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