A brief history of film History, terminology and technique. Film 1880-2006.

A brief history of A brief history of filmfilm

History, terminology and History, terminology and technique.technique.

Film 1880-2006Film 1880-2006

The earliest movie

• Moving pictures were known before the advent of the cinema and commercial film.

• The zoetrope gave the illusion of movement as the pictures revolved in the drum and the viewer looked through the slot of the view finder.

The earliest movie

Commercial films were brief five minute glimpses of everyday activity shown on a kinetoscope

The earliest movie

Moving pictures are an optical illusion. They are a series of still pictures projected rapidly on a screen so that the brain - eye thinks it “sees” movement.

Terminology

Film has a terminology that is important when discussing the action seen on screen.

Deep Focus:

In these shots the picture shows all the scene in focus from foreground to background.

Terminology


Shallow Focus:

In these shots the picture shows the foreground in focus with the background out of focus

Terminology


Establishing Shot:These are shots at the

beginning of an action that show where the action is taking place. They are usually a wide angle shot.

Terminology


Establishing Shot:These are shots at the

beginning of an action that show where the action is taking place. They are usually a wide angle shot. Sometimes a particular land mark will serve to establish time & place.

Terminology


Long ShotThe camera reveals the

subject from head to foot.

Terminology


Mid ShotThe camera reveals the

subject from head to waist or from waist to foot.

Terminology


Mid ShotThe camera reveals the

subject from head to waist or from waist to foot. Details of costume as well as face are shown to the audience.

Terminology


Two shot mid-shotThe camera reveals head to

waist shots of two people in the same shot. (Can also be shot as a two shot close up.) The subjects are usually talking to each other

Terminology


Close Up:The camera is close to the

subject and reveals a detail (head & shoulders) of the subject.

Terminology

Close Up:The camera is close to the

subject and reveals a detail (head & shoulders) of the subject.

It can reveal aspects of character the director wants you to see in the subject. Particularly when combined with a selected camera angle. Here the low angle is uncomplimentary to Queen Mary.

Terminology


Extreme close upThe camera reveals a fine detail

of the subject. E.g. an eye, the lips, an ear… These shots can convey emotion or focus attention on the behaviour or object

Terminology


Extreme close upThe camera reveals a fine

detail of the subject. E.g. an eye, the lips, an ear….the words on a sign

Terminology

Film can use a matte ( a mask around the object ) to focus attention on the important piece of the subject.

This was often used in silent films to direct attention to the writing or words on a page.

They can also isolate characters from the action or signal their relationship..

Terminology


Camera AnglesThese can vary depending

on the location of the camera above / below or at eye level.

Low Angle the camera looks up at the subject.

Terminology


Camera AnglesThese can vary depending on

the location of the camera above / below or at eye level.

Low Angle the camera looks up at the subject. It can make the subject look imposing and powerful.

Terminology


Camera AnglesThese can vary depending on

the location of the camera above / below or at eye level.

High Angle the camera looks down at the subject. It can make the subject look small, insignificant, weak...

Terminology

• The camera can also:• Tilt - move 180o up & down on on its tripod• Pan - move 180o on a horizontal plane (left - right -

left ) on its tripod.• Track or Dolly - move beside the character has s/he

moves through the set. • The lens on the camera can also zoom in & out from

the action.

Each of these movements will be used to create a particular representation of action in the film.

Terminology

Symbolism

This is important in implying or representing an emotion, an attitude or possibly what the subject is considering doing.

Sometimes the action implies all that is needed to understand the situation = the scream = fear.

Terminology


SymbolismThis is important in implying or

representing an emotion, an attitude or possibly what the subject is considering doing.

The subject in the foreground is indicating that he is suffering or emotionally upset.

Terminology


SymbolismThis is important in implying or

representing an emotion, an attitude or possibly what the subject is considering doing.

The shattered mirror here represents confusion in the subject’s thinking.

This is called: Metonymy

Terminology

Symbolism


Sometimes the part is to be seen as a whole. Here the books are a barrier for the subject. Books represent ideas = the subject is sheltering from attack behind these ideas.

This is called: synecdoche

Terminology

Symbolism


Sometimes the part is to be seen as a whole. Here the money implies the woman has been paid for sex thus representing her sense of guilt and self betrayal.

This is called: synecdoche

Terminology

Lighting:

Lighting can alter our perception of a character or situation by creating areas of light and shade within a shot.

A shot that has lots of light suggests humour, pleasure or relaxation.

A shot with lots of shadow suggests depression, sadness or a threat.

Compare these two slides of the same man to see the effect.

Terminology

Lighting:

Same man - different lighting and angles:

The first photo uses a low angled light to create shadows - the man looks to be sad and remote.

The second photo uses softer, natural light and a lower camera angle - he looks serene and amiable.

Make up

• This is used to alter the actor’s features so that he or she can represent the image of the character required by the director of the film.

Make up

• This is used to alter the actor’s features so that he or she can represent the image of the character required by the director of the film.

• Skilful makeup can age the actor or make his appearance totally alien.

Costume

Costume serves to establish: • time and place • Social position• Social attitudes / beliefs• Character type

These are conveyed in the codes and conventions associated with costume. e.g. In westerns the good guy wears a white hat while the bad guy wears a black one.

River Queen - set in 19th Century New Zealand. Note the period costume.

Colour

Colour can be used to indicate emotions, possible relationships as in this still from Dracula (1993) where Lucy is in red - the colour associated with Dracula thus indicating her victim status.

Colour

Colour can show how the audience is to react to the character. Dark or cold colours can indicate hatred of the character while light or warm colours could suggest trust and pleasure.

Compare the slides of Queen Mary and Elizabeth to see how colour is being used to influence attitude to each character.

A brief history of film History, terminology and technique. Film 1880-2006.

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