Film Study: Take Two 2

GLOSSARY OF COMMON FILM TERMS

THAT YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO

http://www.brief-encounters.org.uk/pages/education/glossary.htm

▪ Big Close-up (BCU): A shot that shows the face filling the frame, good for expressing

emotions.

▪ Close-up (CU): A tight shot of an Actor’s head and shoulders or an object only.

▪ Continuity: Ensuring that each shot in a film has details that match.

▪ Credits: Details of the people involved in the making of the film, funding etc.

▪ Cut-away: A shot which has been inserted into a scene that shows action taking place somewhere
else.

▪ Deep Focus: A technique whereby objects are kept in focus in both the foreground and the
background.

▪ Deconstruction: This is the critical analysis of a film in terms of its genre, narrative etc. to help us to
understand it better.

▪ Diegetic sound: This refers to any sound (on or off screen) which is part of the film world we are
watching (e.g. dialogue, sound effects or music which comes form a source within the film). Also
known as Synchronous Sound.

▪ Dissolve: An editing technique in which one image/scene fades into another. ▪ Editing: The process
of selecting the shots and sequences that will be included in the final product, their length and the
order in which they will appear. ▪ Establishing Shot: The opening shot of a sequence which uses
distant framing, allowing the viewer to “take in” the relations between the character(s) and the set.

▪ Fade-in: A technique in which an image slowly appears from a blank screen. ▪ Fade-out: An editing
technique in which an image disappears gradually, leaving the screen blank.

▪ Genre: A category or type of film which can be identified by its repeated use of certain props, sets
and costumes (e.g. Horror, Western, Sci-fi).

▪ High Angle Shot: A shot from a camera held above characters or object, looking down on them.

▪ Jump Cut: An edit in which action appears to jump in an illogical way. Creates tension.
▪ Long Shot (LS): A shot which is filmed from a distance or with a wide angle which shows the full
human figure, giving details of his surroundings. ▪ Medium Shot (MS): A shot between close-up and
long shot that gives a character and his surroundings roughly equal amounts of the frame. ▪ Mise-
en-scéne: This can be translated as “what has been put into the scene” – the props, sets, characters,
costumes, lighting and framing which gives the shot its dramatic image. Reveals theme and
character.

▪ Mix: To combine the various sound tracks – dialogue, music and sound effects – into a single track.

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Film Study: Take Two 3

▪ Narrative: The telling of a story or unfolding of a plot.

▪ Non-diegetic sound: This refers to the sound which we do not recognise as being part of the film
we are watching (e.g. a voice-over, or music which would not be part of the world we are watching).
Also known as Non-Synchronous Sound.

▪ Over-the-shoulder Shot: A shot in which the camera is placed behind and to the side of the actor
so that the Actor’s shoulder appears in the foreground and the face/body of another actor appears
in the background; this shot tends to establish a specific subject’s physical point of view on the
action.

▪ Pan: A shot in which the camera moves horizontally, either following a piece of action or shifting
across from one image to another, as though making a survey of a scene.

▪ Point-of-view Shot (POV): A shot which shows the audience exactly what a particular character
sees; this is usually preceded by a shot of a character looking in a particular direction.

▪ Reaction Shot: An image showing a character’s response to a piece of action or dialogue, this
usually follows a point-of-view shot.

▪ Screenplay: The script of a film.

▪ Shot: An unbroken filmed segment, the basic component of a scene. ▪ Sound Effects (SFX):
Additional sounds (other than dialogue or music) which add atmosphere and realism.

▪ Soundtrack: The audio elements of a film (i.e. not visual) – dialogue, music, effects.

▪ Storyboard: A mock-up of how a sequence will look when it’s been filmed. ▪ Target Audience: The
specific audience that a film aims to address. ▪ Tilt: A camera movement in a vertical direction.

▪ Track: To move the camera alongside a piece of action.

▪ Voice-over (VO): Off-screen voice that usually tells the story, explains the action or comments on
it.
▪ Wipe: An edit in which one image moves across the screen to replace another by apparently
wiping it off.

