Cinematic Techniques

SpringBoard Unit 2

Introduction

Hey everyone! Amy here. I really enjoy watching romantic

movies. Sometimes the plots can be a bit

predictable, but that’s maybe why I like them so

much.

Hi Amy, I’m not a big fan of romantic

movies but I enjoy animated and action-

packed films…the special effects are

fantastic.

It is important to consider a film’s

techniques to help you decide the

quality of a favorite movie. Rose and I

will help you.

Thanks Amy. Now, I don’t normally take pen and paper to the movie theatre with me. But when I have to study a

film like I would with any other piece of text, like a novel, I

really like to keep track of the details. I generally rent and

watch the movie through once or twice, then re-watch certain

scenes a few times while keeping jot notes.

That’s great advice Rose…but

what kind of notes do you

keep?

Film Techniques

Well, I have a couple handy charts that are divided into

certain basic film techniques. I’ll show you the charts later,

but first let’s get into the details of a film so you know what to take notes on…A film

can be divided into the following components…

Film Techniques

Camera movemen

t

Point of

View

Sequence of Film

Color

Lighting

Focus

Angles

Film Technique

s

Angles

High angleLow angleStraight onCanted angle

I remember what angles are…they are the position of the camera…here are

some different types of angles…

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Focus

Close-upExtreme close-upMedium ShotLong shotExtreme long shot

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Next is the focus. This is what the camera centers

on…here are some different types of focus…

NaturalArtificialBrightSoftTop lightingBack lightingSide lightingUnder lighting

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Lighting

Lighting can have a big impact on the mood and

setting of a film. It can even emphasize a character and

highlight his or her characteristics. Here are some lighting examples…

Colour

Black: elegance, sophistication, evil, darkness, mourningWhite: purity, snow, cold, angelsRed: passion, aggression, fire, blood, strengthBlue: water, life, depressionYellow: cheerfulness, optimism, confidence

Colour also makes an impression in a film. The colours of the set,

location, and actors’ wardrobes impact the viewers’ consciousness.

Colours might offer subtle suggestions or bold symbolism. Here some colours to consider.

What mood might be created…dark and foreboding or bright and

cheerful?

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Did you notice that the colours in photos impacted your impressions,

made you feel a certain way, or symbolized characteristics? For

example, the red hearts symbolized romantic love. When you watch a film, notice the colours used in the set or in the wardrobe choices for

the actors.

Sequence of film

Shot: all the action filmed in one take without disruptionCut: the conclusion of a shotTake: an attempt to shoot a scene in its entirety

A film sequence can be divided into three

things….shot, cut, and take. Here’s the

definitions…

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Point of view

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We can’t forget about the point of view within a film either. That’s the

perspective of the camera or actors.

Camera movement

Framing: what elements surround the actor

Blocking: how the actor is positioned forthe shot

Tracking: following an actor Panning: camera movement horizontallyBooming: camera movement up or down

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Plus, there’s all the camera movement too. That’s how the camera follows or frames the

actors. Here are some terms you should know…

Scenes

SettingTime, place, location, mood, and time span.

SequenceA progression of related scenes.

SetsAn arrangement or display of scenery, backdrop, or landscape.

LocationWhere the movie is actually being filmed.

Plot The narrative or progression of events.

Good point, Amy. There’s a lot involved behind the

scenes of a movie too. The scenes are sequences of events or camera shots

related to each other. Take a look…

Sound

Music◦ Background music can create

a mood or a feeling in the viewer. Soundtrack

◦ Recently, popular music has been used extensively in films.

Special effects ◦ Sound and visual effects

created by technical methods.

Let’s not forget about all of the smaller details like the music, soundtracks, and

your favorite, Rose, special effects….

Characters & Actors

DialogueThe words spoken by the actors.

Body LanguageNon-verbal communication

such as facial expression, eye contact, and posture.

InteractionHow the characters work together or conflict.

Wardrobe or costumes The items of clothing that

the actors wear to portray their characters.

I’ve left the best for last, Amy. For a film to work successfully, the characters within it have to be believable. The actors

portraying the characters have to convince me that their actions, words, and behaviors

make sense.

Theme

Impressive notes Rose! That’s a lot of

details.

Thanks! The main thing after examining the

details is to consider the film’s essential message or theme…not just what

it’s about, but what meaning is being

conveyed.

Charts

As promised, here’s a look at two charts I use to

make jot notes while I’m studying a film….I hope

you like them.

Note Taking Chart for Film Study

Title: _____________________________ Director: _________________________Year: ________Company:__________________Nominations/Awards:_____________________

Characters/Actors•Protagonist/antagonist•Dialogue•Body language•Interaction•Conflicts•Wardrobe/costumes•Useful quotations

Film Techniques•Angles: high, low, straight on, canted•Focus: close up, extreme close up, medium shot, long shot, extreme long shot•Lighting: natural, artificial, bright, soft, top/back/side/under lighting•Colour•Sequence of film: shot, cut, take•Point of view•Camera movement: framing, blocking, tracking,

panning, booming

Scenes•Setting•Sequence•Sets•Location•Plot

Sound •Music•Soundtrack•Special effects

THEME•Essential meaning of the film

Viewing Strategies•How I found meaning from the film: made connections, anticipated possibilities, reflected upon & evaluated ideas/meanings•What areas do I need to work on?

2nd Graphic Organizer created with Inspiration (http://www.inspiration.com/Inspiration)

That’s awesome Rose! Watching a film critically helps us see that every

element has been crafted. Every prop, gesture, lighting change, and camera angle

has been chosen for a specific purpose.

Film is a particular art form. We want to observe

and discover the artistry of the

filmmaker just as we do when we read literature.

We hope you enjoyed our tutorial on viewing

films…now go pop some popcorn, get your handy charts ready, and enjoy a

great film!

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Credits

Avatar illustrations courtesy of DoppleMeImages courtesy of ©2010 Thinkstock

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