in scene is slowed down noticeably, emphasizes all aspects of the shot for maximum emotional effect.
purpose: - implies strength, power
- gives feeling of something terrible happening and the audience is helpess to act
- used in dream scenes
- may be symbolic or very important
What is fast motion?
Action in scene is sped up.
purpose: - creates a comic effect, frenzy, or confusion
What is high key lighting?
Brightly lit (few shadows). Most common in Hollwood.
What is high contrast lighting?
Chiaroscuro lighting (Italian for ‘‘clear-dark’’); the arrangement of harsh lines of light and dark elements may be used for symbolic intent or to establish an uneasy/nervous mood.
What is low key lighting?
Uses many shadows and directed pools of light to create atmosphere and suspense.
What is backlighting?
Illumination coming from behind the subject.
purpose: - more dramatic
- more angelic/innocent
- a hero
What is side lighting?
illumination coming from the side of the subject, making the point of focus half-lit (one side is dark).
purpose: - suggest ambiguity
- suggest psychological self-division
What is top lighting?
Lighting a subject from above.
purpose: - to create a ‘‘halo’’ effect (purity/god-like)
What is under lighting?
Lighting a subject from below.
purpose: - to make the subject sinister and threatening
What is unmotivated lighting?
Intense, bright light from an unseen, impossible source illuminating the point of focus.
What is motivated lighting?
Light from an explainable source naturally in the frame.
What is diffused lighting?
Light source is reflected than direct, providing a lower-contrast image.
What is ambient lighting?
Natural light (usually soft) or surrounding light around a subject in a scene.
What is candlelight?
Using candles to light the scene for the purpose of getting intimacy, romance, and harmony.
What is diegetic sound?
Any sound that could logically be heard by a character.
What is internal diegetic sound?
Sounds that only one character can hear (ex. flashback).
What is non diegetic sound?
Sounds from a cource outside storyline (ex. narration).
What is ambient sound?
Refers to any sounds used to establish location.
What is pitch?
High, medium, or low.
What is tempo?
Fast or slow?
What is volume?
Loud or soft; quiet.
What is asynchronus?
Audiotrack sound are mismatched/out of conjunction with images shown (sometimes intentional).
What is score?
Music written for film, typically for the beginning and end of the movie.
What is background music?
Part of the score accompannying a scene.
purpose: - establishes a specific mood, and enhance emotion
What does red represent?
Urgency, excitement, love, passion, heat, sexual attraction. Blood strength, speedy, danger, warning.
What does blue represent?
Calmness, wholesomeness, truth, disgnity, power, coolness, trust, reliability, belong, melancholy.
What does yellow represent?
Welcome, friendliness, happiness, warmth, cowdardice.
What does green represent?
Youthfulness, freshness, nature, growth, relaxation, health, cheerlfulness, environment, money/greed, abundance, envy.
What does purple represent?
Power, royalty, dignity, enchantment, wealth, sophistication, intelligence, spirtiuality, mourning.
What does orange represent?
Nature, homliness, warmth, playfulness, vibrant.
What does white represent?
Purity, innocence, freshness, cleanliness, lightness, youthful, mild, emptiness.
What does black represent?
Sophistication, elegance, mysterious, seductive, strength/power, threatening, mourning, death, evil, rebellion.
What does pink represent?
Soft, sweet, nurturing, security.
What does gold represent?
Pretig, warm, wealth.
What does silver represent?
Prestig, cold, scientific, wealth.
What does grey represent?
Sadness, lack growth, decay, death, confusion.
What do pastel colours represent?
Innocence, babies, soothing.
What do curved shapes represent?
Soft, feminine, nurturing, gentle, invite viewer to touch and feel.
What do straight lines represent?
Masculine, strength, authority, lack of emotion.
What do jagged lines represent?
Make viewer feel tense and uneasy.
What do horizontal lines represent?
Soothing, peaceful, relaxing.
What do vertical lines represent?
Draw the eye upward and give a feeling of power; inspire awe in the viewer.
What do diagonal lines represent?
Speed, action, movement.
What is a vanishing point?
Converging parallel lines that move away from the viewer appear to converge at the horizon in the classical ‘‘vanishing point’’ phenomenon.
What is storyboarding?
Determines the composition of each shot in a film; decisions are made about what to include and what to leave out in a frame.
What is juxtaposition?
When contrasting images are placed togther: can create irny, tension, and critical thinking.
What is cropping?
Used in still photographs.
What is framing?
Select portions of the photograph are deleted in order to create an effective composition.
What is balance?
Within the frame, this refers to the arrangement of the figures, the lighting, the sound, and movement to achieve balance.
What is perspective?
To capture the essence of what you experience when viewing a scene, it helps to add an element to your photo to convey this perspective.
What is foreground?
Refers to what is located closest to the viewer.
What is middleground?
Located in the middle of the frame.
What is background?
Refers to what is located furthest from the viewer.
What is the focal point/the point of focus?
Where the viewer’s eye is immediately drawn to in the visual image.
What are subsidiary details?
Where the viewer’s eye is drawn after the point of focus. Accomplished through directionality, depth of focus, light, internal framing. Artist’s intention is that the eye will move to ‘‘read’’ subbsidiary details while reinterpreting the whole frame only after recognizing the initial effect created by the point of focus.
What is internal framing?
Frame within a frame of the visual such as a window or doorway limits the point of focus.
purpose: - suggests imprisonment, protection, or isolation
What is positive space?
Refers to the space the subject occupies.
What is negative/open space?
The open, empty area around the subject.
purpose: - subject usually appears vulnerable or isolated
- may cause anxiety
- very detailed image may have an abscence of negative space
What is directionality?
Elements of the visual (ex. light sources). Direct the viewer to ‘‘read’’ the image in a particular manner (ex. left to right).
What is the rule of thirds?
Composition in photography refers to the arrangement of elements in an image including: subject foreground, background, and subsidiary detail, colour, focus, and balance (framing and cropping image). The visuals is more appealing and establishes point of focus better and createstension and motion by employing this rule.
1) divide a photograph into an imginary 3*3 grid
2) place points of interest at the points where lines intersect
3) point of focus should be positioned at 1/3 distance from the frame edge
- breaking this rule, like breaking any rule, creates tension
What is a frame?
smallest unit of film possible; appears on a film strip which creates the illusion of motion when projected. Also means the four sides of film as it is projected.
What is a take/short and long takes?
generally the time a shot has begun to the time it stops
What is angle of destiny?
high angle from a diagonal in the “ceiling.” Suggests omniscience (all-knowing) moment of great contemplation of decision