▪ Zoom: A shot in which the camera moves quickly in from a Long Shot to a Big close-up.

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Introduction to Film Study 5

Camera Shots and Angles

Camera Shots

Note: camera shots refer to the distance between the camera and the object being

filmed.

Extreme long shot

This is where the camera is extremely far away from the object being filmed. If the object being
filmed is a person, it can barely be seen. Usually extreme long shots are used for landscapes or to
establish setting. If it does establish setting, it is sometimes referred to as an establishing shot.
 ■ If you
were to see this castle in the opening sequence of a film, what genre (type) of film would you expect
to see? Justify your answer.

■ Suggest what type of music would be most suitable at this point in the film.

Long Shot

This is where the camera is quite a distance from the object being filmed. If the object is a person,
then the full figure is present in the frame with some space above the head and some space below
the feet.

■ This man appears in a long shot, but he still looks quite small compared to the large tree. How
could you make the man look more

dominant?

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Introduction to Film Study 6

Medium shot
Here the camera has moved closer to the object being filmed, and about half the object fills the
screen. If it is a person then from the waist up to the top of the head will appear on the

screen.

■ Remember when three people appear in a shot we

call it a three shot and when four people appear in

a shot it is called a four shot.

■ The man working on the computer has been

foregrounded. How would you reposition the

characters, so that the woman appears to be more

dominant?

Medium close up

This is reserved for occasions when the viewer is required to see the facial expressions of the person
being filmed. Usually the person’s head and shoulders will fill the screen.

■ Here are two examples of medium close ups. These shots

are commonly used in an interview situation. That way, the

viewer can clearly see facial expressions as well as some

body language too.

■ Imagine that you are a television

of technology (and more than a

little imagination) you are sitting

face to face with William Shakespeare. Compile a set of

questions that you would like to ask him. Then, go off to the

library (or the Internet!) and work out accurate answers to

your questions.

Close up

Here the camera is quite close to the object being filmed. If it is a person, then the whole face will fill
the screen.

■ A journey back to childhood!

- Colour in this cheerful clown!

- In what sorts of films or television posters would you

expect to see a shot of a clown like this one?

- Consider why clowns are so frequently used in children’s

television programmes.

■ Invent a name for a documentary programme on the history

of the circus. Try to include a figure of speech in your title.

■ Using this close up as a starting point, design an invitation

to a children’s birthday party. Be sure to mention all the

necessary information.

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Introduction to Film Study 7

Extreme Close Up
For these shots, the camera is extremely close to the object being filmed. If it is a person, then one
body part will fill the screen. For example, a single eyeball. This is humorously referred to as “the

nostril shot”!

■ If this extreme close up shot of the clown’s mouth were in a

slasher movie called “Night of the Killer Clowns”;

- at what point in the action would it be seen?

- what sort of music would accompany the action?

- what would happen as the clown’s victim approached her car?

■ Often, to heighten suspense, directors use extreme close up shots. They are unnerving because
they are not a complete picture. So, the villain’s eyeball magnified to fill a screen is much more
unsettling than seeing his complete face. Also, to intensify the suspense, the director will often film
tense moments in a movie using frequent cuts. You might see the clown’s evil mouth chuckling and
then the poor victim fumbling with her keys, then the clown’s flaring nostrils, and then the victim
picking up her keys. Then the viewers jointly cry “Look out behind you!”

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Introduction to Film Study 8

Camera Angles
Note: Camera angle refers to the angle of the camera in relation to the object being

filmed.

High angle

In this position, the camera is above the object being filmed. Often this makes the object appear
insignificant, inferior or unimportant.

■ In this high angle, the woman is placing papers on a

table. Imagine this is a still from the latest James Bond

film. Answer the following questions:

- Who is she and what are the papers that she is

looking at?

- Why has a high angle been used?

- Who is watching her, and why?

- What sort of lighting would be used to create a sinister

effect?

