Elements of FilmElements of Film

English 9English 9

Why Study Film?Why Study Film?

Film is our culture’s most popular method of Film is our culture’s most popular method of entertainmententertainment

Understanding how a film is put together, the Understanding how a film is put together, the obvious and hidden messages it sends, and obvious and hidden messages it sends, and how it affects you is criticalhow it affects you is critical

When we talk about novels, we talk about When we talk about novels, we talk about settings, characters, sentences, and words. settings, characters, sentences, and words. With film, we talk about setting, characters, With film, we talk about setting, characters, scenes, and shots.scenes, and shots.

Basic VocabularyBasic Vocabulary

Frame – A single picture on a length of Frame – A single picture on a length of film. Most film shows 24 frames per film. Most film shows 24 frames per second.second.

Shot – The frames contained within one Shot – The frames contained within one camera operationcamera operation

Scene – A series of shots in one location Scene – A series of shots in one location pertaining to the same ideapertaining to the same idea

Sequence – A series of scenes which Sequence – A series of scenes which make up a plot section in a show or moviemake up a plot section in a show or movie

Types of ShotsTypes of Shots

Filmmakers use different shots to give Filmmakers use different shots to give the viewer different types of information. the viewer different types of information. If you can recognize the shot, you know If you can recognize the shot, you know what the director is trying to accomplish what the director is trying to accomplish and why you feel or think the way you doand why you feel or think the way you do

Long shot – Character is far away from Long shot – Character is far away from the camera, and the picture includes the the camera, and the picture includes the surroundings. Used to show big action or surroundings. Used to show big action or establish the settingestablish the setting

Types of Shots, cont.Types of Shots, cont.

Medium Shot – A shot showing part of a Medium Shot – A shot showing part of a person, usually from waist or knees up. person, usually from waist or knees up. Most common film shotMost common film shot

Close Up – The character fills almost the Close Up – The character fills almost the entire screen – usually his or her face. entire screen – usually his or her face. Used to show intense emotion.Used to show intense emotion.

Camera PositionsCamera Positions

Where the filmmaker places the camera Where the filmmaker places the camera changes your perception of the characterschanges your perception of the characters

High angle – The camera looks down on High angle – The camera looks down on the subject. This makes the characters the subject. This makes the characters seem smaller, weaker, more vulnerable.seem smaller, weaker, more vulnerable.

Low angle – The camera looks up on the Low angle – The camera looks up on the subject. This makes characters seem subject. This makes characters seem bigger, stronger, more in control.bigger, stronger, more in control.

Camera MovementCamera Movement

Pan – Camera stays in one place but Pan – Camera stays in one place but moves left or right.moves left or right.

Tilt – Camera stays in one place but Tilt – Camera stays in one place but moves up or downmoves up or down

Truck – The camera moves with a Truck – The camera moves with a subject. He or she stays in the center, subject. He or she stays in the center, but the background changesbut the background changes

Camera Movement, cont.Camera Movement, cont.

Dolly – Camera moves towards or away Dolly – Camera moves towards or away from a subjectfrom a subject

Zoom in – Camera is stationary but the Zoom in – Camera is stationary but the subject is magnifiedsubject is magnified

Zoom out – Camera is stationary but the Zoom out – Camera is stationary but the subject becomes smaller and farther subject becomes smaller and farther awayaway

TransitionsTransitions

Cut – One shot moves directly to a Cut – One shot moves directly to a different shotdifferent shot

Fade – One shot slowly becomes a blank Fade – One shot slowly becomes a blank screenscreen

Dissolve – One shot fades into a second Dissolve – One shot fades into a second shotshot

Wipe – The first shot moves on the Wipe – The first shot moves on the screen somehow to reveal the second screen somehow to reveal the second shotshot

Elements of Film Elements of Film IllustratedIllustrated

Watch the following clip – it will provide Watch the following clip – it will provide examples of all of the film techniques we examples of all of the film techniques we will be discussingwill be discussing

You are not responsible for all of the You are not responsible for all of the terms mentioned in the video – only the terms mentioned in the video – only the ones we talked about in classones we talked about in class

Elements of Film ExampleElements of Film Example

Movie Review AssignmentMovie Review Assignment

One of our goals is for each of you to One of our goals is for each of you to become a critical film consumer. As our become a critical film consumer. As our first piece of practice, you will write a first piece of practice, you will write a review of your favorite movie.review of your favorite movie.

While you want to mention what happens While you want to mention what happens in the movie, the important part of this in the movie, the important part of this writing will be your ability to analyze the writing will be your ability to analyze the movie. If you liked characters, explain movie. If you liked characters, explain why. If you thought the special effects why. If you thought the special effects were good, explain why they were good.were good, explain why they were good.

Example:Example:BAD - I thought the movie had great action BAD - I thought the movie had great action

sequences.sequences.BETTER - The action sequences in the BETTER - The action sequences in the

movie were very original. Never before movie were very original. Never before have I seen a car chase down the hills of have I seen a car chase down the hills of San Francisco that resulted in a trolley San Francisco that resulted in a trolley blowing up.blowing up.

It’s easy to decide if you like something or It’s easy to decide if you like something or not. It’s much harder to figure out WHY not. It’s much harder to figure out WHY you like something or not. That’s the you like something or not. That’s the skill we are practicing.skill we are practicing.