Understanding Film:Terminology

Shot- a piece of unedited film

In establishing a shot a director In establishing a shot a director must consider what he/she is trying must consider what he/she is trying to communicate to audiences:to communicate to audiences:

Types of shots:Types of shots:

-bird’s eye view-bird’s eye view

-long shot-long shot

-medium shot-medium shot

-over-the-shoulder shot-over-the-shoulder shot

-close-up shot-close-up shot

Bird’s-Eye-View Shot a.k.a. Establishing shot

This type of shot will depict an This type of shot will depict an entire city’s skyline, for example, entire city’s skyline, for example, in order for the audience to know in order for the audience to know the setting of the story.the setting of the story.

Long Shot Shot normally taken from a long Shot normally taken from a long

distance, however, not as far distance, however, not as far away as the establishing shot. away as the establishing shot. This shot is used to establish This shot is used to establish where action is about to occur. where action is about to occur.

In a science fiction movie, for In a science fiction movie, for example, a director may show a example, a director may show a monster causing traffic jams in a monster causing traffic jams in a city.city.

Medium Shot This shot normally shows actors This shot normally shows actors

only from the waist up.only from the waist up. This shot is used toThis shot is used to

show interaction show interaction

between actors, a between actors, a

struggle or an embrace.struggle or an embrace.

Over-The-Shoulder Shot A shot taken over the shoulder of A shot taken over the shoulder of

another actoranother actor This shot is used when two or This shot is used when two or

more actors are interacting.more actors are interacting. This shot forces audiences to This shot forces audiences to

consider one actor’s words, consider one actor’s words, thoughts, actions at a time.thoughts, actions at a time.

Close-Up Shot A shot taken at very close range A shot taken at very close range

of an actor or a prop.of an actor or a prop. The close-up is designed to focus The close-up is designed to focus

attention on an actor's attention on an actor's expression, to give significance to expression, to give significance to a certain object, or to direct the a certain object, or to direct the audience to some other important audience to some other important element of the film element of the film

Moving Shots Tracking shot-Tracking shot- single continuous single continuous

shot made with a camera moving shot made with a camera moving along the ground along the ground

Reverse shot-Reverse shot- shot taken at a shot taken at a 180 degree angle from the 180 degree angle from the preceding shot (reverse-shot preceding shot (reverse-shot editing is commonly used during editing is commonly used during dialogue, angle is often 120 to dialogue, angle is often 120 to 160 degrees) 160 degrees)

Scene a series of shots that together a series of shots that together

form a complete episode or unit of form a complete episode or unit of the narrative .the narrative .

Storyboard- rough draft of a Storyboard- rough draft of a scene, usually drawn before scene, usually drawn before filmingfilming

Camera Movements Pan:Pan: Camera moves from side to Camera moves from side to

side from a stationary position side from a stationary position Tilt: Tilt: Movement up or down from a Movement up or down from a

stationary position stationary position TrackingTracking: The camera moves to : The camera moves to

follow a moving object or personfollow a moving object or person

Camera Angles Low Angle Camera:Low Angle Camera: shoots up at shoots up at

subject. Used to increase size, subject. Used to increase size, power, status of subject power, status of subject

High Angle CameraHigh Angle Camera: shoots : shoots down at subject. Used to increase down at subject. Used to increase vulnerability, powerlessness, vulnerability, powerlessness, decrease sizedecrease size

Editing- How shots are put together

Cut:Cut: The ending of a shot. If the cut The ending of a shot. If the cut seems inconsistent with the next seems inconsistent with the next shot, it is called a jump cut. shot, it is called a jump cut.

Fade in or outFade in or out: The image appears : The image appears or disappears gradually. Often used or disappears gradually. Often used as a division between scenes. as a division between scenes.

DissolveDissolve: One image fades in while : One image fades in while another fades out so that for a few another fades out so that for a few seconds, the two are superimposed.seconds, the two are superimposed.

Sound Human voice (dialogue)-used to Human voice (dialogue)-used to

bring a storyteller’s character to bring a storyteller’s character to life.life.

Sound effects- synchronous and Sound effects- synchronous and asynchronousasynchronous

Music- background music used to Music- background music used to create tone of scene create tone of scene

Synchronous Sound Sound that is synchronized or matched to Sound that is synchronized or matched to

what is being viewed. what is being viewed. For instance, if a shot depicts someone For instance, if a shot depicts someone

playing a piano, the sound of the piano is playing a piano, the sound of the piano is projected.projected.

By synchronizing sound to action directors By synchronizing sound to action directors can create realism and tone in a film.can create realism and tone in a film.

For instance in a scene in which a burglar For instance in a scene in which a burglar intrudes, a director may increase the intrudes, a director may increase the sound of a creaking door the burglar sound of a creaking door the burglar opens to increase the anxieties of opens to increase the anxieties of viewers.viewers.

Asynchronous Sound Sounds that are not matched to a Sounds that are not matched to a

visible, on-screen source.visible, on-screen source. For instance, during a scene in For instance, during a scene in

which a couple is arguing in an which a couple is arguing in an apartment building, a director may apartment building, a director may include a faint background sound of include a faint background sound of an unseen ambulance to symbolize an unseen ambulance to symbolize the emotional injury which is the emotional injury which is occurring onscreen or to suggest occurring onscreen or to suggest the realism of a bustling city the realism of a bustling city setting.setting.

Background music-score Used to add emotion and rhythm to Used to add emotion and rhythm to

a film but is most often meant to go a film but is most often meant to go unnoticed. (aids in the creating tone)unnoticed. (aids in the creating tone)

Also may aid in linking similar scenes Also may aid in linking similar scenes or situations or in developing a or situations or in developing a certain character.certain character.

For instance, audiences expect a fast For instance, audiences expect a fast rhythm when viewing a car chase or rhythm when viewing a car chase or slow music during romantic scenes; slow music during romantic scenes; however, this is intended to feed the however, this is intended to feed the subconscious experience of viewingsubconscious experience of viewing