Low angle

Here the camera is lower down, looking up at the object being filmed. This usually makes the object
appear superior, powerful or important.

Now it’s time to switch positions. Presume the following: James Bond is an outdated chauvinist, who
has been retrenched in the interests of political correctness. He has been replaced by James
Bondonomeni, a statuesque Nigerian woman. In the block below, illustrate the defeated 007 being
ousted from his office by the powerful 009. Bear in mind the power relations between the two, and
use a low angle appropriately.

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Introduction to Film Study 9

Eye level angle

■ Find three examples of eye level angles and paste

them into your English book.

Tilted angle

Here the camera is tilted on its side so that the object(s) appear unbalanced. This angle is often used
during action sequences, for example a car crash. They are often unsettling for the viewer and
suggest that things are haphazard, dangerous or dynamic.

■ Task: Trace this biker onto a sheet of paper. Then cut it out and replace your illustration in the box
below ... BUT the poor man has just been in an accident with a double decker bus, so use the tilted
angle appropriately. Then fill in background details.

Aerial angle

This is an unusual angle where the camera is

positioned directly above the object being

filmed, usually very far above – like in a

helicopter or on a crane. This angle allows

the viewer to gain an aerial perspective of the

object, usually the setting, being filmed.

■ In the box alongside, or on a piece of

cardboard, compile an aerial (or bird’s

eye) view of your school. Label it

correctly.

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Introduction to Film Study 10

Camera Movement

There are three main types of camera movement. In order to experience the effects of the camera’s
movement, you will need to cut a frame out of cardboard (approximately 5 cm squared). Now you
can use your “pretend camera” to appreciate the different camera movements.

Panning

This refers to camera movement from left to right or right to left, that means, a horizontal
movement. Take your “camera” and pan across your classroom. You should be able to get a brief
glimpse of each class member, except for those in the background or behind someone really tall!

■ If you were directing a western, when and where would you use panning? Justify your answer.

Tilting
This refers to movement from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top, in other words,
vertical camera movement. Have your “camera” poised and picture the following scenario: A
gorgeous, muscular boy is about to join your class. A knock is heard at the door and the girls gasp as
he enters. Using your “camera”, tilt from his feet to his head and back again. (You are welcome to
use less than perfect body doubles for this experiment!) Tilting is often used when someone is being
sized up by someone else in the film. It allows the viewer to empathise with the character who is
doing the on-screen viewing. Tilting can also be used when two things are happening at the same
time in different settings. For example, two adolescents getting up to mischief in an upstairs room,
while their parents discuss how proud they are of their responsible children. The camera would then
tilt from one situation to the other.

■ Suggest a different use for the tilting movement of a camera in a movie genre of your choice.

Tracking

This type of camera movement is frequently used in thriller films or during chase sequences. The
camera can be hand-held or mounted on a trolley called a dolly. The camera then follows the subject
being filmed as it moves along. For example, the camera might be held by the camera man, usually
on a shoulder, and then be carried along behind poor little Red Riding Hood as she tries to flee from
the wolf. The bouncing movement of the camera would add to the suspense of the filmic moment
and the viewer might feel nervous or disorientated as Red Riding Hood was pursued.

■ List four examples of how tracking can be used in film making.

You can refer to imaginary films or ones you have seen. As part

of your answer, evaluate whether or not tracking was used

successfully in your examples.

■ Also, consider how the effect of a chase sequence would differ

depending on whether the camera was hand held or mounted on

a dolly.

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Introduction to Film Study 11

Framing

This concept refers to how the objects within the frame appear.

Centre Frame

If the subject being filmed is centre frame, then this usually implies

that the person or object has dominance, confidence or is central to

the plot. Often, the hero of the story will appear in the centre of the

screen, and be foregrounded. This is the director’s way of telling us

that this person is the predominant or powerful one, who can be

trusted and relied upon to come to the rescue.

centre of the universe to her parents. She is confident and

adventurous and about to set off on an amazing adventure.

