Film Studies

Voyeur

someone who is somehow gratified by watching others (the movie-goer). (In Rear Window, Jeff is a voyeur.)

Voyeurism

the act of watching a private world, something one is not meant to see (movie-going).

Auteur

a director who has control over everything in the film.

Mise-en-scène

translates to “placed in the scene”, meaning anything contained within the frame – props, clothing, lighting, etc. (example

Diagetic sound

diegetic sound

sound in film where the source can be traced or is implied.

Non-diagetic sound

sound that is added to a film; the source can not be traced and/or is not implied.

Montage

short, quick edits of colliding images to convey a certain feeling or message (Soviet cinema) or the use of short quick edits to compress time (American cinema).

Focalization

general point of view that structures the narrative.

Neutral focalization (or objective third person)

the viewer is objectively viewing a person, people, subject, or setting. (example

Authorial focalization (or third person intrusive)

this is the director’s view (the auteur). The viewer is shown something and emphasis is placed on that person or object.

Subjective first person focalization (or point of view editing)

the viewer sees things through a particular character’s eyes.

Eyeline-match-reaction shot

the viewer sees a character looking at something; the viewer is shown what they are looking at (through their eyes); the camera comes back to them for a reaction.

High angle

the camera is held high, looking down at something. Usually used to make something or someone appear smaller and/or vulnerable. (Hitchcock’s signature “bird’s eye view shots)

Low angle

the camera is low, looking up at something. Usually used to make something or someone appear larger than life and/or controlling, intimidating. (example

Pan

the camera moves horizontally (left/right).

Tilt

the camera moves vertically (up/down).