Getting into it:Understanding film techniques

There is more to a film than just watching…

• Cinematic techniques are methods employed by film makers to communicate meaning, entertain and to produce a particular emotional or psychological response in an audience.

Cinematography:Cinematography: Cinematographic techniques such as the Cinematographic techniques such as the

choice of shot, and camera movement, choice of shot, and camera movement, can greatly influence the structure and can greatly influence the structure and meaning of a film.meaning of a film.

Here is a Here is a video which takes you through which takes you through some of the different types of techniques some of the different types of techniques used by filmmakers, and used by filmmakers, and here is another is another one.one.

Shot Types and Reasons:Shot Types and Reasons:Distance of shot: Distance of shot: the use of different shots can influence the the use of different shots can influence the

meaning which an audience will interpret:meaning which an audience will interpret:

The abbreviations are as follows:XLS - Extreme Long Shot MCU - Medium Close-up LS - Long Shot CU - Close-up MLS - Medium Long Shot BCU - Big Close-up MS - Medium Shot XCU - Extreme Close-up / Detail

ECUECU Extreme close-up:Extreme close-up: Focuses on a single Focuses on a single

facial feature, such as lips and eyes. facial feature, such as lips and eyes.

ECU (Extreme close up)ECU (Extreme close up)

A detail shot – part of a face

CUCUClose Ups:Close Ups: Often used to emphasise Often used to emphasise

emotions or show the characters’ emotions or show the characters’ faces during a conversationfaces during a conversation

Reaction shotReaction shot

A persons reaction to the

previous action,

eg: nodding, surprise,

terror.

Another reaction shot…Another reaction shot…

THE OTHER TYPES OF SHOTS:THE OTHER TYPES OF SHOTS:

Medium Close-ups, Medium Long Medium Close-ups, Medium Long shots, Long shots:shots, Long shots: Used to create Used to create variety in showing the action taking variety in showing the action taking place in its setting. place in its setting.

Establishing shot:Establishing shot:

Establishing shot:Establishing shot: Mainly used at a Mainly used at a new location to give the audience a new location to give the audience a sense of locality. sense of locality.

Establishing shotEstablishing shot

Camera Movement:Camera Movement:

Pan:Pan: Generally used to help establish a Generally used to help establish a setting, or to follow actionsetting, or to follow action

Tilt:Tilt: A vertical pan that is often used to A vertical pan that is often used to show a subject’s superiority or power (by show a subject’s superiority or power (by starting at ground level and titling up to starting at ground level and titling up to the top)the top)

Zoom:Zoom: The zoom lens allows the camera The zoom lens allows the camera operator to start with a wide angle operator to start with a wide angle (extreme long or long shot) and ‘go in (extreme long or long shot) and ‘go in tight’ to a narrow angle (close up or tight’ to a narrow angle (close up or extreme close up) - or vice versa.extreme close up) - or vice versa.

Examples:Examples:

Continued…Continued…

Camera Angles:Camera Angles: These are used extensively to These are used extensively to

communicate meaning and emotion communicate meaning and emotion about characters:about characters:

Low angle shot:Low angle shot: Looking up at a Looking up at a character or object, often to instil fear character or object, often to instil fear or awe in the audience; or awe in the audience;

Straight angle shot:Straight angle shot: Looking at an Looking at an eye-level angle to a character or object, eye-level angle to a character or object, giving a sense of equality between giving a sense of equality between subject and audience; subject and audience;

High angle shot:High angle shot: Looking down on a Looking down on a character, often to show vulnerability or character, often to show vulnerability or weakness; weakness;

Continued:Continued: Canted or Canted or

Oblique:Oblique: The The camera is tilted to camera is tilted to show the scene at show the scene at an angle. This is an angle. This is used extensively used extensively in the horror and in the horror and science fiction science fiction genre. The genre. The audience will audience will often not often not consciously realize consciously realize the change. This is the change. This is most often most often referred to as a referred to as a 'dutch' angle, or 'dutch' angle, or 'going dutch'. 'going dutch'.

POV (Point of View) shotPOV (Point of View) shot

The view of a scene or person as a character sees it

Low angle shotLow angle shotMakes character / item look dominating, taller.This shot is often used in films to emphasize authority and power.

Another low-angle shotAnother low-angle shot

Does this character look powerful and important?

High angle shotHigh angle shot

A shot taken from a lower height to show lesser amounts of dominance / status

Another high-angle shotAnother high-angle shot

Try to imagine

what might be

happening in this scene.

Over the shoulder shotOver the shoulder shot

Often used in dialogue scenes to highlight faces

SequencesSequences Sequences play an important role in film and Sequences play an important role in film and

television. They help to ensure that the viewer television. They help to ensure that the viewer understands the action which is occurring understands the action which is occurring within the film. within the film.

A sequence is created when two or more shots A sequence is created when two or more shots are put together to build a ‘narrative’. are put together to build a ‘narrative’. Sequences are possible due to Sequences are possible due to editingediting. .

Editing allows shots to be physically, Editing allows shots to be physically, electronically or digitally placed one after electronically or digitally placed one after another on film, videotape or computer another on film, videotape or computer software.software.

ContinuityContinuity The most important factor for a The most important factor for a

sequence to successfully sequence to successfully communicate is continuity. communicate is continuity. Continuity occurs when two shots Continuity occurs when two shots match each other in a natural and match each other in a natural and seamless way (hence match cuts are seamless way (hence match cuts are the most common cuts). the most common cuts).