Left or Right of the Screen

When the subject being filmed appears to the left or right of the screen, this signifies that the
character or object is not confident or dominant. The director might use this technique to show that
a character is reclusive or being marginalised by the other characters.

Draw a frame alongside to show how a director might illustrate Baby

Googoo as she appeared peeping around the corner to ensure that

no fearsome grownups might stop her adventure.

Now, if Baby Googoo were about to tumble off the bed, where

would you place the frame in the picture alongside? Remember

that for dramatic effect, you might choose to fill the frame with one

or two body parts only, instead of the whole body.

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Introduction to Film Study 12

Closed Frame

This means that the character is positioned with closed borders. These might literally be the borders
of a door or window, or they might be other objects that are restricting the character.

Assume that our would-be escape artist had been discovered by her

loving mom, and placed safely but restrictedly in her playpen.

Illustrate this closing of the frame by drawing the playpen over the

illustration.

Open Frame

As the name implies, this is when the frame is open and no objects are impeding the progress of the
character. These shots might be used in films about wide open spaces, mountains, sea scapes or
shots of the sky. They give a sense of freedom and liberation, and are sometimes used in stark
contrast to the closed frame shots.

Assume in the example that Baby Googoo has managed to escape and is free to crawl around the
garden. Add illustrations to show this, by

drawing pictures of plants and grass in the background.

■ Which types of shot, angle and frame would you, as director, use if you were filming the
following:

- a depressing moment
- when a prisoner in solitary confinement contemplates his

future

- a joyous celebration after an under-privileged college student has just graduated

- the blowing out of birthday candles on your eighteenth birthday

- the view of your car parked in the yard after you have failed your driver’s test for the fifth time.

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Introduction to Film Study 13

Sound Techniques

Voice Over

This refers to the sound technique used when a narrator is

not physically present on the screen, but the voice can be

heard on the soundtrack. This might be used for the

narration of a story, or when a character is reading a letter

and the letter writer’s voice is used.

■ Find two examples of occasions where voice overs are used in soap operas. ■ Find two examples of
when advertisers use voice overs.

Synchronous Sound

This is when the sound effects you hear match what you are seeing on the screen. If a battle is being
filmed, then the sounds of gunfire and explosions would be heard. If you were watching the filming
of a symphony concert being performed by an orchestra, you would hear the piece of music being
played by the musicians.

■ Describe a music video which contains only synchronous sound.

■ What sounds would be heard if you were filming a car accident during peak hour traffic?

Non-Synchronous Sound

This term means that additional sounds have been added to the soundtrack, but you cannot see any
evidence of what is making those sound effects. For example, if you were filming a battle and you
added a piece of dramatic classical music to the soundtrack.

■ When would it be appropriate to add the non-synchronous sounds of rap music to a city scene?

■ Describe a music video which contains non-synchronous or a combination of sounds.

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Film Study: Take Two 6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 AND A BIT FOR YOU TO DO TOO!

1. Lighting

A. Notan lighting – all areas encaptured in the frame (foreground and background) are equally
bright. Used to convey a message of neutrality and objectivity.

B. Chiaroscuro lighting – director selects areas to be well-lit, dimly lit or not lit at all.

3 types: i) Rembrandt lighting

ii) Cameo lighting

iii) Silhouette lighting

i) Rembrandt lighting – certain areas in the frame are lit, while others are partially or completely
dark.

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Film Study: Take Two 7

ii) Cameo Lighting – the foreground is well-lit, while the background is dark (for example: when
someone is in a spotlight on stage). Both Rembrandt and Cameo lighting are used to focus the
audience’s attention on a particular part of the frame.

iii) Silhouette lighting – foreground is dark, while background is well-lit. All Chiaroscuro lighting helps
the audience to focus on themes and/or emotions the director wishes to reveal in the frame.

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Film Study: Take Two 8 FURTHER NOTES ON LIGHTING

Also consider the following ideas when studying the concept

of lighting in a film:

• Source of lighting:

** Light is above and in front of the object: realistic

** Light is below subject: make subject look sinister

** Light is above subject: makes subject look spiritual

** Light is blocked out by subject: audience feels insecure, trapped

• Shots are often overexposed to light in order to create the effect of a nightmare or fantasy.

