SKY HSC College€¦ · Diegetic versus Non-Diegetic Sound The sounds of a film can be divided up...

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SKY HSC College Junior English Class

2019 Year 9

Term 3

Film

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Copyright © 2019 SKY HSC College All rights reserved 1!

Guide to Lessons

Film is a relatively new medium that warrants study in English thanks to the diversity and

depth of the concepts and ideas explored by filmmakers. This module will look at the concept

of film as a medium for communicating ideas, the evolution of the filmic genre over time

and the art of deconstructing and analysing film. Students will learn to appreciate film not

simply for its entertainment value, but for the richness of the form with regards to the

opportunity for complex and detailed storytelling.

Overview of the Lessons

Lesson 1: Film as a Medium

•! The Precursors of Film

•! Evolution of Film Over the Twentieth Century

•! Film: Information versus Entertainment

•! Analysis: The Queen’s Christmas Message 1957

Lesson 2: Construction of Film

•! Filmic Genres and Styles

•! Visual Elements of Film

•! The Textual Elements of Film

•! The Aural Elements of Film

Lesson 3: Analysis of Film

•! Review of Style and Techniques

•! Genre Focus: Science Fiction

•! Screening of Clips

•! Essay-Writing

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Lesson 2 - Construction of Film

Film is an aggregate medium composed of interwoven visual, aural and written elements.

The synthesis of these elements allows film to express diverse and complex concepts either

through music, dialogue, visual symbolism or strategic use of camera shots and angles. In

addition, while all films draw upon a base of common techniques to communicate their ideas,

over time certain stylistic uses of those techniques have come to be associated with particular

genres of film.

Filmic Genres and Styles

Films which entertain can be subdivided into different genres, and each genre has its own

commonly associated elements and features. Films can also be categorized according to style.

While genre groups films according to a common narrative structure or theme, style focuses

more on the types of filmic elements that are used, such as camera angles, shots, colour palettes,

etc.

The Visual Elements of Film

The visual elements of a film include everything that is seen on-screen and does not involve

sound or the script of the film. This encompasses a huge variety of techniques so we won’t be

able to look at all of them. Nonetheless, the main elements at work in all films include camera

shots and framing, camera angles and lighting.

Exercise: The Effects of Visual Elements

In the following tables, write a short statement that describes the general effect of each

technique. The tutor will help you if you are unsure. Though this is only a limited selection of

all the possible visual elements available to filmmakers, it covers the most common and easily

recognised.

Camera Shots and Framing

Camera shots capture a specific size of image. Manipulation of the framing of the shot, or the

way the subject is positioned within the space captured by the camera in relation to other

objects, is very important.

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Technique Explanation Effect/s

Extreme close-up shot A very close-up\ shot of a

person’s features, such as an

eye or hand.

Close-up shot A shot of a person’s head

and shoulders or similarly-

sized area.

Mid shot A shot where a person is

captured from the waist up

or a similarly-sized area.

Long shot A shot where generally the

full body of a person is in

view, or a similarly sized

area.

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Establishing shot A shot that encompasses a

whole room, or even larger.

It is generally from a

distance with no subjects in

the shots.

Camera Angles

In addition to framing and the different types of camera shots, the way the camera is positioned

in relation to the subject is important. Angles manipulate the audience’s perspective of events

and the subjects captured by the shots.

Technique Explanation Effects

High angle The camera is positioned from a

much higher vantage point than

the subject and looks down upon

it.

Birds-eye view A specific type of high-angle

shot: the angle is so high that it

almost appears over the top of the

subject.

Low angle The camera is positioned from a

much lower vantage point than

the subject and looks up at it.

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Dutch/canted angle A skewed angle, where the

camera is tilted over onto one side

so that it is almost diagonal.

Camera Movement

The camera does not have to be static and held in one place for the duration of a shot; often

camera movement adds an additional complex layer of perspective that can deepen the

audience’s engagement with a sequence.

Technique Explanation Effect/s

Panning Turning the camera left to right,

along a horizontal axis, or up

and down, along a vertical axis.

This can be done via a camera

mount or a hand-held motion.

Zooming The act of making one object

larger in the frame of the camera

in comparison to the other

objects in the scene.

Rack focus Adjusting the focus of the lens of

the camera to bring an object in

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the foreground into focus and an

object in the background out of

focus simultaneously, or vice

versa.

Lighting

Cameras need light – there is no point in taking a picture of total darkness. The light thrown

onto a subject can come in a hugely diverse range of forms. Herein lies the possibility for

directors to manipulate such lighting to achieve particular effects.

Technique Explanation Effect

Key lighting The main light source on the

subject. It can be large, harsh,

soft, small or any of a multitude

of different colours.

Fill lighting Other sources of light are often

used to eliminate shadows in the

scene, so that the camera can see

only as much of the room as the

director desires.

Backlighting or side-

lighting

The deliberate positioning of the

major sources of light so as to

illuminate the character from the

back or side.

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Soft vs hard lighting This refers to the intensity and

the harshness of the light upon

the subject. Hard lighting

emphasizes shadows and

shapes, whilst soft lighting

dimly illuminates the subject,

obscuring details.

High vs low lighting This refers to the total amount of

lighting used in the scene. High

lighting involves overexposing

the shot, so there are virtually no

shadows. Low lighting is the

opposite, creating lots of dark

spaces in the scene.

The Villains Get the Best Lines: The Written/Textual Elements of Film

The script contains all the lines spoken by the actors during the film. The written script is a

crucial part of the construction of a film. It does not matter if a film has the best special effects

and lighting in the world, as the dialogue carries the plot. If it is dull or alienates its audience,

the film will not be popular. Even silent films have a screenplay that act as a written

complement to the film. The written script uses literary techniques and devices to expand the

notions of the film and effect characterisation.

Exercise: The Screenplay of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings, based on the series of novels by J.R.R

Tolkien, is widely recognised as one of the greatest fantasy action/adventure films of all time.

Read the beginning of the screenplay for the first movie in the series, The Fellowship of the

Ring, and think about the way in which the screenplay creates the atmosphere and tone of the

film.

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Write your comments on the tone and atmosphere created by the opening portion of the

screenplay in the space provided below.

The Aural Elements of Film: Music and Sound

Sound and music are a huge feature of any film produced. Aural elements, both in the form of

diegetic noises that bring the action of a film to life and non-diegetic music that helps evoke

the emotions of the film, are now ubiquitous parts of the film package. Many composers of

movie music scores have risen to fame because of their iconic pieces (none more so than John

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Williams, whose film score credits include Star Wars, Jaws, Indiana Jones, E.T., Superman,

Home Alone, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List and Harry Potter).

Diegetic versus Non-Diegetic Sound

The sounds of a film can be divided up into diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. Diegetic sounds

occur inside the world of the film – they were either recorded by a microphone on set or added

(as with special effects noises) later. Non-diegetic scores are sounds that the characters of the

film cannot hear. Music, internal monologues and narration are key examples.

Foley Artistry

The diegetic sounds of the movie may not be as simple as what they appear. Many movies

require the sampling of noises from other (sometimes quite bizarre) sources. The “dubbing” of

soundtracks with these “fake noises” is known as Foley artistry, named after the man who

pioneered the technique. Foley studios have a number of odd objects on hand to create any sort

of necessary sound effects required by movies.

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