Elements of Film

Getting ready for the critique

Developing your Critique

• Writing a critique about a movie is more than just saying it was good or bad.

• You are describing the elements and then concluding whether it is a good film or not.

• Basically, you are writing a story version of the film.

Elements of Film• Setting• Atmosphere• Cinematography• Lighting• Décor/Clothing• Pace• Suspense• Sound & Music

• Editing• Character• Acting• Plot• Narrative Structure• Genre• Themes

Setting• Describing the location– Geographical– Historical– Social Milieu (Social Environment)• Culture• The physical space where something occurred• Social Structure

Atmosphere

• Mood– Cheerful– Depressed– Tense– Calm

• I.E…You are describing the “feeling”. – What feeling does this film give off in your opinion?– What is the feeling one can expect to receive in

watching this film?

Cinematography• How the camera is manipulated

– Camera Angles• High• Low• Straight – On• Bird’s Eye

– Camera Distances• Extreme long shot• Long Shot• Medium• Close – Up• Extreme Close – Up

– Camera Movement• Tracking/Dollying• Hand Held• Crane• Pan• Tilt• Helicopter

Lighting• Helps set the mood of the film.• Can be implemented in many different ways to

obtain various affects – Realistic– Romantic– “Dark”– “Surreal”

Décor/Clothing

• Design and costume set– The arrangement of objects and costumes in the

setting of a film.

Pace• The rate of activity or movement– Rhythm or tempo

• Fast – paced• Slow – paced• “Meditative”• “Poetic”

• A main concern for the director– Control Actors’ actions

• The action must swell, subside, and swell again.– The director does this to keep the scene from losing its

energy and intensity

Suspense

• A feeling of pleasurable fascination and excitement mixed with apprehension, tension, and anxiety developed from an unpredictable, mysterious, and rousing source of entertainment.

Sound & Music• Sound:– Like, lighting it helps set the mood of the film.– Aid to the other elements of the film.

• Realistic• Expressive• Simple• Multi-Layered

• Music:– Helps with the pacing of the film and helps set the mood and

define the setting• Soundtrack• Source

Editing• Happens post - production• Cutting & Pasting

– Cutting for Continuity– Cutting Within a Scene– Cross Cutting

• Parallel Editing

• Create sensually provocative montages; bring out the emotional truth in an actor's performance; create a point of view on otherwise obtuse events; guide the telling and pace of a story; create an illusion of danger where there is none; give emphasis to things that would not have otherwise been noted; and even create a vital subconscious emotional connection to the viewer, among many other possibilities.

Character• Defining the person– Complexity– Believability– Voice– Stereotype

Acting

• The art of character portrayal– Professional (big screen)– Nonprofessional (independent film)– Realistic– Stylized/Symbolic (fantasy)

Plot

• The events that make up the film• Storyboarding• Storyline– divided into five parts

• Are: exposition (of the situation); rising action (through conflict); climax (or turning point); falling action; and resolution.

• Cause & Effect• An intricate, complicated plot is called an

imbroglio

Narrative Structure• The structural framework that underlies the order and manner

in which a narrative/story is viewed. • Divided into three sections:

– Setup• all of the main characters and their basic situation are introduced.• contains the primary level of characterization (exploring the character's

backgrounds and personalities

– Conflict• is the bulk of the story• begins when the inciting incident (or catalyst) sets things into motion• Character Development

– Resolution• the problem in the story boils over, forcing the characters to confront it,

allowing all elements of the story to come together and inevitably leading to the ending

• Straightforward or Complex

Genre

• Action & Adventure• Animation• Biopics• Bollywood• Comedy• Crime• Documentary• Drama• Family• Horror

• Music documentary• Musical• Period & Historical• Science Fiction & Fantasy• Short Films• Sport• Thriller• War Films• Westerns• World Cinema

Themes• The Point of the Film– Issues– Ideological Conflicts– Lessons Learned