• When half the shot is light and the other half is dark, the subject may be seen as morally
ambivalent.

Activity
Find examples, in magazines and newspapers, which depict each of these lighting techniques.
Describe, in each case, what effect the lighting has created.

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Film Study: Take Two 9

2. Colour

• Colours take on different meanings in different cultures. Within each culture, different groups (for
example: males vs females; various age groups and social classes) show an affinity for certain colours
above others. Based on this, it is obvious to see that colour is a very important element of designing
advertisements.

Let us consider the following examples in Western culture:

- red is associated with boldness as well as being a strong, warm colour - some studies show that
members of a lower class like bright, primary colours while members of an upper social class tend
towards more subdued colours.

- In an advertisement, coffee poured out of different coloured pots has different associations:

Pot = blue - coffee = mild

Pot = yellow - coffee = weaker blend

Pot = brown - coffee = blend is too strong

Pot = red - coffee = rich and tasty

MOST IMPORTANT: WHEN DECIDING WHAT MEANING TO ATTACH TO THE USE OF CERTAIN
COLOURS, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT a) The group of people in the frame that the colour is used in
association with;

b) The audience at whom the film/advertisement/television programme is targeted.

Activity

Find 10 or 15 advertisements from newspapers and magazines that make use of colour.

🙫 Analyse the colours in the ads in terms of:

- Do they symbolize some quality/emotion?

- Do they add to/detract from the reality of the picture?

- Do they create a certain mood?

🙫 What was the target audience for each ad?

🙫 Do you perceive any trends, in terms of the use of colour,

developing? What are these trends?

Film Study: Take Two 10

3. Field Forces

Certain field forces are used within a single frame or shot to influence meaning. a) DIRECTIONS OF
THE SCREEN

The direction of the picture in any given frame/shot can be

i) Horizontal; or

ii) Vertical; or

iii) Tilted.

i) horizontal direction

The lines and elements of the

content of the frame influence

us to look at the picture across

the screen (left to right or right

to left). This conveys a tranquil

mood.

ii) vertical direction

The lines and elements of the content of the frame

influence us to look at the picture from top to bottom

or from bottom to top of the screen. This conveys a

mood of excitement and energy or a sense of power.

iii) tilted direction

When the direction (horizontal or vertical) of the picture on the frame is tilted slightly to the left or
right, the tranquillity or excitement changes to discomfort or instability.

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Film Study: Take Two 11

b) ASYMMETRY OF THE SHOT/FRAME

This refers to characters moving up or down a diagonal plane.

i)

up-diagonal
ii)

working against the

down-diagonal

iii)

down-diagonal

How does this affect meaning?

For example:

A person moving against the down diagonal (ii) (like a mountaineer or escapee) is associated with
qualities like effort, courage and strength (i.e. working against the odds).

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Film Study: Take Two 12 Activity

Look at the given picture. Discuss what message/meaning the picture conveys. Now discuss how the
field forces in the frame can be changed to create different meanings for the frame/shot.

4. Non-verbal Sound Techniques

The following elements may be varied (referring to dialogue, music and sound effects) to influence
meaning:

- Pitch

- Resonance - Volume - Rhythm

NOTE:

Of course,

meaning is always governed by context.

Element Variation Meaning

Low Depression or sincerity

Resonance Light (e.g. airy sound; reed instruments) Pure; pastoral

Heavy (e.g. beat, Dramatic; power

drums)

Volume Loud Emphasis

Soft Tranquil; subdued

Sudden increase Impatience; suspense

Sudden decrease Fear; defeat

Gradual increase Becoming stronger; getting nearer

Gradual decrease Casual; backing down

Rhythm Fast Excitement; tension

Slow Tranquillity; sadness

Think of

examples from

movies you

have seen.

Discuss these

examples.

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